Kansas by Nicholas

Kansas by Nicholas - November 2015 Scholarship Essay

Of all of my childhood memories, I most explicitly recall spending one night with my Greek grandparents. As I inhaled the distinct aroma of garlic, onions, and feta that characterized my grandparents’ house, Papou (my grandfather) began narrating one of his many life struggles. He had described his experiences many times before, but hearing them again nonetheless entertained me.

This time, he described waking up early one day in the small, barren room that his family called home. Waking up his siblings - who shared the same sleeping spot on the dirt floor - he began preparing for his migrating to the fishing town of Nafpaktos in order to find work; his lacking formal education forced him to perform unskilled labor for minimal pay. After years of strife, he resolved to provide for his family by moving to America, where he became a house painter for 40 years. In the United States, my father overcame poverty by obtaining a good education, which made his family proud. In my youth, I had heard their stories countless times, but I never understood what their struggles truly meant; I had no means of comprehending the magnitude of my heritage.

Throughout my adolescence, I, like my father, have been able to receive an education, and I have taken advantage of nearly every opportunity at my disposal. I thus have become accustomed to all-nighters, unending days full of rigor, and sacrificing my personal time, all of which have fomented my intellectual growth and helped me develop the ability to think critically. While it first seemed that I would only apply the tenants of critical thinking - obtaining as much knowledge as I can in order to come to reasonable, comprehensive conclusions - to schoolwork and a future career, I now understand that I can use them to analyze the world in which I live, for doing so allows me to define who I truly am as I navigate through a society which oppresses genuine individuality. Without critical thinking, I would be experiencing the same crisis of identity to which countless teenagers fall victim.

Exploring my heritage epitomizes the type of open-mindedness imperative to my defining myself. I no longer perceive my predecessors’ stories as mere entertainment: I understand that I am part of a family whose tenacity has brought its people success in spite of its hard journey. Our work ethic and determination allow us to achieve our dreams. Furthermore, I have a unique culture, one centered around respect, gratitude, and love. I see that I am not alone in the world but, rather, am part of a Greek community that values its people over material items and understands that a sense of togetherness is the driving force of any successful community.

This set of beliefs empowers me to reach my potential. My grandfather’s achievements show me that hard work invariably yields pride, and his immense courage in the face of uncertainty demonstrates the necessity of one’s exiting his or her comfort zone. Furthermore, critical thinking helps me understand how to apply the idea of working hard and being courageous in the real world, so just as my grandfather made great sacrifices to give his family a better life, I must make sacrifices to achieve my dream of becoming a doctor. I am thus led to the realization that being a “normal” member of society is not enough if I want to succeed. Conversely, I must stray from societal norms while embracing my cultural values instead.

Critical thinking has also helped me realize the significance of the Greek Orthodox Religion in my life. I no longer see Orthodoxy as a set of beliefs – its prevalence in my life is even more fundamental. To me, Orthodoxy is a way of life, one that emphasizes the importance of community; one that demonstrates the unbreakable bonds that people form when building relationships upon positive ideals; and one that empowers people to overcome hardships by always offering support. Above all, the Greek Orthodox community is my place of refuge because of the way it empowers me to become the best I can while also bettering those around me. Nevertheless, I find it challenging at times to embrace my religion. In particular, considering that learning science is one of my great passions, the difficulty of comprehending the duality of science and religion can shed doubt on my faith. Even when an internal conflict arises as such, I believe that I should not stop seeking answers. Rather, I must continue on my journey towards an understanding of the universe because I believe that doing so will help me find peace.

The presence of critical thought in my life has done more than help me perform better in school. On a greater scale, it helps me define my true identity based on my culture and heritage, and I see the importance embracing who I am. Knowing that my character is built on a foundation of solid beliefs, I am confident that I will be able to overcome the challenges I face as I transition into adulthood. I certainly believe that I will be applying the tenants of critical thinking for the rest of my life.