Freedom Allows Students to Express Themselves Thus Producing More Passionate Work by Maddie

Freedom Allows Students to Express Themselves Thus Producing More Passionate Work by Maddie - June 2015 Scholarship Essay

I would say that my educational pursuits in college are somewhat out of the realm of what is considered “normal.” I am currently pursing my bachelor of the fine arts degree in acting and am minoring in writing for television and film, with a focus in comedy. I am also studying dramaturgy; dramaturgs are the people that essentially do the homework for the actors and artistic staff of the show. I am a rising sophomore at Emerson College in Boston.

As you can tell, I am strong in the humanities. That being said, I am less than awesome at math and sciences, but that is just me! I would say that the answer to this question is an essay. However, I am not everyone. Which is why I think that the overarching answer to this question is an individualized project.

Everyone has different strengths and bring something else to the table. I really find it commendable when teachers give students their freedom. I think it allows students to grow and to thrive in ways not made possible by an assignment that may hinder one type of learner or the other.

In my research writing class this year, we were required to turn one of our previous essays into a form that it had not been before. I chose to turn my memoir about how I had been severely bullied in high school into a children’s book. I was able to find a website online that helped me create the artwork and I was able to write the story. I felt really amazing about it. One of my biggest goals in life is to help young women understand that it’s not okay to bring each other down. I want to help inspire that and with my book, I felt like I did, even if it was just a little bit.

Other people it the class did things that were completely different! Someone turned his persuasive piece into a song! Another person wrote a play! One made a twitter account recreating her fourth grade playground experience. We all had the opportunity to do what we wanted; therefore, what we created was passionate and individualized to ourselves. None of us felt pressured to create something that we did not enjoy, therefore, our work was so much stronger as a whole. I really think that teachers should give students more freedom to express their work the way students desire with individualized projects.