Education Must Be Exploratory by Megan

Education Must Be Exploratory by Megan - January 2015 Scholarship Essay

I would consider myself an engaged student who has seen a glimpse of the larger picture of the education system. I have had close relationships with teachers who have given me insight into their own reasoning for teaching and some of their methods. Earlier in high school, I was set on becoming a teacher. Although my career goals have changed, my interest in bettering the education system, or at least being an active citizen regarding the school system, has not. The greatest problem I have seen in my schooling experience would be apathetic students. It is not as prevalent in college as it is in high school, where students are forced by their parents to attend pubic school and “at least graduate”. I have always been a driven student; my parents hardly did anything to push me academically, so I was extremely self motivated. Looking at the root of my ambition, I believe I wanted to do well in school because I saw the benefits of being a well-rounded individual who was knowledgeable in multiple disciplines… which would only make me more appealing to employers and to future colleagues. Now that I attend a liberal arts university, I truly believe in the idea of having an all-encompassing curriculum that encourages the student to push past the bare-minimum, while exploring more creative or out-of-the box courses.

If I could give teachers one piece of advice to help the student learn, I would recommend that they encourage students to explore multiple facets of the given curriculum. Students will try harder in subjects they find interesting, so encourage them to find their own personal interesting topic within the larger topic the instructor is required to teach. For example, a music-lover has very little interest in history, but discovering musical talent of the Renaissance might spark a desire to learn. Similarly, the athlete who dislikes music class might be inspired by a research paper regarding the music choices at the Olympics. One of the greatest things my college professor has done for me was assigning a flexible research paper. He gave us the guidelines on how to write a concise but thorough paper, but then let us explore whichever topic or argument we would like. In a classroom full of different majors who must all learn to write a research paper well, this was a compromise that was both enjoyable for the student and helpful to the teacher. You see, once my professor had read all the theses, he was introduced to each individual’s passions, ultimately creating a more concrete and genuine relationship with his students.

In conclusion, if a teacher encourages exploration within the discipline, or finding the connection between the required curriculum and one’s own passions, then the student will learn with better comprehension and less apathy. Plus, it creates a better understanding between student and teacher. The gap between student and teacher has existed for far too long, it’s filling could mean an entirely better education system.