A Beacon of Encouragment by Gabriella

A Beacon of Encouragment by Gabriella - January 2025 Scholarship Essay

As a student, I have attended many classes and learned from different teachers. As they have taught individual subjects, my teachers have enlightened me in special ways. They have encouraged my educational journey, but have also supported me in talking to fellow students, working in group projects, and have created meaningful relationships with me. Mrs. Jamie Anderson, typically called “Mrs. A” by her loving students, has made an impact on me over the past six years, where she has led the online newspaper for my online academy.
As the teacher for a student-run newspaper, Mrs. Anderson has a special role. Because she is an adult and leader of the club, she has to be present at the meetings and she advises the editors and their team. The way she accomplishes such things inspires me. Because of her fifteen years of experience, Mrs. Anderson has mastered the art of moving in the background of the club, allowing the editors and students to truly shine. Instead of claiming her importance as the creator of the club or assuming the students constantly need her help, she leads in a way that is subtle, yet supportive. She will allow the editor to run the monthly meetings, only offering advice when asked, or when the editor needs assistance. Ultimately, she wants her students to grow in their self-confidence, which she nurtures by putting them in places of authority and assigning special tasks.
Mrs. Anderson has a skill of being tact, yet firm, which I admire. As a teacher responsible for thirty or more students, she occasionally has to set boundaries or discipline. Because she only does so when strictly necessary, the students are more likely to respect her boundaries and rules. She does not use her leadership as a weapon; instead, she is firm enough to get her point across, but she ultimately uses the rules so her students can excel in their writings and performance. She wants them to grow in their leadership skills and she allows them to explore different avenues in which to accomplish the skill.
As a leader, Mrs. Anderson has to make difficult decisions. She selects the editor-in-chief each year and she does so with grace and skill. Sacrificing her time, she conducts interviews with each aspiring editor-in-chief, asking them thought-out, in-depth questions that will help her make the crucial decision of who will become the next leader in her club. Although she endures the stress of picking an editor-in-chief whom the team will respect and learn under, Mrs. Anderson uses her wisdom of fifteen years to make a decision. She communicated with the candidates who were not picked for the position with grace and respect.
Mrs. Anderson has been an example to me over her teaching years. She has encouraged me to grow in leadership, putting me in positions that I would not have pursued myself. During the hard times, she speaks words of wisdom and faith in my abilities, cheering me on. Mrs. Anderson strives to have the same relationship with all her students, showing her love of teaching and community in all she achieves.