GOLDEN SCRUTINY b y M i k a S a m a n t h a M a r i e R . T i m b o l
Last November, EducationUSA launched an essay contest for highschoolers as a simulation of actual college application essays.
At Top 8 was writer Mika Samantha Marie R. Timbol on the topic "How will studying at a U.S. university satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future?"
I have been trained to love writing for as long as I can remember.
They who love writing go far in life and transform the lives of others. Thankfully, I have been trained to love writing for as long as I can remember: whether it was jotting down good morning reminders at the age of seven for my father, or coming up with entries for competitions and programs which my teachers had graciously assigned me to, I've had a notebook by my side since I could grasp one. Perhaps the only downside to that is if you were to meet me in person, you're bound to notice how I'm more tough on myself than most people (but I guess that is the way of most writers). Consider it the inherited scrutiny; in many ways, I am my own restriction. (The angel and devil on Michelle my shoulders, as Hodkin would say) Nonetheless, I’m all for being educated by others while maintaining my own expectations for myself.
That single conversation was the time I basically realized my potential future, and how it all depends on how mindful I am of the value of the present.
“Expectation” is such a fine word, isn't it? It is, in fact, a term that brings the present and future into shambles for a girl like me. With that line of thinking, I tend to listen to my seniors more.
I have yet to encounter myself) I can recall the one time I did listen when I wasn’t expected to: in a car with my parents, with earplugs that had no music playing.
Therefore, if by some stroke of luck I do receive a chance to study in the U.S, I will take to heart the conversation I overheard of my dad as he was driving and speaking to my mom. With that newfound education which will enhance my writing skills, I will start my own program that generates a love for writing among the next generation.
I basically realized my potential future, and how it all depends on how mindful I am of the value of the present. It was mostly him going on and on about sponsoring a child who could not afford a decent education, but in that moment I gained a greater understanding of what’s really important, and that is the education I have right now. When you think of outstanding education, you think of an advanced and broad environment: such is the way I perceive the educational system of the United States. I have always had my sights set on a program which would enable me to provide for the education of disadvantaged children. Believing that education is the first step to a reasonable career, we all have a role in creating a world where all children have access to their basic rights.
Although I am still a student myself, I aspire to someday use my writing skills as a gateway for them to reach those opportunities. All my life I’ve studied in a prestigious international school, and I always take it to heart that this is such a unique experience not all Filipino students have: being able to meet people of so many different cultures and observe each and every one, everyday. Growing up and studying alongside a diverse community of kids encourages me to work hard so every child out there can experience the same in their own ways. In order for me to reach this vision, I have to continue reaching for the best quality of education for myself. The United States of America is a place that has been marked as