Fulfilling Aspirations by Christopher

Fulfilling Aspirations by Christopher - April 2024 Scholarship Essay

"What are your plans after high school?" "What colleges are you looking at?" "Are you going to work to pay for your degree?" As the youngest child with three older siblings, these questions ran through my parents' mouths like sand through a sieve. Witnessing my older siblings grow frustrated as each of them entered their senior year of high school, a time that is supposed to be full of joy and celebration, I quickly understood the pressure of becoming an adult. With hopes of avoiding immense stress and anxiety, I began setting myself up for success early on.
Primarily, I ensured that my academic career was the best it could possibly be by establishing high standards for myself. I started applying this practice in elementary school, and I still utilize it to this day. I can honestly say that I have accomplished academic success being that I earned all A's throughout my entire tenure as a high school student, and the fact that I had the opportunity to graduate high school a year early. Loss of friendships, loved ones, and observing the state of the world only motivated me further to continue achieving exemplary grades as I transitioned into college. Simultaneously, I worked on finding inner peace so as to become a well-rounded individual who could face any obstacle set in front of me. Every experience I have, no matter how significant or minute, teaches me a lesson. I take the time to learn my surroundings, including those that fill it, in order to better navigate my future. With qualities such as perseverance, initiative, and pure desire for greatness, I know that I can, and will, attain any goal that I set for myself.
As for my career, I will be pursuing an education in film and TV production, as well as photography. One of the first steps I have taken is to attend The Mecca, Howard University. As one of the most prestigious historically black universities, Howard is molding me into an individual that can face adversity, flourish academically, and succeed in social environments. I chose to attend Howard to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who will push me to be the best version of myself. While attending, I plan to explore countless realms of filmmaking and gain industry experience so that when my time at Howard is complete, I will already have a foundation to build on. As I write this essay, I have only been at Howard for just over three months, and in that time I have grown tremendously as a person as a result of my surroundings. Fellow students and I have connected on wanting to achieve outstanding dreams, but the biggest difference between us and others is that we have the drive and grit necessary. As realists, we understand the system and act accordingly in order to reach the goals we speak so proudly of. In fact, as a way to help pay for college, I have been using my love for creative writing to enter writing competitions that offer cash prizes to winners. I feel that this is a useful practice since I am able to grow my writing skills and possibly earn money for doing so. Also, I am working on perfecting my photography and graphic design skills so that I can have multiple streams of income to secure my financial stability in the future.
Later down the line, once I have already proven myself within the film industry, I see myself founding my own production company with the goal of granting opportunities to those in this world who are overlooked. I believe that creating a space for fellow Black creatives will not only satisfy my heart, but will also force the world to look past color and recognize good art as good art. The importance of inclusion in creative fields, and almost every aspect of the world for that matter, can serve as the backbone of innovation and growth.