My Older Sister by Ellie

My Older Sister by Ellie - March 2023 Scholarship Essay

Since I have been homeschooled my whole life, I have not had as many teachers impacting my education as other students. However, that does not stop me from knowing someone who has positively impacted my education: my older sister. Since elementary school, she has tutored me and encouraged me to learn. From recommending books to me, to discussing history and government, and helping me stay on schedule, she has had a profound impact on my education.
I started reading chapter books around the time I turned seven. I promptly decided I loved reading but needed more ideas for specific books to read. Starting then, my sister has never stopped recommending books to me. Without her suggestions, I may not have ended up finding books I enjoyed to the same extent. She did not propose just any books to me but suggested a vast amount of historical novels. Some of my favorites were about civilians behind the Berlin Wall and during World War II. Those books furthered my fascination with history until it became one of my favorite subjects.
When I turned 11, my sister began discussing history and politics with me. I would not know as much about the Israel-Palestine conflict, Ireland, and the United States Government if she did not have those discussions with me. Ultimately, I began reading the news and researching history on my own. This caused me to have a deeper understanding of the world. Simultaneously, talking with her improved my critical thinking skills and ability to discuss complex topics. This inspired my eventual participation in speech and debate, which has now become one of my favorite hobbies.
Finally, she has helped me understand challenging issues and stay on track while managing more advanced classes. As I transitioned to high school and doing more coursework, I needed advice on how to track my assignments and their due dates. My sister has, with her love of spreadsheets, taught me how to schedule and divide my work to make sure it all gets done. Thanks to her assistance, I have not just completed challenging assignments on time but gained a better understanding of the topics I am studying. If I have had trouble understanding academic subjects my sister has used a step-by-step approach to help them become clear. Thanks to my sister, I have gotten through challenging math questions and strict essay formatting requirements.
To conclude, I am lucky to have a sister as insightful as her. She has had a massive impact on my education and I would not love learning as much as I do today without her guidance. I believe everyone should have someone as helpful to their education as my sister has been to mine.