Personal Statement: A Career As A College Student

There has never been a point in my life where I have not pushed the limits; limits that are a result of my socioeconomic environment, lack of strong parental guidance, and small number of role models. As a resilient woman, I have resolved to not only succeed academically, but to also draw from my experiences and become the kind of leader who will create meaningful and positive changes within our community. A year after graduating from high school, I looked forward to being a first generation college graduate. However, my parents were not in support of my decision because from their perspective, they were sparing me the cost of an impractical and needlessly expensive education. Despite their opposition, it was a journey I was willing to take. I soon enrolled at local community college with high aspirations, but found that without direction it would be difficult to succeed. At this early stage of my academic journey, I decided to better reflect on my goals, temporarily withdrew from school, and reentered the workforce.

After obtaining a Real Estate license and working as an agent, I realized that the only way I could discover my true passion, was to become a student again.
Ironically, it was also through this experience, that I discovered my love for working with people and a desire to understand the underlying mental processes of decision making. Upon returning to college, it was no surprise that I ardently embraced the subject of psychology. Determined to succeed, I threw myself into the college experience where I am currently a member of three honors societies and am a research assistant under two psychology professors.

Due to my experiences of growing up in a challenging environment, going to college became an opportunity to give back to a community that is very close to my heart.
Currently, I am assisting a music therapist on her work with autistic children and also volunteering in a program that enriches the lives of Native youth. Furthermore, I am co-developing a workshop for children and families inspired by the principles of John Dewey and Edward De Bono, which focuses on fostering critical thinking skills for academic success. With plans to continue and evolve the research and methods, I intend to pursue a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. This will allow me to one day refine and implement viable critical thinking methodologies to strengthen the foundations for the future of my
communities.

As a student of this University, I have striven to exemplify the spirit of leadership, academic endeavor, and service to others, which are qualities I feel a presidential scholar should possess. Obtaining the presidential scholarship will not only allow a peace of mind financially, but also bring me closer to my dream of inspiring lasting change in the communities that have helped shape the person that I am today.