The Importance of Tales from the Past by Sunna

The Importance of Tales from the Past by Sunna - September 2024 Scholarship Essay

Humans generally learn the most in the first five years of their lives. From infancy to childhood our brains develop rapidly and are most receptive to new experiences and new information that equip us with the skills we need to survive. Similarly, I would argue that a college freshman learns the most about how to adapt to their new lifestyle, in the first semester of college out of all four years! Speaking from my own experiences, you will cling to a plethora of information, even in the first week, that will equip you with the skills you need to be a successful college student in and outside of the classroom. Recently my favorite non-traditional way to learn is by listening to other people's personal experiences; and more specifically asking questions to people who exceed me in knowledge and learning from their experiences.
When we imagine learning we imagine sitting at a desk being lectured for minutes on end about a certain subject. What I love about our modern times is that education and learning has become less binary and more innovative! While I recognize there are benefits to the traditional way of retaining information like sitting in a classroom and listening to a teacher or professor lecture or reading from a textbook, I also believe the less traditional ways of learning are just as fulfilling. Rather than Googling the many questions I had when arriving at college I found having conversations with others was much more beneficial. I found peoples’ personal experiences and advice to be more gratifying than Google, whose answers were more black and white and direct. I gained, and learned, more being able to have a conversation that had many different lessons, nuances, and complexities than googling one question and getting one answer.
Having conversations with my mother about her college experiences was my first inclination that listening to others about what they experienced first-hand in college could help me learn about my own experiences. Although they were fun anecdotes, I was able to find lessons in her stories like how to relieve homesickness, how to be financially responsible, becoming independent and making friends on campus.
Besides my mother, I was able to find guidance from people online as well. For the first time I downloaded and used the app Reddit, a social media platform that allows communities of different people to discuss different interests and topics. It is also a tool for college students to ask questions about their school and get answers from their peers. I have taken advantage of the Reddit community for my school and have had different conversations with many students about different questions I had and was able to learn and benefit from their experiences. For instance, my university’s buses are infamous for being crowded and causing students to be late to class. By talking to other students online, and listening to their experiences, they helped me find the best routes to get to class on time and beat the traffic. I have found that Google or even a university information website couldn't give the detail and assistance personal testimony could.
Finally, I have learned to just ask students in person about questions that I have. There is no shame in needing help, especially when asking questions has already proven to be beneficial to my college experience. One day in the dining hall, I was unsure of how to use the waffle maker. Even though I was hesitant, I asked a girl who was already using one how to use it. She was very polite and taught me, and now I use them constantly without help! Although that was a simple interaction, I plan to continue to get out of my comfort zone and talk to other students, in person, to listen and learn from their experiences.
As a college freshman I am learning everyday; and not just about the topics in my classes but how to navigate this entirely new experience! As someone who previously had a very narrow view of what “learning” was, I am now realizing that learning isn't just sitting in a classroom being lectured, it is also figuring out how to be an adult, listening to others, and learning from their experiences.