The Importance of Passion by Mikayla

The Importance of Passion by Mikayla - June 2019 Scholarship Essay

Someone once said, “The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book” and this describes my favorite teacher, Dr. McKinney, perfectly. He taught my first sustainability class in college and I saw his passion for the environment the very first day. A textbook wasn’t assigned for his class because he wanted to reduce our use of paper; however, his extensive knowledge on the subject rendered the textbook pointless anyways. Through Dr. McKinney an important lesson I learned that if you are passionate about something you have the potential to inspire others, too.
My education was impacted when I realized how much I enjoyed learning about sustainability. Before going into GEO 202s, I considered the topic of sustainability to be a hobby of mine. It wasn’t until I took his class, I realized it was much more than that After my first class with Dr. McKinney, I took three more of his classes. He helped me find something I was passionate about which is sustainability and helping the planet for future generations. I began doing research about sustainability both in and out of the classroom.
I was determined to use my newly found passion to inspire others, so my peers and I decided to start a club to clean up the Smoky Mountains to combat pollution. I got more involved in the Office of Sustainability and Recycling to spread awareness about the importance of living sustainably.
My future plan is to get my master’s that focuses on the environment and sustainability. I also plan to start businesses to combat climate change by helping others live sustainability through fashion and real estate. Without Dr. McKinney, I don’t think I would as passionate about sustaining the environment and I’m glad I decided to take his class. I hope to be able to inspire others through my passion as I continue my journey throughout life as he did for me.