Everyday Is Part Of Education by Katarina

Everyday Is Part Of Education by Katarina - September 2024 Scholarship Essay

Learning is an extremely subjective concept. There’s a popular saying, “you learn something new everyday”. Many neglect to realize how much truth that statement holds. I believe that I have had an extremely privileged life in regards to my learning. I have been able to learn through various experiences such as traveling, working, and simply trying new things. My favorite way to learn is to live in the moment, because there is so much to learn in every aspect of life and every lesson is valuable.

A prime example of this is in history. While I’ve learned so much about American history throughout my highschool career, I was never taught about the authentic history of many other countries. Whilst visiting Mexico, I was able to immerse myself in the culture, learning about the traditions, mannerisms, and daily life of the people. More importantly, I learned about the country through conversations with the locals. Similarly, when I cruised the British Isles and visited the United Kingdom I went on a numerous amount of tours and expeditions. I was able to actually see historical monuments such as Blarney Stone and the Culloden Battlefield. Learning about the history from tour guides in real time, the experience becomes so much more significant and truly resonates with me. A lesson about these countries could never have the same effect from my classroom as they did from my traveling experience.

In terms of life lessons, I believe that type of knowledge is just as important as school subjects. I have learned life lessons from physical activities like water tubing and snowboarding. From those, I've learned that giving up is not an option. Even though difficulties may arise in life, it's important to keep trying until you get it right because success is so much sweeter when you've worked for it. Reading is a passion of mine. Every story tends to have a message behind it, a theme that the author is trying to convey.I've learned about relationships, tragedies, miracles, and all of the different paths that you could take in life. My own story is up to me and I wouldn't have learned that without being able to read, and further understand that everyone has their own thoughts, their own emotions, and their own reactions. Some things that we do in our lives might not seem like we're learning but in reality the lessons that come with almost every action a person can make is honestly invaluable.

Last but certainly not least, my religious education has taught things that no state education system ever could. As a Catholic, The Bible is the book of life. It has all of the instructions on how to live and how to honor God. However, interpretation is what gets you there. Every Sunday at mass I am taught that the words in the Bible are more than what they seem. I take a lot of pride in the way I lead my life, with kindness in my heart, a caring soul, and a mindset of thanks and gratitude. The person who I am, the person who I've become, is a result of the teachings of God. Acquiring this knowledge throughout my life is something that I am beyond grateful for. It allows me to continue to love and appreciate learning every single day.

In conclusion, the best way to learn in my eyes is to live. Living in the moment and appreciating what is right in front of you is something that not a lot of people can do. While I believe that academics are extremely important, an orthodox education can never amount to an authentic one. I hope that by sharing my experience, whoever is reading this is able to recognize the beauty of the knowledge that can be acquired every single day. It's just as precious as the knowledge from a classroom.