Subconscious Learning by Jake

Subconscious Learning by Jake - November 2015 Scholarship Essay

No matter what high school you attend or what courses you take there, complaints can be heard pouring from the mouths of students who simply despise the idea of school and homework. I can tell you, and i'm sure any other teenage student would agree, that there is a general negative feeling that is had towards public education. Students will complain over teachers, homework, required classes, or anything they don't agree with as if they can make a change. What they don't yet realize is that the very things they are discouraging are helping them become successful.
It took me years to find a reason to enjoy school. When you get a little older and start to mature, you think much farther ahead than you do at a younger age. Being a senior, I fit into this category. But unlike many, in the midst of college applications, difficult classes, and mounting stress, I thought back on my educational career. It had not occurred to me until seventeen years old that almost everything I knew came from previous school years. From an early age, you are taught skills that are used your whole life, yet still complain about learning more. Not only have I learned reading, writing, basic math, sciences, and history, but I have gained many skills that are crucial to future careers and success, without even noticing it.
Writing professional essays, public speaking, and preparation skills have been of most importance to me recently. Without any school I would not have these skills that I am currently working to master. English classes have taught me how to present myself on paper, and use correct formatting in order to appear literate. Simply Answering questions in class utilize public speaking skills and expose your opinion in front of others. Homework and assignments have taught me to prepare for deadlines and put all I have into my work.
My point is this: Subconsciously we all acquire and perform basic and necessary skills in school as a child that we will use our entire lives. The earlier you come to know this for yourself, the earlier you can enjoy your school experience and make the most of it. Engaging instead of resisting will put you leagues ahead of other students and help you stand out. I am so grateful for teachers and parents that take time to teach me what I need to know, even if I don't want to know it at the time. Whether we like it or not, life happens. The lessons of our youth can act as a foundation for us to become successful in every aspect of our lives.