Staying On Top There have been several times in my life when I showed grit, and I have always had a growth mindset. For me, it is important to keep trying even when all hope gets lost; “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. This especially applies to me in school but also in my personal life since I’ve had eczema since I was a child - and it got worse ever since I hit puberty. Despite this, I have managed to stay ahead of my grade by going to college with more than 60 credits and a general associate's degree. I have also been in scouts since I was 15. Another thing is the numerous times I’ve had to bike and walk to my piano lessons, the store or the library in weather conditions ranging from pouring rain to heavy snow. Around puberty my eczema started spreading to my arms, legs, back, chest, and face, but before then it only really had been under my feet. Eczema is not just dry skin, but also the unbearable urge to itch that is very hard to control. This causes not only extreme discomfort as the outer layers of skin start peeling off, but also can be embarrassing in social situations, and disrupts my life in many other ways as well. I cannot sleep well; studying for tests and paying attention in class can also be a huge challenge. Over the course of that moment until now I used many different ointments and creams, participated in a research study where scientists have tape-stripped and measured the moistness of my skin to study the effects of whatever drugs they were trying on me, and I have even had to stay in a hospital for a full week for “intensive eczema therapy”. Throughout all this, I have still focused on school and other activities such as piano and scouts. Often it has gotten bad enough that my skin got cracked open and I bled a bit but I still stayed on top. All of this is how I showed GRIT when my eczema was not under control. I started going to piano about three years ago, and I have had a job since December of last year. When I started taking piano lessons I made sure to practice every day even if I had a lot of stuff going on that day (I was in scouts and krav maga - a martial arts - for a bit). Also on numerous occasions I have had to walk to piano (about an 1 hour walk there and back) in snow storms and downpours. During all of these struggles I failed Calculus 1 but I retook it and passed and I am still graduating with an Associates degree and Calculus 2 with an A. No matter what, I am not giving up on piano or my goal to get a major in math and computer science. Currently I have a job as a Laundry Attendant and Dietary Aide which I have had since December of last year. I am saving up for as much of college as I can with each paycheck; and I have already saved $5000. Although I know I won’t be able to fully pay for college with my job I believe by applying to as many scholarships as I can, I will be able to get some of the money through there. Finally, the reason why I think I deserve this scholarship is because I have worked very hard over my life in school and helped out wherever I could. I have battled eczema and balanced piano lessons, scouting, martial arts and school. I have overcome obstacles such as a divorce and an abusive dad (I live with my mom in Colorado, my dad lives in Texas). I have lived with my mom and brothers in our current house for about 5 years now and I have supported my family and I have been a responsible older brother. I have done all of this and stayed on top of my life, school, and my family. I made it all the way to college!

"Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts." This is a quote from Charles Dickens, and unfortunately, this does not describe me. It does, however, describe my mother, who continues to inspire me every day. Stuck in an abusive arranged marriage, the only time I ever saw her stand up and fight against my father was when it came to me and my younger brothers. She homeschooled us, taught us to love books, insisted we learn how to swim and join boy scouts, and eventually stood up against almost her whole family in order to get divorced from our dad. She did all this so that we could have the best opportunity. Throughout all these difficult years, my mother has embodied the spirit of that quote from Dickens. She will sometimes say she is not hungry when there is not enough food, but will still sit at the table with us and tell stories and make us laugh like nothing happened. She not only works hard for us, but is always ready for her friends and is even nice to any vendor who comes to the door. When I started working, she refused to take a single dime, and instead insisted I save 70% of my paycheck. Thanks to her insistence, I recently bought my first car with my own money and still have money to buy clothes and such for school in the fall. I have given my mother a hard time in many ways as I got older, taking out my anger and hurt on her. I have not always been kind and considerate to her. I have eczema and am mildly autistic, so my communication and temper is not exactly optimal most of the time. She has always been patient, and forgiving. Now as I am about to leave her and my home and go off to college, I find myself thinking every day that I hope I can have the same strong spirit that she has. She truly is the most amazing person I have had in my life. She taught me that life is not easy, but it's the way you deal with what comes your way that makes all the difference. My mother is my inspiration, and she always says that her goal in life is to make sure she gives each of her three sons the tools they need to succeed in life. I am the first one out of the nest, and I will not let her, my brothers, or myself down.