Breaking Out of My Shell by Mackenzie

Breaking Out of My Shell by Mackenzie - June 2021 Scholarship Essay

The most influential teacher I have ever had is Paige Smith. Mrs. Smith was one of my high school teachers for three consecutive years. She ran the school’s Journalism program, as well as being a significant member of the 12th grade English faculty. I was first introduced to Mrs. Smith and her class when I was a sophomore heading into my first year of Journalism to pursue my interest in journalistic writing. I continued with the program for one more year, and in my senior year, I had taken her dual-credit English class. Growing up, I struggled to reach out and interact with others because of my absentee mother. From her absence, I developed a strong sense of independence which oftentimes made it hard to branch out of my comfort zone. On numerous occasions, Mrs. Smith encouraged me to interview dozens of people, reach out to potential advertisers, make phone calls, and be expressive. Not only did this help me fulfill my duties as a journalist, but it also allowed me to build confidence in my work. While at times, it was overwhelming, I knew that her intent was pure, and she only wanted the best for me. Through these pressures, I feel more comfortable with public speaking, and I plan on beginning my own podcast. Above all, she wanted to see me succeed, and I’m beyond appreciative of her efforts.
As I concluded my time with the school’s Journalism program, I chose to become one of her English students for my senior year. Considering this school year has been jam-packed with unprecedented events, Mrs. Smith still found a way to make remote learning fun and educational. Over the school year, I became more familiar with different college preparations, which was significantly due to Mrs. Smith. She introduced me and others to various platforms to search for financial aid and how to continue our successes in the future. She believed in all of her students, and I firmly believe that it has made an impact on my peers and myself. Overall, school can be stressful, and school amidst a pandemic can be even more so; however, her reassurance and encouragement motivated me to finish the year off strong.
As incoming students enter my high school, I can only hope that they have the pleasure of having Mrs. Smith as one of their teachers. All in all, Mrs. Smith has had a substantial influence on not only my academic career but my character as a whole.