Art was easy, History wasn't by Aniyah

Art was easy, History wasn't by Aniyah - July 2026 Scholarship Essay

One academic subject that challenged me the most was Art History. During my last semester of college, my classes suddenly moved online because of the pandemic. One day I was learning in a classroom, and the next I was sitting through three hour Zoom lectures. The hardest part was that I didn't even have a laptop. I attended every class on my phone, so it felt like being on a giant FaceTime call for hours. It was difficult to stay focused, and although I worked hard every week, I don't remember retaining much of the information. I even had six people read over my final paper because I wanted to make sure I understood the material well enough to pass.

At the time, I thought I had simply struggled with Art History. Looking back, I realized the real challenge wasn't the subject itself it was the way I was learning it. I learned that I do much better in a classroom where I can ask questions and interact with others, or when I can work through material at my own pace with clear resources.

Two years later, everything came full circle. I became a high school art teacher and was assigned to teach Art History. Suddenly, all of those lessons that once seemed confusing started to make sense. My own experience helped me think differently about teaching. I wanted my students to have the kind of learning experience that I wished I had.

Instead of only giving lectures, I used different teaching methods to keep students involved. I connected art movements to real life examples, had students discuss ideas with partners, and created hands on projects that brought history to life. I also made study guides so students had organized notes to review before tests. Seeing my students become excited about Art History showed me that people learn in different ways, and good teaching means being flexible enough to meet those different needs.

I don't believe my college professor was a bad teacher. The pandemic changed education overnight, and everyone was doing their best to adapt. That experience strengthened my critical thinking skills because it taught me to look beyond the problem. Instead of assuming I wasn't capable, I learned to ask why something wasn't working and how it could be improved. Today, I use that lesson in my own classroom by creating an environment where every student has multiple ways to learn and succeed.