The Key To My Success Will Be My Ability to Network by Sarah

The Key To My Success Will Be My Ability to Network by Sarah - November 2016 Scholarship Essay

I really do believe in meritocracy – that jobs should be given to those who earn them and that better performance should stimulate promotions. However, the importance of networking cannot be emphasized enough in today’s exploding economy and competitive job market. Therefore, the opportunity that college will provide me with that I am most thankful for will be the creation of relationships – personal and business – that will help me achieve my academic and career goals.
In high school my niche revolved around the social sciences – I excelled in my Youth & Government delegation, supporting mock legislation and running for election, and I also enjoyed government and history classes. I realize now that I never exposed myself to anything outside my comfort zone. That is why I made it an ambition of mine to make friends of opposite majors and explore different clubs in order to become a well-rounded person. I have since made one good friend who is a biology major. We study sometimes together and she talks to me about different biochemical processes and her plans for medical school. She wants to go into obstetrics and gynecology because she feels strongly about providing women with easily accessible and beneficial prenatal care and wants to personally be responsible with an increase in prenatal checkups in America. I on the other hand being a political science major planning on attending law school have been helping her comb through the different propositions on the ballot this year and keep her up to date with recent candidate news. Even though she is on a different life path than me, she is equally dedicated to her schoolwork and enjoys hobbies of mine, like movie going and bike riding – so we make a great pair. By being able to learn from one another due to our different majors and passions, we benefit one another in our mission to become more knowledgeable students and eventually employees.
I am just a freshman, but internship and job opportunities keep me up at night. I would love to intern at a litigation office and learn more about my intended career, but I would also love to work at a museum or medical clinic and learn more about the things that spark my every day interest. I know I have four years to do all of it, but I am aware that the internships or jobs I choose to pursue will greatly affect my future career. During my college job experience I hope to build relationships with employers who view me as a competent, reliable, and skilled worker. I know personally I will do my best at any job I am presented with, but of course charisma and obvious enthusiasm is needed to convince an employer of my importance to their business. College will be a time for me to work out how to behave in a professional setting and how best to go about certain scenarios. I know a good way to prepare will be asking for advise from older students – like my resident assistance on my floor, older members of clubs, or any counselor on campus. One day I will be applying for law school and will need letters of recommendation from professors, so I plan on going to office hours prepared with questions or comments on lectures of readings to seek clarification or a deeper understanding of a subject. This will hopefully prove my dedication to my major and my want to improve myself – knowledge and work ethic wise. In every instance I will be contracting professional relationships that will aid me on my academic journey and career, and by the end of my four years I hope to have built a massive base of support to help me apply for graduate school or any job thereafter.
I am so thankful to have the opportunity to build the pool of friends and professional acquaintances in college that will assist me throughout life. I know my parents still regard their friends from college as their most trusted supporters, and I also know my mom got her first job by showing her ability to work hard and deliver substance in college internships. College will not be easy, and law school will surely be difficult, but I am ready to begin to create a network of support my freshman year in order to ensure thriving friendships and a respectable job in the future.