Margalie Jean-Baptiste Scholarship

I will always root for the villains. Well, in Pokémon, at least. Even though Ash Ketchum, our audience’s beloved eternal 10-year-old, is on his journey to becoming the very best, from the start, it was Team Rocket, our bad guys, that entranced me with their motto and personalities. Throughout Ash’s journey, I learned that justice wasn’t always black and white. Team Rocket, the supposed villains, often had protagonistic feelings. Their motto, self-written as well, were quite heroic, juxtaposing their shown evilness. Meanwhile, our protagonists sometimes made questionable choices without understanding the opposition. This blurring of lines taught me to look beyond the surface. How can we determine who’s entirely good or bad? Even though Team Rocket will forever lose, they have always felt ardent about their mission. Whether it be coming up with a new distinct contraption idea to kidnap Ash’s Pikachu or finding solutions to earn money to support themselves, they have never lost the motivation to carry out their original plans. Wavered? Sure. Fully quit? Never. Team Rocket taught me how our true strength lies in how we handle our defeats regardless of how unfair. These lessons didn’t become a passing thought—they became a part of me. Over the last few years, I’ve faced my own battles—maybe not with stealing Ash’s Pikachu, but with my real-world challenges: being the only ethnic Chinese in a predominately white town, extreme parental expectations, hiding my bisexuality, stage fright, still talking after almost becoming mute. Near the end of my freshmen year, I was given the opportunity to bring more awareness to human trafficking–an issue I was highly passionate about, yet I suddenly started uncontrollably sobbing. Have you ever felt crossed between 3 different worlds, never being able to fully belong to any of them? That was my entire life. After that moment, I found myself channeling Team Rocket’s resolute spirit. When I failed this time, I didn’t run away this time. I sought a different solution to challenge my speaking fear: Forensics. A literal public speaking in-a-nutshell. It should’ve been the Ash Ketchum to my Team Rocket. However, compared to Team Rocket’s constant fictional failures, this was reality. Winning is possible in reality. After one step, I managed to take another slow step into understanding how my differences weren’t barriers. They were bridges waiting for me to discover the other side. Forensics wasn’t just about standing in the front of the room and speaking; it was about discovering my voice. Every round, every shaky moment before a speech, and every award became proof that I could be seen and heard because of my differences. I learned how to exist unapologetically in all three worlds at once. I knew there had to be others like me, so I sought out a solution despite my limited leadership abilities. Nearing the middle of my Junior year, I brainstormed different approaches to public speaking. By the start of my Senior year, I developed a curriculum. Recognizing that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to speaking, I ventured through the specifics of storytelling, debate activities, even acting to conjure diverse applicable methods, so anyone can learn to discover their voice slowly. Through that curriculum, I was able to assist over ten individuals with finding their voices as well. Today, I still root for the villains. Not because they always lost, but because they were human. Even though I’ve been watching Pokemon longer than I have known English, I’m still that child watching Pokemon, learning valuable life lessons. Only now, instead of constantly watching, I’m teaching them.

Hiding behind the silver Lexus, crouching down on the parking lot, while peeking to see if she saw me wearing my kemis (a traditional Ethiopian dress). I was leaving for a family gathering, and suddenly, I saw my neighbor and friend approach me. My immediate reaction was to duck behind the car because I was so embarrassed for her to see my culture. I was only about nine years old and had already convinced myself that my Ethiopian identity was something to be ashamed of. My view of my Ethiopian identity completely changed in the summer of 2019 when I visited Ethiopia for three months. There, I improved their native language Amharic and took the initiative to learn to write. Even more importantly, being in an environment where everyone shared my culture made me feel comfortable to embrace my culture more. I could now wear my kemis in public. Talking to my cousins in Amharic and about our culture was such an improvement from hearing my peers tease my culture. In return, I showed my American identity to my cousins by describing American culture and teaching English. When I returned to the U.S., I decided to embrace my culture. I only spoke Amharic with my family, shocking them with the drastic change in the connection with my Ethiopian identity. Even at school, when I had accidentally slipped and spoke Amharic, I was not ashamed. Instead, I was proud that my Amharic had gotten that good. Furthermore, I became closer friends with Ethiopians peers and soon realized that our cultural connection was unmatched by my other friends. From this, I took the initiative to motivate my younger cousins in America to embrace their culture and taught them Amharic. I also learned the importance of learning, and this experience showed me how rewarding teaching people new concepts is. Through learning the importance of learning, I discovered my interest in teaching others and gained leadership skills. I aspire to use these skills to lead and educate others in a college environment and learn from others. A college environment would help me achieve this goal because an atmosphere filled with people from different cultures would give me this opportunity. Though coming to terms with accepting and embracing my Ethiopian was difficult to overcome, I am grateful to have overcome it because, through this time, I found my new passion for learning and teaching others.

As I reflect on my life, I cannot help but recognize the challenges I have faced and the adversity I have overcome. Growing up as a first-generation immigrant in the United States, I faced numerous obstacles that threatened to derail my aspirations for a better life. Despite these challenges, I have persevered and remained steadfast in my pursuit of success. One of the biggest obstacles I have faced is cultural differences. Being Kenyan, I struggled to fit in with my peers and navigate the intricacies of American society. Many times, I was the butt of the joke. I often felt isolated and misunderstood, but I refused to let these feelings hold me back. Instead, I embraced my heritage and used it as a source of strength and motivation. Despite these challenges, I have been able to overcome adversity through my resilience and determination. I have learned to adapt to difficult situations and approach obstacles with a positive attitude. I have also sought out opportunities to learn and grow, both personally and academically. One of the ways I have overcome adversity is through my commitment to volunteering and serving my community. I have been involved in several non-profit organizations that focus on providing resources and support to underprivileged individuals and families. Through these experiences, I have gained a greater understanding of the challenges that many people face on a daily basis, and I have been inspired to make a difference in their lives. For example, I have volunteered at a local food bank, where I assisted in sorting and distributing food to families in need. I have also been involved with a non-profit that provides mentorship and tutoring to at-risk youth. Through this program, I have had the opportunity to serve as a positive role model and help students achieve their academic and personal goals. In addition to my volunteer work, I have also worked hard to achieve academic success. Despite the financial and cultural barriers I faced, I maintained a high GPA throughout high school, held many leadership positions in my school, and worked hard to get into many colleges. I have also pursued internships and research opportunities that align with my career goals and allow me to make a positive impact in the world. Overall, I believe that my experiences with adversity have made me a stronger and more compassionate individual. I have learned to persevere through difficult times and remain optimistic in the face of challenges. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to serve my community and make a difference in the lives of others. This scholarship would be instrumental in helping me achieve my educational goals and continue to make a positive impact in the world. It would alleviate some of the financial burden that I have faced and allow me to focus more on my studies and extracurricular activities. It would also serve as a source of motivation and encouragement, reminding me that hard work and dedication can lead to success and fulfillment. I am proud of the obstacles I have overcome and the person I have become. I am committed to using my experiences to make a positive impact in the world, and I am grateful for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship.

Cultivating relationships with others has always been extremely important to me. Even as a child, becoming close to others was my number one priority. Unfortunately this led to four year of bullying throughout middle school and high school. I cared so much about other people and my connection with them, I would ignore the blatant signs of neglect, inconsideration, and gossip. I’d hoped so desperately they would open their eyes and realize how much I cared for them and treat me better. Unfortunately that was never the case. Emotionally scarred, hurt, and in a very dark place, my mother was the only light in that cave; reminding me through the way she loved and cared for me, that good was still possible in people, and to use the time I was “alone” to become secure in myself before attempting to build bonds. None of this made sense to my young mind until my junior year of highschool. I was virtual due to the COVID pandemic and therefore didn’t think I would need to worry about becoming too close to anyone. I intended to float through the school year with no camera and no mic. That way I wouldn’t have to worry about the past that still haunted me, or attempt to make new friends. God had other plans for me. Virtually, I was able to thrive, succeeding in both my academics, and interactions with my peers. I stopped being afraid to answer my teachers or ask questions if I was confused. My anxiety faded and my confidence grew. This confidence caused a mental shift and I determined that through my life, I wanted to turn my negative experiences into a positive impact. I realized I wasn’t and will never be the only person facing such a challenging situation and if I could overcome it, I wanted to help as many people as I could, overcome as well. I am determined to become a safe space and an anti-bullying activist as I grow. I’d like to be either a teacher or a children’s advocacy lawyer. Anything to help defend and protect the hearts of the future. I understand the pain of childhood trauma in school. I also understand that as a child, majority of your time is spent in school, which means life can be perfect at home as it was for me, if school isn’t providing the necessary support and care of it’s students, those children will be left to grow in suffering.