Self-Worth by Hallie

Self-Worth by Hallie - December 2014 Scholarship Essay

I am currently a 4th year student at Colorado State University who will be graduating in May and I think it’s fair to say that asking ‘how education has shaped who I am today’ is a pretty loaded question. School is all I know; I’ve been at it since I was six. I’ve learned about life skills, friendships, social and academic situations, and how the world really works. But, hands down, I would say education has shaped my self -worth, especially as a college student.

Everyone comes to college with bright eyes and open minds, but the catch it, they don’t really know exactly what they want to do- and if you do, you’re lying to yourself. Sure, people may have an idea about where they want to end of, but fact of the matter is, they aren’t mature enough to map their future.

In the past three and a half years, education has shaped my life in more ways than one. I’ve learned to become something bigger than myself. Here at an institution with more than 30,000 other people, you have to get involved in you want to make a name for yourself. There are countless clubs, groups, and activities. You can give your time, help people, and come home at the end of the day feeling grateful.

I’ve learned that going places is all about who you know and the connections you have. And believe me, everyone is connected. I remember once in my entrepreneurship class, my teacher told us to name a famous celebrity and he guaranteed us that someone else sitting in that exact room knew of someone who could make a connection to the star; it was true. I’ve learned to get my foot in the door and be vocal about what I want. I’ve been blessed with so many opportunities and chances and taking advantage of them is only going to get me closer to my goals.

More than all, I’ve learned that I’m talented and smart and even on my worst days, I know that I can contribute something to the world. My ideas and my thoughts matter and education has allowed me to believe in myself. I just have to trust in myself to get to where I want to go.