What would a Scholarship mean to you?
- What would a Scholarship mean to you? (Response should be a minimum of 200-300 words.
Getting a scholarship would be really great for me, as it would significantly help in achieving my goals and dreams. The biggest challenge for a person like me and other students alike is the financial strain that comes with college and university studies. While the courses offered are superb, the tuition fees are sometimes overwhelming. Therefore, getting a scholarship would mean a lot to me, as it would assist in managing the financial strain that comes with paying college tuition. Having the tuition fees catered for through a scholarship would mean that I could dedicate my time, energy, and resources to the achievement of academic success. Thus, the scholarship would play a significant role in helping me to achieve my future dreams and goals. Additionally, getting a scholarship would also mean that I get to escape the burden of having student debt at the end of my college studies. Missing out on the scholarship would mean that I have to take up a student loan to cater for my tuition fees. Hence, the scholarship would ensure that I start my after-college life on a solid foundation that is free of the financial strain that comes with having student debt. In this regard, I would really appreciate it if I could attain a college scholarship, as it would be both a blessing and a gift.
- Please choose a KIPP character trait (grit, optimism, zest, gratitude, social intelligence, curiosity, self-control) that is important to you. Explain how this trait will help you on your path to and through college. (300-400 words)
From the seven KIPP character traits, self-control is the most important to me. Self-control is my preferred character trait as it helps me deal with my disability. I suffer from ADHD, meaning that I usually have episodes of aggression, irritability, absent-mindedness, forgetfulness, anxiety, and mood swings. This condition is a big challenge, especially when it comes to my education. Therefore, self-control is a vital character trait for me as it helps me in my path through school. Through learning and adopting aspects of self-control, I have been able to cope with and overcome some of the challenges presented by my disability. Consequently, I think self-control will also be critical in helping me excel in my college education as well. Through self-control, I have learned how to stay calm by undertaking different activities such as meditation and simple exercises. This helps in calming my anxiety in stressful situations. Self-control also helps me to deal with my anger issues, irritability, and aggression. To some extent, I can now manage my moods and manage to stay calm and in control of stressful situations. This greatly helps in the relationships I have with my family, friends, teachers, and other students. By emulating KIPP elements of self-control, I will also be able to manage my interactions with different people as I go through my college education. Self-control also helps me to manage my daily routine as it keeps me disciplined and focused. Hence, self-control will be vital in managing my absent-mindedness, forgetfulness, and problem paying attention, especially when in class. Additionally, having self-control gives me a stable foundation that will help me in emulating the other character traits as well. Therefore, I will be able to develop and overall good character that will help me in my college education and future life in my career. Overall, the character trait of self-control will aid me in managing my ADHD condition, which in turn will help me in my path through college.
- Describe the most significant challenge (any challenge is fine?) you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome them. (Response should be minimum 300-400 words)
The most significant challenge that I have faced in my life is living with a disability. While our society today is more compassionate and supportive of people living with a disability, there still exist some challenges that I face in my day-to-day life. These challenges are especially tougher in educational life. I was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age and have had to go through school as a special needs student. My disability has meant that I could not have a normal life like the other children. It was especially challenging in junior and middle school as schoolmates who did not understand my condition usually treated me as different. I also had a difficult time paying attention in class and keeping up with the other students. Additionally, I was a victim of bullying on a number of occasions by kids who viewed me as an outcast. The challenges that came with my disability were compounded by the financial strain that my family experienced. These challenges have, at times, amplified my feelings of aggression and impulsive behavior. However, I have been able to overcome these challenges through the help of people around me, such as my family, friends, teachers, and counselors. My mother, in particular, has been a great source of inspiration and help as she has been with me every step of the way. My teachers have also been accommodative and have assisted me in my studies by going the extra mile. In order to overcome the challenge of my disability, I have learned to adapt to my environment and to the people around me. Through guidance from my mother, teachers, and counselors, I have adopted self-control techniques to help me deal with my condition. This was through developing a routine that allows me to manage my day-to-day life. The routine involves planning my daily activities, getting enough sleep at night, and taking regular breaks to relax during the day. I manage my daily routine using a planner that helps in reminding me of important activities and events. I have also learned to do simple exercises such as jogging or taking a walk and meditate when possible. In school, I assigned some library time for reading to catch up with other students. The library offers a quiet and calm environment that allows me to relax and read comfortably. I have also joined a support group for people with ADHD, where we share our experiences and coping techniques. This has helped me a lot. Self-control has also helped in managing my anger and anxiety issues. Regularly hanging out with friends has also helped me to manage my aggression and hyperactivity. While my disability has presented a great challenge, accepting my condition and learning how to adapt has been vital in overcoming this challenge.