College is like an ogre by Mina

College is like an ogre by Mina - June 2013 Scholarship Essay

College is like an ogre. Because according to Shrek, ogres are like onions. Because ogres have layers, and onions have layers. College also has layers— layers of purposes. Of course, the first layer getting an education and expanding both the breadth and depth of our knowledge, and the second layer is climbing up the ladder to our careers. However, these two layers ultimately lead to the third layer: discovering ourselves. Because as we get our education, as we expand the breadth and depth of our knowledge, as we attend classes, we find what our true interests are and realize what skills and talents we harbor within ourselves. The fuzzy, hazy image of the “future” that we’ve envisioned all our lives becomes clearer and closer until it eventually becomes “now”. 
College is also like an ogre because at first it's really ugly. After all, nobody wants to go to college and endure hours and hours of grueling, incessant, never-ending, tedious— well, you get the point. But like an ogre, college has a more pleasant, underlying inside— a more pleasant layer, if you will. Because college is taking one step down the path to becoming happy, healthy, prosperous, and successful individuals. Because college is the chance to become somebody, to become the ideal “us” we’ve imagined since we were little kids. College is the opportunity to leave not just a carbon footprint behind, but to leave our mark on the world. To bring change. Make a difference. College is dedication, determination, discipline, effort, hard work, all-nighters, sweat, blood, tears— until we stand in our caps and gowns on graduation day.  So we can become happy, healthy, prosperous, and successful. So we can grasp at our chance to become somebody, to become the ideal “us” we’ve imagined since we were little kids. So we can reach for the opportunity to leave not just a carbon footprint behind, but to leave our mark on the world. To bring change. College is like an ogre because like Shrek, it can make a difference.