Unexpected Knowledge by Quynh

Unexpected Knowledge by Quynh - June 2024 Scholarship Essay

The truth is that high school is stressful, especially when you push yourself too hard. Burnout is easily apparent by senior year, when students must complete college applications, AP tests, dual enrollment classes, and other demands pile on top of fundamental schoolwork. All of this is done to improve academic achievement in the future. I'd be in that scenario, but informal education spared me from burnout. I first learned about this form of schooling during my junior year of high school. I had no idea that this form of instruction existed before. So, I had no idea what this strategy was until I found out. Then, I realized that practically all of my learning outside of class was through informal education.

From games to YouTube videos, social activities, and communication... It's incredible how much I've learnt unconsciously. For example, while checking YouTube, I stumbled upon the RedNile channel. Then I spent a while viewing videos. His videos are about chemistry and fascinating labs, and I'm curious. This unplanned learning experience came in handy during a chemistry quiz. During the chemistry quiz, the teacher provided us with a bonus question to earn extra credits. I looked at the question, and it was familiar. I knew the solution since I saw it in RedNile's video, which I watched a few days before. It turns out that I was the only one with the correct answer. Even the teacher was surprised because he wasn't expecting anyone to have it right.

Another example of this technique is how I enhance my English skills by watching movies. I adore movies in general, and if I had the time, I would watch them twice a week. At the time of learning English, I always watched English movies with subtitles in my primary language and never without them. However, it is not always available, sometimes the translation isn’t accurate. So I attempt to watch with English subtitles instead; it's not that horrible because I can understand some of the words. Furthermore, I use the visual to figure out what is going on in the film. After finishing, I note down unfamiliar words and use a dictionary to determine their meaning. Then I rewatched the movie again. Over time, my comprehension improved, and subtitles became unnecessary. It also helps me to listen better in classes and allows me to follow the lectures.

There are numerous instances of how informal education contributes to my success. This strategy not only educates but also entertains. After school, I may rest and learn at the same time without wasting time. Furthermore, it is not stressful because there is no deadline to meet and no quiz or test to prepare for. I love this type of learning.