The Bet by Tristan

The Bet by Tristan - June 2019 Scholarship Essay

Going through the Miami Dade educational system, where I have witnesses many of my peers fail, I could not help but to wondering if I would be one of them. I came from an area where it celebrated to be affiliated with gangs rather than affiliated with a high school diploma. It felt like I was in an isolated corner with no one on my side. Everyone from teachers to family, doubted my ability to graduate and for the first half of my high school career I agree with them. I had accepted my reality and the depression that was slowly creeping up behind me . I just did not feel the motivation to continue to strive in school until my 11th grade year. That was year I met Ms.Granger, the reading teacher who drastically changed my life. She pulled me aside and handed me a feedback from one of my essays. I knew it was not the best grade but then she told me “ How do you expect to live up to your expectations if you do not expect anything from yourself.” At the time I did not know the bond that we would have form by the end of the year. She pushed me in a way no one has ever done before. From that day on, every time I was upset or wanted to quit, she would find me in the hallways and give me pep talks and advice. I vividly remember the day she came to me and made a bet with me. As I said before I was not the best student in school and in all honesty, I was failing her class. She told me if I passed the Florida Standard Assessment, she would give me an A in the class. She inspired me to worked harder than I ever had. I had nothing to lose but all to gain, and she helped me realized that. It was one of the most difficult obstacles I had to overcome, but I succeeded. At the year she showed me a list of the students in the class and highlighted my name. I was the first name on the list, meaning I had the highest score. It may not seem like the biggest accomplishment, but after high school graduation that moment was one of my proudest. I am now pursuing a bachelor’s degree majoring in Computer Software and Hardware Engineering and I can honestly say if it wasn’t for her, I could see myself on the streets with other family members instead of seeking higher education. Thanks to her I can look into the abyss and not feel the fear that I once felt in the beginning of my high school career. She manage to push me to college, but now I am searching for to pay for my dreams and ambitions without putting a financial strain on my mother. I consider myself to be lucky to not be in the statistic of young adults who do not complete high school and I have Ms. Granger to thank for it.