You are not special by Payton

You are not special by Payton - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

The title of this essay is probably striking and there was debate on whether or not it was worth the read. A lot of words have built me up and have broken me down throughout the past 4 years of high school, but it is words that have done neither that have stuck with me. Growing up parents instill in their kids that, "The world is so lucky to have them!" and that "They are so special!" I admit those words of affirmation are what got me through my awkward phases in middle school, but it was not until the 10th grade that I heard something different. One of the most valuable lessons my Honors Literature teacher taught me as a naive 15 year old was that I was in fact not special and the world did in fact not owe me anything.
Imagine a young girl who barely squeaked out an 88 literature course average her freshman year to be placed in Honors Literature be told on the first day of school, "There's one thing I know to be true kids, the world is scary, and you all are lights, and unique, and bring something different to the table. But let me be the first to tell you, you are not special and that is how this year is to be looked at in my class." I had to pick my jaw up off the floor to say the least and I took a deep breath. Later on that day however, I thought about my kind, and witty teacher's words and they made sense. There are 7 billion people in this world who are all trying to guide their way through this life and a lot of which want the same things that I do. Why should I get an A in class when little Sally is working just as hard? Why am I so upset that I have to pay for my car's gas, when people across the world would die to have a mode of transportation for work? The answer is simple, I should not because I am not special and should not be expected to be treated as so.
The lesson sounds morbid and upsetting but indirectly I gained a lot from those 4 words. After asking numerous questions to find out where my teacher was coming from and why she said that all the time, I learned a lot about myself. Yes I am unique, and was born with different talents than other people, but without hard work I will fulfill nothing. This world will not give me anything for I am not special, I have to go get it.