The Blessings of Education by Hannah

The Blessings of Education by Hannah - August 2020 Scholarship Essay

Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Laureate, remarked in her Nobel Peace Prize Speech, “Education is one of the blessings of life—and one of its necessities… We had a thirst for education, we had a thirst for education because our future was right there in that classroom. We would sit and learn and read together. We loved to wear neat and tidy school uniforms and we would sit there with big dreams in our eyes.” Yousafzai’s passion for education resonates with my own ambitions and aspirations. With each step of my academic adventure, I learn to treasure my education because I now understand that knowledge is the key which opens the door to all kinds of opportunities and careers. As an experienced homeschool student, I expect high standards of my dream university, particularly, in-depth course materials, dedicated teachers, and supportive classmates.

Throughout my elementary and middle school years, my mom diligently researched for the best curriculums with which to expand and strengthen my education. At the time, I resented the course materials because, in my opinion, they required ridiculous amounts of tedious and difficult homework. Diligently I pored over my science textbooks, grammar assignments, and math homework. Because I wrote single assignment by hand in my wide-ruled notebooks, I developed a writer’s callus. However, I didn’t care about the hours upon hours I spent in school instead of playing with my younger sibling or watching TV. As I started to grasp the concepts I studied, my newfound knowledge fascinated me. By the time I started high school, I was an independent student. Unsatisfied with the limited knowledge provided in my course materials, I watched Khan Academy videos on science and math, deepening my thirst and appreciation for detailed course materials which thoroughly explained the concepts taught. In my dream graduate program, each subject uses textbooks, encyclopedias, and videos which accurately explain in-depth the hidden treasures of each specific study.

Clearly, my success as an independent student relies in part on my professors’ dedication to see me excel in my work. As aforementioned, my mother’s diligence in constructing a strong academic foundation permanently influenced my desire for a thorough education. Oftentimes my father assisted in my science classes, imparting valuable knowledge which ranged from the inner workings of a cell to the laws of physics. As I got older, I learned to appreciate virtual teachers such as Crash Course and Khan Academy, who educate their students with clear and extensive information. On the other hand, I have also experienced the frustration and discouragement which arises from the difficulties of studying independently without the guidance and care of a dedicated instructor. In some ways independent learning taught me to greatly appreciate teachers (such as my mother!) who sacrifice the time and energy to invest in their students. As I design my dream classroom, I mentally handpick a select group of instructors who willingly devote themselves to the growth of my education.

Without a doubt, my academic adventure is transformed into an unforgettable journey by the people I meet along the way. I greatly value a supportive student structure because it challenges everyone to excel in their scholastic pathways while simultaneously inspiring one another to pursue knowledge and insight. Although my online high school program prevented me from interacting with all of my classmate on a daily basis, oftentimes I would discuss with another student through online posts about some new and intriguing concept we had both discovered, such as the process of protein productions. We’d share our individual knowledge and grow together as we learned to ask questions and explore the fascinating facts in the textbooks. In addition to encouraging a love for education, a supportive classroom design also fuels a healthy competitive spirit among the students. I value competition because it pushes me to give my best effort in every work I commit to. Where competition lacks, quality drops. In my dream university, I would ensure that each student strives to participate in building a healthy support system which develops our education and fuels our competition.

Education transforms dreams into realities. Even so, a person’s academic success is largely determined by the scholastic environment. Do the textbooks and course materials accurately and clearly inform the student with the necessary concepts for the class? Are the teachers dedicated to the growth and learning of their students? Is a student support system in place, enabling both a greater desire for knowledge as well as a healthy sense of competition? In my dream university, the answer to all of these questions is yes. With that goal in mind, I continually seek to impart that dream to my fellow classmates, because I fervently agree with Malala Yousafzai that indeed, “Education is one of the blessings of life.”