AIG Personal Statement

Because I was so focused on getting the help I needed to be successful in college, I was willing to learn the material on my own from the 9th and 10th grade AVID course to join the class as a junior. Before AVID, I did not have a strong passion to learn because I was not engaged in class. However after learning how to take organized notes and to ask in depth questions, I developed a desire to learn new academic concepts. I challenged my learning capabilities by enrolling myself in difficult AP and Honors courses offered at my high school. These classes would also prepare me for studying at the collegiate level.

Ever since I was little, starting in first or second grade, I was classified as something other than average. A “special” teacher came and took me from my classes once a week, along with some other kids, and here we learned different lessons than we did in normal class. They called this the “gifted” class. These lessons always seemed to be harder than the normal ones, but I liked the challenge. Normal class was always boring to me. Up until middle school, those gifted lessons were the only challenges I had ever faced academically, and even then they weren't much of a challenge. I entered middle school with a sense that I knew everything the teachers would tell me, that I was smarter than everyone else, just because

Still I was determined to find some type of success before I left high school, and since my high school offered a welding certification program, reluctantly I accepted the opportunity. I figured at a minimum, becoming a welder would earn me the same honest living as becoming a teacher. While participating in the program taught me about working hard and becoming a disciplined young adult, I realized my passion for welding would never burn the same way the metals did. After joining the cornerstone honors program my life changed. For the duration of my first year of college I was exposed to a system of learning that re-fuled the passion that was extinguished in high school. Joining the honors program allowed me great opportunities I never even saw coming. I gained the confidence to join the phi theta kappa honors society and become a chapter officer. Although I could never join the national honor society in high school. I now had the opportunity to immerse myself in community projects and leadership roles. See when I was in high school I didn’t know how to play the game. I didn’t know the importance of being involved in school activities. I didn’t know the importance of building relationships with instructors. The worst part was I didn’t know the importance of placing value on education. I now had the tools to play the game of education better than I had before. I had invested more time in my education than the average student and reaped the

The nonprofit program scholarship would be an incredible blessing to me as I work to pay for my education. Each year school becomes increasingly expensive and I depend heavily on scholarships I receive in order to be able to attend Johnson University. I want to say thank you for being considered for this scholarship, regardless of the outcome. Whether or not I receive the scholarship I know that I am where God desires, and he will provide a way for me to continue my time here at Johnson University. Once again, thank for the opportunity and for helping students receive an education that God is fully a part

I was thrilled to find out about this scholarship and want to thank you personally for giving students like me the opportunity for further financial assistance in college. I appreciate your contribution to the education of my generation, the future leaders of the world.

I believe that I am a worthy candidate for this scholarship due to my recognition of the financial impact of college. Growing up in a single parent home has been a financially and emotionally difficult feat for my mother and myself. When I was seven years old, my father passed away from a blood clot. During his life, he served in Vietnam, where he was granted a Purple Heart after shattering his kneecap on a landmine. He was on disability, and my mother was employed as a rehabilitation nurse, the only source of income in our family. After his death, my mother and I both began to go to therapy for our grief over losing my father. Focusing on my mental health helped me accept the meaning of death, and struck my motivation to honor my father and ensure that he would be proud of me. When I grew up, we always relied on getting clothes from thrift stores to save money and cutting any unnecessary expenditures. My mother always worked to have enough money for food and comfort. I received monetary Survivor Benefits after his death until my high school graduation this past May. As mentioned before, my mother has Multiple Sclerosis, which is an unfortunately expensive illness. Shortly after her diagnosis, the rehabilitation unit of her work closed and she was left on unemployment right before my sophomore year of high school. I was not old enough to drive or work, so finances were incredibly strict. On my 16th birthday, I attended an orientation to work as a lifeguard at our local YMCA. The next day, I also got my license to eliminate transportation issues. My employment alleviated financial and emotional stress on my mother, as I was able to contribute to the bills and my personal expenses. Throughout my life, my mother has also been very dependent on alcohol to relieve stress. There were numerous times where I

Starting high school, I was not a perfect student. However, over the past three years, it is clear that my grades have drastically improved. Whether it was adjusting to AP classes or balancing extracurricular activities and homework, I became proficient at handling the twists and turns of high school. By smoothing out my rough edges, I have become a student with distinct goals and a strong work ethic. Having experienced both low and high ends of academic success, my abilities and mindset can be molded to any situation. I am confident that I have the talent, ambition, and the adaptive abilities to become part of a guaranteed

Thank you for the opportunity of allowing me to be a finalist for the Daniel’s Fund Scholarship. I am a high school senior enrolled as a concurrent enrollment student at the Community College of Aurora through my high school, Vista Academy. I am also a first generation prospective college student with a Mexican background. Neither of my parents went to college, though, I know in my heart I need to earn a college degree; they are my motivation. I also know in my heart that I will be a great Daniel’s Fund Scholar because I possess maturity, strength of character, leadership, a well rounded personality in one way, shape, or manner.

I would be honored to be selected as the winner for this scholarship. I believe that my hard work and leadership skills will put good use to this scholarship and that it would help me with the very expensive college tuition. This scholarship would help me satisfy my thirst for knowledge that only a college education could satisfy. I hope that you selected me for this scholarship and know if you do it will be put to good use. With my large ambitions and dedication I hope that you will consider me for your

I am extremely grateful for you granting me with the John and Louise Steiger Student Foundation Scholarship! This scholarship was nothing less than an answer to my prayers. The last couple of years here at Oklahoma Baptist University I have been struggling with providing financially. Every semester I had to constantly pray and seek The Lord to make sure that He wanted me to continue my education here. While being here at Oklahoma Baptist University I have grown so much not only academically, but also spiritually. I have learned that my provider is not my job, that my provider is not my grades, my parents, or even a scholarship. The true provider is The Lord and if we lean into full Him, He will gives us all that we need according to His plans.

Thank you so much for this $2500 scholarship award. I appreciate this award to help me pursue my education. I feel so grateful to know that I have your support.

Throughout my freshman year of high school, I had a difficult transition from middle school. I attended a school that offered minimal assistance to incoming freshmen, and I became unmotivated due to the environment that surrounded me. My lack of motivation was fortified by the discouragement that came from teachers as they too, did not provide a strong backbone for students to get help from. My self-esteem lowered as I thought that the difficulty experienced in my classes was something that would remain. With no one to help me, I struggled to do my homework and allowed for failure to define me. Slowly, I stopped caring and gained comfort in receiving "C's" on my report cards and believed that the effort I put in was up to my capability. I realized I was wrong when my parents decided to move so that I could attend a high school that offers as much help as needed. Now, I am constantly motivated and with the help of my peers and teachers I developed great studying skills and can reach out to them when I need them. I knew deep down freshman year, that the effort I was putting in was nothing like me, yet it took me time to realize the importance of education. I am now a student who never gives up and during times of struggle, always seems to find a way of getting through academic difficulties.

In junior High School, things started to turn around for me. Although I was still placed in lower level classes, I developed a love for learning. In the years to come from Junior High to High School, I had a strong urge to make up for lost time. One class I started to excel in was the one I used to have the most trouble with, Mathematics. It seemed as though the once boring and complex equations now seemed meaningful and simple. As I progressed into 8th grade, I was able to advance to normal classes. I felt that the hard work I put in was finally paying of. At this point, I felt that I could handle a higher level. At the end of 8th grade, I took the necessary procedures and tests to try and get into honor - level courses in 9th grade. After taking a summer course of Algebra 1 and several tests I was able to succeed and take the classes. The experience was great. I felt that I was finally going the right direction

Many students enter high school with a pessimistic mindset that is on the verge of rupturing in a total disaster. Fortunately, I was not one of those students. Ironically, I was just the opposite. I entered the walls of high school with much more than a faint feeling of trepidation. I entered, rather, with an indefinable desire to seek opportunities beyond the basics of what I was already capable of doing. The huge new school was both frightening and exciting for a 13 year old girl who was ready to make an impact on the world. That same 13 year old girl is now beyond the fears, beyond the anxiety, and beyond the anticipation. She has now surpassed 3 years of high school and is one step closer to achieving her dreams.

My highschool years are blotted with flashes of success followed by long periods of under achievement. Almost like clockwork each year, I would score in the gifted range on standardized testing and then follow that up with just enough work to get by in the classroom. When I completed highschool, I knew that I wanted to attend college with my friends but my grades would not allow me to have the same options