Second Chances by Shaniya

Second Chances by Shaniya - June 2019 Scholarship Essay

Who I am today is the cultivation of my family history, culture, and environment. I am the product of teenage parents. My mother was only sixteen when I was conceived, and she quickly became a single mother. My biological father chooses not to be in my life.  I was 2 months old when my great-grandmother and grandmother went to the courts to gain custody of me, due to the fact that my mom was neglecting me. As I grew older, the abandonment I felt from my biological parents began to affect me academically and socially. My grandmother refused to give up on me.  She continued to push me to bring out the best in me, and she worked hard to provide for me. My upbringing has influenced me tremendously in my desire to further my education and better my life. It is because of this that I have set goals for myself and have been able to accomplish them. Considering I came from a very challenging background, I knew at a very young age that the life that my mother lived, and is still living, is not the life I want for myself. I am the eldest of all my cousins and I feel it is my duty to be a good role model for them and lead by example.  
I started playing soccer at a very young age and it provided an outlet for my pent up emotions. Over the years as I continued to play soccer, it became an integral part of my life giving me a sense of belonging and a desire for success. However, at the height of my soccer career, I experienced a setback. I tore my ACL at practice just a week before a major tournament. I was devastated. My injury required surgery, and I thought that my life as a soccer player was over. My journey to recovery was emotionally and physically grueling, but it gave me the time I needed to reflect, and gain a better perspective on my life. I recognized that soccer was not everything, and that realization motivated me to work harder in the classroom. Eventually, with desire, hard work and dedication, I overcame the odds and started playing again.  I believe that my injury was a blessing in disguise, causing me to become a more well-rounded person on and off the field. A lesson I have learned from my favorite teacher is how to be resilient and how to never give up on anything.
I firmly believe that in life we have the choice to decide our fate. I believe we have the choice to learn from those before us, or to follow a similar path to destruction. In my humble opinion, the difficult times I faced compelled me to develop perseverance. I am a conqueror. I now know and understand this concept because my teacher was there to guide me, and i would have not understood this if Mrs. Benedeti my global politics teacher did not provide me with this guidance. Teachers are not obligated to get personal with students but im blessed to have had a teacher like her.
I had a difficult start in life, and I overcame a challenge that to some, would be insurmountable. I am determined now more than ever to be successful.  And I intend to use this scholarship to prosper at a institution of higher learning, using it as a conduit to achieve my goals.