Walters Foster Care Scholarship

At the age of three, I was placed in foster care. My mother tells me it’s because my biological mother loved me so much and she wanted more, and better for me. For the next three years, I bounced around from foster home to foster home (a total of 5), and to facilities that were supposed to help me with my behavior by providing me with therapy and education. It was after my 5th birthday that I met my Mom and Dad. I went home permanently at the age of 6. It wasn’t easy at first. There were a lot of adjustments that needed to be made. I had a difficult time adjusting to my new environment, as my parents tried their best to help me settle. I was angry. I did not know how to socialize with others. I recall a time my mom and I went out to meet her family friends. There were other kids there and I did not get along with them. Once she saw me throwing grass and sticks at them, she quickly told me we were leaving. I was six years old and became so angry, I started screaming, kicking, cussing and throwing my glasses (which we never found). My mom needed help getting me in the car. On the drive home, I kicked the door, and the window, and cussed. Once we got home, my dad met us at the door and assisted me in calming down. Throughout the years, I’ve learned how to cope and deal better with my frustrations. Because both my parents are teachers, I was supported and pushed academically. I learned quickly that I could utilize writing to help me manage the frustrations I was feeling. I found myself writing down how I felt, and although I rarely shared my thoughts with my parents, this helped me release what I was feeling when I felt like I had no one to talk to. I found myself turning my writing to poetry and songs. Although I know life is all about growth, I know I can depend on writing to help me release any frustrations. Adoption played a big role in all of my decisions. It hasn't always been easy. I've had to battle with many thoughts any person adopted would have. Although challenging as a child, my adoption provided me with a stable home environment that helped me find peace. Because of this stability, I was able to make it to this point in my life; graduating from high school with a 3.6 GPA. My experiences and challenges make me want more in my life. I've developed a mindset of determination and perseverance. I’ve learned to look at my mistakes as a chance to grow. I have big dreams. There’s so much I want to accomplish and I know the best way to accomplish them is through education; by going to college. I want to major in Business Entrepreneurship. I want to enhance my business instincts and develop creative ideas. I want to be knowledgeable in marketing and finance to support my ideas and eventually, share my expertise with others. Because of my knowledge, I hope to create things that will support people’s everyday life. I hope to be an example to others just like me. I hope to inspire youth who went through foster care and adoption to know that they can get through hard times and accomplish their dreams. I hope that I’m considered for this scholarship. I’ve worked hard to make it to this point and am hopeful that I will prove the statistics wrong.