Learn in Forever Evolving by Etosha

Learn in Forever Evolving by Etosha - June 2021 Scholarship Essay

An influential teacher is someone that is persuasive and educates. I thought of all the teachers I have had over the years. I have not been impacted or influenced enough to write an essay about a teacher. Life is my most influential teacher and has already taught me many lessons. My most painful and pivotal life lesson happened on June 1, 2006, at 10:00 p.m. EST. My mother died. My world changed. Instantly, I learned about family dynamics, family politics, grief and depression. I was only 19.

As an only child, I felt alone because no one could understand what I was going through. Life, always present, taught me resolve, resilience and mental toughness. At the time, there was not much emphasis on mental health and therapy within Black and Brown communities, I had to learn how to cope on my own. Life taught me the journey would be lonesome, challenging and confusing. I rose above it and became stronger, I had no choice.

As a Black person, a Black woman, life lessons are plenty and unavoidable. Though America has made progress, it is evident in the news and on social media that we have a long way to go. From a young age, life taught me that I had to be ten times better, obedient and overtly polite. Life has taught me to operate in duality. How I interact with friends and family will not be the same with coworkers. Life has taught me to adapt, be aware and resourceful.

My teachers were great. I learned my reading, writing and arithmetic. They were all invested and caring. But my forever teacher in life, will always teach the most important lessons. It builds character that goes beyond the classroom.