Bridge Program Parent-Led Scholarship

During the Christmas holiday break, my grandfather passed away. He was a very significant person in my life. It still feels unreal at times. This was so unexpected and will forever affect my outcome of life. I could talk to him about anything and he would give good advice. My grandfather will always tell me to live in my truth and keep paving my way. He was extremely proud of how I am carrying myself as a young black male and believed I have a lot to offer in the years ahead. Upon returning to school, there was a void. I lacked the energy to do anything. Simply functioning looking well on the outside but not well on the inside. This hardship took a toll on me emotionally, physically, and mentally. It began to affect my wiliness to do my assignments in a timely manner and I tuned a lot of things out. After speaking with my mom and supportive staff at school, I now have the support needed to keep my head up, navigate through my loss of my loved one and plans to succeed. This loss has lite a small fire in my soul to want to do better than before. I am a young black male in a world that isn’t always kind and forgiving of even small mistakes, so I will stay focused on sports and academics, to keep me on the path to my dream career in architecture. College is important to me because it will allow me to continue to grow, learn and become more educated. I will become more knowledgeable within my field of study. Being able to network with people of all ethnicities and grow a sound foundation. I believe I should be rewarded this scholarship because not only will it help me out financially but it will lighten the burden of college expenses. The fear and stress of taking out future debt frightens me; these funds will help me pave the way forward in securing my success with a stable financial ground. I will be able to focus on my studies and worry less. I am Andre Samuel and today I am an architect at heart; when I graduate college. I can’t wait to design dream homes and sky scrapers with my team. I chose this major because it combines with creativity, problem-solving, and design in ways that shape how people live. I enjoy drawing and viewing buildings with different forms. I want to turn those drawings into real buildings that inspire others. Architecture excites me because it balances art and science, and I look forward to learning how to design sustainable, functional, and beautiful structures that leave a lasting impact.

As a student who has always earned strong grades, I entered my senior year with confidence in my academic abilities. However, last year challenged me in ways I did not expect. While still in high school, I enrolled in college courses to get ahead and reduce future tuition costs. What I did not anticipate was how demanding that decision would become. I was balancing four college classes, two AP high school courses, a part-time job, responsibilities at home, and the pressure of college and scholarship applications. For the first time, I struggled to keep up. I felt overwhelmed and exhausted, and my grades dropped to Bs—something that was difficult for me to accept after consistently performing at a high level. Instead of giving up, I chose to adapt. I began attending professors’ office hours, seeking guidance from my counselor, and developing stronger time management skills. Through these changes, I gradually improved both my performance and my confidence. Although my GPA shifted from a 3.9 to a 3.73, this experience strengthened my resilience, discipline, and ability to manage real-world responsibilities. It taught me that success is not defined by perfection, but by persistence and growth. These lessons have prepared me for the academic rigor of college and my future career. My experiences have also shaped my goals. I am currently pursuing a career in nursing and have already taken meaningful steps toward that path. I am dually enrolled, more than halfway through completing my CNA certification, and working at a supportive living center where I gain hands-on experience in patient care. In addition, as the oldest sibling of six, I have developed a strong sense of responsibility, compassion, and leadership. These experiences have shown me the impact I can have on others and reinforced my commitment to a career in healthcare. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to continue my education with greater focus and less financial strain. By reducing the need to work long hours while in school, I would be able to dedicate more time to my studies, clinical training, and personal growth. I am committed to using my education to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, and this support would help me take the next step toward achieving that goal.