Self-Discovery by Ella

Self-Discovery by Ella - July 2019 Scholarship Essay

There are five minutes left to a stressful class period of testing and I have ten questions to double check. With the weight of my grade resting on my back, fear blinds the edges of my vision. I have two options: either to leave my answers as they are and take a few minutes to relax or carefully reread each response ensuring my work is accurate until the time runs out, either to accept mediocracy or to strive for perfection. These are the moments that differentiate students who are passionate about bettering themselves through education and those who take tests solely because they are required.
Instead of dreading the busy class periods filled with timed essays or multiple choice exams, students who want to learn will manipulate the stressful assignments into something that will be beneficial to their entire lives in the long run and hold onto those lessons. Having a passion for my learning and an uncanny desire to know more about the world I live in through any means allows me, unlike other students who view school as an unwanted commitment, to push through the struggles and to appreciate the tough moments more than the downtime because they are ultimately what shaped me as an individual.
Education is about molding the mind into something that you can be proud of and will serve you well through the hard moments to come. Having a passion in education now as a teenager will help me in the long run develop into a curious human being who will bring this learned passion to every aspect of life. Whether it is in a relationship, job, or just day to day actions, having a passion and a sense of direction will positively impact me; this all initially starts with education.
Everybody is different and has varying preferences and this is no different in school. The broad phrase, "passion for education" does not imply that the student has to have the time of their life in every class period for every subject in their lives. This is inaccurate and against human nature. Though English may not be my favorite, or best, subject, I have a passion for bettering my writing and grammar through education, whereas in STEM I have a passion for the actual subject matter. Finding something to look forward to in education is important because it not only allowed me to determine what my next step is in schooling, but it also exposed me to opportunities not everybody has a chance at having. Education does not always come in the form of a pencil and paper taking notes in a classic classroom setting. My education has also come in the form of real-world experience through job shadows, student council, and volleyball.
While researching scholarships, this varsitytutors essay prompt popped up. I immediately started drafting this essay because education is relevant in my life and I truly cherish it above all else. Life itself is about learning and if there is no passion I believe there is no purpose. Just like the other hundreds of thousands of 18-year-olds applying to college this year, I find it very scary to commit myself to a set path to a career for the rest of my life. Self-discovery will be made possible due to passion and I have no doubt that education will continue to better me in a way no other aspect of life could because both the mistakes and victories are beneficial.