Education- The Path To My Future by Kaniya

Education- The Path To My Future by Kaniya - December 2015 Scholarship Essay

Ten years from now I see myself as a high school counselor or college advisor. I want to help inform students of all the possibilities they have in life. They are the future, and it is important for them to be aware of everything in the world that they can achieve. Having a helping hand and a good support system may be all a person needs to do great things, and that is what I want to be for them.
During my years of high school, I have seen a lot of people give up and quit on their dreams. When looking forward to high school, students think they are ready to stay focused and do well. Once they get there, it is much harder than they thought it would be. Having hours of homework and difficult classes is more than they bargained for. Some may think, “What’s the point of this? I can drop out now.” or “I just need a passing grade to get my diploma. I’m not going to try my hardest and stress myself out over this.” They start feeling hopeless, losing focus, and giving up.
Kindergarten through eighth grade is not that difficult, but in high school the workload becomes more rigorous; students are so close to the finish line, but many feel as though they cannot make it. With no one helping or guiding them, some latch on to others who feel the same way they do. They start doing things they normally would not do, giving into peer pressure, and beginning to change. Hanging out with the wrong crowd can lead to poor choices, giving into temptation and before they know it they have taken the wrong road.
Students need someone to help them out and talk them through things. Not everyone has someone to whom they may turn when they are in need or feeling like they cannot make it. I believe that school counselors can play a major role in giving the students the support they need to be successful throughout high school and beyond.
My education will get me to this position by providing the training and experience I need to address the situations mentioned above as well as many others. I plan to major in Psychology, and get my Masters in School Counseling. Psychology will help me better understand the way students think and how they are motivated, and School Counseling will train me on how best to address the academic, emotional, and legal needs of the students at my school.
Education is very important to be successful, and some students lack the courage and confidence to believe that they can actually go to college and make a better life for themselves. I do not want anyone to think they cannot go to college because it is too expensive or too hard for them. I want to be the one who can talk to someone and help them out so when they do make it they can look back and say, “Ms. Alston really did make a difference for me.” It does not matter if it is a community college, online classes, or a school that people do not believe has potential, as long as they try to do better and try to make a better life for themselves that is all that matters.
Students will get stuck on one problem or another during the course of their high school careers. I want to be the one they can ask for help and guidance and give them the encouragement and inspiration they need. Everyone needs someone who can sit and think about their situation and help them get through it. I truly have a desire to help students to make good decisions and find success. I know I can make a difference in their lives.