Finding My Fuel by Ria

Finding My Fuel by Ria - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

It is very rare to find someone who impacts our lives in a way that influences the kind of person we aspire to be. Successful careers are shaped by the guidance of these extraordinary individuals –teachers.

Every single morning, Mr. Dixon drives an hour up the highway in his Dodge Charger to teach high school students about the Extreme Value Theorem, derivatives of parametric functions, and L'Hopital's Rule. He comes into class every day with a glowing smile and gleaming eyes, ready to begin another day of calculus.
Being an educator is a demanding career, often times with little monetary payoff. Mr. Dixon’s “days off” are often crammed with lesson planning and after-school tutoring, but Mr. Dixon’s true passion for teaching is extremely evident. Mr. Dixon exemplifies the idea that if you are passionate about something, there is no limit to what you can achieve. As he has pointed out, Mr. Dixon has never had to work a day in his life.
His face lights up whenever he can help a student make sense of the world through math. With his intense drive and daily motivation, Mr. Dixon is the prime example of someone who has pursued his passion. Each day he strives to make us better critical thinkers in more creative ways. From multi-player math games to calculus scavenger hunts, he never fails to engage his students.

He has taught me the importance of pursuing something you are passionate about. He constantly teaches me to find something I love and, “don’t settle for anything less.” Passion is something that is cultivated in many ways, starting with exploring your interests. Each day, Mr. Dixon reminds his students to explore new ways to solving problems. If we are stuck on a math problem, he will teach us how to go about solving it- not give us the answer right away. Similarly, in life, many people will help us, but no one has the answers to all our problems. Moreover, we must persevere and not give up.

The most important thing I’ve learned from Mr. Dixon is to pursue a career that motivates me to try harder every day and to succeed. What is the fuel that will drive my Dodge Charger across the highway every morning?