#AuthenticallyYOU Scholarship

$500
1 winner$500
Awarded
Application Deadline
Jun 6, 2024
Winners Announced
Jul 6, 2024
Education Level
High School
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
High school senior
Background:
First-generation college student

Learning to be self-aware and to operate in one’s true character is crucial in reaching one’s full potential and attaining happiness.

For students preparing to transition from high school to college, it can be all too easy to follow the path suggested by others and forgo one’s true desires, often leading to depression or a lack of fulfillment. Achieving true success in life requires embracing one’s honest self and not allowing fear of people's opinion hinder them from their goals.

This scholarship aims to support students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education, ensuring they have all the resources they need to thrive.

Any high school senior who will be a first-generation college student may apply for this scholarship opportunity.

To apply, tell us what it means to be your authentic self, who you are, and how you will pursue your true purpose.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Drive, Impact
Published March 6, 2024
Essay Topic

Describe in 550 words or more what it means to be AuthenticallyYOU. Who are you and how will you operate in your true purpose?

550–1500 words

Winning Application

Jayla Harris Harris
Little Rock Southwest High SchoolLITTLE ROCK, AR
My name is Jayla Harris. I am currently 18 years old and a graduate of Southwest High School in Little Rock. I am very happy to share how I am a person who is really and truly passionate about this scholarship. Ever since I was little, I have always been dedicated to myself and to achieving my goals. To be honest, I am very happy and motivated about the life I am heading towards. I am also honest with myself and others and take full responsibility for my actions, values, ideals. I believe that if I fail in my goals, I have failed in my career. That's why I always do my best. I am primarily an outgoing person who likes to learn and discover great things. Goodness and dedication make me successful in new tasks that I have not encountered before. What makes me authentic is that I am confident and a special person (women). I prefer to be in monetizing environments that are most likely to be productive. I also want to be in environments that advance my career. It makes me different because other people want to be in any kind of environment, that may mean them no good. Second, what makes me authentic is that I am very unique. My favorite skills are cooking and hair care. I want to become a hairdresser because I have had a passion for hairdressing since childhood. It's something I really love and enjoy. I would like to turn my passion into a career where you can make people feel good by creating beautiful hairstyles. My goal is to become a hairdresser and entrepreneur and be completely unwanted in my position. I believe that my dreams and goals can make me the person I never thought I would be. I also wanted to become a hairdresser because it brings creativity and new thinking skills to my way of thinking. I also believe that distraction (hair) affects your ability to concentrate, increases the time it takes to complete work, and reduces your ability to be productive. Third, these are some of the things I do for my true self. When I wasn't myself, making decisions was very uncomfortable, but now that I've started to be more myself, indecision rarely crossed my mind. Becoming a hairdresser can change people's lives and give them the motivation they need. By simply being myself and owning my story, I ignite a powerful chain reaction that encourages others to take off their masks and embrace their true selves. At the end of the day, we are not sure who we really are. We have spent too much of our lives changing ourselves to meet the desires of others. Commit to knowing yourself. Journalism was a good place for me to start and that's how I became the beautiful and courageous woman I am today. I appreciate my better qualities (even as I try to improve their bad qualities). I take care of my physical and mental health, growth and development. You will understand who you are and who you will become when you see your unique strengths and talents. Music can also be a survival skill. Embracing your own skin and being in your own skin can boost your confidence. In conclusion, this is how I feel true to myself and trust worthy for this scholarship.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Jun 6, 2024. Winners will be announced on Jul 6, 2024.