Athletes Struggle by Shelby

Athletes Struggle by Shelby - June 2013 Scholarship Essay

My name is Shelby Slocum and I am 20 years old who just graduated with her associate’s degree from Pima Community College. I am/have been trying to find scholarship money for a university to attend to in the Fall of 2013. I need as many scholarships as I can get because I have to pay for college on my own. The Lord blessed me with my first two years of junior college paid for because of my athletic scholarship in track and field. I have now graduated from my junior college and absolutely loved running on Pima’s cross country and track and field team. I had a great experience getting to travel, competing against other universities, being a leader for my team, and also going to Nationals where I was able to place 9th in indoor track in the 1000 meters and 9th in outdoor track in the 1500 meters.  I would love to go to a university and be able to compete in track and field because I know I will be an asset to their team. My problem is it is late in the year and all the universities that I have talked to would love for me to join their team but they cannot offer me any money until my senior year. I started running on a track team in the second grade. Ever since the first day I set foot on a track I absolutely loved it and have never looked back. I have been blessed with this gift, to run fast, by the Lord and would love to be able to use the gift He gave me to compete for a university in the Fall, Winter, and Spring.  It would break my heart if I found out that this was the end of competing at a college level for me. 
I was told to get a job earlier in my life so I would have money saved up for college but if I did that I would of had to give up sports. I love being able to run and compete in track and field. Every one in this world is so obsessed with money and would rather get a job that pays well and hate it then do what they love. Instead I chose to do what I loved and I got my first two years of college paid for because of my running gift. Here I am now with not enough money for a university to run at and looking for a way to bee able to continue to do what I love and still get an education for it. All the decisions that I have chosen in my life have made me the person I am today and i was able to learn from my mistakes and grow.