Scholarship Application (Essay Sample)

Scholarship Application: Essay 1
Getting an opportunity to fill out this form compels me to confront the facts I grew up in. examining my life, I realize how I am socioeconomically disadvantaged. However, it is crucial to emphasize that I barely comprehended the scenario when I was growing up – I valued it much. Growing up, I accepted that my parents could not afford everything, but I knew for certain that they seldom said no to my requests and necessities. I grew up as a typical kid, looking at my parents whenever I was worried or unsure about something and asking for ice cream and toys. As I have grown, at 22 years old, I have learned to face monsters by overcoming the inevitable life obstacles that come with age. But I am not just fighting my monsters only; I am also fighting the obstacles that worry my parents and siblings, doubt, fear, and inequity, attempting to keep them trapped in a cycle of poverty, living in a world that sets them aside and a society that scarcely greets them with a warm hello owing to the current political, economic, and social environment.
My father has tirelessly worked over a decade to achieve financial security and the capacity to purchase a few refined indulgences. My mother had to denounce gender roles and chip into the workforce to ease the billing burden. They are among the few people who have faced multiple layoffs and have had to restart their lives. But each time, they rebuilt themselves with greater tenacity. I was born and tended in Texas, where I witnessed my parents battle to keep us in school, safe, and to keep hunger at bay. They have recovered from impoverishment, never owned a property, and had limited access to resources allowing them to save. Every time we readapt, we are confronted with a new adjustment. The situation fueled my determination to achieve the American dream and begin a new chapter. Without question, I had to become a working student. It was not easy, but my drive came from another family member.
At 13, my parents took in one of my second cousins, Marianna, from my dad’s side. She was still in high school, looking forward to college application. We became good friends, and she was like my elder sister and mentor. She later joined college, becoming the first one in my extended family to go to college. I would look up for her guidance as she became my source of motivation. Through her efforts, she has taught me that human beings, in general, are limited by self-imposed limits. With my cousin’s example, I have followed in the footsteps of never letting financial constraints or any other limitation become my barrier to achieving something of imperative importance. I came to device a slogan, “if Marianna can do it, then I can even do better.” With this, I went ahead and boldly applied for a job with Walmart. Regardless of how long I had to wait for the application to go through, I was not impatient. It finally paid off as I secured a spot with Walmart as a customer service associate.
I would not say it was all simple. I was challenged since I was in charge of serving consumers, analyzing their requirements, translating those needs into solutions, and handling customer billing inquiries. By the end of the first month, I was exhausted and contemplated quitting. However, my parents, particularly my father, repeatedly emphasized, “We don’t do that here,” fostering toughness in me. While at home,  I am responsible for providing almost identical services to my parents as I do at work. I sometimes barely get four hours of sleep since I have to get up and do my housework before rushing off to work. Managing my schoolwork, job, home, and social responsibilities has been difficult. Still, I have maintained high academic achievement and excellent work outcomes by being a great and efficient time manager and maintaining my persistence. If I truly want something, I need to go after it and get it done. Sometimes being tired is not an option.