Caring Beyond the Classroom by Sarah

Caring Beyond the Classroom by Sarah - July 2014 Scholarship Essay

Although I have had a number of really good teachers and professors the ones who have most positively affected my attitude toward education are those who have been willing to help and encourage me outside of their own classrooms and subjects. I firmly believe that education is about more than learning the ins and outs of a particular subject. It is about becoming a better decision maker and a more informed member of the global community.

One professor who really embodies this holistic view of education was the instructor of my freshman seminar – a class called Epic Traditions in Literature. He gave me some of the best feedback on my writing that I have ever gotten. Early in the semester he asked that each member of the class make some time to meet with him, so that he could get to know us outside of the confines of the class. He did make the perfunctory inquiry as to whether I had considered a major or minor in his department – English. However, he was more than happy to discuss my plan to add a secondary major in computer science to my mathematics degree. I really appreciated the concern for my entire college transition and experience beyond academics. We discussed my roommate and living transition, extracurricular involvement, and service opportunities, which are an important part of our campus community. He gave me advice on planning study abroad to best fit my academic and personal goals, and I left the meeting with a book on logic in hand.

Early in July, I was pleased to find an email from the same professor inviting me to take a course and work as a tutor in the writing center at the university. It is not something I ever would have thought to apply for or do on my own, but after some consideration, I decided it was something I would like to do. I appreciate the encouragement to use talents like writing which are not heavily emphasized in the classes required for my majors, but important none the less.

I hope that this professor will continue to remain a resource to me, and that the relationship will allow me to continue to look at my education as a comprehensive experience reaching beyond any one classroom or subject.