The Importance of Collaboration by Hannah
Hannah's entry into Varsity Tutor's January 2022 scholarship contest
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The Importance of Collaboration by Hannah - January 2022 Scholarship Essay
The skill I was able to strengthen during 2021 that I believe has been the most important to my academic success was collaboration. I was granted the leadership position of drum major for my school’s marching band this past fall. While I had prior leadership experience, this role required much more from me, which was something I was both looking forward to by having more responsibility and nervous that I’d mess up. Leading the entire marching band of almost one hundred students was more pressure than anything I had ever done, but I knew it was an experience that would make me stronger. When I first started, it was difficult to create a solid boundary between myself, the various sections I was working with, and the other leadership students, especially the other two drum majors. We all had different methods of running things, making it difficult for us to work well together. It wasn’t until I talked to some of the other leadership students about the concerns I had that we were able to find a balance that worked comfortably. Our leadership group communicated often. We had meetings every day before rehearsal so we could discuss what we wanted to accomplish. We talked about the strengths and weaknesses we saw within ourselves and in each other, and never let ourselves be content with the level we were currently at. Without the conversations and collaboration these meetings encouraged, we may have struggled to find new ways to grow.
My experience as a drum major has continued to help me academically as I have become more comfortable sharing my ideas, working in groups, and leading discussions. The communication I’ve had with my band director has helped me feel better about asking my other teachers questions in class when I’m unsure of myself, no longer waiting for someone else to ask for me. Improving my collaboration skills has also helped me a lot in the research class I’m taking. While everyone researches their own topic independently, having the ability to collaborate with my classmates and bounce ideas off one another has made developing my own research process much easier. I have started persevering when I am faced with challenges, something I often struggled with in past years. Pushing through my goals and accomplishing my schoolwork has ensured my success as a student, and I believe it will continue to benefit me when I reach college.
Next fall, I will be surrounded by new peers and teachers and live in an entirely new town. To thrive in this new environment, being personable will be important. I think that collaboration will continue to be helpful in my academics as I will be able to use these skills to form study groups and work on projects and labs with my classmates. For my major, I will have several lab classes, so working well with my lab partner will be very important for both of our successes. Outside of class, I can use this skill in my personal and social pursuits as well. I will be able to use it when joining new student organizations or choosing to be a part of an intramural sports team.
To do well on a team, it is important to be able to communicate effectively and help everyone do their part. Without proper collaboration between everyone, a group can never truly be successful.
By knowing where you fit within a team, a friend group, or a relationship, it becomes easier to understand the importance of each individual. I think that by spending time developing this skill throughout the last year, I have come to have a better understanding of my own importance and what I am and will be capable of in the years to come.