Don't Join that Class by Audrey

Don't Join that Class by Audrey - January 2025 Scholarship Essay

“Don’t join that class. I never learned anything from it, it's just a waste of time” an upperclassman told me. I was a freshman trying to find classes for next year. The class was called Multimedia. The description seemed interesting, and I have always loved taking photos and creating videos for fun. At the time I was doing everything I could to fit in with these upperclassmen, even determining which classes I should and shouldn't take. I secretly selected the class as an option without them knowing. I had a gut feeling to do it. Whenever I entered the class on my first day of sophomore year, I was met with an enthusiastic teacher named Ms. Hardin. Months later I had a falling out with those upperclassmen. I felt lost. I had been putting on a mask pretending to be someone that I wasn't, and I didn't know who I was. All that I knew was that everyday, during 3rd hour, I could turn off all of my worries and learn about a growing passion of mine. I discovered a program called Governor's School for the Arts which included an artform called ‘Film and Photography’. It was a very selective program that had a rigid application. I knew I needed help applying and asked Mrs.Hardin. She immediately took time out of her day to help me. We met up to work on this application and every session we had I got more excited about F+P.
My mental health was improving, I was meeting new friends, and I got into the first round of GSA. When I told Mrs.Hardin that I got into the first round she gave me the biggest hug and told me how proud she was then we started working on the second part of the application. I was counting down the days until the accepted list was posted. I eagerly checked my email all day, hoping the accepted list would post early, even though I knew it wouldn’t come out until after school. This was going to be my full restart: I would meet people who were passionate about F+P, I would learn from the best, and I would get a break from my hometown. My mom picked me up from school and looked at me with concern: “Your dad just called me. He got an email from GSA. You didn't get in.” I just looked at her. I couldn't say a word. I put in so much work and felt like it was for nothing. When I got home, I broke down. I told Mrs.Hardin the next day and she was sad, but said that we’d apply together next year, and I needed to focus on creating art for the application.
My Junior year, I started Mrs. Hardin’s social media class. We spent even more time working on this year's application. I had better photography, essays, and film to submit. I poured my heart and soul into this application. I had some amazing opportunities come to me. My media arts teacher got me a job at our TV station, and I was able to go on a mission trip to El Salvador where I documented everything. A year had passed, but it felt like no time. It was the day I would find out if I got in. Mrs.Hardin kept telling me, “You are going to get in, I know you will!” I saw the email when I got home from school. I got in! I texted Mrs.Hardin and she was so happy for me saying “I’m not surprised, you are awesome.” I gave her updates on everything I did and on one of my final nights they showed off the three best films to the whole GSA school. Beforehand, we were guessing who was going to get picked. One of my friends said that mine was going to get picked, but I didn't believe him. I had put a ton of time into my film, but everyone was insanely talented. The first film played then there were five seconds of black, I was guessing who the next person was going to be when the first frame of my film showed up on the screen. I couldn't believe it! After the performances were over my friends hugged me and told me how proud they were. I had never been happier. When I got back to my room, I texted Mrs.Hardin and told her what happened and that I wouldn't be here without her.
When my senior year started, I brought her a print of film photography that I made in a dark room. The next day she had it framed and placed on display. She showed our entrepreneurship class my GSA film and helped me become a communications intern with our school district. This year she has helped me apply to and pick out my college. I met Mrs.Hardin when I was 15, struggling mentally, and didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. Now I'm almost 18, I have achieved many goals in my field, I know what I want to do, and, most importantly, I'm genuinely comfortable in my skin. If I listened to that upperclassman and didn't join that multimedia class, I don't know where I would be and honestly don't want to know.