My Hope for the Next Ten Years by Christian

My Hope for the Next Ten Years by Christian - September 2025 Scholarship Essay

When I think about the future of education, I imagine what school will look like ten years from now. A lot has already changed in the past decade with technology, social media, and even how teachers teach. But I think there are still many areas where schools can improve to better prepare students for the real world. If I had to pick the changes I hope to see in education over the next ten years, they would include more hands-on learning, better use of technology, stronger focus on life skills, more support for mental health, and greater respect for students’ different interests and talents.
First, I hope schools move away from being so focused on just test scores and memorization. Right now, a lot of education is about studying for a test, passing it, and then forgetting the information. In ten years, I want school to be more about hands-on learning and real-world experiences. For example, instead of just reading about how businesses work, students could actually create small businesses or projects. Science classes could involve more experiments and field trips, not just reading from a textbook. I think students would remember more and actually enjoy learning if they could apply it in real life.
Another change I hope to see is the smarter use of technology. Technology has already made a big difference with online learning, but sometimes it feels like schools are still behind compared to the rest of the world. In the next decade, I hope schools use technology to make learning more personal. For example, if one student learns math faster than another, technology could give them challenges at their own level instead of making everyone move at the same pace. I also think virtual reality could be used to make history or science lessons more exciting, like walking through ancient Rome or exploring outer space without leaving the classroom.
Life skills are another area where education needs to improve. In ten years, I hope schools put more focus on teaching things like money management, job interviews, cooking, and even basic car maintenance. These are things almost every person will need, but they are not always taught in school. I know math and English are important, but sometimes students graduate without knowing how to pay bills, build good credit, or even write a strong resume. If schools made life skills part of the regular curriculum, students would feel more prepared when they step out into the real world.
Mental health is another big issue that I hope changes in the future. A lot of students deal with stress, anxiety, and even depression, but schools often don’t do enough to help. In the next ten years, I hope schools put more resources into mental health support, like having counselors available who actually have time to talk with students, or creating programs that teach students how to manage stress in healthy ways. If students feel better mentally, they will also perform better academically.
Finally, I hope education changes to recognize that not every student has the same talents or goals. Some students want to go to college, while others might want to learn a trade, start a business, or go into the military. Schools should give students more options that fit their future instead of pushing everyone down the same path. For example, students interested in construction, mechanics, or technology should be able to start learning those skills in high school. I think respecting students’ different talents would not only make them feel valued, but also prepare them for success after graduation.
In the end, the future of education should be about making school more meaningful, more personal, and more connected to real life. Ten years from now, I hope students look forward to school because it feels useful and exciting, not just something they have to get through. If schools can focus more on hands-on learning, technology, life skills, mental health, and respecting students’ different goals, then education will be much stronger and better for everyone.