Essay:
As the daughter of migrant farm workers, I lived in four states and numerous houses by the time I was five. It was then my family settled in rustic Sumter County, Florida, where we have worked picking oranges, squash, eggplant and peanuts. My dad left when I was nine and I haven't seen him since. Change and hard work have taught me perseverance and adaptively but most importantly what is permanent, family and hope. Growing up I was aware of my mother's struggle to sustain our home and I realized education is imperative to economic wellbeing. Despite having little of monetary value, Mom went to great lengths to provide encouragement and aspiration for a better future.
When I entered kindergarten I rarely spoke because I was embarrassed of my pronunciation. Nonetheless, I practiced speaking to my stuffed animals at home. A portion of the school day I spent in English for Speaker of other Languages or ESOL classes. There I was taught in Spanish the language I was accustomed to and I felt at ease. My grades were decent but I strove to improve, leaving class for ESOL put me at a disadvantage over my classmates. My mother took my brother and me to the library, helped with projects and communicated with teachers through letters. Studying harder and spending extra time reviewing my work didn't stop me from holding high scholarly expectations for myself. It paid off because by the next year I could weave back and forth from one language to another. The comfort of ESOL would soon become history. In the second grade I tested high enough to remain in the regular classroom and out of ESOL.
The successful experience of having left my comfort zone in order to advance intellectually did not change my life; rather it was the confidence that hard work and desire to succeed could help me succeed. Robert Frost wrote, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference". For me that small achievement has snowballed into my diverging road that has changed my life. I have obtained the formula for success and refuse to hold myself back but rather push to accomplish my goals and make my family proud.
Confidence aides me to challenge myself academically and physically with honors, AP classes and even taking NJROTC my ninth and tenth grade year. Despite not have experience singing or friends auditioning for the musical presentation of Grease I did and got the part of a main character with a solo. I polished my leadership skills as the president of the Library's Teen Advisory Group. At first, I was reluctant to advocate for the group; whereas, now I enjoy negotiating on behalf of my collaborators. At home I learned that poverty is relative so no matter how little you have someone else has less. I also believe everyone can give something: time, money, or knowledge for example. For me it is a privilege and pleasure to volunteer in the community. There was a time I was ashamed of being different; now contrariwise, I realize that through diversity we can learn more because of different viewpoints.
I plan to obtain my bachelor's degree in Political Science, go on to law school and use my natural tenacity to become an attorney specializing in Special Education. My inspiration is my learning disabled brother, Alex. Last year he graduated from high school because of his extra hard work and determination and also my mother's advocacy on his behalf. It is my desire to help others and volunteer for the Community Legal Services of Mid Florida. At the same time I will remain active in the community by working on advisory groups and boards and eventually running for political office.
I feel as if I am a perfect candidate for your living community because of my personal characteristics and motivation towards school. I tend to be accommodating and cooperative making myself easy to get along with. To graduate from Florida State is my aim thus I am serious about school work. Becoming a Seminole, I have come a long way from the shy little girl I was when I started school but I will use the same formula to succeed. If selected for the Florida Southern Scholarship I will be grateful and you will not be disappointed.
As the daughter of migrant farm workers, I lived in four states and numerous houses by the time I was five. It was then my family settled in rustic Sumter County, Florida, where we have worked picking oranges, squash, eggplant and peanuts. My dad left when I was nine and I haven't seen him since. Change and hard work have taught me perseverance and adaptively but most importantly what is permanent, family and hope. Growing up I was aware of my mother's struggle to sustain our home and I realized education is imperative to economic wellbeing. Despite having little of monetary value, Mom went to great lengths to provide encouragement and aspiration for a better future.
When I entered kindergarten I rarely spoke because I was embarrassed of my pronunciation. Nonetheless, I practiced speaking to my stuffed animals at home. A portion of the school day I spent in English for Speaker of other Languages or ESOL classes. There I was taught in Spanish the language I was accustomed to and I felt at ease. My grades were decent but I strove to improve, leaving class for ESOL put me at a disadvantage over my classmates. My mother took my brother and me to the library, helped with projects and communicated with teachers through letters. Studying harder and spending extra time reviewing my work didn't stop me from holding high scholarly expectations for myself. It paid off because by the next year I could weave back and forth from one language to another. The comfort of ESOL would soon become history. In the second grade I tested high enough to remain in the regular classroom and out of ESOL.
The successful experience of having left my comfort zone in order to advance intellectually did not change my life; rather it was the confidence that hard work and desire to succeed could help me succeed. Robert Frost wrote, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference". For me that small achievement has snowballed into my diverging road that has changed my life. I have obtained the formula for success and refuse to hold myself back but rather push to accomplish my goals and make my family proud.
Confidence aides me to challenge myself academically and physically with honors, AP classes and even taking NJROTC my ninth and tenth grade year. Despite not have experience singing or friends auditioning for the musical presentation of Grease I did and got the part of a main character with a solo. I polished my leadership skills as the president of the Library's Teen Advisory Group. At first, I was reluctant to advocate for the group; whereas, now I enjoy negotiating on behalf of my collaborators. At home I learned that poverty is relative so no matter how little you have someone else has less. I also believe everyone can give something: time, money, or knowledge for example. For me it is a privilege and pleasure to volunteer in the community. There was a time I was ashamed of being different; now contrariwise, I realize that through diversity we can learn more because of different viewpoints.
I plan to obtain my bachelor's degree in Political Science, go on to law school and use my natural tenacity to become an attorney specializing in Special Education. My inspiration is my learning disabled brother, Alex. Last year he graduated from high school because of his extra hard work and determination and also my mother's advocacy on his behalf. It is my desire to help others and volunteer for the Community Legal Services of Mid Florida. At the same time I will remain active in the community by working on advisory groups and boards and eventually running for political office.
I feel as if I am a perfect candidate for your living community because of my personal characteristics and motivation towards school. I tend to be accommodating and cooperative making myself easy to get along with. To graduate from Florida State is my aim thus I am serious about school work. Becoming a Seminole, I have come a long way from the shy little girl I was when I started school but I will use the same formula to succeed. If selected for the Florida Southern Scholarship I will be grateful and you will not be disappointed.
