Inspired by Jason

Inspired by Jason - October 2019 Scholarship Essay

The person that has inspired me the most academically is my 6-year-old son, Hunter. My wife and I began fostering him in February of 2018 and after many home visits, questionnaires, and background checks, we became his parents in May. Hunter had a great kindergarten year, but first grade has proved to be more difficult for him. He was consistently not paying attention, not following directions, and was doing things that he shouldn't have to impress the other kids or to make them laugh. His teacher recommended that we put him on an ADHD medication and after a lot of thought and debate between my wife and me, we placed him on Equillichew to combat his ADHD. Ever since then, his teacher says that he is a different kid in class and has only received positive colors for his behavior. I say all of this because I have seen how he has struggled when completing his homework or when he gets hung up on a word when reading a children's book to me at night before bed, and I understand how important it is to his education that he doesn’t give up.

I am a 35-year-old returning college student, veteran, husband, and father. If Hunter mustn’t give up then it’s ultimately important that I must not give up because he needs to learn by example. He needs to see that hard work pays off. I want him to want to go to college by seeing the positive impact it has made on my life and to my family. He knows that I stay up late each night studying or completing homework assignments and that on weekends he will probably have to do most things with his mother because I have quizzes and tests to complete. I am sure that he wishes that I could spend more time with him and while I can’t change that right now, one day my college education will allow me to pay for his. After the difficult time I had trying to find a good job after I completed my enlistment in the military, I vowed that I would work hard to better myself so that I never have to feel that neglected, abandoned, and useless again. I also swore that when I became a parent that I would teach my kids skills and trades, as well as assist them in receiving a quality education so that they would never find themselves in the same situation as I did.

The most successful people in the world didn’t get there by a handout or by merely just being in the right place at the right time, but instead, they became successful because they studied hard, worked their fingers to the bone, and worked countless long hours. They got to where they are through hard work and by having to make many sacrifices along the way. I am making these sacrifices now for a promising future later.