Personal Diligence by Mitchell

Personal Diligence by Mitchell - October 2018 Scholarship Essay

“Just think outside the box and be creative!” A phrase I have heard many a time from school teachers, on applications, and even in commercials that pop up on television. This is a timeless phrase though it has been used over, and over again. Despite this, it is still quite a powerful saying, because anyone who hears it immediately knows what is being asked of them. Yet, everyone interprets it differently, and ends up responding in their own way whenever they hear it.
To myself, “thinking outside the box” means caring about my work. It is about working my hardest on the task at hand and making sure that my best is shown in the result. Then, through this diligence, comes creativity. When people truly care for the work they are doing, the creativity comes naturally throughout the process, and the product becomes something that others are impressed by and respect. An example from my life is when I applied for and was accepted to the Green Youth Advisory Council in my county, which develops environmentally-friendly projects to improve our community. I am a project leader in analyzing food waste in the county schools, and working with school leaders to recognize the importance of thinking outside the box when it comes to food waste in their cafeterias. It is truly “inside the box” which the majority of work falls into. The box of sub-par, good enough work that follows a set path already given to them, rather than straying from that path and making the product different.
However, taking interest in and putting your best into your work isn’t all that the phrase means to me. In fact, I think that being true to yourself is the most important aspect of thinking outside the box! The quality of being unique holds a lot of weight when compared to others. When a piece of work truly is unique, it makes said work stand out from the rest because it displays true passion and wonder. Now, of course, being true to yourself is different from person to person, hence the word unique. But nonetheless, that’s what truly makes diversity beautiful, and is the reason why it stands out in a crowd of average, uninspired grayness.
In conclusion, the way I view it expresses my passion for thinking outside the box and displaying my unique style. Thinking outside of the box isn’t just not following the rules for the sake of it. It’s about taking those rules and applying them in your own way that shows true dedication, drive, and a sense of inspiration that is rarely seen in others.