The source of my ambition by Cathy

The source of my ambition by Cathy - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

Born in Liberia, a small country in West Africa, I spent the beginning of my childhood in destitution. Like many other countries, Liberia had all the basic resources and necessities to sustain a comfortable lifestyle for its citizens but a series of civil wars left the country completely devastated. The most severe damages included the burning of houses, schools, churches, and many health care facilities. As a result of the unbalanced government structure, families are unable to receive aid to afford primary education for their children. My childhood best friend, Chu Chu, and many of my neighborhood playmates fitted under this category. Fortunately, my mother worked in the United States so my tuition was always paid. However, Chu Chu and majority of the neighborhood children did not attend school because their parents could not afford the tuition. In particular, Chu Chu, like me, lived with her grandmother, who did not have any children abroad to assist her financially. Also, Chu Chu’s grandmother needed her help at home. It distressed me to wake up in the morning to get ready for school while Chu Chu went to fetch water to fill the huge gallon for the day. Even though she was older, Chu Chu revered me as an older sister. She expressed to me that she yearned to go to school so that she could have homework also and the opportunity to be more than a water girl. At the age of seven, being deeply affected by her situation, I told her that we would start our own school. Upon my return home from school each day, Chu Chu and I would sit under the mango tree where I would reiterate what I learned in school. Then I would give her practice problems and a short practice test to complete. After a week, she began to complain that most of our friends did not receive as much work as I gave her but I motivated her by telling her that I wanted her to receive twice as much work than I did in school so she could be smarter than me. I asked my grandmother to tutor Chu Chu while I was at school then I would continue tutoring her after I returned from school. It pleased me to know that while I was in school, Chu Chu was also learning. Our study sessions expanded to include more of our neighborhood friends. Unfortunately I lost contact with Chu Chu after transitioning to the United States but when we regained contact I was happy to hear that she went to live with her mother where she attended school.

This experience illustrated the importance of leadership skills. Even though I was only seven years old, unknowingly my actions made a significant difference in my friend’s life. It gave her hope of a successful future and motivated her to work toward her full potential. Indeed, leadership skills are necessary for college success because the ability to be a leader helps one discover themselves through the circumstances of others. Leadership provokes responsibility, dedication, and ambition; evident skills needed to succeed in college and beyond. With confidence, I can say that if I did not apply my leadership skills in Liberia, I would not have a source for my dedication, motivation, and ambition.