By trade I would be considered a poet; however meager this title may be, I cling to it with abandon, disgracing all other entitlements and accomplishments for the sake of my art. In the past I was a simple minded individual, basing achievement on physical prowess alone, spending my days becoming accomplished in regards to the game of which I believed life was. I worked to strive and compete and become a champion embellished with laurels achieving the momentary glory which I believed was worth the chance at defeat. I would clash with others of my same ideology with the vehemence and intensity of a burning kiln, however I came to the realization that the kiln was simply a form of immolation, torturing me with the lack of permanence of the deeds I was accomplishing, and therefore I was perishing quickly, allowing for nothing of my life to remain upon my inevitable ascent into the afterlife.
At this point in time I reached the epiphany that I would need to become something more than just a weak minded peasant in a world of nobles, more than a cloud of brume floating in the air of the newly extinguished flame of the furnace, I wished to burn forever in ferverance greater than a mere candle, greater than the nearly immortal light of the sun. I wished to be remembered, I wished to accomplish as much as the prominent figures of history, having my name inscribed in books for millennia.
I realized that in order to obtain the absolution I sought, I would have to choose one of my personality traits to personify and allow to grow into its apex and I began to get inspiration from my surroundings. My scores in English had always been high. It was about that time that I realized I always enjoyed writing and taking creative license with artistic concepts, therefore I determined that I would become a poet, a bard that would name the injustices of the world with verse, searing them into the flesh of the complacent, begging for change. I had determined I wanted to base my future on my lyrical prowess, however I had a choice to make, as lyrics alone would not sustain my life, so I determined that I would follow the footsteps of my exceptional and influential teachers that fostered my talent alongside me.
They say that the ultimate form of flattery is mimicry, however my choice to become an English teacher in the future was not one based in mimicry, it was instead based in my will to teach others the joys of expressive literature, in hopes that they may help carry my crusade to turn the flaws of the world to cinders, while scorching our names into the walls of history, to remain forever. I share my knowledge of verse not to give my knowledge immortality, and not to have my dreams realized through the students I teach, but instead I will give them my knowledge in order to allow them to realize their own dreams, and to seek the injustices that they decide are unholy, and to bum them alongside the old inadequacies of society. These principles are sound, however the kiln cannot ignite without the inclusion of fuel, which is what I consider my future higher education to be, fuel for the ever present conflagration that will become the essence of poetic chaos. In short, I wish to be around other bright minds, preferably with similar aspirations of impacting the world, which is why I have prioritized the attendance of John Brown University, a college of exceptionally bright minds that emphasizes the impact of the collegiate knowledge in the real world.
John Brown offers the combination major of English Education, a perfect collaboration which would allow me to accelerate my college experience, letting me instruct those lost in the brilliant false flames of impermanence. My purpose is as fixed as the stone that builds my kiln of determination, and I will seek higher knowledge to improve my ability to awaken the talent and inspiration in the youth of Arkansas, sparking a revolution of flame and brilliance.
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Editor's note: The essay was submitted with the application for the Community Scholarship.
Editorial on 05/19/2015