My name is Shania Creary, and throughout my life, I have learned that circumstances do not define a person’s potential. Growing up in a single parent household, with my mom as the only parent in my life, has shaped me into someone who understands responsibility and hard work. My mom has always been my biggest role model, she has shown me what it means to keep going even when things feel impossible. We have faced serious challenges, including experiencing homelessness, but those experiences have pushed me to become stronger and more focused on my future. Instead of letting my situation hold me back, I have used it as motivation to work harder. Because of my perseverance and dedication despite financial hardship, I believe I am deserving of this scholarship.
There was a time when my mom and I struggled to find stable housing. Not knowing where we would sleep or stay was stressful and overwhelming, especially while trying to keep up with school. Even during those moments, my mom never stopped working hard to provide for me. Watching her stay strong and determined inspired me to do the same in my own life. I made a decision that no matter what was going on at home, I would not let my grades drop. School became something I could control when everything else felt uncertain. I stayed focused, completed my work, and pushed myself to do my best. Because of that, I earned membership in both the National Honor Society and the National Spanish Honor Society. These achievements mean a lot to me because they show that I didn’t give up, even when life was difficult.
Along with my academics, I am very involved in my school community. I am the captain of the varsity track and field team, which has taught me leadership, responsibility, and how to support others. Being a captain is not just about being a good athlete, it is about setting an example, encouraging my teammates, and staying positive even when things get tough. I am also part of a relay team that is currently ranked first in Suffolk County, New York, which is something I am very proud of. Track requires a lot of commitment, including early mornings, long practices, and pushing through physical and mental challenges. Even when I feel tired, I remind myself why I started and continue to give my best effort. Being a student-athlete has helped me develop strong time management skills and has shown me that I can handle multiple responsibilities at once.
Outside of sports, I serve as the president of the Multicultural Club Association. In this role, I work to create a space where students from different backgrounds feel included and appreciated. I help organize events that celebrate different cultures and bring people together. This position is important to me because I know what it feels like to go through hard times, and I want others to feel supported and seen. Being a leader in this club has helped me grow as a person and has taught me how to communicate, organize, and make a positive impact in my school.
I also work in the kitchen at an assisted living home, and this experience has played a huge role in shaping my future goals. While working there, I interact with elderly residents every day, and I have seen how difficult it can be for them to complete simple daily tasks like eating or holding utensils. Seeing this has made me realize how much I enjoy helping others, especially those who have lost some of their independence. This is what inspired me to pursue a career as an occupational therapist. I want to help people regain their ability to do everyday activities and improve their quality of life. Occupational therapy is meaningful to me because it focuses on helping people live more independently, which is something I truly value.
Becoming an occupational therapist isn’t just a career choice for me, it is is a goal that is connected to my personal experiences and the people I have met. I have learned that small actions, like helping someone hold a fork or complete a basic task, can make a huge difference in their life. I want to be someone who provides that kind of support and care. Working while keeping up with school and sports has not been easy, but it has taught me responsibility, patience, and compassion. These are all qualities that I know will help me succeed in the field of occupational therapy.
As a first generation college bound student from a single parent household, paying for college is a major concern for my family. My mom has already sacrificed so much to give me opportunities, and I want to make her proud by continuing my education. Receiving this scholarship would help ease the financial burden and allow me to focus on reaching my goals. It would also remind me that all of my hard work has been recognized.
I am proud of everything I have accomplished despite the challenges I have faced. My experiences have shaped me into a hardworking and determined person who is ready to take the next step toward becoming an occupational therapist. This scholarship would not only support my education, but it would also help me continue working toward a future where I can give back and make a difference in the lives of others.
In my child-like mind, poverty didn't have a name; it wasn't something substantial or oppressive. Consequently, the three year old I was in Nigeria as a Nigerian-American wasn't aware of the word poverty. Lost in the exhilarating thrill of finding each other, my friends and I, behind the weary curtain that sagged unevenly where its thin material had frayed and pulled from years of being drawn open and shut in the relentless game of hide and seek, we were blissfully unaware of the differences that would later shape our realities. The subconscious comparisons of who had what were non-existent- just the boundless energy of children who didn’t yet know what they lacked.
Growing up, the lines between the innocence of a child and reality blurred. The carefree days slowly met their ends and the small things, I began to notice. School was my first contact against the veiled truth I was yet to grasp, where a quiet whisper of understanding lingered just beyond my reach as I met the realization that while I waited to be given a laptop from the school cabinet, not everyone had to. Lunchtimes became another stark reminder of what we didn’t have as for most it was just another meal. However, lunch came with a certainty as it was provided for by the school but dinner wasn't met with the same certainty. I remember the ‘winters’ we often referred to as the rainy season, for there was no snow but the wind carried a biting chill that seeped into my body with every breath and when the rains came, they merely fell- they poured relentlessly. I knew because the rains were met with a bucket right under the roof, so much so that my siblings and I took turns to empty them when it rained through the night because no one wanted to wear damp shoes to school the next day. It wasn’t just the bitter chill that made it unbearable, but the knowledge that the heating came at an exorbitant price and my mother worked two jobs already.
Amidst the struggle, school became my safe haven, a place where the hardships of home faded into the background, and my thoughts were captivated by the words on a page rather than wandering with despair about . Curiosity became my anchor, fuelling me through days that were otherwise filled with quiet hunger and cold nights. School was the place where I could dream beyond my circumstances, where my imagination emanated from books that told tales of facts and fiction. I found solace in learning because it offered a world far removed from the realities I faced, where each word carried a whisper from distant minds which offered a glimpse of ideas and memories that inspired new thoughts and perspectives. Soon enough, the conversations I held were of topics beyond the confines of daily life but bloomed into topics rich with ideas and prospects of the future. I wasn’t rich in clothes or in material comforts, but I was rich in knowledge—and that was my dignity, something no one could take away from me.
What I lacked in resources and materials, I made up for in determination like a flame that refuses to be extinguished-rising early and pushing through the doubt and obstacles. I had to work harder, longer, and with more grit because I knew that was my only way out. The curiosity and steady unyielding persistence that kept me going became my source of certainty. Research, in particular, fascinated me, opening doors to possibilities I had never considered. It became a powerful tool for my mind to explore, a way to stretch the horizons of my insight.
One area that particularly captured my attention was plant metabolite profiling. The idea that plants could be used to improve patient treatment in medicine and pharmacology piqued my curiosity. I became deeply intrigued by how plant metabolites—natural compounds produced by plants that have bioactive properties including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antioxidant properties—could offer a new approach to medicine. They were less toxic than synthetic drugs, and the potential to reduce bacterial resistance was revolutionary. The idea that introducing new types of antimicrobial drugs containing plant metabolites could decrease the selection pressure on bacteria to develop resistance opened up a whole new perspective for me. In future, I hope to be part of the incredible change that integrates non-toxic metabolites into patient-care.
This passion led me to write a paper on the subject, which ultimately won me the Crest Gold Award from the British Science Association. It was a moment that felt surreal—a Nigerian-American child from a poor background receiving recognition on a platform I had once thought was seemingly unattainable. But in that moment, I realized that the limitations of my upbringing were never truly barriers. They were stepping stones that taught me resilience, perseverance, and the potential of a curious mind.
Poverty shaped my early years, but it didn’t define who I am. It taught me the value of hard work and even more so the importance of knowledge. I wasn’t raised with wealth or the traditions inspired by it, but I found wealth in the things that mattered to me—curiosity, learning, and a relentless drive to succeed. As I continue to grow, I carry these lessons with me, knowing that the struggles of my past have given me a foundation greatly superior to any that material possessions could.
