Stronger by Magdalena

Stronger by Magdalena - August 2014 Scholarship Essay

College is an exciting time in one's life faced with challenges and new experiences. The initial challenge comes in applying and being accepted into an institution. The next challenge one is faced with is how will this education be paid for. This could be a trying and discouraging aspect of seeking a higher education.

Being the first person in my family to attend college was challenging. Not having an experienced adult to assist in navigating the system made the task very daunting. On top of that knowing what my family's financial position was, I knew that I would be on my own. So I set off on an unknown path to achieve a dream.

It was about half way into my first semester in community college that the reality of the situation hit me. I was working a full time job at night and attending school full time during the day. This schedule left little time for sleep much less homework. Although I was maintaining a decent GPA, it was starting to slip. My dream to get a degree was slowly slipping away. I began to fail classes, and I did not know what I was going to do.

This is when a lifeline was extended. While I was sitting at the school cafeteria, a Marine recruiter approached me and informed me of the opportunities the military could provide. After much discussion and research, I joined the U.S. Navy. I was able to do things that I never had dreamed of. Some of which included learning a trade, making lifelong friends, travel, and not to mention serving my country.

Serving in the military is something that I am proud of and grateful to have had the opportunity to do. It made me a stronger person in more ways than one. Opened up many doors, and helped me moved forward with my dream of having a college education. I now have a clear vision and well defined path that I can follow. Without stumbling when I first set out, I don't know if it would have been possible.