Not One, But All by Roxanne

Not One, But All by Roxanne - June 2015 Scholarship Essay

I believe the academia world, as we know it, has a very significant flaw. Each student applying for colleges, getting tested on coursework, or competing for an award is so vastly different. Yet, we are all funneled down the very same shoot when trying to prove our capabilities.

For instance, I actually hate writing, because I’m really bad at it. And lucky me, every single scholarship I’ve applied for has required an essay entry. And to my not-surprise, I haven’t been awarded a single one. But does that mean I’m undeserving or unqualified of those scholarships? I can promise that isn’t the case; if I could sit in a room for a mere 5 minutes with the panel who’s judging my capabilities, I can guarantee I’d blow my peers out of the water. I’m personable and can convey my thoughts so much easier as they come to me in the moment, face to face.

I realize this isn’t the case for everyone. Some students have beautiful minds and thrive in a creative medium, some want to be assessed via scantron with no room for grey areas, and then there are the few that have been blessed with the ability to write and I think they’ve collectively won every scholarship I’ve applied for.

So how do we level the playing field? In the perfect world I’ve conjured up, every student is assessed in the medium of his or her choice. Leave it open for the person to submit whatever they choose.

The cooperation wants to know how this scholarship will help the student individually?
Let Samantha make a video of her current living situation, showing how hard she’s worked to even finish high school. Let Jonathan send in a beautifully crafted essay that articulates how without the award he will not be able to afford a higher education. And let me come into your offices and tell you that winning this scholarship will allow me to feel worthy of continuing my education. Because getting rejected for months on end by companies, clubs, and people has only made me question if I even belong in college. If I can’t afford it, and no one thinks I have just enough reasons for going, why am I putting all this effort into getting there?

That is how I wish we could all be assessed. I wish we could be judged in our very best light, so that you can clearly see the beauty and worth of every student. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my thoughts on the matter. And an even bigger thank you for awarding students so generously and frequently with financial help.