The Question for the Future by Erin

The Question for the Future by Erin - September 2018 Scholarship Essay

Asking a kid what they want to grow up to be or where they see themselves in the future will yield vague, idealistic answers; wishes to be an astronaut, a princess, a firefighter, the president. Ask someone who has more life experiences, that shape who they are, and you will get equally idealistic answers, but hopefully, ones with a thought out plan of action.

My answer as a kid was an artist. As I grew older, my answer changed. I wanted to be an author. I wanted to be a linguist. Now, my answer is that I will be a diplomat. I will be a Foreign Service officer. I will be a history teacher. The great thing is I can work towards each goal at the same time, leaving all my doors open and not burning any bridges.

In 2043, at the age of 43, I will have earned my masters in arts and humanities with a minor in IT two decades before. However, that will not be enough. My education will not be over simply because I have already earned my degree. While I work abroad, I will meet new people every day and experience different cultures. I will try something new every day. I will be one of those people you see in college classes who are taking the class simply because they want to.

I want to learn about people. I want to learn about places. I will learn about them by interacting with them in the real world. There is always room for improvement in one’s self, and what better way than by leaving the traditional classroom in favor of having an open dialogue. The conversations need not consist of earth shattering revelations to hold value as important references down the road when you need something to balance your ideas.