by Bailey Garrett, Charger Staff
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend a month in the summer away from your friends and family? The summer after my sophomore year, I had the opportunity to experience this. For one month, I attended Governor's School in Nashville and Knoxville along with 42 students whom I had never met.
This past summer, Governor Don Sunquist made the executive decision to cut out all Tennessee Governor's Schools because of the budget crisis. Most states in America offer Governor's Schools as a chance for students to expand their knowledge. It is an honors program designed to give high school sophomores and juniors the opportunity to learn about their particular field of interest.
Before this cut, Tennessee offered Governor's Schools in every area imaginable. They included Tennessee Heritage, International Studies, Humanities, Theater Arts, Sciences and Hospitality and Tourism. There was a school that appealed to pretty much every student's interest.
Even though the decision to cut Governor's Schools does not directly affect me, I am saddened that other students in Tennessee will not have the same opportunity I did.
Aside from the obvious honor of attending, Governor's School is beneficial in many ways. These programs give students a sense of true independence and self-esteem.
The lessons that Governor's School taught me are ones that I will take with me throughout my life. Being thrown into a situation with 42 students who had similar credentials taught me to reach inside myself and find what set me apart. Because I was forced to interact with total strangers, the program taught me to become more outgoing. It forced me to step outside of my shell and experience a new situation with new people.
While at Governor's School, I gained a true sense of independence. It foreshadowed "college life." This program gave me the freedom of living on my own as well as a structured learning environment. Because I was able to attend a program of my interest, Governor's School preyed on my strengths and not my weaknesses. By this I mean, it focused on my talents and my particular areas of learning and not on something I cared nothing about. During this program, I felt a sense of achievement and accomplishment, therefore, building my self confidence.
In addition to the positive part of Governor's school for me, there are many other benefits. For example, during the past year, while visiting colleges, I have found that many colleges give preference to students who attended Governor's School. Some post-secondary schools even offer partial scholarship to students just for attending Governor's School.
By cutting these programs, officials are denying students an opportunity that would greatly benefit themselves, their families, and, in turn, the future of our country.
This cut is just another example of the current lack of commitment to quality education from elected officials in the state of Tennessee.
Web page created by Chirag Patel.