To be honest, reading the description of this scholarship made me feel like someone had been spying on me growing up, “Financial and credit literacy starts at home. However, many people do not have access to proper information”. I have grown up one of four to a single mother living in a dilapidated, single-wide trailer in one of the poorest neighborhoods in our town. My mom has never held a consistent job (medical issues, drug abuse, there’s always some reason). Most of my personal experiences with finances are just experiences with no finances—how to get by when the lights or the water get cut off., how to not let your teachers and friends at school notice you keep wearing the same clothes, how to eat as little as possible so there’s more left for your little sisters. When my mom disappeared for several months; my grandmother lost our trailer because she chose to buy an iPhone instead of paying rent, so clearly no one at home was teaching us how to best manage our finances. Unfortunately, no one at school is teaching that either. My oldest sister is two years older than me. The odds certainly are stacked against us, but she’s trying so hard to make it out. She’s been working and saving for a couple of years, but I’ve seen how hard it’s been for her to learn to be an “adult” when no one showed us how--set up a bank account, pay taxes, etc. Recently, she and her fiancé went to buy a house, just to find out they didn’t have any credit. No one at home taught us about that or the whole home-buying process. It’s too bad no one teaches that at school. Now I’m living with a couple that were my teachers. They have been wonderful to me, but I’m learning another financial lesson from them – debt. They have student loans, car payments, credit card debt, house payments, and some other debts too. At first, it seemed like they had plenty of money. I mean, I’d never lived in a house with two working adults with stable jobs. For a while they hid it, but Mrs. Aguirre finally told me that she needed me to see the truth—to see how easy it is to get into debt and how difficult it is to get out. At least they cared enough and knew enough to teach me. So, how does all of this affect me, Fernando Salas? Well, I am determined to work my tail off to make sure I never go hungry or homeless again. I am determined to get my college education (the plan is to earn a degree in exercise science and become an athletic trainer—something I’m very passionate about—another essay for another day) without going into debt. When I’m out of school and working, I want to buy my own house one day, so I need to start now to build good credit. Graduating from high school has made the possibilities for my future better than the odds would have predicted already. I’m determined to do everything possible to have a better future so that I never have to live like I grew up again so that my younger sisters have a chance at a better future too; and so that one day my kids will have such an amazing life that they won’t even be able to imagine all the things that I had to go through growing up. Money does not buy happiness, but a lack of understanding of finances will leave you in a world of hurt.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless and on my own as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. This past year I volunteered to coach one of the rec league soccer 8-10-year-old teams. I got to see the positive impact I could have on the players I worked with. That experience confirmed for me that I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me to be my best on and off the field; just like last year when I ended up homeless. It was a really hard time for me, and I thought about dropping out. But no school, no soccer, so I just kept grinding. I know that soccer in college is the perfect extra motivation to help me stay focused no matter the challenge. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return not only for me but also for everyone I impact in the future. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless and on my own as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. This past year I volunteered to coach one of the rec league soccer 8-10-year-old teams. I got to see the positive impact I could have on the players I worked with. That experience confirmed for me that I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me to be my best on and off the field; just like last year when I ended up homeless. It was a really hard time for me, and I thought about dropping out. But no school, no soccer, so I just kept grinding. I know that soccer in college is the perfect extra motivation to help me stay focused no matter the challenge. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return not only for me but also for everyone I impact in the future. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. I plan to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. This past year I volunteered to coach the rec league soccer team with one of the 8-10-year-old teams. I got to see the positive impact I could have on the players I worked with. That experience confirmed for me that I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. In my experience, I've seen people face adversity in three ways: completely give up--I've had a friend and a few family members who chose suicide as a response to tough times; go with the flow--that's most everyone else in my family and neighborhood, just letting life happen to them with no real plan; or fight like heck to make things different. I don't want to sit around and just let life happen to me; I'm determined to make my future different. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. This past year I volunteered to coach the rec league soccer team with one of the 8-10-year-old teams. I got to see the positive impact I could have on the players I worked with. That experience confirmed for me that I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

My family has in essence been destroyed by drug and alcohol addiction. My parents split up when I was too young to remember the details, but as I understand it’s all due to a lack of sober decision-making. Both of my parents have struggled with addiction and have been in and out of jail. After my dad left, he was rarely involved in our lives; it was just a string of broken promises. My mom’s continued substance abuse led to erratic parenting. My older sister and I never knew how Mom would react – would she beat us or just yell? My sister and I were taken by DFCS and placed in foster care, which was worse; strangers beat us and locked us in the closet. My mom managed to get clean, and we went back to her. As a little kid, I thought the nightmare was over, but it didn’t take long for it to start over again. As I got older, I was at least able to protect my little sisters most of the time. I didn’t mind the beatings so much, but sometimes when my mom would just disappear for days, I would have to steal food to feed them. There are too many stories to tell. I try to focus on the positive, and that’s hard to do looking back. I questioned my self-worth a lot. I dreamed about what being in a “normal” family would be like. I used to pray all the time that I could just live with a family that didn’t yell or beat their kids, where there was always enough food, and the lights and water don’t suddenly get cut off. I swore so many times that when I grew up it would be different: I would make things better for my sisters; if I ever had kids their lives would be wonderful; I would never drink or use drugs. As a junior in high school, my mom kicked me out. I was homeless, couch surfing. I started to struggle in class. I was hanging with some “friends”, and I started using marijuana. It was a relief to escape my problems, even for a short while. The more I craved the escape the high offered, the more I hated myself. It’s like I was watching myself become the very people I despise the most. One of my former teachers insisted I move in with them. He probably saved me from myself. Before living with the Aguirres, I didn’t think college would be a possibility for me, but they wouldn’t let me give up on my dreams. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. This past year I volunteer coached with the rec league soccer team with one of the 8-10-year-old teams. I got to see the positive impact I could have on the players I worked with. That experience confirmed for me that I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine.

My family has in essence been destroyed by drug and alcohol addiction. My parents split up when I was too young to remember the details, but as I understand it’s all due to a lack of sober decision-making. Both of my parents have struggled with addiction and have been in and out of jail. After my dad left, he was rarely involved in our lives; it was just a string of broken promises. My mom’s continued substance abuse led to erratic parenting. My older sister and I never knew how Mom would react – would she beat us or just yell? My sister and I were taken by DFCS and placed in foster care, which was worse; strangers beat us and locked us in the closet. My mom managed to get clean, and we went back to her. As a little kid, I thought the nightmare was over, but it didn’t take long for it to start over again. As I got older, I was at least able to protect my little sisters most of the time. I didn’t mind the beatings so much, but sometimes when my mom would just disappear for days, I would have to steal food to feed them. There are too many stories to tell. I try to focus on the positive, and that’s hard to do looking back. I questioned my self-worth a lot. I dreamed about what being in a “normal” family would be like. I used to pray all the time that I could just live with a family that didn’t yell or beat their kids, where there was always enough food, and the lights and water don’t suddenly get cut off. I swore so many times that when I grew up it would be different: I would make things better for my sisters; if I ever had kids their lives would be wonderful; I would never drink or use drugs. As a junior in high school, my mom kicked me out. I was homeless, couch surfing. I started to struggle in class. I was hanging with some “friends”, and I started using marijuana. It was a relief to escape my problems, even for a short while. The more I craved the escape the high offered, the more I hated myself. It’s like I was watching myself become the very people I despise the most. One of my former teachers insisted I move in with them. He probably saved me from myself. Before living with the Aguirres, I didn’t think college would be a possibility for me, but they wouldn’t let me give up on my dreams. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. This past year I volunteer coached with the rec league soccer team with one of the 8-10-year-old teams. I got to see the positive impact I could have on the players I worked with. That experience confirmed for me that I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. This past year I volunteered to coach the rec league soccer team with one of the 8-10-year-old teams. I got to see the positive impact I could have on the players I worked with. That experience confirmed for me that I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. This past year I volunteered to coach the rec league soccer team with one of the 8-10-year-old teams. I got to see the positive impact I could have on the players I worked with. That experience confirmed for me that I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. This past year I volunteered to coach the rec league soccer team with one of the 8-10-year-old teams. I got to see the positive impact I could have on the players I worked with. That experience confirmed for me that I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

The short version is neither of my parents graduated high school; my dad hasn't been around, and my mom has been in and out of jail. For most of my life, the only people I could really count on were the men that I called “coach”. I love sports! As a younger kid, I played a lot of football. In middle school, I started playing soccer. Last year as a junior in high school, I found myself homeless. The only reason I didn’t drop out of school when things got tough is because of soccer. No school, no soccer. So, I just kept grinding. When one of the other coaches found out what was going on, he invited me to live with his family. I’ve been fortunate to have had a lot of coaches who not only were passionate about sports but who also cared about me as a person. Might sound dramatic, but the truth is that without soccer, I’d probably be in jail or dead by now. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He really made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment. But something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

He might never win teacher of the year, but my guardian, Mr. Aguirre, has changed my life. It’s a long, complicated, dysfunctional-family story, but as a sophomore, I transferred to my sister’s school and ended up in Mr. Aguirre’s class. I completely kept to myself and tried to hide in my hoodie in the back row. When Mr. Aguirre figured out that Norma was my sister, he went and chatted with her to find out what was going on. As the year went on, Mr. Aguirre found out how much I love soccer, so he pushed me to try out for the team. When I couldn’t get cleats, Mr. Aguirre found some for me. When I was going to quit because I couldn’t count on my mom for a ride after practice or games, Mr. Aguirre got special permission to give me a ride. That school year was tough because we were also doing a lot of distance learning. I didn’t have internet at home, and things with my mom kept getting worse. I was also having trouble in the neighborhood. Mr. Aguirre would bring me over to his family’s house sometimes on the weekends to be able to do my homework and even play video games. At the end of that school year, the Aguirres moved. Mr. Aguirre knew about all the trouble I was getting into, so he talked to me about moving with them and getting a fresh start. I wanted to, but my mom was using again, and I couldn't leave my little sisters alone with her. As bad as things got for me, at least I could shelter them from some of it. Mr. Aguirre got me a phone to make sure I could get in touch in case of emergencies. When I was getting ready for soccer season my junior year, Mr. Aguirre again helped me get cleats. From time to time he’d call and check in on me. I tried to convince him that everything was ok. The truth is everything was far from ok. Things had exploded at home and I was couch-surfing for most of my junior year. If I wasn’t playing soccer, I probably would have dropped out. My grades plummeted spring semester. When spring break rolled around, I just knew that if I hung around all week in the neighborhood, I would end up in some serious trouble. I called Mr. Aguirre and asked if I could visit them for the week. They didn’t hesitate. I eventually told them about what was going on. Again, the Aguirres invited me to live with them. So, to start my senior year, I moved in with the Aguirres. They took me in, not as some poor kid they were trying to help, but as their son. I don't have the word count to describe everything that's done for me. If I had stayed where I was, I'd probably be in jail or dead. There's a small chance that I'd be about to graduate high school, but I certainly wouldn't be about to go to college. Mr. Aguirre wouldn't let me give up on myself or my dreams. I've been accepted to Montreat College and offered a partial athletic scholarship to play soccer. I'll be pursuing a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. I want to be able to use my career to support myself and give back to school sports teams. I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. This past year I volunteered to coach the rec league soccer team with one of the 8 to 10-year-old teams. I got to see the positive impact I could have on the players I worked with. That experience confirmed for me that I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

I’ve had a handful of role models, but the one that has had the most impact hands down is Mr. Aguirre. It’s a long, complicated, dysfunctional-family story, but as a sophomore, I transferred to my sister’s school and ended up in Mr. Aguirre’s class. I completely kept to myself and tried to hide in my hoodie in the back row. When Mr. Aguirre figured out that Norma was my sister, he went and chatted with her to find out what was going on. As the year went on, Mr. Aguirre found out how much I love soccer, so he pushed me to try out for the team. When I couldn’t get cleats, Mr. Aguirre found some for me. When I was going to quit because I couldn’t count on my mom for a ride after practice or games, Mr. Aguirre got special permission to give me a ride. That school year was tough because we were also doing a lot of distance learning. I didn’t have internet at home, and things with my mom kept getting worse. I was also having trouble in the neighborhood. Mr. Aguirre would bring me over to his family’s house sometimes on the weekends to be able to do my homework and even play video games. At the end of that school year, the Aguirres moved. Mr. Aguirre knew about all the trouble I was getting into, so he talked to me about moving with them and getting a fresh start. I wanted to, but my mom was using again, and I couldn't leave my little sisters alone with her. As bad as things got for me, at least I could shelter them from some of it. Mr. Aguirre got me a phone to make sure I could get in touch in case of emergencies. When I was getting ready for soccer season my junior year, Mr. Aguirre again helped me get cleats. From time to time he’d call and check in on me. I tried to convince him that everything was ok. The truth is everything was far from ok. Things had exploded at home and I was couch-surfing for most of my junior year. If I wasn’t playing soccer, I probably would have dropped out. My grades plummeted spring semester. When spring break rolled around, I just knew that if I hung around all week in the neighborhood, I would end up in some serious trouble. I called Mr. Aguirre and asked if I could visit them for the week. They didn’t hesitate. I eventually told them about what was going on. Again, the Aguirres invited me to live with them. So, to start my senior year, I moved in with the Aguirres. They took me in, not as some poor kid they were trying to help, but as their son. I don't have the word count to describe everything that's done for me. If I had stayed where I was, I'd probably be in jail or dead. There's a small chance that I'd be about to graduate high school, but I certainly wouldn't be about to go to college. Mr. Aguirre wouldn't let me give up on myself or my dreams. I've been accepted to Montreat College and offered a partial athletic scholarship to play soccer. I'll be pursuing a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. I want to be able to use my career to support myself and give back to school sports teams. I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. This past year I volunteered to coach the rec league soccer team with one of the 8 to 10-year-old teams. I got to see the positive impact I could have on the players I worked with. That experience confirmed for me that I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. This past year I volunteered to coach the rec league soccer team with one of the 8 to 10-year-old teams. I got to see the positive impact I could have on the players I worked with. That experience confirmed for me that I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. This past year I volunteered to coach the rec league soccer team with one of the 8 to 10-year-old teams. I got to see the positive impact I could have on the players I worked with. That experience confirmed for me that I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

I’ve had a handful of wonderful teachers, but the one that has had the most impact hands down is Mr. Aguirre. It’s a long, complicated, dysfunctional-family story, but as a sophomore, I transferred to my sister’s school and ended up in Mr. Aguirre’s class. I completely kept to myself and tried to hide in my hoodie in the back row. When Mr. Aguirre figured out that Norma was my sister, he went and chatted with her to find out what was going on. As the year went on, Mr. Aguirre found out how much I love soccer, so he pushed me to try out for the team. When I couldn’t get cleats, Mr. Aguirre found some for me. When I was going to quit because I couldn’t count on my mom for a ride after practice or games, Mr. Aguirre got special permission to give me a ride. That school year was tough because we were also doing a lot of distance learning. I didn’t have internet at home, and things with my mom kept getting worse. I was also having trouble in the neighborhood. Mr. Aguirre would bring me over to his family’s house sometimes on the weekends to be able to do my homework and even play video games. At the end of that school year, the Aguirres moved. Mr. Aguirre knew about all the trouble I was getting into, so he talked to me about moving with them and getting a fresh start. I wanted to, but my mom was using again and I couldn't leave my little sisters alone with her. As bad as things got for me, at least I could shelter them from some of it. Mr. Aguirre got me a phone to make sure I could get in touch in case of emergencies. When I was getting ready for soccer season my junior year, Mr. Aguirre again helped me get cleats. From time to time he’d call and check in on me. I tried to convince him that everything was ok. The truth is everything was far from ok. Things had exploded at home and I was couch-surfing for most of my junior year. If I wasn’t playing soccer, I probably would have dropped out. My grades plummeted spring semester. When spring break rolled around, I just knew that if I hung around all week in the neighborhood, I would end up in some serious trouble. I called Mr. Aguirre and asked if I could visit them for the week. They didn’t hesitate. I eventually told them about what was going on. Again, the Aguirres invited me to live with them. So, to start my senior year, I moved in with the Aguirres. They took me in, not as some poor kid they were trying to help, but as their son. I don't have the word count to describe everything that's done for me. If I had stayed where I was, I'd probably be in jail or dead. There's a small chance that I'd be about to graduate high school, but I certainly wouldn't be about to go to college. Mr. Aguirre wouldn't let me give up on myself or my dreams. I've been accepted to Montreat College and offered a partial athletic scholarship to play soccer. I'll be pursuing a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. I want to be able to use my career to support myself and give back to school sports teams. I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. This past year I volunteered to coach the rec league soccer team with one of the 8 to 10-year-old teams. I got to see the positive impact I could have on the players I worked with. That experience confirmed for me that I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. This past year I volunteered to coach the rec league soccer team with one of the 8 to 10-year-old teams. I got to see the positive impact I could have on the players I worked with. That experience confirmed for me that I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school; my dad hasn't been around and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds. But, I want so much more out of life than that! I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I want to show my sisters that you can accomplish any goals you set for yourself if you work hard enough. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. Being the first person in my family to have a stable career and not just a job is a step toward creating generational wealth. It would mean that my kids don't have to grow up as I did-- they can sleep in their own bed before they are 19, they don't have to come home from school and wonder if the lights got cut off today or maybe it was the water this time, they don't have to figure out how to feed 5 people with one can of chili beans because mom has been MIA for 3 days. This past year I've been living with a couple of my teachers. They aren't rich by any means, but the bills get paid and everybody eats at least 3 times every day. It's also been the first time I've seen generational wealth in practice - my teacher's parents are college-educated professionals, her grandparents too, and she's told stories about how her great-granddad immigrated from Whales, worked in the coalmines and one day stole away on a train somehow begged his way into college. He's the one that started a different future not just for himself, but for generations of his family. I want to be that guy for my family. I'm sacrificing the short-term for the long-term benefits. I just need some help to get started because no one in my family can do that for me now. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

Hi! I'm Nando. Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I want to show my sisters that you can accomplish any goals you set for yourself if you work hard enough. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment, but something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

The short version is neither of my parents graduated high school; my dad hasn't been around, and my mom has been in and out of jail. For most of my life, the only people I could really count on were the men that I called “coach”. I love sports! As a younger kid, I played a lot of football. In middle school, I started playing soccer. Last year as a junior in high school, I found myself homeless. The only reason I didn’t drop out of school when things got tough is because of soccer. No school, no soccer. So, I just kept grinding. When one of the other coaches found out what was going on, he invited me to live with his family. I’ve been fortunate to have had a lot of coaches who not only were passionate about sports but who also cared about me as a person. Might sound dramatic, but the truth is that without soccer, I’d probably be in jail or dead by now. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment. But something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

Minority, from the wrong neighborhood, homeless as a junior in high school with a dropping GPA doesn’t exactly scream a success story in the making. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges to get to where I am now, but I haven’t reached all my goals yet. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and my mom has been in and out of jail. Just by finishing high school, I'm beating the odds, but I want so much more out of life than that. I want to become an athletic trainer which means being the first person from my family to graduate college. I want to show my sisters that you can accomplish any goals you set for yourself if you work hard enough. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He really made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment. But, something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.

The short version is neither of my parents graduated high school; my dad hasn't been around, and my mom has been in and out of jail. For most of my life, the only people I could really count on were the men that I called “coach”. I love sports! As a younger kid, I played a lot of football. In middle school, I started playing soccer. Last year as a junior in high school, I found myself homeless. The only reason I didn’t drop out of school when things got tough is because of soccer. No school, no soccer. So, I just kept grinding. When one of the other coaches found out what was going on, he invited me to live with his family. I’ve been fortunate to have had a lot of coaches who not only were passionate about sports but who also cared about me as a person. Might sound dramatic, but the truth is that without soccer, I’d probably be in jail or dead by now. Montreat College may seem like a strange match for me; I’ve accepted a partial athletic scholarship for soccer. Soccer helped me get through high school, and that’s a big part of why I want to play in college. Being part of a team will push me toward my academic goals as well. I’ve already spent time with the coaching staff and team at Montreat. I’m convinced this is the best possible scenario for me to succeed. I want to earn a degree in Exercise Science to become an athletic trainer. There was an athletic trainer associated with my high school’s football team. He really made an impression on me. Not only because I was frequently needing treatment. But something about the way he was able to give back to the high school and the students out of his success, was something that I haven’t been able to forget. I want to be stable and successful enough in my career that I can give back. I want to be that coach or that trainer that gets to know the players and makes a difference in their lives the way that coaches have pretty much saved mine. I've had plenty of people tell me that I would never go to college, never be good enough to play soccer, and never amount to anything. The worst part is, most of the haters are from my own family. But, I'm going to prove them wrong. I'm going to chase my dreams. At least maybe my little sisters will learn that if you set big goals and never give up, you can make it happen. I wasn’t raised to ask for charity, so I’d like to think of your scholarship as an investment in my dreams that will pay out an immeasurable return. I appreciate your consideration.