Defying the Odds by Micah

Defying the Odds by Micah - December 2019 Scholarship Essay

According to statistics, boys who are raised in the home without a dad, are more likely to turn to a life of crime and will have a criminal record by age of 15, are at a higher risk of becoming a teen father or a drop out. I am proud to say that I have defied all the odds against me. It is because I was raised by a single mom that I am so far removed from what any statistic could predict for my future. At the age of 8 years old, my mom found a local organization for young boys called Youth Leadership Academy. The program was created to provide young African American males with leadership, finance and community service goals. This program taught me the importance of serving others through the community service we provided, being prepared, money management through the classes we took and how to make lasting first impressions. Being apart of this organization helped shape my character and build my integrity. I learned the value of being accountable for your actions and learning from your mistakes. The different seminars I attended through the program teaching us about life, responsibility and work ethic, taught me that the true test of growth is not in making a mistake but applying the lessons from mistakes to make better choices. I also learned that integrity isn't doing the right thing when someone is watching, but it is doing what's right when no one is watching. Though, my mom instilled in me early on the importance of education and work ethic, the program gave me the tools on how to excel in the classroom and outside the classroom. I have made honor roll every semester since 9th grade, obtained my first part-time job as a lifeguard at age 15 and have never been in trouble with the law. Combining the knowledge I obtained from my mom and my mentors at Youth Leadership Academy, I made a plan for my future. I watched my mom work minimum wage jobs while pursuing higher education to be able to provide for me and demonstrate that hard work does pay off. I remember attending her college graduation ceremony and I was so proud of her and in that moment, I knew one day she would be at my ceremony to see me achieve my college degree. Though she is gainfully employed now, It is a challenge financially having to pay for all of the household expenses alone which limits the amount of money left to save for college. Majority of the money she earns is used for daily living expenses and school activity fees. My mom has sacrificed a lot to make sure I was provided for and often times went without so that I would have the things I needed and some of the things I wanted. She always put me first no matter the circumstance or situation and I couldn't ask for a better mom. Being able to obtain some financial assistance for college would be instrumental in helping me give her an opportunity to feel the same joy and pride to see me earn my college degree as I felt when I watched her earn her degree. I have also worked part-time jobs during school and summer to help save for college but its only a small amount. Additionally, in an effort to prevent graduating from college with an enormous amount of student loan debt and face the challenges so many Americans face with not making enough money to pay the loans back and having that debt loom over your head, I am hoping to secure enough scholarship money to keep my student loan debt at a minimum. I plan to participate in work study while in school to assist with any student loans that I have to obtain. Consequently, I took a financial literacy course through the Youth Leadership Academy and one of the key ways to financial success and financial freedom is limiting the amount of debt that you have and setting financial goals. It is my goal to be able to start my life after college debt free or with a manageable amount of debt that can be paid off within a couple years. I hope you will help me in my quest for higher education and financial success beyond college. This scholarship will be monumental in helping me accomplish both. thank you for your consideration and for this opportunity.