Always remember that success is to consistently learn about something that resonates with you, devoid of distractions. by Liam

Always remember that success is to consistently learn about something that resonates with you, devoid of distractions. by Liam - November 2018 Scholarship Essay

As a current junior in college I am often asked in casual conversation by colleagues and acquaintances about what it is that I am currently studying. After revealing to them that I am majoring in history and social science I am all too often greeted with curious and peculiar responses and the usual question being "what are you going to do with a history degree?" I have gradually become accustomed to this response despite it never ceasing to be disappointing. My ability to remain focused on my pursuit to better understand historical and social events is what has led me to my current position as a history student and participant in historical research even in the face of sometimes explicit and subtle forms of discouragement.

In our current society there has been a poisoning and alienation of the education and career systems. Most individuals I have come to observe don't enter particular fields solely out of genuine interests or because they feel like they are connected to their work on a personal level but because there is a general consensus that certain jobs simply produce financial stability. This prevalent attitude in my opinion has created a sort of factory produced mindset. In this case it is not physical parts being repetitively assembled but a rushed, fixed, and unintellectual mindset that presupposes an unfulfilled career path. Currently I am in a satisfied position knowing that my openness to growth has allowed me to realize the countless opportunities that are vital to the history and social science fields. The self taught knowledge that I have compounded over the years has afforded me the chance to get closer to the institutions I intend to be a part of. The consistency I have developed to expand on aspects and specialties of history and social science combined with my resilience to negativity and self doubt has granted me numerous occasions to partake in social science research projects and learn from observation about how the applied skills of learning history and social science is vital to understanding societal makeup and structure.

Over the years my motivations have led me to opportunities to participate in wildlife and cultural conservation projects in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, volunteering at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, field insight through professors in my department, and to a great degree a lot of reading. In retrospect it is clear that I kept learning primarily because I didn't allow myself to be thrown off my desired route and due to my decisions to make short term intentions that will grow to help my long term goals, which is to be become a museum curator specializing in ancient civilizations and cultural preservation. Following the principles of my quote allowed me to build upon my knowledge basis and apply those skills actively and naturally when it comes to current college assignments for my core history and social science courses. What this quote says about me is that I view conformity as a major inhibitor of success and how I have come to value discipline. As a result of constantly seeking new areas of study in my field of study I have understood that the notion of success is internal and attained when a person exceeds their own benchmarks without reacting to uninformed opinions and toxic peer pressure. Seeing this mistake being committed by acquaintances is what sparked my quote to help encourage others to stay focused and stay true to their course. My quote displays that I firmly believe that success is not static and is reached when action is applied to passion or interests until a beneficial result is achieved no matter how long it takes or how small the achievement.