One Click Changed Everything by Sarah

One Click Changed Everything by Sarah - October 2015 Scholarship Essay

Although extracurricular activities are important learning opportunities for high school students, they should not be a requirement for high school graduation. They should, however, be strongly recommended and widely available to students of all backgrounds. The act of searching and finding a student’s passion should be his or her own and not limited to a time frame. I would recommend the expansion of the resources available for students to discover varying extracurricular activities from sports to clubs to volunteer opportunities.
In high school, I found the opportunity that changed my life. I had always loved to work with animals and wanted to expand my knowledge through education. These two goals came together for me on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I was planning a trip with a friend to the local aquarium and accidentally clicked the wrong tab on the aquarium homepage. I was about to click back to the other tab about hours and prices, but I read the first line “High School Volunteer Program.” I could not believe it. The education staff at the aquarium taught high school students about marine life, and let students teach the public about different conservation issues and problems in the local area. This was perfect.
When I was told of my community service hour requirement at my high school and given the list of approved organizations to work with, my view was limited. The majority of the work was manual labor and distanced myself from the career paths I wanted to pursue. I ended up completing the first portion of my required hours through this method and worked at a local used clothing store folding baby clothes. Although the work was honest and good with grateful individuals helping, I was not using my knowledge or building on my skill set. I knew I wanted more than the opportunity I had settled for as a way to meet the requirements, yet I did not know of all my options. I felt trapped.
The choice to choose how to spend your free time is not something to take lightly or ignore. Often finding the time to search for the right opportunity and trying out a few on the way is the most advantageous. Exploring options is what growing up is all about, and I believe that the value of investigation should be fostered in young teenagers with the goal of furthering education. Education is not conducted only in the classroom or while studying for a test; it is learning from others valuable skills that you can carry throughout your life.
My subsequent years at the Seattle Aquarium have been priceless. I met a few of the most passionate people, learned the most interesting facts, and have mastered my public speaking skills. The mentorship that I received has placed me on a perfect path to reach my goal of becoming a professor of Wildlife Biology. My choice to pursue additional volunteer opportunities helped me discover my path, not the requirement of extracurricular activities. Without requiring extracurricular activities to fill high school graduation requirements, students will have the ability to begin to develop and understand the goals and passions that will lead to a bright future.