Dream Bigger by Jenna

Dream Bigger by Jenna - July 2020 Scholarship Essay

What is your dream? This broad question is left open to interpretation. Life lessons and wisdom bare weight in the response. Should someone ask it of a child, the answer may be "My dream is to go to Disney World." The same question presented to an elderly couple would more than likely be the complete opposite. The backing of experience may produce "My dream is to retire in a small house, with a lake view, sitting on the porch with the one I love." Consider the generations in between. Consider the current generation, my generation. Consider me. I am a member of Generation Z, defined as those born between 1995 and 2015. With the profound changes during this time span, including politics, technology and education, my dreams are truly indicative of my generation. One of them is to have a true and lasting impact on education. I dream to be a part of a grand picture which shapes the hear and now and open the door to a future, using my design and insight to aid in the opportunities of education and higher learning.
When I dream of my ideal education setting, esthetics and "things" are not the first things to enter my mind. Passing through the doorway in sight of my instructor is the initial impact. Anticipating lessons and assignments blaze through my mind. Part of my ideal classroom is less formal material presentations. Minding an assigned seat while being entertained via powerpoint is not the way I process and retain information. Ideally, lecture coupled with group interaction and in-class activities or assignments are more productive. Hands-on interaction helps solidify core concepts, making learning less imitating and more exciting. Students, including myself, feel myself, have a much greater sense of pride when accomplishing tasks among peers and teachers alike. Additionally, I believe, on-site, immediate access to instructors promotes a more positive attitude toward the learning experience.
Throughout life, many students were entertained outside of their home, for example sports or playgrounds. The outdoors hold positive, pleasant memories. If it possible, My dream classroom would have the ability to use outside facilities. Should it be a small parcel of grass or picnic tables, times of outdoor learning would be ideal.I had the opportunity to experience that once in a while. The tedious work and views of poster plastered walls actually became a distraction. The change of physical environment morphed my mind. In such a relaxed state, it was as if I learned through osmosis!
Advances in technology in Generation Z are profound. Medicine, technologies, communications, and computers. A luxury afforded me during my education is a computer. At this point on the timeline of education a computer is not a luxury but a necessity. Many times during my education I witnessed students attempting to do school work without access to a computer. Students would remain after school to utilize computers and wifi access. My ideal classroom setting would provide a computer for each student. The computer use would be used during the lecture period with an option to to apply for off campus use. I would not have progressed this far if not for access to necessary technologies.
I believe access changes and amenities will level the the education platform. Granting immense opportunity not only to the less fortunate but to all persons who dream will continue to propel the fruits of education for generations to come.