
Scholarship Submissions
Write an essay where you tell us about what drives you in your pursuit of your graduate degree.
All my life people gravitated towards me in their times of need. I can remember from the tender age of thirteen, checking my phone, and having countless messages from people seeking my advice. It was then that I knew that I had been given a special gift from God. I have used this gift in so many walks of life, and I have grown to be extremely passionate about helping people.
From a young age, many people would tell me that I was strong, and I always made things look easy. See, this may be the case from an outsider looking in. However, everyone has trials and tribulations, and I often found myself taking the advice that I have given to others. Like so many others growing up, middle school was some of the toughest years in my life. It was then that I started to really feel the effects of my parent’s alcoholism; I often wondered why I was put in this situation, and what God wanted me to learn from it. I turned to trust some of the prominent adult figures in my life. I formed close relationships with my school’s guidance counselor, and the teachers who saw my struggles.
From living my life surrounded by addiction, I have learned that it is okay to not be okay. This is something I will preach until I cannot preach anymore. I have learned various coping skills, and ultimately, I have given everything to God. I have learned that I can not parent my parents, but I can help them, have faith in them, love them, and at the same time not love their addiction.
Now, I am speaking to you as a twenty-one year old, first generation college graduate, sister, girlfriend, daughter, mentor, and all in all someone that many people have confided in for the last decade. I have always known that I wanted to work with children. I spent most of my college years trying to fit the pieces together. I entered the workforce as a junior in high school in an attempt to support myself financially. I gave up countless extracurricular activities, hobbies, and time with friends to better myself
Carly from California
Azusa Pacific University