Declaration of My Independence by Shray

Declaration of My Independence by Shray - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

Whenever the teacher announces a group assignment, the first thing I do is glance toward my friends. We give each other that familiar look, silently agreeing to be in the same group. It is always fun to work with people you know well. In fact, such teamwork can be a very effective way to get things done. In my experience, I do well on group tasks whether it’s with friends or with people I don’t know. However, I have come to learn that teamwork is not necessarily the most beneficial choice. I discovered this from my 11th grade English teacher, Ms. Hughes. She never explicitly stated this lesson. Instead, she guided me toward realizing the lesson. Through my efforts in Ms. Hughes’ class, I learned that independence is a vital component of success. Although people can assist you and lead the way, true success will always come from your independent efforts.

Ms. Hughes taught AP English Language & Composition, which was a challenging course for many students including me. Nevertheless, the class was a very rewarding experience because it forced me to work alone and expose my true potential. Each week, we had an in-class essay that tested our writing abilities. Each student had 50 minutes to formulate an idea, write a well-developed essay, and make any necessary revisions. And, of course, we were all on our own. The simple difference between an essay and a standard exam is the extent of possible cheating. On an exam, cheating is straightforward because all students receive the same questions. However, cheating on an essay is difficult because teachers can easily identify writing that is oddly similar. Thus, Ms. Hughes’ essays forced us to think independently. As the year went on, my essays got better and better. Finally, I was rewarded with an A at the end of the semester. Essays were not the only way I learned her lesson. Reading assignments, individual projects, and even group discussions were designed for student independence. Not only did I learn to work independently – I learned to achieve success through such independence.

I have been able to apply Ms. Hughes’ lesson in many occasions throughout my life. For example, at my current internship, I am asked to do many tasks on my own. Although I can ask questions when I need help, I am expected to complete the job alone. The skills of independence that I learned from Ms. Hughes class have prepared me for these tasks very well. I have been able to navigate around problems and solve issues with minimal assistance. Ms. Hughes’ lesson will also be handy once I go to college. Since I will not have parents to “nurture” me, I must utilize the basic tenets of self-sufficiency. College can turn out to be a disaster if I cannot rely upon my independent mentality.

Having enough confidence to make decisions for yourself is what defines independence. The strive toward success can only be achieved when you know your strengths as well as your weaknesses. So now, when the teacher announces a group assignment, I evaluate the situation. Before I even glance toward my friends, I ask myself, “Can I successfully accomplish this on my own?” If the answer is yes, I declare my independence. My friends might not be happy, but I know it’s the right thing to do.