I Want To Find the Pink by Annalise

I Want To Find the Pink by Annalise - June 2021 Scholarship Essay

Her favorite color is pink. I think that perfectly describes the radiance and hope that she brought to my educational journey. Pink reminds me of joy and happiness. It feels like warmth in cold weather. Ever since her class, I always want to find the pink in my life. She is not a fan of hot weather and could go on and on about the beauty in winter. I used to think that was strange, but my viewpoint changed as my growth continued to improve. It is what she did. She taught me ways to perceive information differently and analytically. Mrs. Balka is someone that I will never forget. It is surreal to imagine the impact she had made on me through a screen. I am not the same person I was in the beginning of my junior year. I was taught valuable attributes, but most importantly, I was fostered character and individualism in her class. Ironically, I did not like her for a little while. I could not connect with her because I had never had someone as passionate as her at what they did for a career. It is rare and it completely changed the way I looked at the world and specifically, English.
I never saw myself as a strong English student. I got good grades in the subject, but I felt myself as weak and resorted to comparability when it came to other students. I liked English, but I was never excited about going to the class. It never had a memorable impact on me. It taught me to write an essay and move on with my life. That completely shifted the minute I logged onto the “IB English Period 4” zoom
I remember seeing Mrs. Balka at an IB English informational panel during my sophomore year. I was susceptible to signing up for IB English because I was not sure if I could truly handle the academic responsibilities of the class. I remember her introducing herself to many confused tenth graders and she had the biggest smile on, talking about the class in a way that it seemed like she truly loved it. Walking out of the room, I told myself that I wanted to have her for my junior year English class.
她为我gro组成了一个舒适的环境w in. I noticed she found it crucial to establish relationships with her students as best as she could. She never solely talked about the lesson. She loved talking about the phrase, “carpe diem”. Through that, my perceptions shifted. I never understood the beauty of reading until I observed how passionate she was about novels like Beloved, Auschwitz and After, Persepolis, etc. I found myself asking questions I did not know I could even gain inquiries about. It amazed me that one individual was able to insightfully analyze literary works where empathy and compassion were vital components in discussions.
She was not afraid to introduce hard topics into the classroom. I experienced emotions that I did not feel were capable of listening to her speak about these books. She celebrated the little things. Talking to her was like a baby learning how to walk. I, like all the others, was new to the program, but she catalyzed the exigency to continue working hard because she was determined to notice and emphasize the beauty in our learning.
Towards the end of the year, I found myself exhilarated for the next year of IB English. I felt so confident because Mrs. Balka had molded me into a curious and youthful individual who was hungry for knowledge.
我不认为我公司uld be the person I am today without Mrs. Balka. I look at myself as a student and individual and am proud of what I was generously provided. She taught me that success only comes from determination. When I could not find it at home, there was consistency to celebrate in her class. I will always remember that influential mold she had on my mindset. I used to struggle when it came to English. She opened up another doorway for me to prosper and indulge in the greatness of growth. It is insane that even through a laptop, the way I approach books, poems, and movies have drastically shifted. I was excited to see that growth but I did not expect for her to have such a gravity on my perception of relationships, the world, and how I will venture out into my journey as a young and opinionated individual trying to find the pink in my life.