Addie by Sarah

Addie by Sarah - March 2021 Scholarship Essay

As a child of educators; my mom an English teacher and my dad, an administrator, I have grown up being surrounded by students and adults who value learning and excel in academics. Out of everyone who I've witnessed who have grown into their roles in the world of education, one sticks out, Addie.
When I was in fourth grade, she was in the NJHS that my mom is the sponsor of. Addie was intelligent. She could carry a conversation with just about anyone, you could tell she was curious about the world around her, and she was willing to work hard to gain whatever knowledge she was seeking. As it turns out, Addie's home life was not one which cultivated academic success to the caliber that Addie was seeking, but even so she persevered.
During a conversation with my mom ,Addie mentioned that her elementary school teacher had told her about a private school called Hockaday. As a public school teacher who was raised in private school, my mom was shocked that Addie even knew the name of such a prestigious school. Even so, at that moment my mom knew what we were all to learn: Addie was meant for something greater than her circumstances. With the support and encouragement of many, Addie was able to get into Hockaday as a freshman, and by her graduation she was a National Merit Scholar and was on her way to New York University.
On paper, Addie is a success. In the real world, Addie is a force to be reckoned with. I admire her for her grit and perseverance. In some ways she reminds me of a character in Ayn Rand's story Anthem, whose name is Equality; he sought out knowledge of what he didn't know because he knew it was right. Addie fought for her education and for knowledge, and the fight was well worth it.
I admire her too for welcoming the support and help of others on her journey. Many people don't want help, but Addie welcomed it. Academically, intellectually, and in many areas of her life, Addie is living proof of hard work and perseverance. She knew what she wanted: an education. In pursuit of that, she gained many things, one of which is being someone who I admire.