An Inescapable Lifestyle by Gerald

An Inescapable Lifestyle by Gerald - February 2014 Scholarship Essay

Many years later, I continue to be the voice for the unheard. I am a firm believer in the words of Eldridge Cleaver, “If you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem”.

I can picture myself in my early days of getting bullied for being different. I was no Barbie; I played all sports and got down and dirty with the boys. I never was fond of playing dress up and wearing make up. It was always a small group who led the teasing while the crowd just sat back and laughed. I channeled that pain into motivation. I became an advocate for kindness and fellowship. I encouraged the creative dreamers, polished the discarded and stepped in when others thought it was entertaining to be cruel. I knew what it felt like to be hurt. I knew the misery in seeing the world against you and I never wanted anyone to feel that way again.

After 17 years of living, I can confidently claim that my fierce activism stems from my strong understanding of a collective community of individuality as a teenager. Looking back to my younger days, I had always desired to be an ambassador for the underdogs. I wanted to give them hope and empower them to be courageous. I joined a program called Kenwood’s Ambassadors and Mentors because I wanted to be the support I did not have as a little girl. During the summer, I would assist freshmen in making a smooth transition into high school. I would inform them how the importance of knowledge is greater than the grade given. I feel that some students do poorly in high school because they do not understand the influence it has on their life and who they become. During the school year, I would monitor them and their journey through their first year. I would meet with them at least once a week to talk about current social and academic issues they face. Through this process, I taught them techniques to keep themselves on track and aware of issues that may occur in future years. This relationship allows the students to learn about the dangers and faults without them directly experiencing them.

In my last year of the program, I became a senior mentor. Specifically, I can remember having a long conversation with one boy named Deniko. He was an outcast that was constantly in trouble and on the verge of transferring to an alternative school. Contrary to his record, he was very intelligent. Seeing a smart male struggle seemed to be okay to some, but unacceptable to me. I gave him my phone number and continued to mentor him. I stressed to him the significance of making every moment count and putting the best foot forward. It is an ongoing fight to be better than the stereotype. In the media, and even in our own backyards, we are continuously confined in what is socially accepted. I needed to show my peers that being unique did not exclude you from success.

Over the years, I have learned that I genuinely love to help. This sensation of bringing joy, putting smiles on other’s face, and giving hope is something I will always practice. It is a lifestyle I cannot escape nor do I want to. Therefore, I work hard not for the money or the fame; I do it for my community. I learned early on from Cleaver that if you do not care about your own people, no one will. I understand when I win, I am not the only victor; we all are victorious. The final destination is not college, but a better life for the ones who are suffering as I did.