L is for Learning by Lillian

L is for Learning by Lillian - March 2018 Scholarship Essay

Imagine this, I walk into a 2nd grade classroom and ask them to draw a picture of what they want to be when they grow up. I’d probably see some drawings of police, doctors, firefighters, sports players, dancers, and many other careers. I’d then ask them to raise their hand if they like school. If any of them don’t I’d tell them that they need education to reach their dreams and should try to like school. For those that do raise their hands I’d tell them to never stop liking school because it’s very important. Then I would ask them how they think a doctor becomes a doctor and explain how to reach their goals they will have to learn everything they can about what they want to be.
Next I’d ask how many of them have taught a friend or family member how to do something and how it made them feel. If they say it made them feel good then I’d tell them to remember that feeling when they think school is hard. I’d say that when they learn something new they’ll be able to share what they learn with their friends and be able to feel good about themselves.
By the end I hope that they will have learned that education will allow them to be what they want to be when they grow up and that it can make them feel really good inside.