Linda Kay Monroe Whelan Memorial Education Scholarship

Growing up in Riverside, California, I was shaped by my community. Riverside, Rubidoux, and Moreno Valley are three cities all close together that are extremely underserved. Throughout my life, I've volunteered in all these communities, seeing the joy of giving to underprivileged, minority kids and people. I grew up in a low-income, bi-racial family of 6, and as a kid, we didn't have much. My brothers wanted to play basketball, so my dad became a volunteer basketball coach for Moreno Valley Recreational Center (and still is after 10 years)! I used to make sandwiches for the little kids, and I still help with their practices. Now that I'm older, I give free piano and guitar lessons to kids who can't afford it. Coming from a low-income home, I know how hard it is to pay for music lessons- but I know how healing music can be. So, after a few years of lessons, I decided I would share my knowledge with kids who couldn't afford it. Honestly, it has been so, so healing. Seeing these kids with no father, no money, and so much hardship beams with happiness and accomplishment. Getting to teach them music has been a great joy in my life. I also volunteer at a local non-profit karate school that aims to help underserved kids, giving them access to quality martial arts for free. Giving back to the community has shaped my life in so many ways. For one, it has given me purpose and joy when I thought there was none. When I was 11 years old, my mom was in a car accident that left her forever disabled. This led me to a dark place mentally, which then led to toxic relationships and friendships that hurt me more. I felt so lost and hopeless. Yet, giving piano lessons to this little girl in Riverside gave me hope. Teaching kids karate and seeing them smile- the best feeling ever. One young boy I used to teach was so broken and hopeless. At 7 years old, he had no father and an overworked mom, and he was getting bullied at school. Yet, through my volunteering, I saw him grow. By the time he was eight, he was smiling, happy, and no longer getting bullied. Volunteering in my community helped that change happen. I still give free music lessons and help volunteer to teach karate, but I also help give food to the Riverside homeless community through a local church. Through this church, I've also helped run basketball camps, flag football seminars, and toy giveaways for minority kids in the community. Nothing can express the joy and lessons I've gained through volunteering. I've learned how to work with many difficult parents and kids, but I've also learned how to be compassionate to those who have bad situations. I've got to hold babies and sing with orphans- I've played basketball with kids who have no money- and I've eaten with those who had no food. Going to college would prove to all these kids here that living your dreams is possible. I want to be that inspiration for all these kids, and I hope to do that!

When I turned 10 years old my mom became unhoused and started living in her car. It was unsettling to me as a child to not have a place to call home. I was able to sleep at my dad's house but I really only wanted to be with my mom and when I was with her I didn't have a room like other kids to play in or a desk to do homework on. My mom struggled for months in that situation sometimes not able to go on job interviews because she didn't have a place to shower and put on clean clothes. I found FAM when I was in high school. Their mission is to feed and house unhoused people and then train them to eventually take care of themselves again. Their mission is to end homelessness by teaching people the skills they need to get and keep meaningful employment, budget and pay taxes, and find housing suitable for their situation. I decided this was the perfect way for me to start helping people that were in the same situation as my mom once was. At FAM I primarily work as pantry staff accepting deliveries of food and other items from local grocery stores and sorting it in the warehouse for distribution to families. I also help coordinate distribution to the families that come through to get food for daily living as well as special events like Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. My favorite distribution is the holiday one just before Christmas. FAM has an adopt a family event where people in the community adopt a family for Christmas and deliver gifts to the warehouse. I get to participate in the distribution of these gifts to the families. To see the joy on people's faces who are so incredibly grateful to have gifts for their kids at Christmas is better than any gift I could receive. This year I decided to adopt a family myself. While I didn't really have the money to do this, I raised money through my work at a local restaurant to be able to buy bikes and skates for a family with teenage boys. I enjoyed shopping for gifts for this family and am so happy to have made this Christmas special for these kids who are in the same position I was in many years ago. I only wish my mom knew about this organization back then! My mom has since been able to get out of her unfortunate situation and is now happy and thriving with a great job and a house for us to call home. I do hope to continue service work for the unhoused population in the future. I would like to study in the field of medicine and become a Doctor or Nurse that can help lower income communities get the healthcare they need. While providing food and a roof over their heads is great, I know showing care and compassion and being able to listen to people's needs is a big part of helping people heal and become happy and healthy families.