Independence, Individuality and Insight

By Lauren White

Washington County High School

 

            As the program that I have anticipated for a year draws to a close, I can’t help but feel a bit of sorrow.

From the moment in November that I started to work on my application into the Governor’s Scholars Program, hardly a day went by when I didn’t give it a thought. I knew how competitive the process was to get into this program, and I anxiously awaited my acceptance letter. On the fateful day in April when I realized that I was accepted, I felt like I was on top of the world. I knew that this summer was going to be the best of my life.

            Fast forward a few months and here I am at Bellarmine University in Louisville, closing in on the fifth and final week of the Governor’s Scholars Program. This summer has passed by quicker than anything else I have ever experienced in my life. I could never replace this summer, nor would I want to, with anything else in the world. The teachers, scholars, and experiences I have encountered will stay with me for the rest of my life.

            What I will take with me the most from this program is the independence I have gained and the individuality I have come to grasp. Living in a very sheltered, small-town, community, it is almost impossible to break the mold that has been set for you by your society. Being completely independent for the first time has given me a chance to see how I fit into the world and how other people view pressing issues in our society. Even though the program doesn’t set itself outside of the state, I feel like I have become more worldly than I ever could have expected.

            The Governor’s Scholars Program has been providing a summer home and intellectual haven for selected high school seniors for 25 years. This program truly is unique and unlike any other in its class. Not only does it enrich young adult lives and further their education, but it also gives them a jump-start for a promising future. Most of Kentucky’s colleges and universities recognize the value of the GSP and offer generous scholarships to its alumni.

            This program has given me the chance to live on my own, make independent decisions, become more responsible, and realize how completely grateful I am for the life and the opportunities that I have been given. I see how greatly I have been blessed with the chance to be a part of this program.

Some may scoff at the thought, wondering why any 17-year-old would want to spend their summer attending classes and living on a college campus away from family and friends. What they may not understand is the fact that while we are here, we aren’t just attending classes. We are forming relationships with a diverse group of people, learning about the world around us, and becoming stronger people.

This program has given me the gift of insight – insight into our world, our state, our community, and ultimately, a deeper insight into my own individuality. For that I will be eternally grateful.