My Life's Education by Luke

My Life's Education by Luke - December 2014 Scholarship Essay

After my first day of Kindergarten, I said to my mom, “Yeah, it was fun, but I don’t think I want to go there tomorrow”... little did I know what was in store for me. I feel that my younger years of schooling moderately prepared me for high-school. Of course I had my faults, but that did not stop me from learning. My teachers were, I believe, some of the best teachers I could have ever had.

Both of my parents are teachers, so naturally I grew up in a teaching environment. In both of their contracts it states that they are required to be to the school no later than 7:30 A.M. That meant getting up early everyday so I could get a ride from them. I always hated that part, but it taught me discipline, and I needed that down the road.

When I was in third grade, my parents divorced. Now before that happened, I really did not have many close friends. After it happened, I did not have any that I can remember. Looking back, I can see that the divorce affected me on many levels. Socially, emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. I do believe I developed some anxiety that was my way of coping. At this point you’re probably wondering how education shaped my life. Here’s how…

In fifth grade I met my best friend Adam. He and I are still great friends today. In the beginning, though, I was jealous of his life. He had married parents, only one house to call home, his own pets, video games, a family cabin on a lake, and a better social life. I had everything the opposite. We still had many great times together, though. There was one thing I did get from being friends with him--all the negative aspects of my life melted away. I could be totally engulfed in happiness when I was around him. He and I would always talk about girls, TV, school, and life itself. I know if I had not gone to the school I go to now, I would not have ever met him and had the experiences we had.

In seventh grade I had two core class teachers: Mr. Palzkill and Mrs. Tri. That year was the best school year I have ever had. Many things happened that year. First, my baby half-brother was born in September. My stepmom and dad named him Henry John. Today he is five and attends preschool in my school district. Second, that year was the first year of the brand new middle school and my class was the first seventh grade class to use it. Third, it was the first year I had a girlfriend. The relationship did not last long, but it was still exciting for me. Fourth, it was the first year I joined track, the first extracurricular activity I had ever done, and loved every single second of it. Yes, seventh grade year was my best year, and I have my core class teachers to thank for that. They both taught me that I needed to come out of my “shell” and explore the opportunities I had. Most of all, Adam was there to enjoy everything with me.

Another way education has shaped me is that in my high school I have started two clubs, both of which are very active today. The first club is a geocaching club. Geocaching is a unique sport in where people use a GPS to find or hide treasures. My english teacher, Mrs. Heather Walsh, is the adviser. To understand more about geocaching, visit geocaching.com. The second club I started is a newspaper club. Back in the 1960s my high-school used to have a newspaper titled the Kometeer. It was inactive until this year. I asked my writing teacher, Mrs. Lisa Goihl, to be the adviser for the club. She happily accepted, and we now have 10 students involved. We revived the old title, and so far have published four periodicals. To view them, visit http://www.komets.k12.mn.us/page/3367.

Looking back through all the years, I see myself growing up. School was my home away from home. It added structure and discipline to my life. I feel I have grown so much from when I began my seventh grade year. After the my parents divorced. I think the only way I could contain myself from the brokenness was through a means of social isolation. I still refrain back to that way when something bad happens to me, yet I think back to the opportunities and risks I pursued my seventh grade year. They were scary, but they excited me. That gave me what I needed: motivation. I have always gotten back up on my feet and kept running. While college looms over me with a gigantic scary-looking bill, I know I will come out on top of it with triumph by cash-flowing everything towards it. I’m scared, but I’m excited for what will happen next in my life. I plan to major in elementary education because I found I love working with young kids through a class I recently took. Education has made an impact on me, now it’s time I make an impact on education.