A Personal Touch by Evyn

A Personal Touch by Evyn - November 2020 Scholarship Essay

Growing up in a small town with a class size no bigger than 70 has its advantages and disadvantages. I’ve grown up with the same 70 kids and know almost everything there is to know about them, as well as being able to get along with them really well in a classroom setting. Although, not everything is all sunshine and rainbows when you see the same people almost every day for about 13 years. But, despite all of the good and all of the challenges that accompany a small school experience, I would say the biggest advantage of attending a small school is the quality of learning that you receive.
I mentioned before how small my class was, not only is this an advantage for me socially, but academically this gave my teachers an opportunity to interact with and connect with their students more intently. According to edweek.org, over 46 studies showed that strong student- teacher relationships not only resulted in better grades, but also attendance, academic engagement, lower dropout rates, and even showed promising results in their individual, family, and school backgrounds. This is exactly what I saw in my life and my classmates as well.
Our teachers were always eager and excited to see me and my classmates. They asked about our day, and genuinely wanted to hear about our well-being, it made it much easier to talk to them about things going on in our personal lives. The more they understood us as individuals, the easier it was for us to understand them in the classroom. Another benefit that I noticed for both students and teachers was that when they knew more about a student, and connected with them more, the easier it was to create lessons for them. Sure every once in a while we would take a standardized test about our academic abilities, but it never truly captured the essence of the student. The more of a connection I had with my teachers, the more they understood how I react to stress, what my interests consist of, how to keep me motivated, and the ways that I learn.
Along with the benefits of my teachers knowing me personally, knowing them has helped me in attaining the information that they are teaching me. The more I knew and understood my teachers, the more interesting they became to me, along with what they had to tell me. I am able to listen and pay attention better rather than learning from a stranger. Furthermore, if there were any questions to be asked, it has been better for me to ask someone I am more comfortable with instead of asking someone that I don’t know. Then they might be able to better explain it in a way that I could understand.
Overall, I am very thankful to have gone to the school that I did. I will never forget or take for granted the lessons that my teachers gave me that can be applied inside and outside of the classroom due to the close relationships developed over each school year. Of course, there were challenges both socially and academically, but I feel more prepared than ever to start a new chapter of my life. The teachers and classmates that I developed a genuine relationship with helped me learn valuable lessons that can be applied in various classes and in life itself. Of all the wonderful aspects of my education, I would say that the one aspect of my education that I am most thankful for is the personal touch that comes with attending a small school and the impression it left on me.