College Application Essay
Brynlee Faulkner
English 101
College Application Essay
September 11, 2017
It Takes One
Malala Yousafzai once said, “Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” This quote symbolizes my growth in my political standpoint; I did not change my views because of myself, rather I had one class that changed my views. I grew up in a small, mostly Republican town in middle America. I assumed I was a Republican because that was the party nearly all of my town agreed. I accepted the norm. Then, I left Chillicothe for one summer camp where I learned about and discussed different “rights” movements; in doing so, I realized I no longer could identify as a Republican.
I was finally at Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA) after a rigorous application process and an anxious wait for acceptance. MSA is a three-week academic program for 330 of Missouri’s gifted, incoming juniors sponsored by the University of Missouri (MU) Honors College. The first day of class arrived, and I still did not know what Through Whose Eyes do you See?, my “major” class, entailed. The other pupils and I sat patiently in an MU classroom while we waited for our teacher to arrive. Dr. Ayanna Shivers made her arrival, clad in an African tribal-print dress; she was the only African-American in a group of nearly all white students. This woman who stood before us with a peculiar elegance destroyed any preconceived notions I had about this class. After settling in, Ayanna gave a class overview. Through Whose Eyes Do You See? explained the media’s ability to skew human perception of people groups. After her introduction, Ayanna gave all of us scholars a “getting to know you” paper with eight questions to answer about our personality, community, and friends. After we finished the questionnaire, Ayanna collected and read our responses to the prompts. Based on our answers, our teacher assumed that all of us were liberals. I was not sure what to do about the incorrect political assumption, so I stayed quiet about my conservative ways. I felt out of place; however, after only a few short days, I no longer felt like an outlier.
Over the course of the first week, we talked about three main movements: the Civil Rights, Women's Rights, and LGBT Rights movements. We read accounts and watched documentaries about the movements and the oppression these people groups have faced throughout history. We also had class discussions, and I tried to just listen to what Ayanna and the other scholars had to say. I realized that their ideas were not less important than my own because their opinions varied from mine. I did not think to do such a primary task, such as listening, would affect my political views and separate me from my hometown.
In only one week, I disagreed with the majority of my community. After my class read, watched, and discussed these movements, I began to wonder how Americans could treat other Americans so horribly for their race, gender, or sexuality. I realized I had an epiphany! I knew I had a change of heart: People should accept others, regardless of what they believed, who they loved, and the color of their skin. I was not—and still am not—sure what political party my newfound ideals aligned, but I knew I believed in equality for all.
Missouri Scholars Academy and the class Through Whose Eyes Do You See? helped me learn about myself. It changed me for the better. Who knew one three-week long summer camp could change my political views? Malala was right; it only takes one to change the world—It took one class to change my world.
English 101
College Application Essay
September 11, 2017
It Takes One
Malala Yousafzai once said, “Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” This quote symbolizes my growth in my political standpoint; I did not change my views because of myself, rather I had one class that changed my views. I grew up in a small, mostly Republican town in middle America. I assumed I was a Republican because that was the party nearly all of my town agreed. I accepted the norm. Then, I left Chillicothe for one summer camp where I learned about and discussed different “rights” movements; in doing so, I realized I no longer could identify as a Republican.
I was finally at Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA) after a rigorous application process and an anxious wait for acceptance. MSA is a three-week academic program for 330 of Missouri’s gifted, incoming juniors sponsored by the University of Missouri (MU) Honors College. The first day of class arrived, and I still did not know what Through Whose Eyes do you See?, my “major” class, entailed. The other pupils and I sat patiently in an MU classroom while we waited for our teacher to arrive. Dr. Ayanna Shivers made her arrival, clad in an African tribal-print dress; she was the only African-American in a group of nearly all white students. This woman who stood before us with a peculiar elegance destroyed any preconceived notions I had about this class. After settling in, Ayanna gave a class overview. Through Whose Eyes Do You See? explained the media’s ability to skew human perception of people groups. After her introduction, Ayanna gave all of us scholars a “getting to know you” paper with eight questions to answer about our personality, community, and friends. After we finished the questionnaire, Ayanna collected and read our responses to the prompts. Based on our answers, our teacher assumed that all of us were liberals. I was not sure what to do about the incorrect political assumption, so I stayed quiet about my conservative ways. I felt out of place; however, after only a few short days, I no longer felt like an outlier.
Over the course of the first week, we talked about three main movements: the Civil Rights, Women's Rights, and LGBT Rights movements. We read accounts and watched documentaries about the movements and the oppression these people groups have faced throughout history. We also had class discussions, and I tried to just listen to what Ayanna and the other scholars had to say. I realized that their ideas were not less important than my own because their opinions varied from mine. I did not think to do such a primary task, such as listening, would affect my political views and separate me from my hometown.
In only one week, I disagreed with the majority of my community. After my class read, watched, and discussed these movements, I began to wonder how Americans could treat other Americans so horribly for their race, gender, or sexuality. I realized I had an epiphany! I knew I had a change of heart: People should accept others, regardless of what they believed, who they loved, and the color of their skin. I was not—and still am not—sure what political party my newfound ideals aligned, but I knew I believed in equality for all.
Missouri Scholars Academy and the class Through Whose Eyes Do You See? helped me learn about myself. It changed me for the better. Who knew one three-week long summer camp could change my political views? Malala was right; it only takes one to change the world—It took one class to change my world.