This too shall pass by Katrina-Jade

This too shall pass by Katrina-Jade - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

At 6:00 am, I heard my alarm go off signaling the first day of a new school year. I stumbled out of bed and prepared for the hardest year of my life, or so I was told. At my high school, junior year was supposed to be the most challenging year and for me it was even more challenging because as I looked at my class schedule staring back at me was “British literature-Scotese.” The word around school was that Mr.Scotese was the worst British literature teacher to have because he was the hardest and gave the most work with ridiculous deadlines. Although I went to a magnet high school, I didn’t want to have an unreasonable and excessive teacher. I headed off to school frightened and sick to my stomach.

The school bell signaled the end of 3rd period and the beginning of 4th. The moment I was dreading, entering Mr.Scotese’s class. I walked in anxious, like my other fellow classmates. He handed us a piece of paper with the homework schedule on one side and our first assignment on the other. There was a poem entitled Deor, it was difficult to read because of the old English. Mr.Scotese introduced himself to the class and addressed the rumors of how strenuous his class could be. After his introduction, he had us look at the poem Deor. He read it out loud and I still didn’t understand it, only the one reoccurring line “that passed away; this also may.” Mr.Scotese spoke about that line and connected it to himself, sharing a story of when he faced hard times. It surprised me that on the first day he shared an anecdote that was personal, to a classroom of strangers. But he told us that no matter what challenges we face or joyous moments we encounter that “this too shall pass.”

Those four words stuck to me that day because that previous year and a half was hard for me. I lost both of my grandmothers without being able to say goodbye. They were my support system and for a long time I didn’t know if I could move on. Hearing those four words touched my heart and reminded me that the grief will pass; I just have to push through it. The hardships of that year and following years will pass; I just have to push through it. That the challenges I face in life will be tough; I just have to push through it. Today and for the rest of my life I will remember that important lesson Mr.Scotese taught me on my first day of class junior year. I will remember, “this too shall pass” when I need to push through hard times and when I need to cherish the happy times. Life keeps moving on and it’s my job to keep up.