Yohannes Academic Scholarship

The shots rang out. To many it was just another conflict in Sudan, but to my family it was the end of the world. My family fled on foot walking for days after having most of the people in their village murdered. I could vividly smell the stench of dead bodies when my mother described it to me. It was hell on Earth and my family lived it. When my family lived in refugee camps, they saw hundreds of people lying on their deathbed from malaria. But the illnesses did not just affect people around them, they slowly crept into our family. Which is the reality my family faced before coming to the U.S. from South Sudan. A reality that affected me growing up in America. At a very young age, I realized what it took for my family to be here today. They came to the U.S. with nothing but the clothes they wore on their backs. The transition to America was not kind, and how could it have been for two parents, 7 kids, many who were not their own. The culture of the U.S. did not suit my parents. Because of the difficulty of learning all of the little things at once from how to get a driver's license. To having experienced the stressors associated with being a minority. Which exacerbated the situation of these newly arrived Americans. Then soon after my parents were separated and my single mother worked 2 jobs. My mother needed my help. So, at a young age, I decided that I would become a man that could support his family. I help take care of and discipline my siblings. Since none of my other siblings would. I read mail for my dad because he doesn’t understand English. I work so I can get school supplies, and take care of my paralyzed brother & his children. But the trials and tribulations don't end there. Drug addiction is slowly taking away my family members. When my brother was shot in the head and paralyzed from the waist down it instilled unnecessary fear in me. I’m here today, shaped by countless blessings and adversity. I’ve lived in poverty most of my life. But, I still move forward because my mother has instilled in me the importance of striving for excellence in education. Since a lack of a formal education and obstacles is what limited my mother’s potential. Without an education, countless doors that were in her reach remained closed. My mother sacrificed a lot to get me where I am today and her hard work can only secure us so much. So it is my duty to open all the doors that were closed to her. The American dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of what they face, can attain their own version of success. So, I know it is not born in wealth or handed to you. I would like to imagine the American dream is in me. A boy who has lived in poverty most of his life and raised in a household of ten by a single mother. That is using education to become an engineer for many reasons, some greedy, but coming from nothing, I can afford to be a little greedy. Although I’m a sapling I believe I will grow to be a great tree, but that vision can’t be achieved if I don't plant my roots in a diverse and nurturing environment. So, the torch that has been carried by my mother, Victoria Angelo, is now in my hands and with it I shall achieve greatness.