Places to Go by Jahjaira

Places to Go by Jahjaira - January 2018 Scholarship Essay

Pure and total ambition describes the word for why I want to attend college. Ambitious is what I am for my school, ambitious is what I am for my community, and ambitious is what I have to be for my family; nothing will hold me back, for I have everything to gain by attending college. You see my family immigrated here from Mexico and they wanted what anyone would, the American Dream. When my parents immigrated here they were bewildered at the completely new life that the were faced with. They had zero familiarity with American Culture and they had to take on back-breaking and laborious jobs like working in the fields. My mother found my father and what do you know, I was born. From a young age they talked to me about the possibilities I could achieve if I only applied myself. My mother always had so much faith in me but my father lamentably never believed, for he is realist and knows he can’t afford to send me to some prestigious university that he knows nothing about. You see, there was a time before me where my cousins and aunts went to highschool dreaming of careers and success; they yelled and swore to the heavens that they would be the one to change our family's story. However, for some reason, they always gave up. After their failures I not only had to ensure that I did everything I could so that the toll on my parents wouldn't be so grave--considering they're working night and day to provide for not only myself but my two younger sisters--, but I also had to prove I was no charlatan; I had to prove there was a fervent fire in me. So I've been proving it. I may be considered a jock because of continuous involvement is Track and Cross Country, but I’m an undoubtedly sophisticated one. Throughout my four years of high school, I received principal's honor roll every single semester for my scholarly grade point average, I took rigorous AP and honors classes and put myself through the demanding coursework--the competitive environment always fueled my drive to succeed-- I received various amounts of awards recognizing my work, I joined multiple clubs, one of which I am publicist for, and another where I will be competing in court trials, and I have contributed countless amounts of hours into my community. I really did it all. I proved that precedent and farce of what I might be, wrong. It never leaves my mind that everything I do, I do for my family, community, and myself. My plan for my future is one of ambition, but not one of impossibility.