Investing in My Best Self by Olivia

Investing in My Best Self by Olivia - November 2023 Scholarship Essay

I want to go to college so I can gain the skills to thrive in my personal and professional relationships. Choosing to pursue higher education allows me to take advantage of resources designed to help me figure out who I want to be and how I can make a difference. Upon arriving at the University of Minnesota, Duluth I was welcomed into a community of like-minded peers with similar goals to my own and began receiving the support of professionals that know what it takes to excel in the workforce.

Getting an education means I will enter the workforce as a confident and qualified candidate with the ability to grow and make meaningful contributions in any position. I want to use my college education to enhance the way businesses interact with technology. Studying management information systems at the University of Minnesota, Duluth will prepare me for the demands of a job that analyzes business procedures and the information systems powering them. Written and verbal communication, logical thinking, and an understanding of technology are all skills I plan to embrace both inside and outside of the classroom. Classes like Financial Accounting and Statistics for Business will give me the specific vocabulary and knowledge to execute analytical tasks, while playing on UMD’s club ultimate frisbee team and holding a part time job in campus dining services will improve how I communicate and work in a team. Making the sacrifice to pursue an education before entering the workforce also presents networking opportunities. Attending industry events hosted by my college and creating relationships with presenters and recruiters will give me a better idea of what companies are looking for in a candidate and how I can leverage my connections to find the right place for me. When I graduate, I will be equipped to use my talents to improve the everyday operations of businesses and connect with the people behind them.

As I continue to learn and find my place in the world, I want to create not just a fulfilling career, but a socially impactful life. Getting an education will enable me to become a more engaged and productive community member. By pursuing a higher education, I will become better at analyzing issues from multiple points of view and gain deeper insight into my gifts and how they can be used to further the goals of others. Joining such a large network of people eager to investigate the world gives me easier access to diverse learning. Listening to my peers and professionals in the Duluth area share their stories of personal and career growth strengthens my ability to relate to ideas outside of my own. Taking a wide variety of courses at a college that emphasizes the importance of a liberal education challenges me to examine and connect ideas in new ways to be a more effective problem solver. Moving away from home to attend college also gives me the opportunity to explore my role within a new community. Learning about the issues in my area and the advocacy efforts surrounding them will give me a better understanding of what my social responsibility is and how I can be a capable leader no matter the circumstances. Getting involved in outreach organizations will allow me to put compassionate, informed choices in action. By viewing college as a time to build up others as well as myself, I can learn how to apply my skills in a socially conscious way. Going to college means deconstructing and rebuilding the way I think in order to advance my life and the lives of others.