The Desire to Learn by Lauren

The Desire to Learn by Lauren - July 2019 Scholarship Essay

Having a passion for learning does not mean that you were born with a book in your hands or have devoted your entire life to doing well in school. It does not make you a 'bookworm' or a 'geek'. When you have a passion for learning, it simply means that you use every opportunity to expand your knowledge and grow as a person.
To those seeking knowledge, even the tiniest task-- inside or outside of school-- can be used as a learning opportunity. Watching someone fix a flat tire? Now you know how to help yourself if you are ever in that situation. Volunteering to tutor a struggling friend? You come to understand the subject material better, and, at the same time, grow closer with the person you are helping.
As an American high school student, I and many of my classmates often spend our down time griping about our teachers and classwork. We take our education for granted, as much as it pains me to say it. Whenever I begin to feel like school is pointless, I just look to more impoverished countries. I look to countries where barely any children can afford to go to school, and those that do have to walk for miles just to get to a tiny shack that is devoid of basic teaching materials. Yet, whenever you look at the pictures of those children, sitting on rocks and scribbling in dirty notebooks, you see a light in their eyes that you do not see too often in America. Those children are grateful to have the opportunity to learn, to give themselves a chance for a better life.
Children like that have more work ethic, more passion, than I ever will. They know what it is like to be deprived of knowledge, so they soak it in every chance they get. When you look at them, you can see the desire in their eyes to know everything about the world that they can. You never hear them complaining about assignments or mean teachers. They accept all of their work with a smile on their face. They are the ones who have little access to education, yet still have an immense passion for it.