Thank you for considering my application for the State Island Yacht’s Positive Values scholarship. Please find an image of my enrollment to Western Governor’s University and my essay below:
Essay:
When I was in second-grade, I begged my mom for a Super Nintendo. While it was something my parents could have afforded to buy for me, they didn’t; instead, they told me I would have to buy it for myself. I saved up my allowance for two years, which I supplemented by mowing neighbor’s lawns, cleaning their houses, shoveling driveways in the winter, and cleaning pools in the summer. I did any chores I could earn money for throughout the neighborhood. I look at the smile on my face holding the Super Nintendo I earned through hard work and know I wouldn’t have been excited had it been given to me. Value is not intrinsic to anything: We learn to value things only through our efforts for them. Throughout my student experience, my work ethic has been a crucial element in achieving my goals and being successful in my academic pursuits and learning the value of education. From a young age, I was instilled with the values of hard work and dedication, which have helped me to stay focused and determined to succeed.
I believe that my work ethic has paid off in my student experience so far by helping me to achieve academic success and build a strong foundation for my future career. I approach my studies with a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard, which has allowed me to excel in my classes and maintain a high GPA.
One of the positive values that I apply to my life to be the best I can be is reliability and dependability. I always keep my word, and I am committed to meeting my obligations and fulfilling my responsibilities, just as I did when I had to schedule mowing lawns for neighbors weeks in advance. This value is also an element of my work ethic because I create goals, plan steps to succeed in them, and don’t let myself fall behind in my work. I believe that being reliable and dependable is crucial in building strong relationships and earning the trust of others.
I earned these values by being an Eagle Scout in my youth. The Boy Scouts of America helped instill in me the importance of many of the scout traits. When I worked in customer service jobs to save up for my undergraduate degree, I had to be helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, cheerful, and clean. When I was saving up to meet my goals, I had to be thrifty and learn what I needed and what I only wanted. When I took on leadership roles and ran a marketing campaign for the New Mexico Department of Health to reduce teen smoking, I had to be trustworthy and loyal, and reverent. These values have stayed with me throughout my life, and I continue to apply them to my academic and personal pursuits.
In addition to reliability and dependability, I also apply the value of perseverance to my life. I believe that success is not just about talent or ability, but also about the willingness to work hard and push through challenges. When faced with difficulties, I stay motivated and determined to overcome them, which has helped me to achieve my goals and make progress in my academic pursuits.
I also believe in the value of self-discipline, which has helped me to stay focused and on track in my academic pursuits. By setting clear goals and creating a plan to achieve them, I am able to stay motivated and disciplined in my approach to my studies. I believe that self-discipline is crucial in achieving success and making progress towards my long-term goals.
Another positive value that I apply to my life is the importance of teamwork and collaboration. I believe that success is not just about individual achievement, but also about the ability to work effectively with others towards a common goal. By valuing teamwork and collaboration, I am able to build strong relationships with my classmates and instructors, and work together to achieve academic success.
Finally, I believe in the value of lifelong learning, which has helped me to stay curious and engaged in my academic pursuits. By constantly seeking out new knowledge and experiences, I am able to expand my horizons and develop new skills that will serve me well in my future career.
In conclusion, my work ethic has been a crucial element in my student experience so far, helping me to achieve academic success and build a strong foundation for my future career. I apply several positive values to my life to be the best I can be, including reliability and dependability, perseverance, self-discipline, teamwork and collaboration, and lifelong learning. These values have been instilled in me since my youth as an Eagle Scout, and I continue to apply them to my academic and personal pursuits today. By staying focused, motivated, and dedicated to my goals, I am confident that I will continue to achieve success in all aspects of my life. The Super Nintendo I earned is a symbol for all the goals I will achieve in the future. A Master’s degree in Curriculum Instruction will allow me to share these goals and instill them in a new generation for a more prosperous future for all (though they will be playing on new computer systems with much better graphics, I’m sure). Your generous scholarship will help me achieve this goal. Are you game?