A Manuel to Self-Assurance by Gianna

A Manuel to Self-Assurance by Gianna - October 2022 Scholarship Essay

Picture this: you are taking an exam that could make or break your letter grade in your Calculus Honors class. You have ten minutes to finish a problem that you had to skip and come back to because it has stumped you. Your heart begins to race as you realize that this question is worth at least ten points. At this point, you might think that the universe is against you. However, something within you is telling you to remain calm. "You've got this," a voice inside your head chants. And suddenly, a lightbulb goes off; you instantly try another way to solve this complex problem. And just like that, you completed the question that gave you a rush.
Scenarios like these are the ones that I look forward to most in education. Yes, solving easy problems feel excellent, but what feels even better is the confidence you gain after facing an academic roadblock and being able to conquer it due to your resilience. Education is what breeds confidence.
The feeling of remembering something you learned in class and being able to apply it to another aspect of your life is incredible. When a student knows enough about a topic that they can speak out about it to others around them for educational purposes or debate, it shows an unmatched level of enthusiasm. So many students struggle to speak up when asked a simple question because they lack confidence in themselves and in their anticipated answers. Yet, trust would arise if such students took the time to educate their uneasiness. Through education, one of the most valuable lessons indirectly learned is confidence. Schooling is the foundation of building blocks. Education means creating and shaping students into confident adults to face real-world problems head-on.
So what does education mean to me? "The development of confidence and assurance in oneself."