The Skills I Need for Life. by Jessica

The Skills I Need for Life. by Jessica - November 2015 Scholarship Essay

When people are young, they are often asked a very basic question: What do you want to be when you grow up? I did not know at first. I had no clue what my options were. It took me a while before I could even begin to answer. Even then, I gave classic little kid answers that changed more than once. I said things like, “I want to be a cheerleader!” and “I want to be a teacher!” However, in order to do anything with my life, I would need to attain some basic skills that only school would give me the opportunity to achieve. Thankfully, throughout my education, I have been presented with the opportunities to not only attain but also sharpen the skills needed to be successful beyond my high school career.
School itself is an opportunity to learn new concepts and gain knowledge. Knowledge is power. If not given the chance to be educated, I would be powerless to my surroundings. I would not know anything other than what my parents have told me.
The world is not made of one exact type of person. At school, one can also meet and socialize with new and different people. If someone goes to a public school like I do, then he or she can meet with a broad spectrum of people on a daily basis. Since everyone is different, I developed the ability to communicate with a variety of people and come to an understanding. When a school project comes along and the different types must mingle, I have had to step up and help blend personalities. That is called being a leader, and leadership is an important skill I am thankful to have for the future.
School also provides students with the chance to be a part of something more. There are school clubs that often give very different people a chance to work together. An example of one of these groups would be the school choir. Many different cliques can be brought into one group and work together to create something beautiful. In my high school choir, there are the stereotypical types of people: jocks, nerds, geeks and more, who are working together every day to generate one sound. The choir combines the learning and usage of basic listening, communication, and leadership skills. This is proof enough for me that I can work with others to do great things and be a part of something more than home and school. I am, therefore, filled with gratitude at the thought of what the school choir has taught me.
It is with these skills that I have developed over my nearly thirteen years in school that I will be able to accomplish so much in my life and leave my mark on society. Now when I am asked what I want to be or do when I grow up, I can rest assured that because of my experiences from school, I have the abilities needed to be successful in anything I choose to do.