I want to thank Francis Madigan for inspiring this unique scholarship. My motivation for attending college stems from the fact that I will be the first person in my family to do so. My sister has been the driving force behind my motivation. Growing up, I witnessed many of my sister’s hardships. My sister, like me, was seeking to pursue a college degree when her life took a complete turn, changing everything and preventing her from pursuing her dream. Since then, my sister has always encouraged and supported my academic achievements. Her current wish is for me to begin the legacy in our family. Going to college has always been a dream of mine and a goal I want to accomplish. I want to broaden my knowledge and education so I can succeed in life. There are other opportunities to grow and live a successful life without a college degree; however, a college education enhances those opportunities. As the workforce is becoming stricter, higher education becomes more critical. Because I will have career stability, I am confident that I will be able to create a satisfactory quality of life. I've always been afraid of failing to land my dream job that matches my personality and life purpose. A college education is necessary because without it I cannot implement my dreams and goals. This scholarship will help me pay for my college education as a first-generation student because it will assist me with books, housing, and, most importantly, tuition. It will help me achieve my future goals, such as making a difference in the lives of others. My four years of hard work in college will only help me land my dream job in the medical field. My ambition is to complete a bachelor's degree in pediatric cardiac sonography. I will receive the necessary training and knowledge to advance my career and earn that degree. Because I have always had an interest in the heart and a soft spot for children, this is the right path for me. With the help of this scholarship, that goal will have a chance of being met. Since childhood, I have been taught to prioritize school and education to become an inspiration and someone others can look up to. I want to set a good example for my nephew by showing him the importance of a college education and how it can improve your life. I want to be able to make my family proud and accomplish what they could not. For that reason, college is essential to me, because I will create a positive and lasting impact on others when I finally become the pediatric cardiac sonographer that I have envisioned myself to be. Therefore, this scholarship would be a fantastic opportunity I will take advantage of to fulfill my plans.

Let me first express my gratitude to Cat Zingano for this tremendous opportunity. I am honored to share my experience with you through this invaluable scholarship. I became aware of fatal diseases while I was maturing as a person. I would hear many stories of people being diagnosed with cancer; however, I have always believed that it would be insane and unlikely for my family to experience an illness that is so fatal. I must now admit that I was foolish to think that way. My life took a complete turn in a matter of minutes. My aunt called in July 2020 and explained the situation to us. My grandmother was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer. My mother and I were taken aback. We, like most people, were already picturing the worst-case scenario. It was a lot to process, and being thirty-six hours away from her didn't help matters. Regardless of the terrible circumstances taking place in the world, we needed to see her. This tragic event happened during a period when covid was at its peak, which put us at risk. We arrived by plane and saw her at her worst. Her symptoms were rapidly deteriorating. Many tests were being carried out to determine her chances of survival. We discovered that her cancer had been growing unnoticed for five years. It was devastating news for my family and me. We felt we were solely to blame for allowing this to happen. It was too late, and nothing else could be done. She had developed 24 tumors that had spread. Chemotherapy would have only hastened her death. So we watched her slowly change into someone we did not recognize. I assisted her with her feeding, hair brushing, and bathing. She began to lose hair quickly and began to experience memory loss. She would forget what I had said, requiring me to repeat myself. She kept mistaking objects for other things. My grandmother, then, began to have breathing problems and required oxygen tanks. Our only option was to transport her to a hospital for 24-hour medical care. Only adults were allowed to see her due to covid restrictions. I spent the last few days trying to figure out what was happening and how it all happened so quickly. Her life was coming to an end just weeks after being diagnosed. Then the day came. She took her last breath on August 22, 2020 at 12:55 am. Nevertheless, my grandmother has always been an inspiration to me and still is. She has guided me to become the woman I am today. She was there for us when my father was not. All of her encouragement inspired me to achieve my life goals and never settle for less than I deserve. Her death inspired me to work hard and persevere in life. I pushed the trauma and depression away; however, I am aware that others are dealing with similar issues as a result of a tragic event, and it's hard to heal. Although, I know that remembering my grandmother's positive influence on me helped me strengthen myself to move on. My grandmother's death wholly altered my outlook on life. The loss set me on a transformative path and taught me what is most important in life. She gave me the courage to mature as a person and fight for a happy and secure life. Nothing is guaranteed, as I have learned. So we must live our lives to the fullest. We must work hard to achieve our goals and leave a legacy for others to follow. I want to be a role model and someone my nephew can look up to. I have always been interested in health care, but losing a loved one fueled my desire to complete a medical degree. It has inspired me to assist others in any way I can. Whatever the circumstances, no matter how small or big. This traumatic experience has given me a purpose in life. A mission that requires me to assist others and help prevent anything from developing into a critical illness. I believe we are put in a position to learn from it. Due to our hardships, we are more than capable of growing and becoming a better version of ourselves.

First, I want to thank the scholarship's creator for this fantastic opportunity. Since the start of my senior year, all I have been thinking about is college applications and scholarships. I was surprised to learn how much effort it takes to win at least one scholarship. When I started the process, I had yet to learn that winning scholarships would be difficult. You apply for them so frequently that you cannot keep track, and the worst part is when you have yet to win any. I have tirelessly applied for scholarships but have not had any luck. Winning scholarships requires planning. There are various factors that you must pay attention to. When looking for scholarships, I have learned to start small. As a result, instead of overwhelming yourself with dozens, focus on a couple. It means a lot to give it your all on one essay. It is essential to pay close attention to grammar and spelling. Consider others to proofread your essay. Someone might catch something you did not. It's best to stay on topic and answer the questions when applying for scholarships. Choosing the right scholarships is an important step. That means looking for genuine scholarships rather than false ones. I have come across some scholarships that are different from what they claim to be. They may request unusual information, such as bank information, or charge a fee before you can even apply. Some websites provide a guarantee, but no one is guaranteed to win a scholarship. An unsolicited scholarship that informs you that you have won a scholarship but did not apply for it could be a scam. There are various scholarships available. It is best to consider applying for merit scholarships or major-specific scholarships. Merit scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement rather than financial need. I have noticed that applying for smaller-award scholarships is less competitive than applying for larger-award scholarships. Your odds of winning would improve. Deadlines are one of the first things to keep in mind and remember. I have learned to write down deadlines in order to avoid forgetting them. Keeping track of deadlines and keeping track of your progress allows you to plan your time for writing the prompt, allowing you enough time to think and reduce errors. It is critical to give yourself enough time before a deadline. You risk making too many mistakes or not sounding diligent when rushing. These last few months have been a learning experience for me. Although it is a learning process, it will be worthwhile.

First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to the founders of this scholarship for this unique opportunity. LuzMaria Ponce Dominguez is my given name. I reside in Pontiac, Michigan, as a senior attending Pontiac High School. I moved to Michigan in 2015 from San Diego, California, to meet my father. I had to leave the only family I knew, including my sister and nephew. It was a life-changing event. I had to adjust to a new environment, including a new school, friends, and family. It was something new and scary for me. Over the last two years, I've been through a lot of ups and downs. My father's alcoholism and my grandmother's death from cancer have caused significant changes in my life. But, throughout my academic career, I have shut out everything and worked hard to maintain good grades and achieve the 4.1 GPA I now have. It has been challenging, but envisioning myself in college and pursuing a degree reminds me of what is most important to me. I have always put my education first, and now I would like to expand my knowledge throughout college. I am a determined and optimistic person. To succeed in life and achieve my goals, I have worked hard to become a better version of myself. I am a dedicated student pursuing a career in the medical field. My goal is to become a pediatric cardiac sonographer. It is my ambition to obtain a bachelor's degree in that field. Not only do I have academic goals, but I also have future goals like buying a house and starting a family. I have always been fond of the idea of growing up and sharing experiences with someone I love. Winning this scholarship will allow me to achieve my long-term goals during my career. It will contribute to my tuition and books at my chosen university. My father is the only employed parent, putting me in need of this scholarship. Due to my mother not working, he is the only one supporting our needs. He has many things on his plate that lead to his inability to afford most of my college tuition. I want to devote all of my attention and energy to my career without having to overwork and sacrifice study time to pay my tuition and avoid student debt. Therefore winning this scholarship is something I will use for a good cause.

Being able to experience being born into a world with different sources of entertainment unravels likes and interests. When I was younger, I was lucky enough to be introduced to my very first kind of entertainment we know as “cartoons.” Animated cartoons have grown famous worldwide to different audiences and ages. From the variety of cartoon productions, Walt Disney introduced me to Winnie-the-Pooh. Walt Disney created the Disney characters we love and admire. I vividly remember watching every Disney movie released. I enjoyed and had fun watching the different characters and what each portrayed. I would watch Disney princesses and was mesmerized by the storytelling, but I didn’t feel they were my favorite. As I kept finding different characters, I came across Winnie-the-Pooh. I knew then and there that I felt a connection with Pooh. Even fictional characters teach you a lot about life and serve as a reflection of yourself. I became so fond of Winnie-the-Pooh. He became my favorite Disney character. I got the stuffed animal, the blanket, the books, and anything I saw that had him on it. As I grew, he remained my favorite. The wiser and more aware I became, I realized why I admired him so much. I admire Winnie-the-Pooh because he taught me about friendship. He is known for being friendly and forming strong, lasting bonds. He shows the importance of friendships and why having someone like a friend to lean on is essential. Another thing Pooh taught me was to enjoy the simplest things in life. No matter how small or simple it may be, it is best to take pleasure in those things and enjoy life to its fullest. I genuinely believe in the saying, “Life is too short.” Winnie-the-Pooh is a kind and lovable character I do not hear many people speak of. I am delighted to be introduced to Pooh. I would also like to thank Ms. Susy for funding this scholarship and allowing a student to win it for their college needs.