English Saved Me by Leilani

English Saved Me by Leilani - April 2013 Scholarship Essay

My favorite subject has always been English.  I have enjoyed reading from a young age, and continue to read as much as I can.  Now, when my children see me read it encourages them to read as well.  High school is a very hard time in a youth’s life, between peer-pressure, physical, mental and emotional changes along with the pressures to pass and get into a good college those four years can be full of stress and confusion.    I did relatively well in school, but like most teenagers I did not feel as if I fit in, and felt like an outsider.  In my senior year I had one teacher that made all the difference in the world.  My English teacher saw potential in me that few others recognized.  She inspired me to grow and come out of my shell.  I was referred to classes that I loved World Literature Honors, and Literature Genre Honors.  These classes opened me up to more of the literature in the world and helped me to explore all aspects and genres of literature.  I even became the editor of my high school’s literary magazine.  The love and care that Mrs. Hamilton showed me encouraged me opened my eyes to a whole new world and helped me to be the kind of person and student she knew I was capable of.  My love of literature is being passed down to my children, my daughter who is only eight years old was the top AR student in the entire school last year, and is currently sitting at number two atop the list.  Her teachers have always been amazed at her reading ability and the quantity in which she reads.   Mrs. Hamilton  gave me the love of literature, and I am passing that love to my children and hope it opens the doors to the world for them, that it did for me.