Always Keep an Open Mind by Michaila

Always Keep an Open Mind by Michaila - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

Going into my senior year of high school I was not excited for a few of my classes. One class in particular was a Creative writing class. I knew I had to take it to get my last English credit so I could graduate but I knew that did not mean I had to like it. I enjoyed the teacher who was teaching the class because I had him last year so that was the only reason that I took the class. I was never a big fan of writing nor did I like to share my work with other students or teachers so this class was like prison for me. That was until my teacher Mr. Cepress my senior year Creative writing teacher taught me a very important lesson in one semester that I could use for the rest of my life
Mr. Cepress was always good with words and knew exactly what to say in any sort of situation. He knew that I did not like writing and he knew that it was torture being in this class. It was not until the second writing assignment that he made us do to really show me the lesson he was trying to teach me since the beginning of the semester, to keep your mind open to new things because sometimes you will be amazed on how much you enjoy something. I never really opened my mind up to writing and all of the wonderful things it could do. I realized that writing not only helps you express what you are thinking but it can surprise you and show you something you did not even realize you felt. Writing was a way for comfort when something bad was happening in your life or express the joy you felt about another thing. Learning this lesson did not only apply to me when it came to writing but it applied to me in all aspects of life. Learning the lesson of keeping my mind open to new things helped me chose my major in college since I was actually going to be a social work major. It helped me with trying more unique foods since sushi is now one of my favorite food. It helped me make new friends and stray away from old ones that were dragging me down. Keeping my mind open to new possibilities has made my life very positive.
I have always learned important lessons from teachers and some I still keep to this day but the lesson that Mr. Cepress taught me will always be my favorite. I used that lesson a lot in his class from writing more personal poems and stories, to reading my writings in front of the class, to reading a poem of mine that I wrote in front of a hundred faculty, parents, friends, and class mates at a writing premiere that was at my school. Always keeping an open mind to new and old things has changed me for a better person and really helped me grow as a person. So that was the most important lesson that I learned from a teacher.