College Independence and Its Value by Emily

College Independence and Its Value by Emily - November 2016 Scholarship Essay

My name is Emily Miller and I am proud to say that through all of my hard work, planning, and discipline, I am only a few steps away from becoming a college freshman. With this next step in my life, I will have a variety of experiences independent of my close friends and family who have been there to support and guide me thus far. This new sense of independence is both exciting and frightening but is also imperative to my growth as an individual and is the part of a college experience I will be most thankful for.
I will be most thankful for this new sense of independence because I will no longer be taken care of by anyone but myself. After years of coaching, advice, goal setting, and planning, it’s all up to me. It’s time to show the world what I have learned and how I can apply it. The independence that comes along with college life will allow me to grasp a greater appreciation for things I take for granted today. It will also heighten the extent of my responsibility, discipline, and rigor. It will change how I manage my time and set my priorities. It will change me.
Through this independence, I will meet new people and make new friends. Many of these new people will likely have diverse backgrounds, cultures, and interests. So, I will get to experience this new world through their eyes as well as my own. I will get to make my own decisions and form my own opinions and perspectives independent of any influence from my close friends and family. Most importantly, I will get to prove to the world that the hard work and disciple that I have demonstrated thus far in life has prepared me well for what is to come.