How to Think by Vanessa

How to Think by Vanessa - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

The most important lesson to me, like most lessons, wasn't taught to me in one day. It took the last two years of high school with the same English teacher, Mr. Frank Koroshec. He showed my class and I through his curriculum and his example how to be critical thinkers. He instilled in us school's true purpose, and what I've found to be the most important lesson I've learned in school thus far: how to process the world in a critical, yet open hearted manner, and how to join the academic conversation, thus engaging with the world. In short, he taught me how to go about "thinking."

To further explain, I'd have to describe how I joined his class (both years were examination-based dual enrollment English courses). Honestly, I could call up any of my friends from high school right now, and they'd agree with me: basic English from junior high up did not teach us how to think. It taught us how to recognize a "classic" novel from modern, sure, and all those vocab tests helped sharpen our (short-term) memory. It's safe to say I felt less and less excited for English every year up until 11th grade. I had no idea what English was meant to teach besides, well, being able to speak it. And that seems kind of shallow, doesn't it? Most of us speak it every day to each other, so why make us take it once a year until we're 18? Anyways, near the end of 10th, the opportunity came to opt out of English 11 Honors in exchange for a college course, so I seized it. My friends and I needed something more than packets, vocabulary tests and essay prompts we couldn't care less for. We wanted to see if "college" English had more substance. After 2 years with Mr. Koroshec, I can tell you with utmost certainty that it did. But like any good class, a majority of it was all thanks to him. Koroshec expressed from the very beginning that the substance we were looking for, the deep conversations, the provocative topics and expression of thought we often lacked in years prior, fell on us. And by us, he meant himself too! His contributions in discussions were as welcome as ours, and vice versa.

This equality of opportunity to speak and theorize was incredibly new to most of us. Before, we could theorize, but the message or theme of whatever we read was often already decided for us (i.e. "the fog that surrounded the boat in "Heart of Darkness" most certainly symbolized this, that's all there is to it). Every fill-in-the-blank for every worksheet for every novel prior had one, maybe two or three answers max. But in Koroshec's classroom, nothing was absolute. The number of different perspectives that were present in the room equaled the number of answers that could very well answer the question. Many times, even Koroshec couldn't give a good answer (i.e. "what did Beloved's character represent in Toni Morrison's "Beloved," after all? The lost daughter? The institution of slavery? Honestly, what is it?") But, as Koroshec expressed to us time and time again, that's life. Very few things in this world are black and white, and it's okay for things to be so nuanced. That's why we talk about things! That's why when your raised hand gets ignored in class, or you get shushed or get interrupted, you feel awful. Because to be cut off from conversation goes against how we flourish as intellectuals. Every perspective is valid, and to hear from each other with open minds exercises humility, empathy and one's thought process. Nearly every day of class, we were met with a reading or a task that forced us to acknowledge every person's input and critically analyze fact and opinion in fair manner. I say forced, yet we had so much fun! To have an hour and a half of unrestrained conversation every day about things that mattered in the world, meant the world to us.

It's true that it doesn't take a school course to start conversation. Some people are driven enough to push conversation on their own. But, to do so with Mr. Koroshec guiding us through it was a massive help, and a great joy. Certain conversations in the world often turn toxic, and one-sided when they're not flowing the right way and get caught in stubbornness. Koroshec's open-minded school of thought taught us, and taught me, that misunderstandings and tragedies can be avoided if we simply carry our thoughts and words with respect and humility. Mr. Koroshec taught my class and I how to think and talk in our last 2 years of high school. As I excitedly wait for my first day of college (my dream school!) this Wednesday, I can't help but think that of everything I've, that's the most valuable lesson I've learned yet, maybe ever, and I owe it all to him.