National Commit Day by Olamide

National Commit Day by Olamide - November 2019 Scholarship Essay

In my senior year of high school, I was elected to be the Student Body Vice President. Given this responsibility, I knew that I would have to make the most of the position I was given and that I had to make sure that people’s votes for me did not go in vain. Before my senior year, there was no real recognition for students who planned on furthering their education by going to college or for students who planned on going into the military. After seeing other schools set aside entire days for seniors on National Commit Day, I knew that it was essential to acknowledge and celebrate the students who were taking the initiative to better their future.

On the morning of May 1st, seniors all over the country, including myself, woke up ready to proudly declare to the world what our next phase in life would be. When I walked on my school’s campus, I was elated to see the university and college shirts that my friends and classmates were wearing. Some decided to go to big public universities in-state for school, some decided to go halfway across the country to private universities, and some students chose to go to community college. All of these choices deserved to be celebrated, and I was content in knowing that I played a part in helping create a space for my classmates to be acknowledged for what they did to get to that point. Later on in the day, with, the help of the different guidance counselors and administration at my school, we were able to create a small party where students ate cookies and took pictures to announce their pride in the schools they were going to or what branch of the military they were planning on joining. After the event was over, I realized that what had happened was way more than just an excuse to get out of class and eat sweet treats. I learned that some of my classmates planned on being first-generation college graduates and that some came from a family with a long history of serving in the military. I was able to gain a greater respect for my class, and I realized just how important getting a college education meant to me. The end result not only created a space for my classmates to take pride in their achievements in high school but also inspired the younger students to strive for their dreams, just as my classmates had done.