Original Essay on Admission

          The following is the original essay I wrote upon admission to the College of Education:

Open a Book

            How many library books never leave the shelf?  Their covers out-of-style, they huddle in the corners of dusty shelves or next to their attractive just-published peers.  Maybe they aren’t good stories.  Maybe nobody cares.  I, however, always try and give each story—each perspective—a fair chance.  My ability to keep an open mind, always waiting for a different opinion or story—and avoiding first opinion judgment, is an attribute that has served me well and has distinguished me from the rest of the library.

            Like books, everybody has a different story to tell.  I find it important to take the time to get to know who a person is before I make any rash judgments.  This summer I worked with a woman who enjoyed drawing attention to herself because she craved attention.  After months this became irksome, and I began to ignore her—only to later learn that she was bulimic.  This experience reminded me why it is important to maintain a clear perspective around new or different ideas, beliefs, attitudes, and individuals.  I strive to avoid making black and white decisions about something or someone—and try to become familiar with the gray, the shade of which, I have found, often changes.

            I credit my ability to have an open mind to my mother.  One of her constant reminders was “You don’t have to be everyone’s best friend, but you do have to be nice.”  Her guidance led me to open my mind to new viewpoints and to treat each of them with respect.  This practice was reinforced when I moved to college, which has much more of a diversity of peoples, ideas, and practices than my high school.  Through interactions with my peers, professors, and co-workers, I have come to understand that having an open mind is necessary in order to become a better-rounded and informed person.

            High school is a time of enormous change and influence in a teenager’s life.  As an English teacher, I would encourage and instruct the students on how to maintain an open mind during these tumultuous times.  We would analyze the same text through different lenses so that they can see there are different ways to view things.  Writing projects and journals would allow students to voice their opinions, concerns, and thoughts—free from criticism.  After establishing these ideas, I would work to challenge their opinions, so we work together, presenting new ideas to each other.

            Through keeping an open mind, I have gained respect for those who think differently than me and have challenged myself to attempt different ways of thinking.  As a teacher, I can advise students to do the same.  Opening a dozen books is not enough—there are entire libraries to read, for everyone has a unique and different experience, and I know that I can learn and glean information and perspective from each of them.