1 Minute and 37 Seconds by Juliette

1 Minute and 37 Seconds by Juliette - July 2024 Scholarship Essay

With a simple 1 minute and 37 second phone call, I cried knowing that I made a difference in a person's life.

Every spring, my media is fluctuated with images of achieving high school seniors wearing the names of their accepted dream schools in delight. However, this was not the case for my city of San Bernardino. After the seniors in my area graduated, they would either drop out or go onto college unaware of the real world workforce they would face. Perplexed by these instances where seniors were not capable of pursuing higher education and fearing my own future, I desired to find an alternative to enable students from my community to move onto higher education.

Hence, I created Professionals In Practice: an initial youth group where students would come together in my local area and share local educational opportunities or programs to participate to apply to in the local area. We would meet up every Saturday at a park; with word of mouth about various opportunities that students would discover in our local area, we began spreading the word so more students would join and become more involved in our area. From extracurricular programs, to educational resources, to scholarship applications, hundreds of students who were initially unaware of the resources and opportunities local to them in San Bernardino became involved with the organization to learn more about these resources to help them academically and financially, creating a community within our community. I didn’t stop here; I knew that continuing to meet with youth would be a goal to maintain to help more individuals become involved.

When I received a call from one of the students I knew in Professionals In Practice, announcing that she received a scholarship I recommended for her to apply to, I was beyond surprised I was the first to be notified and appreciated for their success. I was grateful that I was capable of giving an opportunity to someone who desired to advance in their academic journey. It was tiring to continue a youth group knowing that I had my plate filled with my academics, my sports, and my other extracurricular activities; however, it was an instance like this that made me grateful to have at least made the difference in the life of one person through giving her the educational resources and opportunities we need in our community.

Growing up in the undiversified and impoverished area of San Bernardino, I have battled to spearhead social unawareness of greater education and beat the stereotypes of minorities pursuing higher education. Creating my own youth organization to inspire the pursuit of career, I dream to be the beacon who demonstrates that anyone is capable of achievement regardless of their background and upbringing. Throughout Professionals in Practice I have learned that anyone is capable of creating an impact and making opportunities and resources available to many; I love serving others. Triumph is not established through oneself, but through aiding other individuals in their own achievement.

My identity as a Hispanic woman who chases higher education and opportunity defines my persistence to impact others even more; I will continue creating opportunities and resources to uplift the future generation of San Bernardino without fear and without worry. I will show others that they background and their identity should not disable their access to higher education or unification with others.