My Greatest Academic Achievement by Robert

My Greatest Academic Achievement by Robert - March 2014 Scholarship Essay

Question, how do you measure academic achievements? Some people measure them by awards. Others count them by degrees. Others still, by grades. I challenge you on any one of these notions. I believe they are all byproducts of a greater academic achievement.

I believe that higher accomplishment to be the successful implementation of the ability to infuse yourself and others with passion and creativity. Yes, I am a member of an honor society, also have a 3.92 grade point average, and I am on the Dean’s List. Truly, are these achievements of much more value than kudos?

I found I do not lack the ability to get good grades this is fairly easy. What I did lack was the ability to tap into my passion and creativity in a way that naturally evoked the same in my peers. When I learned the skill to accomplish this feat, it changed my scholarly experience and not only that but the rest of my life.

The way I learned this ability was through my first class called Problem Solving. One of the steps in a problem solving heuristic is brainstorming solutions to a given problem. I always thought brainstorming meant to do it from a selfish perspective. You know get out a piece of paper and a pencil then ask yourself, “How do I solve this problem?” Once I realized the best solutions were actually ones that had taken every person’s perspective into account I was stunned. So I immediately put this understanding to work. I simply asked people what they thought and wrote it down no matter how absurd. It worked.I started seeing a new view on relationships. You can either attempt to solve a problem by yourself or you can solve a problem through the hearts of the people around you.

Most people are intimidated by group projects. They have a tendency to clam up. They have learned to just be silent and keep their opinion to themselves for fear of being ostracized, but if you give them a little encouragement, keep asking them what they think, they all seem to open up eventually. Some open up with their ideas to the extent that you cannot slow them down. It is awesome when you get to be a part of that when it happens.

In conclusion, I have learned that even academic achievements are not truly measured by awards,degrees, or even grades. The true measurement of an academic achievement resides in the ability to help your fellow man reach new heights in their passion and creativity.You will be more successful in school and in life the more you accomplish this goal.