Scholarship Essay

<p>Here is the prompt: Write an essay on the topic: How my career Pathway Program is preparing my for college and my career field. </p>

<p>Any critique, or advice is greatly welcome and appreciated!!!</p>

<pre><code>Up until 8th grade, there used to be a question that I hated to hear: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I would always answer with the same: “I don’t know.” Back then, classes in Middle School didn’t really interest me. It wasn’t that they were boring, but I didn’t learn anything fascinating I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
This situation changed however, when my science teacher introduced the Academy of Information Technology program to me. Sure, I thought, computers are pretty interesting, and I would always ask my dad to teach me how to fix my computer whenever it broke. I nonchalantly decided to accept, enrolling in the Networking pathway.
Freshman year rolled around, and I started my first AOIT course, Programming 1. I instantly felt a motivation to learn; I wanted to write code that would create an awesome game. But the next classes in the pathway were Microcomputer Technologies, and Network Engineering. While I was sad to leave programming, I was still excited to enter a world of new possibilities.
Before I knew it, my sophomore and junior year passed by, and I slowly checked off the requirements of the AOIT program. I earned my first certification, applied for Internships, and enrolled into a college technology course. But in my mind, they weren’t requirements that I had to force myself to do. They were benefits that I enjoyed earning. I enjoyed studying the material for certification tests, I enjoyed browsing through the college catalogue thinking of the myriad of courses I could delve into.
Now, when I think back to 8th grade, I wonder what would have happened if I had not joined the AOIT program. I didn’t know where I was headed into until this program helped me guide my way, finding my true interests, and giving me the opportunities to enrich them through internships and college classes. This experience has led me to choose networking as the career field I want to pursue, but even if networking is not career I will do for the rest of my life, I have learned a valuable lesson: to take every opportunity and make the most of it. To join the club or organization that sounds interesting, to take different classes from my normal schedule, and to step outside my comfort zone. Because now, I can confidently answer, “Well, networking is very interesting to me…”
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<p>Worst case scenario is that they think you are only motivated when you actually like what you are doing. </p>

<p>I also wonder if you should say something more specific about how it is actually preparing you. Your essay is all about how it helped you find something you like, but there is much more to being prepared than knowing what you like.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice!</p>