One Step Forward by Rachel

One Step Forward by Rachel - April 2020 Scholarship Essay

I think the importance of college is different for every person. If you are motivated enough to create something for yourself without a degree, then you’ll be able to do it. Or if you have a passion for a trade job, it is very possible to make a living that way as well. If you’re the kid that has a dream of becoming a nurse, you will take every step towards that dream through college and beyond. But what about the kids who don’t know what they want to be after they walk up the stage in their cap and gown and receive their diploma, the official “Goodbye, and good luck on your own!” I don’t even know what I want for breakfast in the morning, let alone what I want to be doing five years from now. For me, I’ve only been able to cross off the definite “nos” on the world job list, but can’t quite decide which job I do want to pursue. This is where college comes in. While I still might be indecisive on my breakfast choices, exploring different classes and options in the college world will allow me to finally narrow my options and work hard towards a career. Whether that’s at a four-year university or a community college, my higher education is going to be about making the most of every opportunity and learning new things, not only about the world, but myself, too.
I believe college will also help me find more motivation in life. High school was about figuring out my likes and dislikes in general, but college is the crucial time to dissect even further and make life altering decisions. Once I find the direction I want to go, I’ll be able to plan, and hopefully feel confident about it. Motivation comes from having a passion, and that’s exactly what I'm trying to find. It's easy for me to get distracted or uninterested, unless I'm doing something that forces me to pour out my heart and really give my time, because I genuinely care about it. Like at my church, I volunteer because I want to, not because I am forced or am trying to get something out of it. The true reward is seeing people and happy, and specifically at church, learning about Jesus in the best environment possible. I want to find a career like that, where I can make people happy and help them through life wherever they might be.
After graduation, it might be stressful thinking about the future, but college is the perfect stepping stone to move forward, especially for people that are undecided. I want to be open-minded and willing to try new things, and let new experiences guide me to the right place. Not everyone has to go to college, but for me, this is just my next step to figuring out who I want to be.