I'm Sean by Sean

I'm Sean by Sean - September 2014 Scholarship Essay

Many people may define being "successful" in college as simply getting good grades, or even just passing your classes. Sure, this gets you the diploma you were pursuing, but to me college is so much more than a degree. To consider my college years as successful I want to graduate feeling truly ready to make an impact in the world. This confidence will not stem entirely from the education I have gained, but more so in the connections I have developed during my four years in college. After all, college is a unique opportunity to meet a variety of people from across the country and the globe. Such diversity screams potential and if you make connections with the right people, you could have an extraordinary network leaving college that will open employment and research opportunities for you down the road that wouldn’t have made themselves available otherwise.

To make these connections and “succeed” in college, you have to be willing to meet new people. You have to be willing to widen your comfort zone and socialize with other students that might not fit into your “crowd”. Not only will socializing increase your number of connections after college, but it is a vital part of your education. By getting to know such a diverse student body, you get to learn a bit more about the world. You have an opportunity to visit California, Utah, Illinois, New York, Texas, or even foreign nations such as China simply by talking to students who grew up there. Such an opportunity will likely never present itself again during your lifetime, so it would be a failure not to take this special opportunity and run with it.

So as you prepare for your freshman year, keep in mind, earning your diploma is only a piece of your education, albeit a big one. However, the connections you make with the people you meet in college will broaden your knowledge-base of people and places, provide you with a network of connections, and maybe even lead to an explosive start-up company. Who knows? College is full of incredible opportunities, so don’t waste one by forgetting to introduce yourself.