Bold Bravery Scholarship

Funded by

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life,” -Muhammad Ali.

Having the bravery and courage to believe in yourself and work for what you want makes you unstoppable. Even if your goals scare you, pushing forward and having the courage to pursue what you want will unlock your potential and present you with new opportunities.

This scholarship aims to encourage students to live with bravery and take the necessary risks to get far in life.

Any student may apply for this exclusive scholarship. To apply, tell us how you live with bravery.

Selection Criteria:

Ambition, Need, Boldest Bold.org Profile

Graduate School Scholarships High School Scholarships Undergraduate Scholarships Essay Scholarships

Published February 28, 2022

Essay Topic

Please tell us how you practice bravery and live boldly.

150–300 words

Winners and Finalists

August 2022

Winners

Kyla Cleveland

California State University-Long Beach

Anaheim, CA

Finalists

Mary Reyes

Loyola University New Orleans

Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology

February 2022

Winners

Lily Newman

School of Visual Arts

New York, NY

Finalists

Cherish Adams

Vanguard University of Southern California

Perris, CA

Angelina Touch

Dixie M. Hollins High School

Pinellas Park, FL

Johan Ramos

Science and Technology Magnet Pathway for High School Grades

Waterford, CT

Jacob Tovar-Murray

Rochester High School

Rochester Hills, MI

Ariadny Nascimento

Brookdale Community College

Long Branch, NJ

Winning Application

Kyla Cleveland

California State University-Long BeachAnaheim, CA

In elementary school, I was still so naive. I could not tell a bully from a friend. I let others hurt me and accepted it as a normal part of life. I was a shy child struggling to keep the few friends I had. I was given a chance to be on the other side, to laugh instead of being laughed at. I had a chance of revenge. The friend of mine who gave in to the bullies and teased me was now the target. While outside during a class activity, they pulled me to the side, decided in private that our other friend was no longer good enough. I was told to shun her. I turned to see my old friend just out of earshot, still so close to us. My stomach was unsettled. I did not have the words nor experience to pinpoint what it was, but something felt wrong. The two beside me were angered by my hesitation. My people pleasing tendencies had me feeling sick from this situation. To my surprise, I looked them both in the eyes and excused myself. I was in disbelief with each step I made. Once I reached the friend they wanted to abandon, I felt at peace. It takes strength to walk away from such events. Being bold means standing alone for the right thing: I have grown to use my own voice even when pressured to conform. When being brave, allow yourself to be outcasted to defend those everyone has turned their backs on. I continue to reach out to anyone who seems lonely.

Lily Newman

School of Visual ArtsNew York, NY

I wish I could be as brave as I want to be. And sometimes I need help getting out of comfort zone, but its still bravery to me. For some people being brave is something like skydiving, for others it might be telling someone you love them, or even making a phone call. for people who suffer from an anxiety or panic disorder like myself, being 'brave' can appear to be simple actions to those who don't relate to our struggles. Making that phone call, saying hi to an old friend, raising your hand in class, are very brave. It's about perspective. In high school I took a public speaking class because I knew it would make me uncomfortable, I wanted to push myself. Even though many of my close friends were in the same class as me I would still feel paralyzed. Every time I finished speaking, I would return to my desk sweating and my heart pounding. My whole body would shake uncontrollably. Some classmates could present work with ease and I envied them. I felt hopeless, like no one would ever see more of who I was. So I refused to give up. After high school a lot of my social anxiety went away on its own, and entering a college for artists gave me a new sense of confidence. I still feel odd when I speak, but I've found that its getting easier. I keep speaking, I mess up sometimes, and when I realize people don't care, I can do it again. Today I actively participate in class, and even if I am awkward who really cares? I'd rather regret saying something dumb than regret when I didn't speak up for myself.