Goals for College

 Hello =) I am currently in the process of applying for scholarships so I can go to college in the fall. This is an essay I submitted for a $10,000 scholarship about my goals.... It had to be under 550 words, so if it seems like it's missing something, it's missing words people.

Planning goals for my future has never been easy for me. When people asked me what my plans were after high school, I would give a vague answer that usually included the phrase, “it is all up to God.”  It was not until I actually graduated high school that I started making goals for myself. I decided I wanted to go to school for journalism, but still be able to pursue my passion for acting. I set these two goals, along with others, for myself: find a college that supports my beliefs and offers the major I want, and be able to pursue my passion for theater, simultaneously.

Finding colleges that offered my chosen major was the easy part. Almost all colleges offer journalism as an extension of their communications majors. But, finding a college that supported my beliefs was an entirely different quest.  As a Christian, it was important to me that I went to a Christian college, so that I could grow in my relationship with Jesus. I believe that each walk with Jesus is different, so I wanted to go to a college that did not preach a textbook, “this is how you need to do this,” kind of Christianity. I wanted to go to a school that challenged my faith, but also did not push students to go to chapel every school night, shun Harry Potter books, and confiscate all rated R movies (except The Passion of the Christ, of course). After searching for a long while, I finally found and was accepted into Colorado Christian University, which suited my needs as a Christian and journalist major. Also, it is only an hour and a half drive from my home, and right outside Denver, where dozens of acting agencies that I could apply for while in the process of studying journalism as an actual career.

 Which brings me to the second goal I had set for myself: pursue theatre while I am in college. I have been acting on stage since I was twelve years old. I was told I had a talent, and I have been practicing it for a long time. Honestly, I cannot imagine my life without some connection to the theatre. It was preferred that I could have at least a minor in theatre when I went to college so that I could pursue theatre through focused classes, rather than having it as a passion that may or may not be remembered once I graduated. Since the college I plan to attend does offer theatre as a minor, I am not so concerned about losing the connection I have to theatre. But, I am also going to college just 20 minutes outside of Denver, which holds many different acting agencies that I could apply for and build on my talent.

I think I have both of the goals I set for myself pretty well in hand.  I have been accepted into a college that promises to challenge my faith, offers journalism as a major, and I will still be able to thrive in theatre. Going to college is a big step into my future. I am so glad God has blessed me with this opportunity to learn and grow into the kind of person I believe He wants me to be.

 
It took me three days to write this, and I'm pretty proud of it. Everything's turning out all right =)

Be Bold. Be Blessed. Be Bodacious.

~Ana