College Essay On Outdoor Education

The outdoors has been an integral part of who I am, allowing me to connect deeply with my dad and to forge a new bond with my sister. Growing up with amazing access to the wilderness, I’ve been on countess hikes and climbs with my family and have found a sense of freedom, independence, and physical and inner strength in myself as I have made challenging ascents and endured conditions that have tested my mettle. I have spent much of my free time in high school working with POST 84 Outdoor Education, teaching others the wonders of the wilderness has helped me to fall in love with the outdoors even more. Yet on various college tours, asking admission staff about their school’s outdoor program has been my most dreaded question because all too often the response is a disappointing “Well, I think there are
some places students hike around here, but I’m not sure.” Colorado College is quite the opposite, where the soaring mountains surrounding the beautiful campus provide a ready answer to my questions about access to the outdoors! The thought of being able to attend a college so exquisitely located would be a dream come true, and not just because of its geography, Colorado College offers me the amazing opportunity to attend a school that balances so many of the things I desire in a college: unique academics, a schedule that suits my learning style perfectly, and a small, tight-knit community. And, of course, the proximity to the Rockies makes Colorado College an exceptional place to spend the best years of my life. Coming from a set of underfunded and over-crowded public schools, it has sometimes felt impossible for me to get a grip on new concepts from teachers; there is so little time to dwell deeply with the material; the endless stream of standardized testing and furlough days has made it practically impossible to learn the full curriculum.
The block schedule in high school was an improvement, but even then, it has never felt as if we have enough time to do justice to our academic courses. But a block month? Now that sounds like an idea I could get used to! I love the idea of focusing all my efforts on one subject at a time and believe that doing so would allow me to excel academically. As well, having a period to relax in between blocks and do what I love could make the difference between a good and an outstanding college experience. The chance to do Field Study and learn outside of the classroom during the block courses also provides countless opportunities for experiential learning. Whether it’s being surrounded by the landscapes I love or the freedom to learn in a manner that suits me best, Colorado College would provide the perfect place for the next four years of my
life.