The Journey of My Life by Kristina
Kristinaof Waupaca's entry into Varsity Tutor's December 2015 scholarship contest
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The Journey of My Life by Kristina - December 2015 Scholarship Essay
Where do I see myself in ten years? Goodness, that is a loaded question, I feel. How can anyone know for sure what the future holds in store for them? I know what I aspire to do, but if I can fully do it, that is another question. I cannot control life or what will happen. Yes, I do have many dreams and aspirations, but those are the ones that I have currently. I do not own a crystal ball, so trying to see what the future holds in store for me is a bit fruitless, I feel. Instead, I will share what I envision, not what I think will happen.
I am currently completing my double Bachelors’ degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) and Spanish Language. I plan on completing my add-on licenses in bilingual education and elementary education after I graduate. I will take some of those additional courses while I am teaching English abroad in Spain, for a year. I want to teach abroad in Spain in order to learn Spanish better, to get to know another culture better, to travel, to connect with other people who are so different from me, and to learn how to teach English to nonnatives.
I have been studying Spanish since I was 11, so I can relate to these students, who I will meet and work with. I will also be introduced to their families and all different cultures and religions, which is the reason why I am a strong believer in two-way immersion education. I believe that my students will have the best opportunities in the world if they are multilingual and acculturated. These are extremely desirable qualities to have in this ever-changing world, which is why I want to ensure that my students and families have the best resources available to them. I am a strong advocate for these kinds of services.
After obtaining a decent amount of work experience, I would like to continue my studies in something related to multicultural learning/teaching. I strongly believe that this country would benefit from another strong voice speaking on behalf of a minority population. My education would help me learn how to advocate for minority populations better and expose me to other resources that I did not know were available to me. This attitude and willingness to help others is a fundamental part of who I am, so my education will help me fine-tune those traits and use them to the best of my ability.
I do hope that I can accomplish these dreams in my lifetime, but understand if I cannot, due to external factors. Education always comes at a price of some sort, so I am only allowed to accomplish what I am allowed to do. I would like to be able to be definite in what the crystal ball dictates my future will be, but from my angle, my vision is still kind of blurry. What I hope will happen to me in ten years is vastly different from what will happen. I cannot control it, but I can apply myself to outside resources in hopes that they will help me fulfill my dreams.