Opportunity by Samantha

Opportunity by Samantha - January 2018 Scholarship Essay

If I were to choose one word to describe why I want to attend college, it would have to be “opportunity.” College itself is an opportunity which leads students to many more that they would otherwise not have access to. I would want to make the most of my time in college and utilize every opportunity offered to me.

Opportunity is defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as both “a favorable juncture of circumstances the halt provided an opportunity for rest and refreshment” and “a good chance for advancement or progress.” To focus on the first definition of opportunity, I believe that college will be a refreshing change from high school. I understand that I will be very busy with school work and other activities, but I also believe college is a place to find enjoyment and make friendships and to stop and enjoy life. It is an opportunity to take a break from work and stress and enjoy life and friends and family. It has often felt in high school that I have been constantly working towards finding a good college and achieving high enough to where that college might accept me. It’s felt like a constant activity that I couldn’t slow down on because someone else may be speeding up to achieve my goal as theirs. Instead of striving towards a test score or a grade point average, I would like to focus on my passions and experience.

For the second definition, I believe that college is definitely a chance to allow for a person to advance. It will take hard work and effort for this to occur, but having a college education allows for a person to go so much further in life. By going to college I would push myself and take every opportunity that could lead to my success in life. I would use college as a tool to the next step into adulthood. I am so lucky to have already been accepted into a few schools and would love to use the opportunity of college to better my life and eventually better other people’s lives through my work. I would like to advance other people’s lives as a biomedical engineer, developing research and machines that could help people. Using college would help me to better my life and hopefully others.

I believe the word that would best describe my desire to attend college must be “opportunity.” In all sense of the word, college defines opportunity to me. College is an expensive dream of mine, but I will continue to strive towards this goal. If I am awarded this scholarship, I will utilize it as its own opportunity to bring myself closer to my goals.