Diamond in the Rough by Gianna

Diamond in the Rough by Gianna - October 2014 Scholarship Essay

Stupid. Worthless. Unable. Behind. Lazy. Slow. They are all synonymous with the concept "you can't do it." What is worse is that they are all synonymous with what my classmates and teachers have called me for as long as I can remember.

I have never learned at the same place as those around me. I have never thought in the same way, perceived new material the same way, or responded to issues the same way as the other students in my class. I used to be ashamed of the way I learn. Now that I am older, it is quite clear that what I was once ashamed of is something to own and be proud of. What is wrong with learning at a different pace or getting confused when new topics are thrown at me? Absolutely nothing. It is merely a gem in my personality. Instead of taking what teachers say and accepting it, I question it and put every ounce of thought into it without challenging their authority. Instead of my goal being to find the answer, it is to uncover hidden meanings while getting there. Instead of wondering how to finish something for the sake of a grade, I wonder how I can apply it to the world around me.

I yearn for an academic environment where other students can learn like this. Had I been younger, I would have desired this so that I would not feel isolated among my peers. I now long for a classroom like this so that I can be encircled in a community of students who are in school to explore the gift of education rather than taking it for granted. I want to be somewhere that I can feel free to ask questions or comment on what we are learning about and not have to be the only one eager enough to do so. I want to be in a classroom where I am sitting next to students that share the same passion for enriching their education. I want to learn in a place where my teachers are focused not only to provide us with knowledge for a future career, but also to help us achieve the foundation we need for intellectual growth.

More than anything, I want to be in a classroom where my teacher can look at me with eyes that see my unique way of learning as an advantage and not as a setback. I need to thrive in an environment where my teacher can grade my work looking for new ideas instead of just key phrases or the right numbers. I wish to learn somewhere where my teacher can call on me when I raise my hand not assuming that what I am about to ask or comment is pointless and unintelligent, but assuming that I am simply a dedicated student in progress; that I am still a diamond in the rough.