Empowering the Next Generation: My Goal of Bringing Education to Others by Urvi

Empowering the Next Generation: My Goal of Bringing Education to Others by Urvi - August 2024 Scholarship Essay

Leading up to my engineering final, I found myself in front of an audience of stuffed animals, attempting to teach them about the laws of thermodynamics. Students are often told that “teaching is the best way to learn.” While teaching stuffed animals helped prepare me for finals, I must admit they aren’t benefiting from my lessons as much as real students would. My next educational goal is to bring education to others, using my experiences in tutoring, leadership, and non-profit work to empower the next generation.

My goal of bringing education to others began with tutoring underprivileged students. At the start of the school year, I was paired with a 6th-grade student to work with throughout the year. During our hour-long weekly sessions, I found creative ways to help her tackle schoolwork she often found “boring” and to channel her clear intelligence. Through this experience, I discovered a unique way to connect with and help new people, a process I thoroughly enjoy. Looking ahead, I hope to continue drawing out the potential in students, just as I did for her.

Teaching and leading the Head Start Monmouth program further fueled my passion for educational outreach. The goal of this program is to introduce high-achieving middle and high school students to the coursework they’ll face in the upcoming school year. Over the past two years, I’ve served as a Geometry tutor for several students from across my county. This past summer, I have had a leadership role, managing over 30 students enrolled in 15 different courses ranging from biology to public speaking. Helping these students feel confident and prepared for the next school year made me realize that I want to create more opportunities for others to access education and experience that same sense of readiness.

Founding a branch of Restoring Rainbows, a non-profit organization, solidified my commitment to supporting education and promoting the arts. Seeing the impact I could make, I felt motivated to reach even more students through this initiative. We aim to collect school supplies for underprivileged families and school districts that lack adequate resources, helping bridge the learning gap many students face. We also advocate for arts education, which is often underfunded despite its proven importance in student development. My experience running this organization has reinforced my belief in the power of education to change lives.

This year, I plan to launch an organization focused on promoting STEM education to elementary and middle school students. Our goal is to host engaging, interactive events that make learning about STEM fun, rather than having students sit in a classroom for hours on end as many do in school. I believe that sparking interest in STEM at a young age will allow students to explore that passion as they grow. Ultimately, I envision this organization expanding to multiple chapters, spreading education to as many people as possible.

Building on my experiences in tutoring, leadership, and non-profit work, my next big educational goal is to bring education to as many people as possible. From tutoring underprivileged students to leading summer programs and founding initiatives that support access to education and promote the arts, I have seen firsthand how education can transform lives. My mission is to empower young students with the skills they need for a future in STEM. As I continue my academic journey through high school and into college, I am committed to scaling these efforts and creating educational opportunities on a broader scale. With the right knowledge and resources, I believe I can help build a world where every student has the chance to learn and thrive.