USMC Sgt. Owen J. Lennon Memorial Scholarship

My name is Mamadou Malal Balde and I am 17 years old. I was born in Conakry, Guinea on March 20th, 2008. My life has not been easy, but every one of the difficulties I faced made me stronger and more determined to achieve my objectives. I lost my father in December 2022. It was the most challenging time in my life because I lost the person who always supported me. My mother is still alive but could not provide for me emotionally or financially. I had to struggle after my father passed away. I had to seek food and survive each day. Through a very young age, I learned how hard life could be, yet gained the importance of hope and resilience. It was in 2023 that I decided to leave Guinea and pursue a good future. I traveled through seven countries before finally being able to reach the United States on September 27, 2023. The journey was very difficult, but I never gave up. I was sure that coming to America would give me the opportunity to learn, grow, and build the future that I had dreamed of. When I arrived in America, my uncle, Ibrahima Balde, welcomed me. He gave me a place to sleep, food to eat, and the chance to go to school. For the first time in my life, I felt truly cared for. My uncle gave me the love and attention that my parents withheld from me. He not only became my guardian, but also my mentor who leads me physically and mentally. I am grateful to him for everything he has done for me and I hope I can repay him for his kindness in hard work. I am now a high school student in New York. After immigrating here, I have found great interest in supply chain management and logistics. I believe that this field is very important as it unites people and countries of the world through commerce and transportation. Logistics allows individuals to have access to the commodities they need and allows businesses to grow. My dream is to study logistics in college and become a supply chain manager for a multinational corporation. I would like to use my knowledge to improve systems and create opportunities for individuals, especially young people in Guinea who have many barriers. My biggest challenge currently is financial. My uncle do not have the money to pay for tuition fees, living expenses, and other expenses. Despite this, I am firmly convinced that education is the gateway to a better future. I would like to continue studying, work hard, and become a productive citizen. That is why I am seeking this scholarship. It would allow me to carry on my education without worrying about how to finance it. It would be a chance for me to fulfill my dream and develop a career where I would be an asset. Most importantly, it would allow me to turn my adversity into strength and utilize my experience to inspire and assist others who are facing difficulties. Thank you for reading my application. I shall do my best, stay committed, and make the most of this chance not only for myself but also for others. Sincerely, Mamadou Malal Balde

I always knew I wanted to become a teacher. I had my heart set on it since I was in elementary school. It didn't matter to me how much others tried to discourage me from it, because I knew that it was what I wanted to do. I looked up to my teachers and wholeheartedly wanted to be just like them. Every time they pushed me forward, I knew it was because they believed I could achieve more. They would support me through my struggles. I would not have gotten far in my life if it weren't for the educators who pushed me to do it. They have influenced every part of my life, and I want to pass that on to my own students in the future. Teachers have a significant influence, especially on young children. During my junior year, I became in charge of a class of 20 people in JROTC. I taught them what they needed to know for that class and grew attached to them. It was difficult at times because there were many cadets that refused to communicate, there were some who refused to participate. There was also a language barrier that I would translate for the others. Regardless, I pushed each of them because I knew they could do better. My cadets are now regarded as some of the best in the battalion. They helped me realize that I wanted to continue to teach others so I could continue to feel the same sense of pride that I did when they succeeded. Success looks different to other people; seeing them reach their different levels of success made me feel proud of them. I witnessed my own influence on other people, and I knew I wanted to continue doing that for others. I believe that education is the most important thing a child can receive. It gives them hopes and an ability to pursue their passions, or learn what that passion might be. I am grateful for every educator that helped me realize that I wanted to continue teaching. I am also grateful to every educator that shared their own passions with me, whether it be artistic, or a part of the stem field because it gave me the choice to branch out to other career paths, although I knew I wouldn’t pursue it. Earning this scholarship can help me pay for my own education and pursue the ability to educate others, therefore influencing their lives. I do not know Sergeant Lennon personally, but I have researched him. He has influenced every person he has met, he has touched the hearts of many. I know this because of the many people who still talk about him and share the memories they had with them. I do not want to join the marines, but I want to influence the people in my life, the same way that Sergeant Lennon has, but through education instead.