I did it. To God be the glory! by Luis

I did it. To God be the glory! by Luis - December 2014 Scholarship Essay

Men and women of excellence are people who understand how life shapes their souls and live in light it. Circumstances do not have to be manacles to be cast but tools to chisel character into our frame. However, refinement is not exclusive to heroic deeds like war or national crises. The building of person is especially within the ordinary, day to day lives we live. I have found this extraordinarily true of my education.

Besides being a inherent privilege of being an American, education has grown one of life’s most valuable virtues within me—determination. Determination bears excellence. It sacrifices immediate pleasures for higher goals. It learns from mistakes both personally done and mistakes observed. It grips failure to carve a new kind strength and character into who we are that was not there before.

For me, education developed determination. In high school, I sought what God has called me to endeavor in my life, His plans already formed for me. As God has guided me to this day, I have realized that education would a be long-term season. To plan ahead, ambitiously worked and intended to graduate early and more effectively—both high school and undergraduate studies. I have finished and accomplished this goal this last week, having my Bachelors at the age of 20.
Determination to achieve my goals brought me to the end in ways I could not have imagined. Being young is one, but it was not the only blessing. I found my education not to be rushed but maximized. I possess a Bachelors in my chosen field, as well as two years of working in the field through a volunteer internship. Moreover, this last September, I received the last receipt from my college. My degree was 100% paid for. My parents could only assist me in my first year. After that, a small scholarship was achieved, but the rest of my educational costs were paid in cash from hours upon hours of work. It is ideal to have a small job, while investing the majority of your time and attention in your studies. But one of my goals was not only to maximize my education at an early age, but I determined to do so debt-free. I never took a loan in my education, but worked hard at an hourly job to achieve excellence in manner few students do. This was all done while volunteering at internship to gain experience alongside my studies.

I still am savoring all the Lord has done through my life. What goals I desired, He enable me to do. I look back and realize that I earned more than a degree, more than knowledge. I earned character. Men and women of excellence are people who understand how life shapes souls and live in light it. I strived that I might seize the tools of circumstances to grow as a man, even in a season of life comparatively mundane to more heroic feats. And I did it. To God be the glory!