Overdressed and Overeducated by Ngozika

Overdressed and Overeducated by Ngozika - February 2021 Scholarship Essay

A wise woman once said, “You can never be overdressed or overeducated,” and I completely agree. These two words are more comparable than one might think. The main similarity is the subjectiveness of the words and how they are based on how others perceive you. The fear of judgement from others hinders us from reaching our potential, or even seeing it. Ultimately, these are just words used to describe the opinions held by an individual, but realizing that the power to define myself lies within me is what matters most. To me, education is a pathway to accomplishments and puts me in charge of where that path leads me.
With an education, lifelong goals and dreams can be fulfilled. I know I am capable of success despite the many obstacles placed before me. Although the system was not created with me in mind, I still hold a strong desire to be successful and achieve my personal goals. In order to do so, I need access to key resources and opportunities available to me through my respective institution. My personal journey to success also entails a strong community and dynamic support system. Education grounds me in my quest to obtain the key to the gateway of success. It places me in the position to not just toy with the idea of success, but realize that I will accomplish it.
At the university I will attend, I am reminded of the strong foundation and support I will have as I pursue my education. I intend to major in Biology in Global Health because of the interconnection between the study of life and the varying ways to improve its quality. At Georgetown, I know it isn’t just a major, but a dissection of societal health issues, which strengthens the admirable Jesuit qualities the school so appreciably pours into its students.
I strive to have a better understanding of the health impacts plaguing our society. I know that each course I take in college will equip me with practical knowledge, preparing me for real-world application. In college I will be equipped with a wide and growing network that I can assure will aid me to be the best in my desired field. I will undoubtedly experience the competitiveness of the real-world in and outside of the classroom. This allows me to not only compete with others, but with myself. The luxury of college is being able to study whatever your passion is, and the luxury of studying at my desired university is the plethora of opportunities I will have to live out my passion.
My future will be filled with achieving the goals I set for myself, and not what I am bound to by others. There is always a possibility to succeed when you have an education, you just also have to have the opportunity right beside it. To be educated means to have access to opportunity, but in order to access these opportunities, one must be educated. The decision ultimately boils down to me, and I must ask myself, “Will I allow myself to retain opportunities or will I allow the thoughts of others to defeat me?” I know that at whatever college I decide to go to, I will proudly be overdressed and overeducated.