My name is Chad Duncan, and I’m a 24-year-old student at Austin Community College, working toward an associate degree in Business Administration. I’ve completed 42 credits, I’m currently enrolled in 6 more, and I have a 3.571 GPA. I also work full-time as a medical device technician, which has taught me how to balance responsibility, stay disciplined, and stay focused on the bigger picture. Once I finish my associate degree, I plan to transfer to a university to earn my bachelor’s in business, with a focus on management. What led me to this point wasn’t a straight path, but a series of life experiences that shaped my mindset. I was raised by my mom after losing my dad in a tragic accident when I was just eight years old. That loss changed everything. Watching my mom take care of everything on her own showed me what strength and perseverance really look like. It also taught me early on that life isn’t always fair, but you still have to move forward. At 21, I decided to move out and live on my own. I didn’t do it because I had to—I did it because I wanted to grow. I knew I needed to challenge myself, take on more responsibility, and figure out who I really was. Living independently while working and going to school full-time hasn’t been easy, but it’s helped me mature in ways I’m proud of. I’ve learned how to manage my time, make sacrifices, and stay committed to the goals I’ve set for myself. I’ve always been drawn to leadership. Not just in a career sense, but in how I carry myself and how I support others. My goal is to become a leader who helps people grow and believe in themselves. I want to make a difference in people’s lives, especially those who come from tough backgrounds like mine. Whether that means managing a business team or mentoring young people, I want to be someone who brings out the best in others. One of my long-term goals is to create programs that help underserved youth and young adults prepare for the workforce. I want to focus on career readiness, leadership skills, and building confidence. I know what it feels like to grow up without a lot of guidance, and I want to be the kind of person I wish I had when I was younger. Education has opened a door for me, and I want to keep pushing forward so I can open doors for others. This scholarship would help ease the financial pressure I face as a full-time student, and it would bring me closer to achieving my goals—not just for myself, but for the people I hope to impact in the future.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been driven by a desire to understand more about myself, the world around me, and how I can make a meaningful impact. Growing up in a single-mother household after losing my dad in a tragic accident at the age of eight, I learned early on that life can be uncertain. The only thing we can truly control is our mindset and how we grow from experiences. My mother’s strength and resilience taught me that learning isn’t just something that happens in school. It’s a way of surviving, evolving, and becoming who you’re meant to be. This mindset has shaped every stage of my life. At 21, I made the decision to move out and live on my own. It wasn’t because I had to, but because I wanted to grow. I wanted to take on the responsibility of building something for myself. Since then, I’ve been working as a medical device technician while attending Austin Community College full time, pursuing my associate degree in Business Administration. I’ve completed 42 credits, I’m currently enrolled in 6 more, and I hold a 3.571 GPA. Over time, I’ve come to realize how deeply connected learning is to every part of my journey, not just in the classroom but in life. Some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned haven’t come from books. They’ve come from real-life challenges like balancing work and school, learning to budget, staying focused during tough moments, and continuing to show up for myself even when things feel overwhelming. Each challenge has helped me grow not just as a student, but as a person. What I love most about learning is that it’s never really finished. There’s always something new to discover, a different perspective to consider, or a skill I can improve. That’s the mindset I plan to carry with me as I transfer to a university to complete my bachelor’s degree in business with a focus on management. I want to become a leader who helps others grow, builds strong teams, and creates opportunities for people to believe in themselves. I might not know exactly where this path will take me yet, but I know that staying curious and open to growth will shape the kind of leader I become. To me, living a full life means staying curious, being open to new experiences, and using what I’ve learned to make life better for others. That’s what keeps me going, even when things are difficult. And that’s what I see reflected in the message of this scholarship, a celebration of curiosity, discovery, and living with purpose.

Growing up in a single-mother household really shaped the person I am today. When I was just eight years old, I lost my dad in a tragic accident. That moment changed everything. My mom had to take on both roles, provider and parent, and I watched her work incredibly hard to keep our family going. Seeing her strength and dedication taught me a lot about resilience, responsibility, and pushing forward even when life doesn’t go the way you planned. Losing my father at such a young age forced me to grow up faster than most kids. I realized early on that life can be unpredictable, and the only thing I could control was how I responded to it. At 21, I made the decision to move out on my own, which was not easy to do. I wasn’t running from anything — I just wanted to grow, learn who I am, and take on more responsibility. Living on my own and managing everything by myself has helped me mature and stay focused on where I want to go. Right now, I’m working as a medical device technician while attending Austin Community College. I’ve completed 42 credits and I’m currently taking 6 more. I hold a 3.571 GPA, and I’m just a few classes away from earning my associate degree in Business Administration. Once I finish, I plan to transfer to a university to get my bachelor’s degree, with a focus on management. Balancing work and school can be challenging, but it’s also rewarding, it’s helped me build structure, discipline, and a stronger sense of purpose. In the future, I want to make a positive impact by becoming the kind of leader who helps others believe in themselves. I’m not exactly sure what area of management I’ll go into yet, but I know I want to be in a position where I can influence people in a meaningful way. Coming from a background where things weren’t always easy, I understand how much of a difference encouragement and opportunity can make. I want to be someone who leads with empathy, whether that’s in a business setting, through mentorship, or just by setting a good example. If I can help people feel supported, confident, and motivated to keep going even when things are tough, then I’ll know I’m doing something meaningful. That’s the kind of impact I want to have on the world.