College: A personal and intellectual growth experience by Gina

College: A personal and intellectual growth experience by Gina - April 2020 Scholarship Essay

Throughout their last few years in high school, students are faced with the decision of whether or not to attend university following graduation. While some people may not even grasp the idea of not attending university, others may feel that it is not necessary for their future goals. It is also important to consider that students may not see university as an option due to their financial conditions. There are those that see college as an “opportunity to go party” or escape home, and others who have a burning desire to expand their knowledge in a particular subject. While everyone’s circumstances may be different, attending college may be the best and most important decision that one can possibly make.
As a current college senior in college, I have experienced what life in college is like and plan on furthering this experience into graduate school. Attending college gives a unique opportunity to learn from individuals who are experts in your field of interest and a chance to understand what that specific career requires as well as what daily life is like. In college, students typically start off by taking a variety of classes and then slowly begin focusing on their major. This start allows the student to truly realize whether or not they are interested in their current major/career path. This allows you to explore not just majors, but yourself; you really tend to understand yourself better as an individual throughout your undergraduate career. You begin to understand what motivates you, inspires you, and what you want to do for the rest of your life. The importance of this cannot be emphasized enough; imagine waking up every day and dreading going to work for the rest of your life. Additionally, college gives you a chance to challenge yourself and realize your potential. This is particularly true when you begin upper-division courses in your major. These classes are typically more rigorous, but if you enjoy the major, these may be fun and help you focus on what you’re specifically interested in.
Along with the incredible academic growth that attending university provides, you also get the opportunity to meet individuals from varying backgrounds and with similar or completely different interests. These people, particularly if they are in the same major, become your study partners, your coffee-run partners, and the people with whom you will grow. Even those who have completely different interests may aid in your growth, as they will likely have different perspectives because their experiences will be different. These friendships further teach you about yourself and who you are as a person, especially once you become aware of the personalities you choose to surround yourself with most of the time. College is an opportunity for not merely intellectual growth, but personal growth as well. So, if nothing which you read in this essay inspired you or you just didn’t relate, then maybe college is personally not relevant to you, but its importance is simply undeniable.