Educating Myself and Future Generations by Tayla

Educating Myself and Future Generations by Tayla - November 2023 Scholarship Essay

I love learning and highly value the power of knowledge. I firmly believe college is the perfect place for me to branch out and learn more about the world and myself. Attending college will not only further my own education, but allow me to contribute to the education of others. Throughout high school, I have always been the friend people go to for academic help. Being able to help them succeed in their schoolwork and get more out of the classes they're taking has been a really fulfilling experience for me. I also look forward to joining a variety of extracurriculars similar to the ones I had the opportunity to be a part of in High School. I plan on going into Elementary Education and college will provide me with the necessary information and skills that will allow me to foster a love of learning in my future students and peers.
My main reasoning for wanting to go to college is to become a teacher. I came to this realization when I was a teacher's assistant for an elementary art classroom. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity because it allowed me to connect with many students and see how excited they were to be learning and developing more skills. I had the privilege of seeing their growth throughout the couple months we spent together. One student in particular, when we first met, wanted absolutely nothing to do with art. After working with her on her painting for a few classes and teaching her a few new techniques, she ended up loving the result. When she finally declared herself done with her project, she ran up to me and gave me a hug and thanked me for encouraging her to keep trying. After that project, she ended up realizing that she really loved art. That one moment is what solidified my decision to become a teacher. I want to be able to encourage more young people to grow and expand their horizons. I hope to inspire them to love learning and trying new things as much as I do.
Additionally, I hope to find and contribute to a community similar to my high school music and theater departments. After spending six years with the same group of people, you naturally form a tight-knit community. I believe that the hardest part of graduating will be saying goodbye to our music department. In college, I hope that, by joining various clubs and staying involved in theater, I will be able to find another community similar to the one I have here. While doing that I will be able to share the knowledge and experiences I have gained, from being heavily involved in several choirs and theater productions, with my new peers. I hope I will in return be able to learn from my future peers' past experiences and hear their viewpoints on things to give me a more nuanced understanding of music and theater. Taking part in extracurricular activities will also allow me to further develop my leadership skills and give me a better opportunity to learn to be an independent and responsible person before I launch myself into a career.
I am passionate about teaching and believe that education is a powerful tool that can transform lives, and I want nothing more than to take part in that process. By earning a college degree, not only will I gain the necessary knowledge and skills to be a great teacher but also contribute to society by educating the next generation. College will provide me with unique opportunities for personal growth, enabling me to make a positive impact on the lives of my future students and the communities I have the privilege to be a part of.