Richard (Dunk) Matthews II Scholarship

Generational wealth means the wealth that one obtains during each generation. We are always expected to make our way for ourselves. My grandparents helped my mom get into college, but after that point, she was expected to make it on her own. I feel like I must also do it for myself. I am planning on going to the University of Northwestern Ohio in the fall. I want to study as an automotive technician. More precisely, I want to study to be a mechanic. I know it is not the most glamorous of jobs, but it is something that interests me deeply. Over the years, my mom and I have talked a lot about my future. She keeps reminding me that wealth is more than just money. I must also be fulfilled by my choice of career. Even though she has never made a fortune as a teacher, she is very fulfilled in her life and has taught me to seek out a career that will do the same for me. As a mechanic, I will be able to find work. The industry is always growing, as well as I keep up with the times, such as learning about hybrid and electric engines. I will keep up with my industry so that I can always be a leader in my field. I will continue to work hard and build a name for myself. I will work with integrity. Those who work with me will know that they can count on me to get the work done and for an honest price. It is also a goal for me to help in my community. Mechanics often get a bad name because they do a job that most don't understand. A lot of people, especially women, get overcharged for mechanic services. My mom has talked about this a lot over the years. I want to provide quality services for my community, as well as donate services for those who need them to get back on their feet. Overall, it is important to me to start my career in as little debt as possible. The college I have chosen is out of state, so the tuition is very expensive for me. This, along with room and board, will cost close to $50,000 by the time I graduate. In order to help me reach my goals with as little debt as possible, I need to try to get as many grants and/or scholarships as I can. My mother can help me take out other loans, but she is still paying off her own student loans after 20 years of graduating from college. As a single mother, she doesn't have much discretionary income to put toward those payments. Going into debt this early in my career would make it hard for me to generate any generational wealth for myself as I will barely be making it in my field for quite a while until I repay my loans. Therefore, please consider me for your scholarship. It would mean the world to me.