I am writing today with a mix of vulnerability and resilience, laying out the stories of my life that have shaped me into the person I am today. Though it is terrifying and humbling to open up about my experiences, I believe that sharing my story is essential to fully understanding my journey and aspirations.
From the outside, my life may have appeared idyllic, but beneath the surface is a story of hardship and perseverance. I am a survivor of emotional abuse, enduring a childhood marked by turmoil and self-doubt. The wounds inflicted upon me were invisible to the eye, yet they cut deep into my sense of self-worth and belonging. My deepest kept secret, that I share with you today, is the fact that I am an unaccompanied minor under the McKinney Vento Act. My homelife has been inconsistent at best and has added yet another layer of adversity to my high school experience.
Growing up, I held deep inside the disparaging words of my parents and teachers, convinced of my own inadequacy. Hindered by undiagnosed learning disabilities and untreated mental health challenges, I struggled to keep pace with my peers academically, socially, and emotionally. Despite these obstacles, I refused to surrender to the limitations imposed upon me. Instead, I found strength in the concept of grit—a resilience born from adversity and nurtured by unwavering determination. I like the word grit; I think it describes me well. Grit is something that doesn’t come from ease and privilege. Grit isn’t something you can detect from a GPA or test score. Grit becomes a gift to those of us who come from hard places, but have the determination to dream so big that we find our way out.
My personal journey has been filled with setbacks and challenges, yet it has also been defined by growth and resilience. I refuse to be defined by my past; instead, I choose to celebrate the strength and fight that have carried me through life's darkest moments. Where I used to be overpowered with my depression, set off course by my ADHD, confused by the ups downs of my hormone dysregulation, or hiding in my dark room from the fighting below, today, I stand before you as a testament to the power of perseverance—a dented, yet unbroken, individual who refuses to settle for anything less than I am capable of.
My dreams extend beyond myself; they encompass a vision of service and compassion. My commitment to volunteerism is my proudest achievement. This year I will graduate as a Distinguished Service Graduate from Jenks High School, having completed well over 400 hours of service to my school and community.
I am unwavering in my commitment to becoming a pediatric nurse, offering comfort and care to children and families facing trials. This has been my dream ever since I started dreaming. I want to live a life in service of others, especially children during their most uncertain times. I am deeply committed to using my experiences to connect with and uplift those who hurt, offering them the same compassion and understanding that I wished for during my darkest moments.
Receiving this scholarship would allow me to attend the college of my dreams, something I am still fighting to achieve due to financial uncertainty. Receiving this scholarship would affirm my belief in the value of resilience and determination. It will also provide validation of my journey and the strength I have gained along the way. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to share my story with you and humbly request your consideration for this scholarship.
It was a sunny Tuesday morning in September when I walked into my first period class. I had Effective Leadership for first period, which was a class/club where students learned leadership qualities and how to apply those qualities to our lives and the real world. Sometimes, my teacher would ask a guest speaker to come in and speak to us, and it was one of those days. This specific guest speaker appeared to be a nice and polite woman. She looked very put together and professional. During her time in our class, she had my class play a game. She would write a phrase on the board, and we, the students, had to say what the first thing that popped into our minds was. My classmates and I were a little confused about where the direction of this exercise was headed, but we were still a little excited to try out what the speaker said would be a “fun game”.
The first phrase the guest speaker wrote on the board was “drinks a lot”. Immediately, all our thoughts went to alcoholism and what a stereotypical alcoholic looks and acts like. This continued for about ten minutes where she would use phrases like “A person’s significant other who goes to jail a lot” and “A person who works on street corners” etc. Every single time without fail, we, as a class, always used negative adjectives and stereotypes based on these descriptions the speaker gave us. After we settled down for her last description, she pauses and asks the whole class a question. She asked, “What if all these descriptions were about the same person?” My classmates and I all agreed that the specific person must have such a rough life. The guest speaker then asks us another question, “What if that person was me?”
The room went quiet as we all stared at her in slight shock, pity, and guilt at her question. We all said these hurtful, stereotypical things about her without even realizing it. However, she surprised us once again. She corrected us by saying how she “drinks a lot” because she always refills her water bottle frequently. The whole point of the exercise was to show how we automatically judged a person’s life without even knowing what they looked like, and how that is very hurtful not only to others, but ourselves. The guest speaker’s exercise helped me realize my own faults when it comes to judging a book by its cover. It changed my perspective on how I shouldn’t immediately judge an individual’s lifestyle but try to understand and lend a helping hand when needed.
