My New Independent Life At Queen 's University

During high school, I struggled to maintain my grades and focus. I was in a small town, and every ounce of opportunity seemed to slowly be sucked away from the town as the years past with the aid of the downward economic spiral beginning. I felt, like many of my fellow classmates, that opportunity had passed us by. I didn’t dare conjure even the thought of attending Eastern; it would’ve been too similar to the

I, Ella Dutton, have officially been a “lifer” at St. Anne’s. From Pre-K to eighth grade, I have continued to be a contributing member of the community. Throughout the years, I have been a tour guide, led an activity period, been a member of Tech Crew, and participated in as many sports as possible, been in three drama productions. I’ve also made many amazing friendships with people who I never thought I would be friends with. At St. Anne’s, I have learned everything from diagramming sentences to how to strive to be the best person I can be. It has definitely been a long, but wild ride at St. Anne’s.

Four years of my life drained away at this place called Troy High School. After this year I will be walking away from Troy, worn and torn from the hours of anticipation for grades to be posted, the next weekend to arrive, the answer to whether that special someone will say yes to the next dance, or the unbearable wait for that painstaking bell to ring. Troy is a place of education, a very good one at that, with its Blue Ribbon Award and national recognition, you’d think I would be walking away with knowledge that will serve me well for decades to come, but no. I could have learned the same things I learned at Troy anywhere, it is the insight I picked up that will take me far. “What insight?” you ask. Its priceless wisdom really, it’s a

Before I attended Hudson’s Bay High School I was part homeschooled, this meant I only went to school 3 times a week. However, I’m thankful I switched to being a full-time student at Bay because it introduced me to “the real world”. The public-school life was a unique experience for me since it introduced new friends and opportunities that were not available at my old homeschool. I was able to join four different sports, attend Cascadia Technical Academy, engage in student leadership programs like NHS and SALT, and finish my high school credits with Running Start. Participation in these activities has better prepared me for my future of shaping me to become an engaged and experienced adult, and with the aid of this scholarship I can complete

I am eager for what my future has in store for me. I am apprehensive about the obstacles i will have to overcome on my way to success. I have a great deal of support from my friends and family when it comes to what I am driven to do after graduating from Buckingham Charter Magnet High School. Throughout all the years of my school career, I have always been indecisive about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Buckingham Charter Magnet High School has helped me finally decide that I wanted to go to Solano Community College to attend their Cosmetology Program.

When I was a little girl, I dreamed of being an adult. I remember watching the movie “Thirteen Going on Thirty” and relating to the thirteen-year-old, Jenna Rink. She wished to be thirty because she thought those would be the best years of her life and in the end, she realized that the choices you make when you are young determine and shape the person that you become as an adult. As a child, I learned foundational spiritual and moral lessons. Those lessons have guided me through tough times from a little girl who dreamed of being an adult to the young adult woman I’m learning to be today. I am excited to go to Lipscomb and develop more independence through the experience of living on campus. I am hopeful that my experience at Lipscomb will enable me to grow into the woman I want to be. There have been a lot of female role models in my life. My mom, my teachers, and my mentors whom I have spent a lot of time with and observed. They all have similar characteristics: strong, brave, independent, and supportive. Eleanor Roosevelt and Princess Diana are women that have inspired me with their generosity and wisdom. I’ve absorbed my

Jamie Waldo, one of South Windsor’s best and brightest, is making the most of her high school career. There are so many wonderful adjectives that come to mind when one thinks of Jamie: focused, responsible, hardworking, and caring are just a few. Frequently she is seen throughout the school actively involved. Jamie is not one to boast or brag about her accomplishments, but quietly relishes the success from her tireless effort. She is a friendly individual who is motivated and excited about what the future may hold. It is readily apparent that Jamie knows that we are all given but one life and she is determined to make the most of it.

The other day I got to sit down with my cousin Ashley Cuccinello and interview her about her college experiences. She grew up in Cicero, Illinois and moved out here during her middle school years. She graduated from Troy Middle School and Joliet West High school. ‘Cicero wasn’t the safest place to grow up, but my family made the best of the situation and always kept me safe” Ashley says as she looks back on her childhood. She is currently 25 years old and attends College of Dupage. Throughout her high school years, she was highly involved in many sports and clubs. She also spent her four years exploring her career options. When she graduated from high school, she started her career at Joliet Junior College for two years and then graduated and

Embedded in my psyche as a child was the fact that college was my only option after high school. This parental sentiment was synonymous with a phrase as simple as “tie your shoes.” For me, high school graduation would be a standard occurrence, but my college graduation would be celebrated. The college I would attend required thoughtful consideration because it will be my rite of passage. When I dreamt of my intended college, I knew it would be set in a beautiful city, bustling with energy, and full of consciously creative people. I didn’t know if my university campus would be urban or suburban, but I knew it would spark excitement, fulfill my need to connect with a global community, and offer several opportunities to propel me to the top of

When I venture into my monomyth journey, my call to adventure will start at Cal Poly Pomona. I have been prepared for all that college will throw at me, because I have learned from the amazing and caring teachers of Montclair High School. Through their impact in my life, I will be attending college as a student ready to learn and procure a higher education. The future that lies ahead of my journey is one of independence and learning. While I may not always achieve success each time, I will continue to reflect on all the lessons I learned while at Montclair High to further better myself as an intellectual college student. I am preparing to embark on a journey that-similar to life-is filled with the unknown. I will venture the unknown world of

There were at least one-hundred students standing in front of me. We were waiting for the same thing, to be able to walk across that stage and call ourselves high school graduates. For four years, I had walked down the same dimly lit hallway with the thought of this moment in my head and now the day had finally arrived. It was June 4th and here I was standing in the gymnasium corridors of Los Angeles Community College ready to become my own person, not just some frumpy high schooler.

The future is a frightening place, and for eighteen years of your life you are encouraged to envision the most successful version of yourself, molded into the most predictive form of the future you, and given the utensils you will need to make that aspiration tangible. For eighteen years of my life I’ve been driven by my aspiration and determination to do better— to learn better, to overcome my environment, to give back to the community that raised me. I’ve strived to make a difference because, in order to be successful, your educational choices will not be the only deciding factor, rather your life choices will, too. Cheyney University has accepted my decision to be a source of change as a product of their institution, and the Keystone Honors

A little over three years ago when I found myself entering high school, the spectrum of unique personalities that I encountered completely blew me away. From the laid-back individuals taking each day as it comes, to the close-knit cliques with their life stories posted on Facebook, and even the dedicated scholars, most had an idealistic vision of life after high school. Surrounded by future CEOs, astronauts, and racecar drivers, the class of 2017 seemed destined to go great places.

I began to address issues within our society by being an active participant in MC’s student life. Being President of the SGA, Vice-Chairperson of the Student Council, and a member of community service efforts

At Lenoir-Rhyne I have had a plethora of opportunities provided to me in a welcoming environment. From the beginning I was welcomed by all of my professors and fellow classmates, many of whom have helped to create a very positive environment in which I can feel safe in while also seeking real-world enrichment and education. Along with this, I have also had several opportunities presented to me, an important one being asked to assist with running lights for the performance of Othello for the fall semester of 2016. This gave me the chance to be on the theater scene once more, and encouraged me to audition for “Wonder of the World”, for which I will also be running the lights. Doing so has provided me with another small community with which I can be a part of, as well as another field that I would enjoy studying throughout my education at Lenoir-Rhyne. I intend