Beyond the Books by Tara

Beyond the Books by Tara - November 2016 Scholarship Essay

As a recent graduate of a four-year university, and a student who is choosing to further their education, I am sure of two things: 1. College will break you 2. College will make you. Before college I was warned of the crazed coffee induced all nighters I would have, the lack of privacy in my dorm room, and professors that would be less than understanding. I was also told that your college years are your best years, and I now can agree with all of that. It is difficult to choose just one college experience to be thankful for, as I am thankful for all of it. However, at the end of my higher education journey, I will be most thankful for the part of my education that wasn’t spent in the library, or in a classroom, but out in the field, learning hands on.
The program I just graduated from, marine science, was different than most. Where a majority of my time was spent wearing muddy boots, and smelling like fish. That might not sound particularly fun to most people, but I much preferred the days I got to go out in the field, than my days in a classroom learning calculus 2. While I understand the importance of learning physics, oceanography, and the theories behind global warming, it was exhilarating to apply what you learned in the classroom, to real life. We would have our toes in the sand, collecting coquina shells to later dissect, as our professor gathered us in a group holding a magical rare organism he found in the surf. That is the type of educational experience I appreciate the most.
As I further my education, and combine my love for the ocean, and my passion for animals, I am now starting my journey into the veterinary world. Much like my first degree, I will be learning hands on, but this time with big furry animals instead of small scaly ones. While I will be studying hard from books about the anatomy of domestic animals, to watching videos about how to correctly restrain an animal, I will live for the days where we get to care for an animal ourselves. These hand on learning sessions will be my greatest asset in the future as I preform medical procedures on a giant sea lion, or a feisty sea turtle. Not only will I have the transcript that shows my dedicated coursework, but I will have real experience to back it up.
When I say college will break you, I mean there will be days where you sit in the library close to tears because finals week is taking its toll, there will be days where you will question all of your life choices, and there will be days where no amount of coffee will help. When I say college will make you, I mean you will learn more about yourself and the world than ever thought possible, you will build friendships and relationships that you will carry with you for life, and most importantly you will be given the opportunity to do anything you set your mind to with that college degree in hand. For me, the days I struggled with a tough math exam were followed by a great day on a boat collecting samples. While it was never easy, the good days made the hard days worth it. I am now ecstatic to have the opportunity to further my education, and continue having experiences that will shape the person I am. College is not just about growing as a student, but as a leader, a citizen, a friend, and a human being. I encourage all college students to go beyond the books, and immerge themselves into the field they are pursuing.