Metas by Miriam

Metas by Miriam - April 2024 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my childhood I’ve encountered many different challenges and obstacles. I grew up in Little Village, La Villita, located on the southwest side of the City of Chicago. A neighborhood recognized as much for its rich Mexican folklore as it is for the violence and insecurity that engulfs gang ridden neighborhoods. My parents did their best to provide a good and safe environment until things started to change.

Once my younger sister and brother were born things got complicated, we were now a family of seven. We would move from one apartment to another because people wouldn’t want to have more than four people living in a house. It was difficult for us to find help; at times we had to double up, sharing an apartment with my grandparents, or uncles. The only options our family was able to afford were basements. We would go from basement to basement. On multiple occasions the basements would get flooded and I would wake up wet and cold. My clothes and bed covers would be left drenched and dirty. It was up to me to figure out what to dispose of and what to salvage by washing it myself since my parents were busy looking after my younger siblings and absorbed by other family matters. There was no other option, I learned to look out for myself.

Additionally, feeling different affected my confidence, personally and academically. This became especially true when I was found eligible for an IEP. At this point, I really had to overcome the way people spoke about me. Getting pulled out of class constantly for testing and extra one-on-one time with teachers made me different. They would make me feel like I was not as smart or as capable as the other students. Despite all of this, I was working hard towards graduation and starting to feel “normal”. I began to realize that I was just as capable as my peers, I just needed a little extra help sometimes.

One day as we were sitting at home my parents came to us with big news, they had purchased a house. It made me feel like there was light shining through all of this uncertainty, but I soon realized that this meant more change. It meant starting all over again in a suburb where I knew nothing and people did not look like me.

Due to the pandemic there was no opportunity to meet my classmates or teachers. Once again I felt out of place, the sense of being different overwhelmed me. I hesitated to participate in class and school activities because I was scared of what people would think of me due to my academic and cultural background. This time things were different, I wasn’t going to let those thoughts stand in my way and I used everything I learned throughout the years to make the best of my time in high school.

Watching my parent’s determination to provide a better life for us has taught me that hard work and perseverance pay off. The struggles I lived during my upbringing have given me the resilience necessary to be successful and thrive in any situation. I have been able to take my insecurities and turn them into strengths. Today I am a proud Student Ambassador, a cheerleader and a member of the National Art Honor Society.Through my hard work and dedication my junior year I was selected by the university of Missouri to l participate in a summer business program. I know what it feels like to feel different, so I like to give back by helping others feel accepted. In this moment, I accept myself for who I am and I am proud of my story. I am ready to start another chapter in my life and make the best of it with everything that life has taught me so far.