Success is often said than done. It is achievable when you believe in the impossibilities. The journey that leads up to that is a gift to obtain. It's not tangible, but it is valuable. Success can look different in many ways in people's eyes. On the other hand, mine is like a well-earned gold medal, and it's harvested through hard work. When I have a taste of success, it feels like I am winning in all areas of life. Unfortunately, that feeling doesn't last forever. I will work hard and seek opportunities to reach that continuous success that won't ever go away. Just as attaining this generous opportunity to receive financial assistance to attend my desired university will support my dreams and pathway to success as a Hispanic first-generation daughter. I can be the first to start this pathway to success and pass it along to the next generation, after each one after the next. I can achieve success because I am Marivel Miguel, and I believe in myself even through the impossibilities. Preteen to now, as I am about to become a young adult, I've gone through the hardships that shaped me to become a resilient being, a disciplined individual, and a leader. I am passing down the torch of success to those who strive for success and are full of eagerness, discipline, and passion as In addition to being a Hispanic first-generation in my family, I will dedicate myself to success because I deserve it. Not only do I deserve it, but my family deserves their success. Deserving does not mean selfishness, but means knowing your value because you have harvested your hard work. I know I am here to succeed and give back to others to help them succeed. That is my dream and purpose in life. Success is essential in my life. Despite that, everything does not go according to the plans, and I will discover new ways to succeed. I am not afraid of change and the what-ifs because those barriers cannot stop me from achieving success. Being put on this pathway is so rewarding because I know my hard work from the start of my high school years to the end of high school is rewarding. I grew tremendously as a person because of all of the hardships and my work. I will continue that as I take my education to a higher level. Without a doubt, the Refining Victory Scholarship will be used to support my dreams, but my family's hard work allows their daughter to go to the outside world that is far away from them to bring back a gold medal. That is how I will repay for this generous opportunity and my family's sweat and tears. I will certainly be putting my education and work first because I am gifted to do so. I am willing to go through the hard work for my family and me. Through the hardships I will face in the future, I will succeed, and I believe.

My name is Marivel Miguel. I am fighting for my continuous education and future. I want to be those important people who contribute positively to society and give back to my community. Obtaining the Reach For Your Future Scholarship will help my education at High Point University. As a Hispanic female from a low-income family and first-generation, it will help tremendously with my school of choice because each cent counts. Education is the foundation of academic disciplines and areas of study. Others suggest that education is the foundation of life. Important people who contribute positively to society are brilliant, experienced, dedicated, and intelligent. Most of them have pursued higher learning because it’s not always easy to get where they are at. Various careers need higher education to be the best and not just knowledgeable. Picking where you want to pursue your higher education is crucial because that is what you will represent when entering the career industry or workforce and help with your goals. My goals started at the beginning of high school. I knew I wanted to have a tremendous impact on my family, my mother especially. She is the reason why I am seeking scholarships that will help me continue my education without being a burden on her behalf. I may not be a burden because I am her daughter, but I feel guilty because she has sacrificed so much for me, and I want to repay her with success and security. Growing up in north Alabama with a mixed environment with adults and programs reaching out to the kids to help them with their education and future, kids who wanted to better themselves and their lives, and kids who did not care and were distracting to others. The environment makes me appreciate that I can see my reality and be able to work for my deserved reality. Being taught to use and take the opportunities given to me, I am still learning, and that is okay because everyone is still learning aside from age and lessons. It will start with me in my family history, and I want my family to carry that legacy to continue to pour their hearts into and aim for betterment. I will use my resources efficiently regarding the Reach For Your Future Scholarship. With each cent, I will be able to accomplish my goals in my desired career as a consultant and human resource. Thank you for your consideration and the opportunity to apply for a generous scholarship accommodating low-income females in Alabama.

The first question I ask myself when a lesson is taught by a coach or in a situation is, "How can I learn from this coach/lesson?" I always find ways to learn from others or situations. My curiosity taught me how to create and implement my creativity. From a child to the present time, I've been full of ideas of creativity and ambition following a competitive trait. Having an open mind allows me to be curious. It allowed me to put myself in a position where I can be the best at what I am good at and excel from that point forward. I love to craft, explore, find new ways to do something better, research, and learn new things I've never known. Throughout my high school career, I knew a bunch of wrestlers who were going through things in their personal lives but still showed up to practice and gave it their all because I was also one of those people. It changed the way I thought about their passion for a brutal sport —how someone can go through so much and still show up and be the best they can be. During my first year of wrestling as a sophomore, I had a good work ethic, but my talent did not match others. Feeling that way puts me in competition with the skilled wrestlers. I remember questioning myself, "What makes me different from the others?" I felt behind, ashamed, and hopeless. That is the consequence of having an ambitious heart and being competitive. Two things that helped me continue and not let my light become dimmed are being curious and challenging myself to be better than the Marivel that was hurt. Later on, regardless of the talented wrestler, I found myself trying to get better every day. Specifically, this year, I dealt with many problems and situations that could have potentially ended my wrestling career. I continue to show up for wrestling even if it feels like wrestling didn't show up for me, yet it's always there. People who believe in me, and I want to prove the other crowd wrong. That is what pushes almost all wrestlers to be the best they can be, and judging them for that is not what I want because I share that same drive. At last, what if I wrestled since I was seven? Everything happens for a reason, and I was in this situation as an athlete for this exact reason. It is to learn to be myself and continue to strive for better even if I'm not accepted. Along the way, it shaped me to be open-minded and let myself be curious without shame, and believe that as I continue to walk my path, I will only elevate from here on out and the dream of being a woman who shines even in the darkest times hoping my heart full of ambition will experience the life I am purposed to live. Being the best of the best is not what completes me or my future. It's being the better version of myself. I am grateful for this sport, and I can take things from wrestling and implement wrestling into my life. It has shaped me to treat others respectfully regardless of everything, including sportsmanship. Wrestling is not for the weak-minded and can only better you if you allow yourself to become great in those areas.