New Year's Knowledge by Toreah

New Year's Knowledge by Toreah - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

I must admit that I have never truly stuck to a New Year’s resolution. I’ve always viewed the New Year’s resolution trend as somewhat unfruitful. I believe that if I really wanted to make a change, I would find the drive within myself to do so, rather than awaiting the first of January to kick me into gear. If I fail to stay true to my New Year’s resolution year after year, then I must not truly want it. When the new year arrives, I see people rushing to get a gym membership, choosing broccoli over bacon, drinking more water, or doing whatever it is that they would like to resolve. However, most often these resolutions are abandoned come mid-February. On the other hand, I’ve observed that many people require this jumpstart to their year in order to see the changes they want.
This year, I wish to do more than just learn; I want to take full advantage of my education in regards to finding a true passion for what I am studying. I don’t want to merely remember the vocabulary words and pass the tests. Each day I want to focus on my work at hand and enjoy studying, experimenting, and creating. When I find a true passion for something, I know it will only push me towards being a better student, which in turn, affects my prospective careers. Since I am studying what I want to pursue later in life, it only makes sense that I should completely immerse myself in this passion and strive to love what I learn daily.
This resolution will make me a better student in every way. When you love what you are learning, you are more assertive in class, you become involved with your teachers and peers in a different way than if you were simply going through the motions. The relationship you build with others, who share a passion for the same subject, builds a foundation for your growth in knowledge and experience in the field. This network of support that you now have to use to your advantage will ensure your success as a student. Professors and tutors are more than willing to go the extra mile with an assertive student who has a passion for learning.
I truly love learning new things, so this New Year’s resolution is one that I believe will be easy to maintain. I already possess the study skills needed for success, which I learned throughout high school. This set of skills significantly helped me achieve Valedictorian of my class in 2015. For the first time, I am able to go to school for what I am truly passionate about. As I look forward to my first year of college this fall, I am eager to put this New Year’s resolution into play and see what great advantages come of it.