My dream is to be who God created me to be. My goal is to not conform or change into who the world tells me to be.
Through my life I have come to realize people can become stifled by laws and social injustice. I have seen discrimination within my life. My mom is Latina, and my father is of white ethnicity. I have blonde hair and a light complexion. It’s sad that in 2024 people treat me differently when I am alone, versus when I am with my mom. Experiencing discrimination began my desire to fight for equality and become a lawyer battling injustices.
Five years ago my parents got divorced. Divorce can be common, however the circumstances that led up and have come after the divorce has been difficult.
My dad was diagnosed with bipolar, which changed the trajectory of my family. At the onset of my dad’s illness, we saw erratic and dysfunctional behavior. He became a different person. He got into a car accidents and would lie about the details. After four accidents within eight months he totaled my mom’s vehicle. He would forget to pick me up at school. He repetitively drained our bank account, which led to us moving seven times in two years. I did not have consistency in many things, even in having a home. I felt like there was no safe space for me. I understood my mom needed a healthy environment for me, but it was not easy. We struggled emotionally and financially. My dad moved in with my grandmother, and I did not get to see him often.
I know a lot of my dad’s behavior is not his fault or choice. He was a successful degreed man, a manager, he had a car and home. Now he is without a job or a vehicle. Some days he does not know who I am. For an adult, this would be hard, but I am fourteen years old. It feels like now I am the parent and he is the child. This is my reality. The good thing is I have my dad. I respect him, love him, and try to remember the good times, before his illness took over.
Despite how hard things get, I am determined, I will not let my circumstances define me. I am the vice president of two organizations, a District Champion Pole Vaulter, a Cheerleader, in Student Council, DECA and Model UN. I am enrolled in Honors and AP courses with a 4.6 GPA. I committed to exceeding my life goals! I plan and structure my life to set myself up for success.
I appreciate your consideration for this Great Starts With Grit Scholarship. If I earn this scholarship, I can assure you, I will serve others and impact the world for the better.
I believe I embody a gritty mindset. I will be Brook Taylor Merritt today and everyday! I will become who God created me to be! I will not change my goals or who I am because the world tries to take me down. I may adjust my plan, but I will never stop! I see the vision and I am going after it.
Philippians 1:6 says, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” This reminds me whatever I endure, God will use it for me to become who he designed me to be. Just like grit in an oyster becomes a pearl. I am a girl who will become a beautiful pearl.
When I entered this world, the nurse said she’d eaten steaks bigger than me. Born prematurely at just fifteen ounces and twenty-three weeks gestation, the chances of my survival were less than five percent. The doctors warned my family that if I did survive, I would be burdened with numerous health issues and long-term disabilities. As one of three triplets born premature, my journey involved a long battle with daily medical interventions: heart surgery, ventilators, feeding tubes, and blood transfusions. After 102 days, alongside my surviving sister, I was discharged from the NICU. This experience shaped who I am—I know I deserve to be here because I defied all odds against me. My identity was formed from the beginning of my life.
My identity is woven from resilience, cultural heritage, and family. As a biracial Black woman growing up with four other siblings and a twin sister on the autism spectrum, understanding and accepting people from diverse backgrounds has been integral to my life experiences. My family has played a role in shaping my identity, a blend of cultural influences and traditions passed down from my mother, father, and grandparents. I feel grateful to come from a family with a custom of philanthropy and community upliftment. My identity would only be complete if I mentioned the inspiring examples set by my grandparents' contributions to social justice during the Civil Rights Movement. Their dedication to giving back has taught me the importance of positively impacting the world. I deserve to be here so I can help make a difference.
My community involvement has also shaped my identity and what I strive for, particularly being a member of AmeriCorps. In the summer of 2023, I participated in the program Generation Teach, a teaching fellowship where I learned how to develop and implement lesson plans to teach underrepresented middle school students, which was an absolute joy and cemented my desire to educate and assist others, particularly students of color. Throughout the years, I have been involved in programs like these, such as a fellowship with the Piton Foundation and being a member of the Youth Advisory Council of Denver—collaborating with our district attorney to find resolutions to certain social justice issues. Through these experiences, I have learned I can be a source of inspiration, guidance, and support while working towards a more equitable society, particularly for Black women and other women of color.
As I’ve learned throughout life, identity is not a fixed destination but rather a process that constantly evolves and changes. My identity, composed of prematurity, family influences, community involvement, and guidance provided to me, is a testimony to my resilience. I know I deserve to be here—not just to overcome the challenges I faced at the beginning of my life—but to contribute to the betterment of others. Identity is not about who I am as an individual but how I can make a positive impact on the world, and I plan to make that impact at Spelman College.
