Legacy by Syed

Legacy by Syed - January 2018 Scholarship Essay

Growing up, we are taught about the influential figures that have shaped not only their communities, but the world into a better place to live in. Now that we have developed our ability to apply logic to our speech and thought, we must ask ourselves, why are these people the first ones that come to mind when we think of the word influential? Why is “I Have a Dream” the first piece of literature that comes to mind when we think of the word powerful? What makes these people stand out amongst the billions of people that have come before them? Ultimately, why are we remembering these people decades after their deaths and why do we regard them so highly although they are not alive today?
Undoubtedly, influential figures have left their mark in history and in today’s society by sharing their ideas with the world and taking action to stand against oppression and injustice. It is this mark that they have left behind that we celebrate, cherish, and acknowledge to such great measures so the whole world knows what they have done for it. Even though they are no longer on this earth, we acknowledge their contribution to society and portray the messages they communicated to us so long ago and try and educate ourselves to be the best people we can possibly be.
I feel as if nowadays, we have a lack of these influential figures in our communities and due to this lack, some people are confused as to what role they can play in society and how they can make their own impact in improving the world. This is where I want to make a difference. I know I can make the world a better place to live in through my leadership qualities and ability to effectively communicate myself in my most genuine voice. The word legacy means a lot to me because it encompasses everything I plan to do with my education. I want to educate myself about the problems in the world and at the same time, have the credentials where people turn to me when they have a question. Just like many people have done in the past, I want to make a difference in the world and educate others through my education. I want to solve problems that have never been solved before and I want to help others in the way that people say to me, “You changed my life.” By receiving a world-class education, I can leave a legacy that other people can analyze and learn from. I chose the word legacy because I want to be remembered for doing something great and for contributing something to the world no one has ever done before. I want to help the world in my own unique way in which I can use whatever I have and learned to contribute back to my community and family that have given me so much.
Although I don’t have an exact idea of what I am going to do to achieve my goals, I have a good idea on how I can start and that is through my education. Education in society entails credentials and that is something I am going to need if I want to make an impact through my work. I want to invent something new with my degree that I hope to pursue in computer science and contribute something to the world of technology as well. The legacy I want to leave behind me will be remembered through my sacrifices and hardships but if I can make a positive impact in even one person’s life, I will, to a certain degree, have achieved my goal.