Scholarship Application -- Personal Contributions

Scholarship Application -- Personal Contributions

Children who grow up with names such as Jill or Sue never have to worry about living up tot their names. Meanwhile, some of us had to learn very early in life that challenges can overcome us or they can be met head-on and overcome with determination. In my case, having been named Precious was a challenge from as far back as I can remember. On many occasions, I was bullied and ridiculed by my peers because of my name. While it was an unpleasant experience, I was also determined to honor my parents' choice and to emerge from those conflicts with a smile on my face. It also taught me that smiles are contagious and that by being a cheerful person, one has the ability to influence others and to improve their spirits.

Consequently, I have been committed to making sure that my interactions with other people leave them smiling as well. When my friends experience difficulties, I am always there to remind them of all the gifts that they have received and that much of the impact that hardships have on our lives is determined the way they we react to them. I try to help people realize that the best way to respond to unanticipated challenges and difficulties is to make a rational assessment and then to make the best decisions under the circumstances. Usually, that enables us to minimize the negative consequences of most challenges and to emerge from them in the best possible position. Sometimes, we are benefited in the long-run for having experienced hardship, such as in my cases in connection with my name. Instead of being angry at my parents for the initial difficulties I encountered, I am appreciative of the challenge they provided because it has helped me to become the best person that I possibly can be and to live up to the connotations and implications of my name.

One way that I have tried to extend the reach of my positive message has been through doing a radio show called Closer to my Dreams on WGIV 103.3 FM. The show was dedicated to the goal of inspiring teenagers to reach for their dreams and not to give up on them even when they encounter obstacles. I also work at a nonprofit organization called Youth Empowerment Solutions (YES!) that is involved in training other nonprofit organizations. Yes! advocates on behalf of youth and helps foster partnerships between youths and the adult volunteers to create positive and meaningful changes in the community. The organization is built partly on the belief that many traditional organizations ignore the important role that younger people can play in volunteer work in achieving beneficial community changes. In my role, I have had the opportunity to help work to change general perceptions about the value of teenagers in the community, and I have been able to help demonstrate what teens can do to help create change when they are given the opportunity and basic resources to do so.