That Guy by Jamie

That Guy by Jamie - March 2024 Scholarship Essay

Have you ever known someone who is just free-balling their way through life? Well, I have. I worked with a variety of people at my high school who aren't like me, and have different work ethics and styles. All of them have one thing in common, however, they knew what they were doing. They knew what college they wanted to pursue, a general idea of their career or at least knew their interests in life. Then there was that guy. He was rather lazy looking; eyes were always half shut, hair unkempt and all. My first impression of him wasn't great, but I acknowledged that I didn't know his home life. I shrugged him off for a lot of my junior year, he was just another face in another class. But as any high school class goes, you have to do some group projects.
We were in an AP United States history class, it was rigorous work with constant tests and tedious assignments. At some points, we were assigned group projects with partners of our choice. Of course, the teacher was unhappy with everyone working with the same people- so he started doing some assigning. So of course I am assigned with that guy, and only that guy. What will an uneven number of classmates get you? Stuck with only one other person and of course, it will be the guy no one would want to work with. I'm not going to lie and pretend I was understanding and open, I was downright disappointed. Work was work so I got over it, the project assignment was to create a painting of a historical leader. I suggested painting one of the former presidents, he shrugged and agreed. It came time to work on the assignment outside of class so we decided to work at his house.
Now don't get any funny ideas, I was strictly there on business and so was he. When I got to his house, he acted about the same as always. We both pitched in for supplies and were sitting at the table ready to get started. The way I told him we would do it is this; I will sketch and he will paint. He threw something to watch on TV and I got started. As I was sketching I heard him mumbling, so I looked over. He was casually reading the Iliad by Homer. I was interested in poetry at the time so I asked him about it and he told me "Oh yeah, I'm really into ancient Greek poetry and philosophy". My jaw was on the floor at that moment, how could such a neutral guy be into something so complex? I joked and said something along the lines of "All you got is that one book". He closed it immediately and pointed me down the hallway to his room.
It was like the door was opening to a different house, being opened by a different person entirely. That guy had posters of philosophers and library shelves filled with ethical works of ancient times. I thought I was on a TV prank show for a minute. This man proceeded to engage me in philosophical conversation, on topics I had ever considered. For example, he asked me what is justice and I had no clear answer. He walked me through the book of the Republic and changed the way I viewed people like him. Not only did I rethink my first impressions of him, but I also considered some of his ethics of happiness. He said he was the happiest away from society, minimalist, and kept a small but close friend group. I didn't agree with a lot of his perspectives on life but man I was impressed by how much he had to say. The overall conversation I had with that guy was not filled with mutual thought but rather differentiating perspectives on life. It was such a learning experience to hear from someone who didn't want college, and who didn't care for school but rather had a passion for people. He had a passion for humanity, morals, and ethics. It was a perspective on life I had never taken into account. The conversation was engaging and an experience I will never take for granted.