Mary Sharp: The Self Motivated Student by Mary

Mary Sharp: The Self Motivated Student by Mary - March 2014 Scholarship Essay

I consider self motivation my greatest academic achievement. My self motivation has had a positive impact on my life. Self motivation has allowed me to be an independent learner. I set due dates for myself, and I push myself to my full potential. Self motivation is ultimately the greatest academic achievement. A good grade, a high score, a blue ribbon on a science fair project; all these things are events that come and go. Thirty years from now I will have lost that report card, a high score will not matter, and that blue ribbon will be buried in a box somewhere, forgotten. Self motivation is a skill that will stick with me the rest of my life. No matter what job I have, no matter how old I am, self motivation will allow me to excel in any area of life.

I have been educated at home since I was in kindergarten. The first few years of my schooling my mom taught me using several different curriculums designed for homeschool students. From third grade to ninth grade I was enrolled PAVCS, an online school designed for independent learners. By tenth grade my parents and I made the decision to switch back to regular homeschooling, since it was a better fit with my advanced learning style and busy schedule. Being home educated my entire life has developed my learning style into that of a self motivated, responsible, and driven student.

Being a self motivated learner has also allowed me to become a self taught student. Over the past four years of highschool I have independently taught myself four English and Composition courses, four Social Studies courses, two Spanish courses, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus. I was tutored in my Algebra and Geometry courses, but this year I exceeded the mathematical abilities of my tutor and decided to venture out on my own into the unknown waters of Calculus. Seven months into my Calculus course I am excelling and loving it! Not only am I a self motivated student in academia, but also in my extracurricular studies. I continued to teach myself piano for years after I exceeded the skill level of my teacher. I taught myself guitar, and I am now teaching myself to play the ukulele. Being self taught has showed me the value of an education.

Self motivation has had a tremendous impact on my life. I am responsible with my duties, my possessions, and my time. Self motivation has given me the drive to make myself complete a task, even when I don’t feel like it. Procrastination is not a habit I take part in. Being self motivated has allowed me to keep up with my school assignments. I’ve been able to maintain good grades through all of highschool, in all subjects. Being on top of my schedule and assignments helps to reduce stress in my life as well. Self motivation has had a positive impact on my life.

Self motivation is a great achievement. It allows me to be independent, driven, and responsible. Being self motivated has taught me to value my education. It has enabled me to be a good student, as well as reduced stress in my life. I consider self motivation my greatest academic achievement because it is a feat that will stay with me the rest of my life.