Try Something New! by Madison

Try Something New! by Madison - February 2022 Scholarship Essay

I will never forget the class where Colton Foster told me one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received. It was an ordinary lesson. Nothing notable had occurred that day, nothing that would signify how special the day was going to hang in my memories. And as for Colton, well, there was nothing special about him either. He was a normal kid, but one thing about him always struck me as odd. Colton always had a new hobby. He was always trying new things, experimenting, or fiddling with a new project. I had always admired him for it. He always seemed to find time for what he loved. We were only classmates, we had never been close. But as we were sitting next to each other, having a friendly conversation, his hobbies came up. Of course, I asked him why he did it. Why would he waste so much time on his silly projects? He told me himself that he thought they would never become anything more than ways to pass the time, so why would he even do it? What he told me changed my life.
Without missing a beat, he responded, “Why not? How will I ever find out what I like to do without trying everything I can? We live in a time of experimentation, so why not give everything a shot?”
It may sound simple, but it’s true. I had never thought about it like that. From that day forward, I would follow in Colton's footsteps. Pursue any activity that piqued my curiosity and that philosophy has inspired me to this day. If I were to design a new elective class, I would create a course that allowed students to share in this opportunity of our youth to try new things.
To begin, I will explain the curriculum and what this course would look like. The course would be called, "Exploratory Research". In this course, I would accumulate a variety of different activities. Painting, basketball, singing, and all manner in between would be welcome. Any new hobby or activity on the market would be a suitable target of study. It would be a year-round course to which the lessons would change bi-weekly. As for how much the elective would be worth, it would only be one credit for the full-year course.
Continuing, this course would be an excellent addition to any school as it encourages creativity and the keeping of hobbies. Studies have shown, hobbies can help keep children physically fit and mentally healthy. By offering different activity lessons, children could have the opportunity to find a hobby that they enjoy in a stress-reduced environment. Thus, people from different backgrounds and grade levels intermingle and get to know each other by creating a welcoming environment for all. Not only would this elective help the student, but grade relations as well.
To conclude, my new elective would be a skill-learning and opportunity-gaining experience. Our teenage years are some of the most complex in our lifetime; why not lighten the load with some levity? All in all, I think we can all learn a lesson from Colton and try something new together.