Discuss What Having A Passion for Education Means to You by Leah

Discuss What Having A Passion for Education Means to You by Leah - July 2019 Scholarship Essay

Having a passion for education is extremely important and I have the experience to prove it.
I graduated high school in 2011 and the following Fall, I started going to my local community college, LFCC. My plan (well, maybe it was my parent's plan) was to go there for 2 years and then transfer to JMU to get my teaching degree.
However, I wanted to major in something else entirely: partying with my friends. I had no interest whatsoever in school. I've always liked to read and I have done a decent job in English classes so I stayed in the one I was enrolled in. But Biology? As my 2 year old son likes to say often, "No way!" I went to the Biology class that was in the classroom and I was not excited. A couple days later, I went to the Biology class that was for the lab work. I walked out 20 minutes later and never looked back. The semester ended and I did not enroll in any more classes. I decided to study harder in my partying degree. That did NOT get me anywhere in life.
Fast forward to now and I am a single mom of my beautiful son, I am over 2 years clean and sober from drugs and alcohol and I actively chase my recovery by going to AA meetings and meeting with my sponsor. I work full time and I also volunteer as a Peer Recovery Specialist.
My goal was to make a career out of being a PRS, but I do not receive any type of child support and daycare is very expensive! I just wouldn't be able to live off that salary.
As I surfed the internet one day for "careers similar to Peer Recovery Specialists", I saw the words, "social worker". Perfect! I have experience with social workers and I was very grateful for the time they spent with me to try to help me have a better life.
I have never been more excited about education in my entire life! I know that I will succeed at this. I can't wait to be able to help mothers who are addicted to drugs or children who are affected by their parents drug use. I can't wait to make a difference because Lord know, we need more compassion and help in this world then ever before.
Thank you for taking the time to read my essay and I hope you decide to choose me. I don't think you would regret it!