Breaking the Cycle: A Journey Toward Hope and Resilience by AMani

Breaking the Cycle: A Journey Toward Hope and Resilience by AMani - December 2024 Scholarship Essay

Growing up as a seventeen-year-old girl with diabetes in a household that struggles to make ends meet has shaped my identity in profound ways. I am proud to be the second person in my family to graduate high school, a beacon of hope in a lineage marked by sacrifice and hardship. My mother, who had her first child at just seventeen, never got the chance to finish her education. This reality weighs heavily on me; I see her fight every day, working tirelessly to provide for us on less than $10,000 a year. We rely on Section 8 housing, a safety net that brings both comfort and the harsh reminder of the challenges we face.

Being one of seven siblings, I often feel the burden of our family’s history. None of us have had an active father in our lives. Some have passed away, others are incarcerated, and a few have simply vanished. This absence has left a void that is hard to fill, but it has also instilled in me a determination to rise above our circumstances. I have witnessed my mother’s struggles firsthand—her late-night tears as she grapples with bills and the weight of our family’s expectations. I can feel her despair, and it fuels my desire to create a different future for myself and for those who come after me.

I live with diabetes, a condition that adds another layer of complexity to my life. Managing my health while juggling school and the responsibilities at home is a challenge, but I refuse to let it define me. Each day, I strive to maintain my health, knowing that it is essential not just for me, but for my family who depends on me. I dream of being the first in my generation to break the cycle—breaking free from the limitations imposed by our environment and proving that success is possible, no matter the odds.

I want to make my family proud. I want to show my siblings that there is a way out, a path to a better life. Education is my key, and I am committed to unlocking doors that have remained closed for too long. I envision a future where I can provide for my family, where my mother won’t have to cry at night out of worry. I want to be a source of strength for my siblings, to inspire them to reach for their dreams, just as I am reaching for mine.

As I graduated high school, I hold onto the belief that my story can be one of triumph. I want to turn our struggles into motivation, to transform pain into purpose. I am determined to forge a new legacy, one filled with hope, resilience, and success. I will not let my circumstances define me; instead, I will use them as fuel to create a brighter future for us all.