Scholarship / "Hardest Worker" award at Texas Tech tennis camp;Texas Tennis Association Scholarship [2]

"Applicants should prepare a brief statement regarding educational goals, tennis activities, and volunteer work; also if you are working, include information about your job and explain why he/she feels that he/she should be considered for this scholarship."

I am proud to say that I will be attending Texas Tech University in the upcoming fall. Thankfully, I will also be able to further my tennis career and will be on Tech's tennis team next year. I could not be more ready for the next chapter in my life and for the opportunities that will await me at Texas Tech.

As valedictorian of my class, education is of the utmost importance to me. Tech's strong academic record was one of the main reasons I decided on the school. I was recently accepted into the Texas Tech Honors College and plan to major in Business. I would like to graduate cum laude in four years from Texas Tech. By graduation, I hope to fluent in Spanish and have travelled abroad for at least one summer.

Coming from a town with a population of less than 3,000, tennis is definitely not one of the mainstream sports. Just to practice, I have to drive 50 miles one way to find people that will make me better. I make this trip three times weekly, all year long. This has taught me a great sense of time management. Finding the right balance between athletics and academics will be very useful as a collegiate athlete. Undoubtedly, it has been challenging coming from such a small town, but my hard work has paid off. I was a state finalist in the 1A girls' singles division last year and am currently undefeated in school tennis this season. My attitude and work ethic have not gone unnoticed by coaches. I have received the "Hardest Worker" award at Texas Tech tennis camp and was also named the "Texas A&M MVP" at their summer camp, just to name a few of the honors I have received.

Community service has opened my eyes to a whole new world. I believe serving others is important not only because you have the chance to impact lives, but also because it makes you appreciate what you have. Acts such as delivering Valentine's cookies to the elderly and giving Christmas presents to underprivileged children have made me realize just how fortunate I am. Painting our local nursing home's activity room was a very rewarding experience. Members of Student Council volunteered their time to revamp an area that was central to the residents of the Seymour Community Care Center. We transformed the dingy gray walls to a bright yellow and lined the borders with our own handprints. It still makes me smile to think of their faces looking in the windows of the room to see the new changes in action. Our simple act of kindness meant the world to them. Their attitude inspired me and made me appreciate what I have. It was an incredibly humbling experience, and I believe I grew as an individual because of it. Volunteering is something I love doing and plan to continue my community service as a college student.

I cannot wait to call Lubbock home and know Texas Tech will be the perfect fit for me. I believe I will grow academically, personally, and athletically while in college. The opportunity to do this at the school of my dreams makes it even more special. Thank you for your consideration.

Scholarship / 'money management skills' - on gap in formal education [2]

Is there a gap in your formal education (something you'd like to know but haven't yet been taught)? What is it, and how will you make an effort to learn it in the future?

I have no doubt that the next four years of my life will be filled with excitement, new opportunities, and unforgettable experiences. Most adults reflect on their college days as some of the most memorable years of their lives, but the rising cost of education has presented new problems to even the most ambitious and determined of graduates. Instead of being free to start a new life, most graduates are burdened with debt - a word that is becoming more prevalent now than ever.

In order to be successful, you must posses effective money management skills. As a teenager myself, I can attest to the fact that it's not easy for adolescents to get as much satisfaction out of saving as one would on spending. Many of us have jobs, which means we are already making payments on vehicles, gas, and clothes. What happens to the rest of it? I'm sure I'm not alone in my ignorance of the differences between a mutual fund or a savings account. I would love to be more educated on these factors that will continue to affect my life, such as budgeting, investing, and the importance of saving. I am currently reading the book Learn to Create Your New American Dream, which has given me newfound insights. I have learned that there are hidden opportunities in just about every experience and that sacrificing now will allow you to reap greater rewards later. I often talk to my parents about money management skills, and they encourage me to focus on the long-term plan, instead of squandering my hard earned money on the instant gratifications of a new t-shirt or a movie ticket.

Investing and being able to live comfortably when we have a family of our own isn't what teenagers typically think about. For us, the future is this weekend, not twenty years down the road. A personal finance course would help us concentrate on the importance of the long-term. With the help of this class, I believe many graduates would be able to begin with a fresh start, free from the worries of debt.