For the last two years, there has been a constant worry about my spinal well-being. The anchor for me lies on the sandbar of chronic pain. Be it ourselves, our life situations, or our surroundings, there always seems to be a weight pulling like an anchor on a powerful ship. The courage to grow is an attribute awarded to those bold enough to face their demons, and smile in the act of doing so. To me, earning this scholarship is to tell that little girl in the all-American room to be unapologetically fearless and ambitious about her future. I sit here from a place of privilege, and sometimes I wonder what things would be like if my parents never boarded that plane in October 2000. In Brazil– where my parents are from– so many girls like me do not even have the chance to be sitting at a computer and submitting scholarships, much less even thinking of college. To have the knowledge of what people think of you because of your ethnicity and still have the courage to subvert their expectations, become educated, and grow into the best version of yourself is the goal of every ambitious minority, especially if you are a Latin-American woman. In America, many people expect you to be a criminal or drug addict or teen mother when you are Latina. This day is one of my earliest memories: the day my mother was naturalized.Ĭourage and education go hand-in-hand when you are a first generation American. Paintings of old men dressed in expensive suits stared down at me from the walls with their acrylic smiles. A white room, with black chairs organized by row, and that stage right in front of me– the one with the American flag on the right, and a black microphone stand on the left. I do not remember the date, exactly, nor the time, but I remember where I was. It is not easy to share my life experiences, but I hope you will take my words into consideration. This scholarship will help me in achieving the goals I have set for myself. I would like to thank you for this opportunity to express my excitement for college and desire to be accepted for this scholarship. The college I plan on attending is an hour drive from the Cherokee Boundary and I will use these funds with my transportation to and from class. I have been working in automotive since I was a young child and feel at home working with cars. I have always dreamed of working in automotive technology and plan to one day own a car shop. I will be working towards a degree in Automotive Technology and adjusting to life in the city. I will be attending a two year technological degree at AB Tech in Asheville, NC. I have made the decision to continue my education to prevent the cycle from repeating itself. During my childhood I was exposed to the realities of poverty and substance abuse. I grew up on the Cherokee boundary which mirrors a Indian reservation, as the US government coins it. I will achieve this by going to college and gaining an education for myself. I will be graduating from Smoky Mountain High School in June 2023 and have a strong desire to achieve. My name is Liam Wright and I am a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |