The Value of Education by Jennifer

The Value of Education by Jennifer - November 2014 Scholarship Essay

I remember being a freshman in college. It was chaotic at first, but eventually I was able to find my own way through the experiences of other students and on my own. I truly believe that freshman students need people to help guide them through the world of education. If I were able to help be a mentor to an incoming high school freshman, there would be many topics I would discuss with them, but the most important one would be to value the education they are being given and use this time wisely.

First, college is not the same as high school. I remember thinking that I had no issues in my high school classes so college should be a breeze. Oh was I wrong. College professors expect their students to be mature and have the ability to keep up with their work on their own. If you miss an assignment in a college class, most professors will not let you make it up, unless you have an excused absence for that assignment. I would explain to my freshman that it is important to keep up on all assignments and do the best you can in every class. If you fail, it will show in your records and you will have to take the class again. If you continue to fail, after three times you will not be allowed to take that class again. Failing is a big deal and can cost money as well. If you fail and you are receiving scholarships, it can cost you that scholarship and require you to pay that money back. If you do not receive scholarships, then you just wasted your own or your parents money. Be serious about school and value the education.

Second, many students do not value the education they are being given. Education is something that everyone should value. Not only are we learning the history of the programs we study, we are also learning up to date accomplishments in our field. This may help us go on to making our own accomplishments in the field. Also, education is not something that can be bought or taken away from you. Education truly is power. It allows you to know and understand the world around you. You may lose a job, house, car, etc, but your education will never leave. You can use education to help get yourself out of tough times and help you get into a new house, car, job, etc. If you understand the world around you, you will be better off by knowing how to move about in this world and using your time wisely.

Third, using your time wisely is important. I know most people think college is all about partying and having fun, but the truth is that if you get off track in college you can slow down your progress towards your future. For example, I took a semester off before going to college so that I could take a break from school and have fun. I realized that the real world does not have time for people like me. I got a job, but quickly lost it. By the time I realized I needed to go back to school, I was already 4 classes behind schedule and had to take summer classes to try and catch up. I took another semester off later down the road due to financial issues. I never realized how important it was to look for scholarship and take the time to apply for them until I received my tuition bill. I took out some student loans and put myself in debt. Use this time wisely. Go to school and concentrate. Do the best you can and apply for all the scholarships available to you. Do not rely on financial aid because it may not always be there. Most of all, do not fall behind your own goals from life because you want to live up to the perception of what college should be like. Be yourself and do what is best for you.

In conclusion, if I were to be able to mentor an incoming high school freshman, I would share my experiences and encourage them to value their education and use their time wisely. I think too many students think they know what the expectations of college are like, but in reality it is more demanding than most know. I would tell them, “Stay on point and keep moving towards your goals and most of all, never give up.”