The Influence of Inspiration by Natalie

The Influence of Inspiration by Natalie - June 2021 Scholarship Essay

As a newly graduated high school student, I’ve endured the teachings of at least 100 different teachers. Yet, I can answer without hesitation that only three of them left an impact on my life, and only one has caused a spark of inspiration in me. It’s not an easy job- inspiring high school students, yet each day I walked into this teachers class, I not only left with a reinstated dedication to do my absolute best but also a desire to pursue a career in journalism.

For some students, high school was one of the best times of their lives. As for me, those four years consisted of eating lunch in the library, counsellor appointments, and senioritis setting in as early as freshman year. It wasn’t until I enrolled in 1302 Dual Credit English that I had something to look forward to each day. This class was said to be one of the most strenuous class, packed with lots of homework assignments, projects, and reading materials. Those rumours were, in fact, true but what came as a surprise was that I didn’t mind doing all of the work. Instead, I was eager to learn and digest new material that this teacher taught us each day. This was a new thing for me- wanting to do homework? Even typing it sounds weird.

I realized I loved the work I was doing because it was a way for me to express myself. Something I couldn’t do by solving a math problem or by learning about historical figures from hundreds of years ago. This class became my outlet- the place where I could confidently share who I truly was. I wrote about my passion for modelling, competing in pageantry, my love for travelling the world, and my goal of applying to very picky colleges. Instead of teasing me for having high aspirations and telling me to be more realistic with my goals, like what most teachers in the past have done, this teacher was the person that told me I was capable of achieving those goals and so much more. I thought she was insane-

But, here I am; a year later, I am a homeschooled senior that has been travelling the world during a pandemic. I’ve also been modelling for a full-time job for brands that I have only ever seen in stores. This year I also was crowned the winner of Miss Texas Teen International Junior Miss. On top of that, after applying to the schools I was told I would not get into and later accepted into every single one, I decided to attend Southern Methodist University on an academic scholarship in pursuit of a career in journalism. A career that will continue to allow me to express who I am.

So, to Mrs. SoRelle, the teacher who was incredible at her job of teaching and inspiring every student who walked through her door, she is part of the reason I am who I have become today. All I needed was someone to believe in me, and Mrs. SoRelle was that someone.