Yvela Michele Memorial Scholarship for Resilient Single Parents

Funded by

American Notary & Signing Services

Eligibility Requirements

Education Level:

High school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student

Identity:

Single parent or the child of a single parent

Education Level:

Identity:

High school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student

Single parent or the child of a single parent

Single-parent households often face additional challenges when compared to dual-headed households.

Single parents typically have less access to higher education due to the demands of childcare, with just 31% of single mothers over the age of 24 attaining at least a bachelor’s degree as compared to 54% of married mothers. Due to lower rates of college education among single parents, their children often have limited financial resources and have less mentorship when it comes time to attend college themselves.

This scholarship seeks to support single parents or the children of single parents who have overcome adversity and demonstrated a will to succeed.

Any high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student who is a single parent or the child of a single parent may apply for this scholarship.

To apply, tell us about yourself, the challenges you’ve overcome, and how you plan to make a difference in the world with your education.

Selection Criteria:

Ambition, Need, Boldest Bold.org Profile

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Published December 15, 2022

Essay Topic

Please tell us a bit about yourself, your challenges, how you overcame them, and how you plan to make a positive impact on the world through your education.

400–600 words

Winners and Finalists

June 2023

Winners

Sarelis arias vasquez

Finalists

University of Massachusetts-Boston

Quincy, MA

jayrielle joseph

Texas Tech University System Administration

Houston, TX

Aaron Redis

Southern New Hampshire University- Online

Scranton, PA

Jeremy Yiu

University of California-Davis

Oakland, CA

Winning Application

Sarelis arias vasquez

Simmons UniversityBoston, MA

I was raised by a Dominican single mother. That in itself tells you a lot. I was under the constant care of my Mami, who no matter what was always there for me, for the school events, for the doctor visits, for every breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While living in the Dominican Republic, I was babied by Mami, the next-door neighbor, and my other relatives. I remember as a little girl being picked up for school by my uncle on his motorcycle, stopping at a bakery for a huge empanada filled with eggs and cheese, and a passion fruit juice with oatmeal. The most important thing in my world is my family. Since I was a little girl I have always implemented the idea that family is the most important thing in life. We are supposed to be there for each other no matter what. I was always the one getting taken care of, but when I came to the United States at just ten years old I started being the one taking care of others. When I came to the United States, I was going to school, which meant that I was supposed to learn English fast and become a translator for my mom who knew not even one bit of English. I was also expected to take care of my five-year-old sister while my single mom worked. By doing all of this I helped my family keep afloat. I understood that we were all going through a tough time both financially and emotionally, and I pulled through and did all the best I could. Although this time was extremely hard for me as a young person growing and learning about myself, I feel proud of myself and how I helped my family keep pushing because I knew that my mom and my sister needed me to be the rock for a while. Later, when we moved to Boston I was hit with another challenge: work and the arrival of a baby sister. When I turned 15, I started working right away. I was going to school and then right after school, going to work. On the days I had no work, I had to take care of my sister. I had no break, which started to feel tiring. I started to feel like I couldn’t do it all, but I kept on pushing and working harder for my family. After a couple of months, I was given the news that my mom was having a baby. I was extremely happy of course, but in the back of my mind there was a recurring question: Am I going to have to take care of another child? Don't get it wrong, I love my sisters, they are the light to my eyes and everything I do is for my family, especially for those two little angels, but I needed something for myself. In this way, I contributed to the world by helping raise two strong independent young girls who will always speak up for themselves and fight for their rights. Through taking care of my family, I have contributed to the world by showing a perfect example of how even though there might be times when we feel like giving up, there’s always a reward at the end of the tunnel, and if you keep working hard you will get the reward and it will all be worth it.