Go Above and Beyond to Truly Excel by Jacqueline

Go Above and Beyond to Truly Excel by Jacqueline - May 2014 Scholarship Essay

Back in 1975, I was a high-school freshman, and a pretty typical one: I thought I had the system figured out and was ready for anything. Being interested in science, I signed up for Biology I. I had no idea what was about to happen to me…

The teacher was an imposing man with a ready, infectious laugh, but he could turn deadly serious in the space of a nanosecond, so one was always on one’s toes around him. In addition to regular quizzes, pop quizzes, assignments, and exams, a hefty portion of one’s grade was comprised of projects. He assigned the work for each project with clear instructions, but didn’t tell his classes one crucial detail: doing the minimum work would only earn a student a C. He expected us to go above and beyond if we wanted to earn a better grade.

Not knowing this in advance, I completed my project brimming with confidence: I had an A in the class so far and the work was straightforward, so what could possibly go wrong? As he returned the project binders—face down so that no one could see the grade on the front page—I watched as several of my classmates turned their binders over, then flushed crimson and frowned. Confident in my work, I assured myself smugly that I wouldn’t follow them… until I turned my binder over and saw a C under my name.
My cheeks now flushed as red as many of my friends’, I listened as our teacher told us that most of us had completed the assigned work satisfactorily… and that was C-level work. To earn—and he emphasized that word—a B or an A, our work needed to be “good” or “excellent”, respectively. We needed to go above and beyond what he had set out as the project’s requirements.

That project was the only one on which I earned a C in that class. In considering ideas for extra work for subsequent projects, I found I enjoyed exploring specific topics that interested me more deeply, as well as trying to find creative ways to present the material to him. It deepened and broadened my understanding. I went on to take two additional courses from him, and of course I didn’t forget that painful lesson: I never earned below an A on any project in his classes after that very first one.

For this lesson alone—and there were many similar lessons he taught us, as well as the course material he was responsible for teaching us—this person has been the most influential teacher in my life. To fully comprehend what that means, after graduating high school, I invested an additional decade of my life pursuing higher education prior to my return to school now, to earn a professional certificate to be a licensed massage practitioner. I’ve had a lot of teachers over the years!

I cannot honestly state that I’ve consistently applied his advice throughout my life; but I can say that every time I have gone above and beyond what’s been expected of me—whether in an academic endeavor or in any of the many jobs I’ve held between 1975 and today—I’ve been rewarded for it. In school, I’ve learned more than I would have otherwise and discovered a lot of interesting topics I probably wouldn’t have explored. In work, I realized that all jobs can be thought of as providing some kind of service to someone; and I’ve attempted to consistently deliver the highest level of service I possibly can. This attitude has even helped me be a better parent, I think; it was partly responsible for my decision to homeschool my children.

Who would have thought so much could hinge on one relatively insignificant C? I wouldn’t have dreamed of such a thing… but my freshman biology teacher knew. It’s a lesson that has permeated my being.