Education Empowerment Scholarship

I am a first generation Mexican American household and my first language was Spanish. I learned English in kindergarten and continued in the ESL program until fifth grade. Growing up , I struggled most with speaking in confidence and feeling shameful when speaking the only language I first knew. Even now, I sometimes feel nervous expressing myself, especially in unfamiliar situations. As a child, it was difficult to participate because I was afraid of making mistakes or being judged on not pronouncing words right or looking like everyone else. However , over time, I began to use myself to speak more, even when it felt uncomfortable. Learning English has shaped my resilience and taught me patience with myself and others. I am proud of how far I've come. Earning the Seal of biliteracy in English and Spanish reflects my growth and dedication, and it represents my ability to. Communicate across languages, which will be important in my future healthcare career. One major obstacle I have faced in my education journey is bullying, feeling not included , and anxiety when speaking English in large groups, especially during presentations or speeches. I enjoy learning and participating , but in l my AP courses, I often feel less confident compared to my peers. This anxiety and fear holds me back from fully being myself , expressing my ideas, even when I understand the material. This challenge has affected both my academic participation, and my confidence in high-pressure situations, making it something I have to actively work through. I began overcoming this obstacle by asking for support from my teachers and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I worked on changing my mindset, reminding myself that making mistakes is part of learning and growing as a person. Instead of avoiding speaking opportunities, I started to see them as a chance to share my voice and my love for writing like speaking in graduations, writing a poem in front of my whole school. My internship experience in healthcare also played a major role in building my confidence. Being in a real- world environment helped me focus less on fear and more on my purpose by helping others. Even though I am still growing. And struggling, I have developed stronger confidence and resilience. My parents are the people I look up to in my education. They started from nothing and worked to build a better life for our family. They have faced many challenges, they never gave up and continued to push forward with determination and faith. Their resilience and work ethic pushes me to stay focused on my goals, even when things feel difficult. Watching them overcome obstacles motivates me to take my education seriously and make the most of every opportunity. I strive to reflect their strength and dedication in my journey of life. I unfortunately cannot afford a four year school but I'm grateful for an open door near me and that is attending Danville Area community college and pursuing a career in fetal echocardiography within pediatrics. I am passionate about healthcare, especially working with children, because I want to make a difference in their lives during vulnerable moments like mine. Education is important to me because it helped me find a voice and it is the pathway to achieving my goals and creating a beautiful future. My goal is to help diagnose and support the health of unborn children while also comforting families during emotional times. Growing up, I struggled feeling confident , seen and safe, and that experience has shaped my desire to create a different environment for others. I want the children and families I work with to feel seen, supported, and cared for and over all never alone or ashamed for what they are going through. My goal is to not only succeed in my Career but also to make a meaningful impact through my empathy and compassion. Outside of school , I give back to my community by volunteering at the hospital and participating in various community events. Through these experiences, I have had the opportunity to support patients, give food to families in need , and contribute to a positive environment. I also take on responsibilities within my family , helping where i am needed. These experiences have taught me the importance of service, empathy, and being present for others. Giving back is importance to me because i understand how meaningful support can be, especially during difficult times.

1. I began learning English when I moved to the United States during middle school. Before arriving, I had studied some English in school in Ukraine, but it was mostly grammar and memorization. I could read and understand basic rules, but I had almost no experience actually speaking with native English speakers. Real conversations were completely different from what I had learned in textbooks. When I started school in the United States, I quickly realized that knowing grammar was not the same as communicating in everyday situations. I struggled to understand fast conversations and felt nervous speaking because I was not used to using English in real life. Over time, through school, daily conversations, and pushing myself to speak more often, I gradually became more comfortable communicating and expressing my ideas in English. 2(a). One of the biggest obstacles I faced in my educational journey was being bullied because of my English. When I first started school in the United States, I had a strong accent and could barely put sentences together when speaking. Even though I understood some grammar, communicating in class was extremely difficult. Some classmates mocked the way I spoke and told me to “learn English.” Because of this, I became very self conscious and afraid to participate in class discussions. At one point I even asked teachers not to call on me because I was worried that other students would laugh at the way I spoke. The bullying made school feel intimidating and sometimes made me question whether I belonged there at all. 2(b). At first, I didn’t try to overcome the problem. I stayed quiet in class and avoided situations where I had to speak English. However, one teacher noticed that I understood the material even though I rarely participated. She encouraged me to speak up and pushed me to answer questions in class, even when I felt uncomfortable. At first it was difficult and I made many mistakes, but she continued encouraging me not to be afraid of speaking. Slowly I forced myself to participate more. Over time my confidence improved and I realized that mistakes were part of learning. Outside the classroom, tennis also helped me rebuild confidence because it gave me a place where I could focus and succeed even while I was still learning English. 3. One of my educational role models is the teacher who encouraged me to start speaking in class when I was struggling with English. At a time when I lacked confidence and avoided participation, she recognized that I understood the material even though I was afraid to speak. She pushed me to answer questions and share my ideas, even when I felt nervous. Her encouragement helped me realize that mistakes are part of learning and inspired me to support younger students who face similar challenges today. 4(a). I plan to attend a four year university where I will pursue a degree that prepares me for law school. In college I want to challenge myself academically while developing strong analytical, communication, and critical thinking skills. I also hope to stay involved in programs that support students who face educational barriers, especially immigrant and ESL students. My experiences adjusting to a new language and education system have shaped my goals, and college will allow me to continue building the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a career in law. 4(b). After completing my education, I hope to become a lawyer who advocates for people who struggle to navigate complex systems because of language or cultural barriers. My experiences as an ESL student showed me how difficult it can be to understand institutions such as schools, courts, or government systems when English is not your first language. I want to use my education to help individuals who feel unheard or disadvantaged. My goal is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background or language, has access to fair opportunities and representation. 5. Outside of school, I give back by tutoring younger immigrant students who are learning English. I returned to the Hebrew Language Academy, the school I once attended, to help Ukrainian students adjust to life in the United States. Many of them face the same language barriers and fears I once experienced. I help them with homework, explain lessons in languages they understand, and encourage them to speak confidently in class. Supporting these students allows me to turn my own experiences into something positive for others.

My mom immigrated to America from Poland when she learned she was pregnant. She decided, for my future living in America was the best choice. At home I only spoke polish. For the first 4 years of my life, the only language I knew was polish. I only began to learn some English when I went to kindergarten at the age of 5. During that year of school, I struggled immensely. I couldn't understand anything, I never finished my assignments and I was very unmotivated to do anything. I faced many obstacles growing up because of my language barrier. From not having any friends to never understanding what was being said to me, I decided I needed a change. I realized that in order to advance I need to put in more effort into my English speaking skills. As a result I started rewriting English books and summarizing them in English. I would have my teachers "grade them" and give me feed back to learn from. On top of that I listened to many English songs and podcasts because for me, hearing the language helped me understand how to use it. From then on, for many years, I continued to struggle less and less until my English became better than my Polish. During my journey I looked up to one person and one person only. My mom. This may be a very common answer but to me my mom is the smartest and most hardworking person I have ever known. She decided to come to America, despite the challenges, knowing that she won't understand anything. She sacrificed a comfortable life in her home country, for a life in a whole new country with a different language. On top of working almost two jobs she was also enrolled in an English course where many polish adults became students and learned English. She worked hard day and night to provide food on the table and help her have a somewhat better paying job. Although to this day, her English isn't perfect, its good enough where she can make her way through some obstacles. I plan to continue my education by attending a four year college where I will get a degree in Kinesiology. Afterwards I plan to attend a chiropractic college to get my doctorate in chiropractics. During this journey of around eight years, I will continue to learn. On top of a degree in Kinesiology I want to have a minor in Spanish. I feel that the Spanish language is used very frequently and it might benefit me to learn more. Although I have the seal of bi-literacy for Spanish, I believe I can continue enhancing my language skills. Afterwards I want to help as many people as possible through taking care of their pains. Outside of school, I volunteer at many different places that require the help. From nursing homes to animal shelters I try at least two to three times a month to help someone out even if it is just helping them carry something. I volunteer at a martial arts school and help teach children the art of taekwondo three times a week. I love seeing the faces light up after they learned a new kicking combination or break their board at their ranking test. I believe that my language barrier from the beginning has set me on a path of hard work. From learning a new language, English, to learning yet another language, Spanish. From being inspired by my mom, to helping others in different ways. This journey is something I am very proud of no matter what. It is something that defines me and I am not ashamed of it. This is a part of me and I believe I have grown to become a better version of myself.