What Education Means to Me by Juliahna

What Education Means to Me by Juliahna - October 2022 Scholarship Essay

Education is the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, for others it’s a way into the workforce. Some think of education as a physical thing while others limit it to what can be learned from others. For me education was an escape from all the scary things at home and the world, I could focus on algebra and distract myself from the pending thoughts of what’s going to happen when I get home. Instruction and guidance from teachers has helped myself and many other students achieve their goals, have personal development, and give confidence in the ability to perform academically and physically.
When most people think about education, they think about schooling and teachers. Education is more of a personal relationship a student can have with learning and the cure to the human want of curiosity. Curiosity has been instilled into people since the beginning of time. It's what made Adam and Eve eat the apple in the garden of Eden, or how medicine came to be from a person wondering what would happen if I put this plant into my body. Statistically speaking children are more engaged in learning when they are actually interested in the subject. When I was in elementary school I was more interested in the colors and artsy portion of my assignments, now I am more interested in writing and history as I can express my creative side and learn more about my ancestors and the tragedies of the past. School has enabled students and myself to be able to have access to the resources to be able to explore the wonders of the world to make goals and have aspirations.
Many electives offer to teach certain skills or trade for students to be able to apply in their futures, but some offer more. Certain classes can teach students how to pay bills or apply for college while some teach how to cook or change a tire. Some lessons can teach students more than what is being applied in the classroom such as how to manage personal feelings or teach them how to separate personal ideas from professional ones. First hand, I have experienced a lot of growing up because of having to hold myself to a certain standard at school, and have had to learn to be a bigger person outside of the classroom. Throughout highschool I have seen many people grow and fail and learn from their mistakes. They apply what they learn from their classes and use it to their advantage and put themselves in a better position for jobs and other opportunities.
Programs have enabled students to grow personally and build up confidence in the ability to learn. Coaches push their athletes to run faster, push harder to hit that milestone they're trying to reach. Teachers encourage students to write more and apply themselves in the classroom which builds confidence in the ability to apply themselves to more. When that confidence comes into play, students push themselves to take harder classes which gets them more credit and allows them to have access to more opportunities to further their education by applying themselves. Drive is something that is taught, students are being taught drive and how to push themselves to be better and to strive to do more.
Education is really important not only for teaching children how to be functioning members of society, but enabling them to make better decisions and give them an escape from their home lives. Teachers help students achieve their goals, have personal development, and give confidence in the ability to perform academically and physically. This is what education means to me.