Thank You by Jaelyn

Thank You by Jaelyn - November 2020 Scholarship Essay

There are many different parts of my education that I am thankful for. From elementary to high school, I have always had a great education as well as excellent teachers. While I may not have gone to the best of schools, I still got an education that many other kids can’t afford. I am so thankful for the memories I made throughout the years but I will always carry with me the lessons I have been taught by my teachers.
When I was about to start middle school, a school called Young Women’s Leadership Academy came to my elementary and talked about how excellent their school is for young women. When I first heard about this school I had no interest in it whatsoever because i would be leaving my friends and going to a school with all girls. However, my teacher took this as an opportunity for me to go on and do great things that they knew I could accomplish. They wrote me several recommendation letters so I could get an interview with this school and I didn’t understand why they did that at the time. But I decided to trust them and I got a call saying I landed an interview so some part of me, even though I didn’t want to admit it, was excited. Once I finished the interview, I waited about two weeks in order to determine if I had been accepted or denied. To my surprise, I got in. I was honestly shocked that I got in because it’s really challenging to be accepted into this school let alone applying with hundreds of other girls.
Every year that I have been in school, I have always had amazing teachers who cared about my future. I was fortunate to have had a small class over the years which allowed me to form close relationships with each of my teachers. Through these relationships, I was able to see how much they believed in me and knew of my potential. I was always a shy student who never believed in myself and didn’t think I could achieve anything but my teachers saw me differently. It was through them that I learned that they knew I could do great things in this world and that I was one of their best students. Now, when I first heard them admit that I was like “Okay now you’re just being nice” but I found out that they were telling the truth. Hearing adults speak of me in that way gave me confidence because my whole life I thought I was doing the bare minimum and wouldn’t be able to achieve the success I wanted. They taught me that I am a strong woman who can do anything I put my mind to even if it seems impossible.
Getting this acceptance was an eye opener for me because it proved to me that I am smarter than I believe. I could never have done this without my teachers because they pushed me to realize my own potential. It was because of them that I am now going to graduate from the Young Women’s Leadership Academy. Attending this school was by far the best decision I have ever made. It’s because of my teachers that I am going to pursue the career I have always dreamt of but never believed was possible. No amount of words could ever express how grateful I am and I know that no matter what my future has in store for me, I can conquer anything.