Widen the Beam by Fatima

Widen the Beam by Fatima - November 2016 Scholarship Essay

Your view of the world is like the beam of a flashlight. You can only see what is illuminated by your knowledge. These things that are illuminated are the only things that you might think to be true or real, however, you need to understand that there is so much more to the world than what you know. Whenever you interact with others and learn from them you are able to expand the beam of your flashlight just a little bit more and can see and understand things you might not have realized existed. As you widen the beam of your flashlight you are able to see the world in a more nuanced way, completely changing your life experience.

Having access to different perspectives and viewpoints is a part of the college experience that I will be most thankful for. When people are unable to understand different perspectives, this can be extremely dangerous. A lack of diversity, not only in race or ethnicity, but more importantly with thought and ideology is something that can cause a stagnation in thought processes, meaning that you will only be seeing the world through a very narrow lens. A college education provides such a wonderful opportunity to connect with students and professors from different backgrounds than yourself, ensuring that you have a chance to learn both inside and outside of the classroom. Not only do you gain more knowledge about the world through learning about different perspectives, you also are able to solidify your own beliefs and learn to present them to others.