Have Your Own Opinions by Ella

Have Your Own Opinions by Ella - September 2021 Scholarship Essay

I was born in a place full of unique, and original people, who have their own opinions. I didn't realize this until I moved at the end of eighth grade. California the big state everyone wants to go to. I never thought it was as cool as people who lived in other states say it was. Of course they did not experience the horrid heat waves in the middle of the summer, the piles of trash on the side of the road, and the large percentage of rude people.
I was giving my goodbyes to my loved ones as we drove away. Ten long hours. Long and endless roads of nothingness. I saw my life completely change. Saying hello to my new home the moment I opened my eyes from a long nap, and saw the big Welcome To Utah sign. Utah’s known as one of the most religious states. I learned a lot in school, but I noticed that children were forced into what they should and shouldn't believe in. Their parents put them in a household where their children could only see and hear what their parents believed. I was setback because I was never told what to believe. I was never told to open a bible, and pray. I was just told to be thankful, and to believe in myself. This pressure of you need to believe in god and prey was put on me every single time I walked into class. I had to even take a Utah's history class. Which made this feeling even worse. I thought that people were able to have their own ideas and dreams, opinions, and beliefs, but I was completely wrong. I learned that everything we think is based on our parents, friends, and the experiences us as individuals go through. My belief of individuality was challenged in the classroom.