Following in His Footsteps by Collin

Following in His Footsteps by Collin - September 2013 Scholarship Essay

“Mr. Petersen, is there any way I could get my shop grade up from an A minus?”  I explained to him that I had A’s in Algebra 2, chemistry, and English, and that a lower shop grade would ruin my high GPA goal.  A few hours of extra cleaning in the shop put me back on track.  These hours spent at school rather than with friends caused me to reflect on the need to balance academic achievement and life application.
I believe that Brent Comstock, my exemplar, has this healthy balance.  He is currently a freshman at Georgetown University, but while in high school, his perfect GPA, wide social circle, computer webpage business, and passion for music earned him an invitation to a Warren Buffet conference, programming seminars at colleges, and a trip to Africa sponsored by Oprah Winfrey.  Brent’s tireless efforts fill his pockets with keys to every closed door and tokens good towards the career of his dreams.
Academic motivation surrounds me.  Classmates who achieve excellence inspire me to try harder and compliments from teachers provide the fuel to continue.  I am constantly analyzing the effects of quiz and test scores on my over-all ranking.  Parents reward my grades monetarily; but most importantly, satisfaction comes from within.
            My scholastic aptitude, lawn-mowing enterprise, investment savvy, and God-given musical talents place me on the same trajectory as my role model.  While I do not aspire to become President of the United States, like Brent, I do aspire to achieve.