Urena Scholarship

My quest to find the best version of myself comes in various aspects of my life through academics, work experience, athletics, and daily life. I strive to exhibit a relentless pursuit of excellence fueled by ambition, an unwavering drive to succeed, and a commitment to making a profound impact on the lives of others through volunteering. At the heart of this journey has been exploring my talents and interests. I believe a person progresses through both good and bad experiences. That growth shapes us into the person we become. Ambition is not only a desire for success; it is a force that compels me to constantly strive for more, challenge myself, and reach new heights. I consider myself a non-traditional student because I am graduating with my associate's degree before graduating from high school. I recognize that although this is an exceptional accomplishment, it is not common. I have, and will, continue working hard to get through my rigorous schedule to achieve my goals. Furthermore, I started taking college courses at Davidson-Davie Community College in my junior year. I am entering my senior year and am on track to get my AA degree this May. Following this, I will receive my high school diploma this June. My academic journey reflects a commendable 4.567 High School GPA and 4.0 College GPA, Junior Marshall, Dean’s List at Davidson Davie Community College, and inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success and the National Honor Society. In addition to classes this upcoming year, I am working a part-time job at our family business. I now have experience in the business world and continue to develop leadership skills in my position. After graduation, I plan to attend a 4-year university and major in Marketing and Management. This will enhance my knowledge and skills and emphasize my credibility for future job opportunities. Another way to develop myself is to volunteer and give back to others. I have committed to numerous volunteer opportunities in the past 4 years including Love First service projects at my church, volunteer coaching for our summer swim team, leading tours for middle school students, and helping with our youth basketball camps at my high school. Being an athlete has provided me the opportunity to grow as a person. Throughout the years, I have been involved in swimming, gymnastics, soccer, softball, volleyball, and basketball. While in high school, I focused on swimming, soccer, and basketball. These experiences have provided life skills I will use in my adult years. I have developed leadership skills by being a captain in basketball. These sports have instilled commitment, drive, and dedication to striving for excellence. Each sport uniquely gave me confidence and courage influencing my life. In daily life, I want to display kindness and compassion to others. A person never knows what adversity others are experiencing and demonstrating acts of kindness can be impactful. At a young age, I faced a tragic event that has affected me in so many ways. I lost my best friend and her entire family due to a tragic event. This has and will always be something that affects me emotionally. I learned just how precious every moment is in this life. God has been with me through this entire situation and I continue to move forward each day. In essence, my ambition, drive, and impactful actions define me as a candidate uniquely aligned with the core values of this scholarship. This scholarship is not just a financial investment in my education; it is an investment in a future leader committed to making a significant impact on my community.

Personal development is an essential journey toward becoming the best version of oneself. It enhances our skills and qualities, leading to greater happiness and productivity. My personal development is crucial because it empowers me to achieve my goals and feel fulfilled. By investing in myself, I aim to learn as much as possible, both for my college education and to navigate the challenges of everyday life. One significant challenge I face is procrastination. It can be difficult to stay focused and motivated, especially with so many distractions. This struggle is common among students and can lead to unnecessary stress and anxiety. However, engaging in activities like kickboxing and Muay Thai has helped me combat this struggle. Attending classes twice a week has instilled a sense of discipline within me. On days when my schedule is busy, I feel more motivated to prioritize my training because it reminds me of my goals and the importance of staying active. This discipline has started to carry over into other areas of my life, encouraging me to manage my time better and focus on my studies. Additionally, I’m learning to balance my academic responsibilities with my interests. I can allocate time for my studies, workouts, and relaxation, by creating a structured schedule. This balance is crucial, as it prevents burnout and keeps me energized. I have also started using tools like planners and to-do lists to keep track of my assignments and deadlines. These strategies help me stay organized and allow me to celebrate small accomplishments along the way. In addition to my martial arts training, I am working to improve my mental and physical health by reading more and exercising regularly. These habits will provide long-term benefits for my academic success and overall well-being. Reading expands my knowledge and sharpens my mind, while exercise helps me maintain a healthy body and reduces stress. Together, these practices are helping me grow into a more well-rounded individual. Setting specific reading goals, like finishing a book each month, motivates me to explore new topics and ideas. Becoming the best version of myself means being truly happy with who I am. It involves self-acceptance and understanding that I am continually evolving. Personal development is not just about achieving external goals; it’s about nurturing my inner self and finding joy. As I work toward personal development, I remind myself to celebrate small victories and acknowledge my progress, even when it feels slow. Reflecting on my growth allows me to appreciate how far I’ve come and motivates me to keep pushing forward. In conclusion, personal development is vital for my happiness and success. By tackling procrastination through discipline and engaging in activities that foster growth, I am laying the groundwork for a fulfilling future. Through continuous learning and self-improvement, I can create a life that reflects my true self and aspirations. Ultimately, personal development is a lifelong journey that enriches my experiences and enables me to contribute positively to my community and relationships.

I spent countless days and months, pondering the question, “How can I be better?” I watched motivational videos, hoping they would lead me somewhere, yet I remained stagnant, caught in a cycle of sloth and insomnia that clouded my goals and aspirations. Every day felt like a repeated pattern, with nothing but the same routine in sight. It was then that I questioned God, wondering why my life had unraveled this way. I asked for strength to break free from this cycle and, in His way, He responded. One day, while spending time with friends, I was struck by a sudden and life-altering accident that nearly cost me my right arm. I required extensive stitches and surgery, leaving me facing a long road to recovery and a new level of difficulty in performing even basic tasks. Initially, it felt like yet another setback. Yet, in this moment of hardship, I experienced a profound awakening. I realized that this accident, this challenge, was a gift an opportunity to reshape my life. Rather than dwelling on darkness and self-pity, I saw this experience as a new beginning. Life, I realized, is like a book, and I am the author. If I wanted a story worth telling, I would have to create it. With renewed faith and gratitude, I began to take control of my narrative, determined to make the most of my life in honor of my mother’s sacrifices, my faith in God, and my desire to make my ancestors proud. Today, I am committed to becoming the best version of myself. I have developed a rigorous routine to enhance my physical well-being in the gym incorporating weights and basketball (cardio), making exercise a daily priority to build discipline. I also read daily to expand my knowledge and broaden my perspective. I was once told, “To read books is to learn to travel through time without moving,” and I’ve come to appreciate how reading allows me to connect with the wisdom of those who came before us, gaining insights that help me grow in ways I never anticipated. In addition to personal growth, I dedicate my time to serving my community. I volunteer at animal shelters and participate in local community service, driven by a desire to be of genuine help to those in need. My journey of self-improvement is not solely for my own benefit; it is also for my family and for the people I hope to impact one day as God’s warrior. My dream is to earn the privilege of attending medical school, eventually returning to the Philippines to give back to my community and demonstrate the power of perseverance and determination. Personal development holds immense significance to me because I have things worth fighting for: my family, my own aspirations, and the opportunity to honor those who believe in me, including the donors considering this scholarship. If selected, you would not only be supporting my growth but also creating a ripple effect that will extend through those I help in the future. Thank you for considering my story.

“Dream Big, Work Bigger.” Those four words, spoken by my running coach to mentally focus my team’s 2023 cross country season, have resonated far beyond that 5-month period of training and competition. “Dream Big, Work Bigger” speaks to my past, present, and future as I embody the values of ambition, dedication, and growth that this mental theme encapsulates in my athletic, academic, and personal life. I believe personal development is important in all of its expressions (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual) because one should embrace change, strive for growth, and hope to better oneself as a person and contributor to communities. Physically, I strive to be the best runner I can be. I run throughout the whole year as I train for team cross country and track meets. Thanks to an amazing coach and my you-can-do-it, give-it-everything mentality and dedication to the sports, I’m one of the fastest on my team and a respectable longer-distance runner in Indiana. I received the Newcomer Award for my cross country team as a freshman because my first 5-kilometer race took 23:45 and every meet I got faster, ending that season with a 20:15 personal record. Each season I strive for a faster time, trusting my training to better myself. Emotionally and mentally, I’ve struggled. Most recently I was handed a lesson in overconfidence. I went into my final track meet of the 2024 season with a big head. Just one week prior I won the 3200 meter run at sectionals and was 2 seconds away from breaking my school’s record. I hoped—no, expected—to run a personal record amidst the tougher competition and break the school record. That didn’t happen, not only because of the fierce wind but also my attitude about the race. I know now that I must stay humble. It’s not enough to dream big, I have to work for it with the right attitude. That was just the most recent landmark on my continuing, ongoing, never-ending journey of mental growth and learning. Spiritually, I feel proud of my journey so far and look forward to continuing growing my faith. I have worshiped at the same church all my life and was complacent in my Sunday school. Then in sixth grade, the Holy Spirit stirred me from placidness when a new youth director restructured the ministry to form a middle school “youth group” and invited every member to attend Quake. That weekend of “youth encountering the gospel” rocked my world, both literally with the contemporary Christian music, but also spiritually as I felt God’s presence and realized faith is in life now, not just a history Bible book. Since then, I’ve reaffirmed my Baptism and became quite active in the life of the church. As my band director once told me, “You strive for perfection, Dana, and you come darn well close to it.” Indeed, I continue to “Dream Big and Work Bigger.” My main goal is to live a life of love. I want to make a difference in the world and improve its quality. I want to find the solutions to problems and share my discoveries as an engineer. I want to invent or innovate something new and contribute to society with that product. I want to be healthy, happy, and live long to make the most of my time on Earth so that when I die I will be remembered for doing all of the above. Through the Urena Scholarship, my collegiate efforts can focus on personal growth via learning, running, and serving without monetary worries. Thank you for supporting student-athletes like myself who “Dream Big, Work Bigger.”