Lead by Example by Rebecca

Lead by Example by Rebecca - March 2019 Scholarship Essay

In the famous words of Swami Vivekananda, “True guidance is like a small torch in a dark forest. It doesn’t show everything at once, but gives enough light for the next step to be safe”. Just like that, a tour can change the mindset of those individuals who come in contact with one and fully engage their attention toward their provided guidance. It is important to provide raw and authentic information for incoming freshman as they are more likely to believe someone who has already gained experience first hand and has acquired insight on every aspect of the school that they were involved with. In addition, as a student-athlete, I would absolutely promote the idea of getting involved within the school in the sense that they participate in extracurricular activities that particularly correspond with their interests, rather than concerns about what college admissions would think. So many individuals in today’s society are caught up with the idea of impressing these college admission officers that they begin to forget the primary purpose of any sport or activity. The primary purpose of any extracurricular activity begins with passion. Passion for any activity has to be genuine in the long run and can not be forced upon anyone or else when they face an obstacle, they will be tempted to give up easier. With passion, someone is more likely to maintain integrity as well as diligence due to their ability to face obstacles within their activity of choice and not give up.
As a result, I would suggest to take different opportunities throughout high school and learn from your mistakes. As an individual, we will always make mistakes, whether they are ones that we grow from or ones that take us down. The choice depends on our actions and our reactions to these situations. In addition, I would encourage the new incoming class to not take anything at their school for granted. All the opportunities that are offered at any place will be the best for everyone, as long as they take advantage and be grateful for what they have. For example, if a student was very interested in pursuing a career in acting, I would recommend them to investigate all the related class for that at their school and take initiative to begin early. This will, in fact, benefit them, as well as help them bond more effectively with other students that could potentially form into a life-long friendship due to their similar interests and connection. After all, you only get one life and your life is not always guaranteed so it is vital to utilize your resources effectively, use them towards your benefit, and most importantly enjoy it for yourself and maximize every aspect of high school. The lows, the highs, and the moments in between are what shape them every year in high school and throughout the rest of your life and therefore no matter what high school you attend, I would advise students to always remember to never forget where they came from and how it has shaped them as an individual whether it has been a sports team or a favorite hangout spot.