The Word Maybe by Melissa

The Word Maybe by Melissa - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

At a young age I knew I wanted to be an accountant for the National Football League. I was told by friends and peers that my dream would never come true, simply because I was a girl. I was disappointed to know that no one believed in me. I began to not believe in myself until I sat down in my first class of junior year, which happened to be accounting.

The teacher sat at her desk organizing papers and writing notes on her apple-shaped sticky notepad. The students in the classroom had conversations about their summers and what was on the menu for lunch. I sat silently, thinking about if I was going to enjoy the class and the teacher. I was nervous. I felt as if I didn’t belong in an accounting class. I was worried that the teacher was going to tell me my dream was ridiculous too.

Then the bell rang.

The teacher stood up and greeted the class with a warm smile. She announced who she was and took attendance. Once she was done she began her short speech about the course material, what she expected, and what she hoped we gain from the class. It was a beautifully articulated speech. She was intelligent and confident…something I wish I had.

After sharing some information about herself, my teacher wanted to get to know the class. She asked the class to state our names, class year, and the career we wish to pursue. I listened as the two girls before me introduced themselves and proclaimed they wanted a career in nursing and dancing. Rachel always knew she wanted to be a nurse. Her mother worked at the local hospital and she volunteered there in the summer. Kelsey had been dancing since she was three and had big plans to dance on Broadway. I had no doubt in my mind that both of their dreams would come true.

I was next to give my introduction. I stated my name and that I was a junior. I didn’t want to tell everyone what my dream job was. I was afraid the class and the teacher would act as everyone else did. I said with hesitation, “I, uh, want to be an accountant for the NFL…I think…maybe.” My teacher was astonished when I said the word maybe. It was like she never heard the word before. I wasn’t sure why she made such a big deal about it. But in that moment my life changed from what she said to me. She looked me right in the eye and said, “Maybe is not a word.”

Throughout the rest of the year she empowered me to become an independent, confident young women. She told me that maybe is a word of self-doubt and doubt is uncertainty that can ruin my life. She was right, my uncertainty had ruined my life for all the years I doubted my dream. She knew that I can accomplish anything with a positive mindset. My teacher believe in me and I started to believe in myself.

Without those five simple words, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I live a life without uncertainty. I had no doubt in my mind when I decided to attend Bryant University to attain my accounting degree. I have plans to work for one of the Big Four firms after college. Then, after I work for one of those firms, I will pursue a career with the NFL. I now had the confidence my teacher displayed the first day of class.

As students we learn a lifetime of lessons from our teachers. We learn how to read and write, how to complete math equations, the history of the world, and how everything is made up of atoms. This information is extremely important to gain as it helps us find what we are passionate about. But, the greatest lessons we learn from teachers are not found in textbooks, they are found within themselves. In their hearts. In their advice. In their stories. Teachers will give you advice about a situation that may or may not be school related. They help you make amends with a friend or a teacher. Listen to their advice because there is a meaning. We sometimes don’t know why a teacher will go off on a tangent about a life story of theirs, but it always ends up teaching us something. Think about it. Their stories have a meaning. I have taken every lesson I was taught by a teacher and applied it to my life. Sometimes applying the lesson didn’t work out like I expected, but most of the time, like the story I just shared, it does. Just about anything and everything a teacher says is a lesson. It’s our job to listen and adopt their messages to our lives to help us grow and prosper.