FTG Builders Scholarship Program

My whole life I have always seen my dad getting up long before the sun rose, leaving for work early, coming home late, and crashing out on the couch, tired from working all day. This has been his day-to-day for the last thirty years. Seeing his persistence, and how he has continued with this for so long, has been the basis for what he has taught me. Growing up, probably the thing my parents stressed the most was hard work. Being productive means waking up early, getting a start to the day, filling your time doing homework, chores, or helping out with the millions of projects my dad would be doing. If I even thought about staying inside all day and staring at a screen, my parents would make sure that wasn’t an option. Work is always to be done, and you can’t just decide you don’t want to do it. I guess that’s partly the reason why both my sisters and I have all had part-time jobs since we were fourteen years old. That idea my dad has engraved in our minds, to work day in and day out, putting in everything you have, has shown through in me in my job, my school work, and extracurriculars. In high school alone I graduated with two associates degrees, despite working as a supervisor at my job 25 hours a week, and still coaching lacrosse and volunteering through Girl Scouts. It’s what my dad taught me. It’s what his profession taught him. Put in the work, do it right, and take responsibility for the work you do. At my university I’ve continued with this mindset my parents instilled in me by involving myself throughout campus. I am a member of the Liberty Club, Teaching Club, and the National History Honor Society, Phi Alpha Theta. I served as an author and on the editorial board for PAT’s undergraduate journal, the Scribe of the Ages, and have continued an internship at a local museum. This semester I began as the president of the History Club, as well as the History Department Assistant. It can be difficult trying to keep up with my schedule, but I don’t let that limit the quality of my work. I wasn’t raised to accept subpar performance from myself. I hold myself accountable, and push myself to do the best that I can, because I know my dad would do the same. Looking toward the near future, my hard work will pay off. By the time I am twenty-one, I will have two associate's degrees, a bachelor’s, a master’s, and a teaching credential. All of the values and opportunities that my dad has passed onto me, everything that he has learned and worked for, are what have shaped me into who I am today. He has given me the opportunity to go to college, get a teaching credential, and hopefully soon become a history teacher. I am motivated to instill this same drive in my future students one day. While I may not have astounding accomplishments of my own thirty years from now, I hope to have countless students with their own accomplishments, and that to me is a far greater measure of success. So as I continue my education and my life beyond, the work ethic instilled in me, and the security I have been given, are what will help lead me to success. The lessons I have learned, and everything I have done to get where I am, are a reflection of my dad and my family. All have helped shape me into who I am today.

When I think about hard work, the first thing that comes to mind is my dad. Growing up I have seen him handle his responsibilities even when he was tired, stressed or wanted to do something else. He has taught that hard work isn't about motivation. It is about finishing what you've started and discipline. One moment that really stands out to me is watching him remodel my house adding two new rooms. It was not something that happened overnight. I saw how much time and effort went into each step. Seeing him stick with such a hard project showed me what hard work looks like. My dad never had to sit me down and give me a speech about hard work. I learned more from watching him work than I would've from any speech. Seeing my dad come home exhausted from ten hour shifts but still finding the energy to do his responsibilities showed me how strong his work ethic was. His work ethic taught me that no one else is responsible for for accomplishing my goals, and that real progress comes from taking initiative. His mentality of "finish what you start and "give it your best effort" has influenced the way I approach challenges. Over time, I began to realize that if I wanted to accomplish anything it was going to take sacrifice and hard work. This mindset has influenced the way I approach the gym and school. In school, I've began to understand that if I want to do well, I cannot rely on someone else to hold me accountable. I must study, complete my work, and advocate for myself when I do not understand something. Watching my dad has taught me that I can't expect other people to solve problems for me. I have to be willing to seek help and ask questions. I have developed a similar mindset inside of the gym. I know that progress doesn't happen immediately. Somedays I feel more motivated then others, but through my dad I have learnt that discipline and consistency matter more than motivation. In both areas, watching my dad has taught me that reaching a goal takes time, hard work, and a commitment to keep working even though the results aren't immediate. Over time, I have realized that progress doesn't happen immediately. In school, I may not understand a topic the first time learning it, and in the gym, I may not see the results of the amount of work I am putting in. My dad's example has shown me that this is not an excuse to quit. Instead, I must be patient and keep working towards my goals although the results aren't immediate. I have learnt that if I want to improve I must take responsibility for making that happen. Whether that is asking questions in school, studying more, or staying consistent with my goals outside of school. My dad's example has taught me that I must be willing to push my self. My dad has influenced me by showing me how I should approach my future. My dad's work ethic has taught me the importance of consistency, and responsibility. As I continue with my education and eventually start my career, I want to carry those lessons with me and approach challenges with the same mindset seen from him.

When I think about the person whose hard work has had the biggest impact on my life, I immediately think of my dad. He is one of the hardest-working, most loyal, caring, and creative people I know. He built a junk removal business from the ground up, but his success did not come easily. His story has shown me what it means to work for what you want, take care of the people you love, and not let circumstances determine your future. When my parents had my sister and I, we were struggling to get by. My parents had both been kicked out of their homes when they were young, so they had to figure out how to keep us safe. We went from living in their car, to staying in motels, to apartments, and eventually houses. They sold things at flea markets and out of the trunk of their car to make money. My dad did whatever he needed to provide for our family. What stands out to me most is that he never allowed my sister and me to feel the stress he was experiencing. Growing up, I never thought we were poor. We always had food, new clothes, Christmas and birthday presents, and opportunities to have fun. My dad made sure we had everything we needed, even when he was working hard behind the scenes. As I got older, I began to understand my childhood differently. I realized my parents had sacrificed a lot to give us experiences. I remember a family trip to Los Angeles where we went to Disneyland and Universal Studios and visited Venice Beach. At the time, I thought it was a trip. Years later, I realized how much it had cost and how much time, money, and energy my dad had sacrificed to give us memories. I also got to see the beginning of his business. When I was ten, I helped him with small jobs by picking up wood and furniture and putting them into his truck. He even paid me $100, which felt like a fortune. Looking back, the money was not what mattered most. I was really proud to feel like I was helping him build something. Watching my dad run his business has taught me that success is about more than making money. He cares about his employees, treats customers like family, and is always finding creative ways to advertise and grow his business. He taught me that relationships, creativity, and hard work all matter. My dad is one of the biggest reasons I chose to continue my education. He tells me that he wishes he had stayed in college, but he had to put his family first. He wants me to earn my bachelor’s degree and have opportunities he missed. I am studying Business Administration because I want to own a business. I do not know what that business will be yet, but I want to combine the work ethic and creativity my dad taught me with the education he wishes he had completed. My dad has shown me that where you begin does not have to determine where you end up. He went from living in a car and motels to building a successful company and creating a life for our family he once only dreamed about. I am grateful for what he sacrificed and what those struggles taught him. Most of all, he taught me to dream bigger, work hard, and believe that my goals are possible. I hope that one day I can make him as proud of me as I am of him.

The person who has had the greatest impact on my life is my mom. She is truly the strongest, most independent woman I’ve ever met. She has done so much for my family and taught me many important lessons. Growing up, it was just her and me, and she went above and beyond to ensure I had everything I ever wanted. She has taught me all my morals, respect, and responsibilities that a young girl should know. No matter how tired she was after long days of work, she still made time to attend my school events and always reminds me that my education is the most important thing in life. Watching my mom balance everything has taught me what determination truly looks like. Working toward success isn't always easy, but it's about moving forward when life gets challenging. Her sacrifices have inspired me to keep working hard in school, stay focused on my goals, and never take opportunities for granted. I will continue to work much harder than I ever have just for her so I'm able to succeed and put everything she taught me to use. As I begin my college journey, I want to honor everything my mom has sacrificed by earning my degree and building a meaningful career. These lessons have inspired me to pursue a career in nursing. I want to care for people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, just as my mom has always cared for me during mine. I know that becoming a nurse will require hard work and dedication from me. But watching my mom overcome challenges every day has shown me that hard work can make even the biggest goals possible. As I further my education, I'm doing everything for her because she never had the opportunities I’ve had. So, everything I do is for her and to show her how much I truly appreciate all her sacrifices. Receiving this scholarship would be very beneficial. It would allow me to honor the sacrifices my mom has made for me throughout my life. My goal is to build a career where I can make a meaningful difference in other people's lives while making my mom proud. Her resilience, love, and work ethic continue to inspire me every day, and they will always be the foundation of my future. I will do everything I put my mind to because I will remember everything she taught me and apply it to my life.