Finding Yourself Through Branching Out by Emily

Finding Yourself Through Branching Out by Emily - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

It is no secret that growing up is terrifying—you, everyone around you, and the way you feel about yourself and the world all changes. Some kids find it exciting, embracing the positive changes and developing more mature ideas about their environment. However, some others struggle, and this is completely normal. Many kids tend to find one thing that they love and grasp onto it, an activity that they feel defines who they are, and what they believe in a world that is changing around them as they get older. For me, this was theater. I was the diva of my 8th grade class, taking dance and acting classes, auditioning for every single production, and even limiting my friends to only other theater kids. If there is any advice that I would give to those who are younger than me, it would be not to follow in my footsteps. Latching onto that one thing you love and completely ignoring all other possibilities for yourself is wrong; it makes you less dynamic and well-rounded of a person. Trying new things and opening yourself up to new experiences helps you discover more about yourself and what you are capable of achieving.
Branching out will help you find the best parts of who you are, but it also shows you the best parts of who others are. The more clubs, sports, activities, and community groups you join, the more people you will meet. This opens the opportunity for you to make new friends, friends from all across the spectrum of interests and talents. Only associating with music kids left little room for me to talk about other things I enjoyed such as football and video-editing. My music friends didn’t like either of those things, but once I joined a media production class my sophomore year of high school, I met others who share that passion with me and who I could deeply and satisfyingly discuss that passion with. All of this occurred while I still had my music friends as well, simply allowing me to expand my social horizons upon what I already had. Those friends I made in media class are now some of my closest, and if I had not branched away from theater, I would never have met them. It shows how your social life and those you spend your time with can really be affected by the activities and the range of activities you participate in.
While making new friends is exciting and freeing, branching out also allows you to become a well-rounded person which is important for later in life. Once the time to be a child is over, the real world requires you to be dynamic—able to talk to all different types of people on various subjects, understand things that are outside of your realm, and think of creative and effective solutions to problems. It all starts with how many different activities you involve yourself in as a kid. Playing soccer teaches you how to work as a team towards a goal, joining a film club teaches you to analyze creatively and appreciate art, running for student council teaches you how to public speak and be a great leader. All of these lessons simply come from being involved, and they all serve as important (often essential) qualities a potential employer would look for when interviewing you. School clubs and activities allow you to have fun and participate while also prepping you for skills you will need later in life to be successful.
Finding who you are in middle and high school is difficult, and involving yourself with different things will always prove to be a good decision. You will make new friends as well as expand upon your own talents. Also, you may even find a passion that you didn’t know you had in the first place. Being that theater diva, I was very against joining a film club since none of my other friends were doing it, and I had to observe rather than perform. Looking back now, as I am about to leave home to attend Emerson College and receive a degree in Film and Video Production, I can tell you that choosing to join that club was one of the best decisions of my life. You never know what is going to change you and have the deepest effect on you. With that said, be open to everything! Join everything, help with everything, do all that you can to get involved. It will make you happier and give you a more secure sense of self—guaranteed.