Academic Role Model by Jerry

Academic Role Model by Jerry - September 2013 Scholarship Essay

Webster’s defines role model as, “a person whose behavior in a particular role is imitated by others.” Role models have always been a major staple in my life, but I’ve never had one huge role model that stood out in my life.
In academics, I guess that my very first role model would have to be my mother. My mother was the daughter of an English teacher, finished high school with a 4.0 GPA, and graduated in the top 3 of her class. On top of that, she graduated with a 4-year undergraduate degree in only 3 years. She is the main reason I take my education as serious as I do. She began teaching me my numbers, letters, and even vocabulary before I entered preschool.
In addition to my mother, my next set of academic role models would be the teachers who made a great impact in my life. This list would include ladies like Mrs. Landry, my second grade homeroom teacher who stored so much in my little brain; Mrs. Johnikin, my eighth grade science teacher, who prepared me for a tough life of high school while developing my higher level science skills; Ms. Donna Carol Smith, by far my favorite teacher of all-time and my math instructor from ninth through eleventh grade, who was always calm and accepted situations as they came but also fought for what was needed; and finally Mrs. Rebecca Boykin and Mrs. Sules Hales, my eleventh grade history teacher and tenth grade English teacher, who always kept it real with me and my fellow classmates. These ladies taught me more about life than a textbook could ever do.
Last but not least, professional businessmen, lawyers, doctors, and people of other professions will always be my role models. One day, I dream of having a life like one of them. I want to be something like Bill Gates, Russell Simmons, or Steve Jobs. I want to develop myself into a successful businessman and serve a bigger purpose in the world we live in. These lifestyles all begin with one key: Education.