Education: A Gift to the Soul by Payton

Education: A Gift to the Soul by Payton - July 2014 Scholarship Essay

Kristi Palmer. Such a plain and simple name for a woman so beloved by her students. I took four of her classes while I attended a community college nearby. She was fun, passionate, and loving. She treated every student as if they were a child of her own. It was impossible not to adore her. Kristi believed education dealt with more than simply teaching her pupils. For her, it was all about causing each and every person that enrolled in her classes to think, to take interest, to question, and to appreciate every single blessing they were graced with. Professor Palmer guided each group of students through the semester in a way unlike any other instructor. She carefully considered each person's feelings and history while she taught, tailoring her lessons to each group.

Kristi made us all more aware of the world we live in and opened our eyes to both the truth and the possibilities, a gift to all of her students which many other teachers fail to present in a proper manner. She showed us both the atrocious and the beautiful sides of life, all the while keeping others’ emotions and personal backgrounds in her heart so as never to offend a soul. Aside from that, she made learning a joy rather than a chore. Classes were focused on the opinions of students; everyone was heard and no one could possibly be wrong.

Overall, life and learning became things that I grew to cherish after I met Kristi and my life will be forever impacted by the role that she played. She takes her job ever so seriously and forces each student to open their minds and hearts to the world that surrounds us. Education was a vital part of her life, as it is in my own life now.