Get Under the Skin by Hanna

Get Under the Skin by Hanna - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

The best way to get to know something is to peel back its layers and uncover what lies deep within. Resolutions tend to be short and sweet bursts of good intention that eventually fade out of style or fall out of favor. Luckily for me I decided not to just make a resolution, but to make a lifestyle change. It isn't easy to change a person’s habitual routines, it takes time and practice to receive any results, if any, in return within even the first month of change.
I decided to embark upon the journey of a lifestyle change of getting to know a person or the material before jumping to conclusions and judging them based upon their appearance. I came to this resolution when several influential members in my life pointed out to me that I was being incredibly over-critical of people and situations before I had even experienced them. I took this advice, at first with a grain of salt. But with the attribute pointed out to me it became more apparent that over-critical was exactly what I was being, to almost everything and everyone I encountered. This encouraged me to change my ways, and that was exactly what I did.
By getting to know each person, portion of material and thing I encounter it gives me a chance to understand each’s true potential and purpose, and not just what it appears to be on its surface. Choosing this resolution has allowed me to gain a better grasp on material that I once thought to be boring and useless on the surface in class, making me an overall better student.
I always try and strive to be the best person I can be, and by getting to know others I can assist them on their journey of being the best that they can be, allowing everyone to grow together and create a more harmonious learning and living environment.
So, my resolution? Get under the skin of things and understand them more before I make a judgement or assumption on who or what they are. This will make me not just a better student, but an overall improved version of myself. And honestly, we should always strive for positive self-improvement.