"A Well-Rounded" Education is the Key by Hima

"A Well-Rounded" Education is the Key by Hima - November 2020 Scholarship Essay

On a normal school day, I would be sketching the motion of a ball in projectile motion, learning about the history of our nation, harmonizing my viola with the school orchestra, attending academic and service-oriented clubs, writing a Java program meant to calculate the area of a circle, and calculating the optimal size for a food container in terms of price. The variety of the things that I experience as part of my education is what I truly appreciate. I believe that my well-rounded education has prepared me for higher education and the real-world.

One of the biggest aspects of education in the United States is extracurriculars. My parents grew up in India around the 1970s and 1980s. In that time and place, there was no space for extracurricular activities. Although math, science, English, and social studies are quite diverse fields, my parents just weren’t able to experiment with anything beyond them. I feel grateful for the fact that my education is different. No matter what I am interested in, I can pursue it.

Because extracurriculars are given great importance, I have the chance to perform music with friends, participate in community service activities such as volunteering at the library, and learn programming languages. To me, a well-rounded education is important, especially in this day and age. Being able to participate in extracurricular activities and explore your passions allows you to become more open-minded about others. If you meet someone who has unique interests or has an uncommon occupation, you will be much more accepting of them having been able to explore your own passions. A versatile education can also make you a more educated and a more sought-after person. Having a variety of skills, especially ones that are unique, can really make you stand out in the community. Most importantly, a comprehensive education can truly make you a better person. One of my biggest passions is community service. I have been a Youth Volunteer of my local library for 4 years. From the time I started until the end, I have changed for the better. I became more confident about speaking to people I didn’t know, especially people that are not my age. I also became inspired to help others more. I am working on helping around the house, with my brother’s homework, and in others ways much more than I used to. Finally, I am aware of the impact I can make by doing the smallest of deeds, which is why I want to continue to give back to my community for the rest of my life.

I owe not only what I learned but also how I developed as a person to my well-rounded education. Because of my education, I can choose my college major based off of my school classes, I can participate in musical and community service activities, I can find my greatest passions, and I can become a better person. The versatile aspect of my education will be something I am always grateful for, and I hope that education can continue to incorporate more and more subjects and fields for students to explore.