California by Allison

California by Allison - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

On September 12, 2012, an average, scorching Wednesday in Paso Robles, three weeks into high school, I returned home from a draining day. Soon after, there was an abrupt knock at the door. A small team of police and social service workers entered the home. A house call of this severity had never occurred before; I knew in that moment that the inevitable goodbye to the life I knew was close. I was told by a social worker to pack only enough for a weekend away, but as it turned out, I was taken to a place where I would live out the remainder of high school.

At 72, my grandparents graciously opened their home to me. I am one of the lucky ones whose family stepped up when approached by social services. Moving to a new town was frustrating to say the least, yet being so far from home allowed me an abundance of time to process the world I had formerly tolerated. My life at Alameda High was a fresh start and I quickly adapted to the necessary structure. Coming from a home where instability was all I knew, having stable meals provided, a place to do my homework, and a school that supports a future was an astonishing experience. Beginning a new high school is a foreign and frightening experience to most, but for me it was literally walking into a new world. I became driven to challenge my past and take advantage of the endless opportunities offered to me in this new community.

Taking the initial chances and aiming high, I found my niche within my activities. Reflecting on my choices as a freshman in high school, academics were always a top priority. Therefore, to maintain balance and progress, I became involved with the Alameda High Swim team and Make-a-Day club. On the swim team, I was introduced to a welcoming community. I found myself communicating with people I had never seen before, working hard for myself and my team, and feeling more focused in day-to-day life. Within Make-a-Day club, I found a place to utilize and build compassion while leading passionately with the objective to raise awareness. Through these activities, I have positively transformed myself on the personal, emotional and academic level.

Welcoming the freshmen at orientation this year as a Link Leader, I found a place where I fit. It began with giving a small group of 8 freshman a couple hours of my time. In that moment, I found that I wanted to educate others. As I watched their faces feed off of my enthusiasm for the high school experience, I felt a sensation of reverence for leadership. This admiration is the impalpable drive which directs me toward marketing management. I would like to teach others how to represent a brand and product by finding inspiration within their own surroundings.

The Link Crew program has taught me primary lessons in the values of time, investment, mentorship and encouragement. Looking back, these are the exact influences I would have profited from during my freshman year. Personally providing these qualities to the freshmen I have come to know, I see my guidance leading each of them in a positive direction. They carry a confidence that other freshmen may lack because I have reassured them each that when they are lost, I will be there to assist in guiding them out of the dark. Entering college, I will be involved in similar volunteer activities which allow me the satisfaction of using my compassion to impact others.

As a freshman, I was unaware of the opportunities that awaited me. Today, my engagement has propelled me to be successful well into the future. I have proven to myself that a life that begins in disorder is not destined to stay in chaos. Through my hard work, focus and perseverance, my life has changed in a drastic sense. I now look forward to realizing my dreams and reaching my highest potential.