The Value of Knowledge by Liddy

The Value of Knowledge by Liddy - January 2017 Scholarship Essay

At first, some point in the past, I thought I knew all. I was so naive to think the Presidential debates, or debates expressed through scripted Law and Order were the correct and acceptable ways to argue. When I joined my school’s debate team, I expected to enter into a world where the arguments were intense and heated. Little did I know, not only was I far from wrong, but an effective argument is a calm and respectful disagreement. As a new member of this small public school team, it quickly became apparent to me that debate is an alluring form of art.

The bold lines outlining the rules to debate are followed by beautifully constructed cases. These cases are more than just words thrown together on a page. Instead, they are intricate phrases pieced together through persuading and enticing diction. Clauses after clauses include impactful statements that you will later have to defend in the round. Sure, the cases themselves are extremely important, but as I discovered, it is truly your knowledge of a vast variety and a great abundance of information that will lead you to victory.

My coach, a great man, instilled within me the notion that knowledge is paramount above all other objects one could possess. No matter what you do or where you go in your life, I have learned no harm can come from an increase in knowledge. As a matter of fact, with acquiring or the earning of more knowledge, more opportunities can arise. Whether it is grasping a better understanding of inflation, learning the importance aspects of foreign diplomacy, or mastering the Squeeze Theorem of Calculus, any tidbit of information is profitable.

It took some time for me to realize this, and now it is evident to me that the purpose of debate is not so much to win or lose, but to walk out of each round holding in your hands, new information, and greater insight. I am now aware of the value of knowledge. That is, you simply cannot put a value on it. Being more insightful about this principle, my eyes were opened to the struggle of learning other students in my community face.

As a Mark Twain fanatic, my coach is always spewing references and quotes. However, there is one quote I remember more often than others. “It is noble to teach oneself, but still nobler to teach others”. Whether it actually was stated more, or it simply stuck in my brain for its powerful quality, I cannot remember. Either way, this quote spoke to me as if it was Gabriel and I was Mary.

“It is nobler to teach others”, I firmly agree. I’ve been volunteer tutoring for quite awhile now, all age groups and a vast variety of subjects. In subjects such as math, history, Spanish, reading, spelling, and writing, I have provided help in, for little first graders, all the way through big high schoolers. Throughout my time as a tutor, it humbles me to say that each child is gaining a greater understanding of their subjects. I take pride in the children’s improvement of the subjects of which they struggle, but even more so, the glimmer they get in their eyes when they succeed.

Eventually, I came to the realization that I am not the only one who can make this difference. Many of my peers are bright enough and have the capability of helping other students. To take action, this past year I became President of the National Honors Society in my school, where we advocate that all members dedicate a portion of their time to volunteer tutor. Today, it is encouraging to see a group of intelligent, motivating, and inspiring students helping spread what became visible to me through debate: the value of knowledge.