My Role Model by Arsema

My Role Model by Arsema - March 2021 Scholarship Essay

Leaving college with a degree but an empty mind would be useless. Going through a pandemic has made me realize how important true education is because those with education often have an economic cushion. But that is not why I look up to my academic role model.
My uncle Aman was an Eritrean immigrant, who had nothing on his back when he came to America. He enrolled in community college and surpassed the standard with his excellence, then he transferred to USC and became the chief of a fire department. He was the first in my family to go to college and own a house. He eloquently led family debates and asked my nine cousins and me rigorous questions to awaken our critical thinking abilities.
When I become someone, like my uncle, whom family and community come to for advice, then I will have achieved my own personal standard of what it means to be educated; as a young African-American woman, education means more than getting a degree. It means putting my degree to use by feeding my intellect and helping not only my family but also the world. Having the opportunity to witness my role model Aman go through obstacles and achieve everything. I have faith in myself, and will one day contribute with a zeal to strive for excellence in school and continue to contribute in any ways I can to my community as a first-generation student.