Background Lesson by Obumneke

Background Lesson by Obumneke - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

Backwards Lesson
Our teachers can be some of the most influential people in our lives. What we learn from them can have lasting impacts but in all kinds of different ways. That being said, the most important lesson I learned from a teacher was to never let anyone make assumed judgments about a person because only that person knows their full potential; one only ends up wasting time doubting instead of persevering.
In eighth grade, all students were to select classes they would take during their freshman year of high school. This was the first time we students was able to decide what level of classes we wanted to take, whether it be AP, PreAP, or Academic. Being in GT classes all my life, I, as well as most of those surrounding me, opted to take PreAP courses. However, there was one AP course, Human Geography, available to high school freshman, and my classmates and I were uncertain on whether we should select this class. Now all students were to complete the selection process during their history class, and amid all our uncertainty, my history teacher decided to speak out. My teacher said that AP classes require summer work, which she felt most of students would not be willing to complete. Most of all, she believed only four students in the entire classroom would be able to take and handle an AP class, and I was not among those students. Even though her advice irked me, I still went ahead and left the AP class off my schedule, deciding to take the easy road because I felt I was not good enough.
Upon entering high school, I completed my freshman year successfully and did not enroll for my first AP class until my sophomore year. The class was challenging at times, but I was very successful and often found myself regretting not taking AP my freshman year. I then opted to take the Human Geography class as an elective during my junior year on top of all my other core classes. Though it was very rewarding, the year also proved to be very stressful at times, and in the end, I recognize that some of this could have been avoided. By listening to my eighth grade teacher's advice, I ended up playing catch up during my junior year and adding pressure onto the most difficult year of high school. At times, I wanted to feel angry at her for her judgmental advice. Looking back now, I understand it was essential to receive those "words of wisdom." My teacher inversely helped me, by showing me that no one knows my full potential but myself. She may have felt that most of us students were not capable of a challenge, but no one could have really known until we got into the classroom and tried for ourselves. However, we did not push and instead settled for someone else's opinion about us, and in the end, that proved to be costly for us students.
In conclusion, my most valuable lesson from a teacher is to remember to never sell yourself short without trying first. I doubted myself without giving myself a chance, simply because my teacher felt I could not handle the challenge. Three years later, I realize that the doubt was already implanted in me; my teacher only helped it blossom. In the end, I now understand that her judgment is nothing compared to the effort I am willing to put forward.