2009 Schol ar s
Ver nei shaCooper Sui t l andHi ghSchool “ Ast heyoungestofni ne,Ihaven’ thadany
f oot st epst of ol l owwheni tcomest ocol l ege. Yet ,t hi si snotsomet hi ngIper cei veasa di s advant age;i nst eadi ti sanoppor t uni t yt o makemydr i veanddet er mi nat i onst r onger . Somepeopl eseeobst acl esasst umbl i ng bl ockst hatar ei nt endedt osl owyoudown orst opyou,butIseei tasachancet o bet t eryour sel f .I thasal waysbeenmy advi cet ogetovert hebadt oseet hegood t hat ’ spr obabl ybei ngover l ooked.Ibel i eve i ti st hi ski ndofawar enesst hathasgi ven
met hest r engt h,powerandconf i dencet hat wi l lcont i nuet opushmet odomybest . ”
Kat her i neCol eman Nor t hwes t er nHi ghSchool “ Knowi ngwher eIcamef r om andwher eI donotwantt ogohasser vedasmysour ce ofmot i vat i on,al ongwi t hmyf ai t handhope
f orabet t ert omor r ow.Idon’ tbel i evet her e’ s anyobst acl et hatIcannotover comef orI am anext r emel yconsci ent i ousper sonwho neverconf or mst omedi ocr i t y .Oneofmy gr eat estst r engt hsi st heabi l i t yt omai nt ai n myf ocuswheneverI ’ m pr esent edwi t han i ssue,whet heri t ’ sper sonal l yor ac ademi cal l y .Iknowt het r ansi t i onf r om hi ghschoolt ocol l egei sr ar el yeasy ,buti t wi l lbemymeanst oanend.Wi t hhopesof onedayhel pi ngmanypeopl eandmaki ng mypar ent spr oud,I ’ ml ooki ngf or war dt o myj our neyher eatMar yl and. ”
JamesBowman Fai r montHei ght sHi ghSc hool “ I nl i f e,Ihaveal wayst r i edt osetan ex ampl ef orot her s,st r esst hei mpor t ance ofget t i ngagoodeducat i onandencour age peopl et odot hei rbest .Iknowl i f epr esent s al l ki ndsofhar dshi p,buti ti st hever yt hi ng t hathel psr ef i neone’ schar act er .Att i mes t hesechal l engesmaybeunf ai r ,buti ti sal l i nhowwevi ewi t .Comi ngt ot heUni ver si t y ofMar yl andwi l lbechal l engi ng,buti twi l l al s obeawonder f uloppor t uni t yf orme. Thus,i tmydesi r et opr ovet omysel ft hatI canbesuccessf ulandbecomet hef i r sti n myf ami l yt ogr aduat ef r om col l ege. ”
JoseAr eval o Hi ghPoi ntHi ghSchool “ Is t r ongl ybel i evet hateducat i oni sakeyt o ov er comi ngmanyoft heobst acl espeopl e
f ac et oday .However ,onemustal waysst ay
mot i vat edandkeepaposi t i veout l ookonl i f e
i nor dert oachi eveone’ sgoal .I nt hef ut ur e, Ipl ant ohel pt hosewhoar el essf or t unat e t hanmysel fandser veasar ol emodelf or mycommuni t y .I ti sanawesomef eel i ngt o knowot herpeopl ear el ooki ngupt oyou becauseofsomet hi ngposi t i veyouar e doi ng.AsImovef or war d,Ibel i evemy det er mi nat i onandopt i mi st i cat t i t udewi l l cont i nuet ohel pmeaccompl i shmy dr eams. ”
VaRsyaWi l l i ams Ox onHi l l Hi ghSchool “ Thr oughoutmyl i f e,Ihaveexper i enced manyset backsandhar dshi pst hatwoul d maket heaver ageper sonwantt ogi veup onsucceedi ngi nl i f e.I nst eadofdoi ngso, Ic hoset oper sever eandcont i nuet ost r i ve
t obet hebestIcoul di never yaspectofl i f e. Cont r ar yt ot hesayi ng“ l i veyourl i f el i ke t her e’ snot omor r ow” ,Ibel i evet hatyou shoul dl i vel i f eandal waysmakepl ansf or
yourf ut ur e.Iknowmyj our neyaheadofme wi l lnotbeeasy ,butIbel i evemy det er mi nat i onandsel fmot i vat i onwi l lhel p mej umpanyhur dl ecol l egeorl i f eseti n f r ontofme. ”
Ti ar aWhi t f i el d Mer gent hal erVocat i onal T echni calHi ghSchool “ Unl i kemanypeopl e,Ibel i eveknowl edge
i st hekeyt oever yt hi ngmor esot hanweal t h. I ’ ver eal i zedt hatmyeducat i oni st he f oundat i onofmydr eamsandf ut ur e. Wi t houtsuch,Iwi l lnoteasi l yr eachmy goal sofbecomi ngsuccessf ulandl i vi nga f i nanci al l ysecur e,heal t hyandhappyl i f e. I ’ vel ear nedt hatpeopl emusti nvesti nt o t hei ronl i vesandbel i evei nt hemsel vest o makei tl i f e.I ,f orone,am gl adt hatIhave l ear nedhowt odot hi s.Wi t hsuch knowl edgeandski l l s,Ihavechangedt he wayIoncet houghtandnowl ookatt he wor l di nabr andnewl i ght . ”
Gl or i aWhi t e Cent r alHi ghSchool “ I nl ooki ngbackovermyl i f e,Icant r ul ysay Ihavet hest r engt handpowert omakei t t hr oughanyt hi ng.AsImovef or war d,I havecommi t t edmysel ft obecomi ngt he f i r stper soni nmyf ami l yt osuccessf ul l y gr aduat ef r om col l egeandpl ant ot ake advant ageofever yoppor t uni t yt hatIam gi v ent hr ought heI ncent i veAwar ds
Pr ogr am.Iam det er mi nedt obesuccessf ul andwi l ldowhat everi tt akest ouset hi s awar df ort hei nt endedpur pose.Gi venmy f ami l y’ sci r cumst ances,Ihaveaf ul l under st andi ngandappr eci at i onf ort he oppor t uni t yt hathasbeengr ant edt ome. ”
Shemi aSt ewar t Bal t i mor ePol yt echni cI nst i t ut e “ WhenIt hi nkaboutcol l ege,It hi nkabout f r eedom andoppor t uni t y .Gi venmy
out goi ngper sonal i t y ,Ibel i evei twi l lbeeasy f ormet omakenewf r i endsandexpl or e newt hi ngs.Ibel i evesomanypeopl eal l ow oppor t uni t i est opasst hem bybecauset hey nevergetoutt her et of i ndi t .Thi s mot i vat i onIhavecomesf r om mymot her . Herl i f eexper i encesandenf or cementof educat i onhasencour agedmet odot he bestt hatIcanandbeyond.Ther ef or e,I ’ ve vowedt omysel ft hatIwoul dn’ tset t l ef or anyt hi ngl esst hangr eat . ”
Tami ckaSmi t hson PaulL.DunbarHi ghSchool “ I ’ dl i ket oconsi dermysel fasaver y har dwor ki ngi ndi vi dualwhoal waysput s “ mybestf ootf or war d” .Whensomeone t el l smeIcan’ tdosomet hi ng,i tpushesme ev enhar der .Al t houghIhavenotgr own upi nt hebestnei ghbor hoods,i thasser ved asmyf uelanddr i vet ot akef ul ladvant age ofmyeducat i on.Ibel i evet hati t ’ sver y i mpor t antf orpeopl et ol ear nt hevi r t ueof i ndependence,butt oal sor emembert he i mpor t anceofwor ki ngt oget herandhel pi ng ot her s.Whi l eImaycont r i but emysuccess t husf art omyowndet er mi nat i on,Iknow Ic oul dnothavemadewi t houtal i t t l ehel p al ongt heway . ”
JuanPer al t a Di gi t alHar borHi ghSchool “ Whent al ki ngaboutyourl i f e,somepeopl e sel dom r ememberf acesorpl acesf i r st ; i ns t eadt heyr ememberexper i encest hat hel pt hem r emembert her est .Qui t eof t en, i ti ssai dt hatexper i encesmakeyouwho youar et oday .Whi l et hi smaybet r ue,I bel i evehowyouhandl ei ti swhatr eal l y makesyou.Iam ver yt hankf ul l yf ormy f ami l yandf or mert eacher swhohave hel pedmest ayont r ackbygi vi ngme advi ceandhel pwhenIneededi t .I n r et ur n,t hi shashel pedmebecomea bet t erper sonandst udent .Iwi l lnotf or get t hi sexper i ence.Li kewi se,Iwi l lnott ake t hi snewoppor t uni t yatMar yl and f orgr ant ed. �
Raf aelLovoPanameno Par k dal eHi ghSchool “ Fr om t hemomentmyyoungersi bl i ngwas bor n,mypar ent st aughtmet hatIhadt obe ar ol emodel .Comi ngt ocol l egei smyway ofconst r uct i ngapat hf ort heupcomi ng gener at i onsofmyf ami l y .OnedayIpl ant o st ar taf ami l yofmyownandhopet hatmy ac t i onswi l lr esett hecycl e.However ,t hi s t i met her oadwi l lal r eadybet her eandI woul dhavef ul f i l l edmygoalofl eavi nga l egacyofabet t ereconomi cl i f et omy chi l dr en.IknowIhavehi ghaspi r at i ons, butI ’ dl i ket ot hi nkt hat ’ sbecauseIhave anadvent ur ousspi r i t .Li kewi se,I ’ ma st r ongbel i evert hatasl ongasyou per sever e,youcanachi eveanyt hi ng! ”
Mar etDavi s Nor t hwes t er nHi ghSchool “ I tmeanssomucht omet obeapar toft he I nc ent i veAwar dsPr ogr am.Myf ami l yand f r i endshavewat chedmegr owandmat ur e i nt oayoungwoman.Icomef r om a backgr oundofmanyadver si t i es,yetI ’ ve neverl ett hem br i ngmedown.Iam now st r ongert haneverandr eadyt oshowmy peer st het r uemeani ngofhar dwor k.One t hi ngconst anti nmyl i f ei schangeandIam r eadyf orwhat everchal l engesawai tme. I nt hewor dsofDanQuayl e,‘ Thequest i on
i nl i f ei snotwhet heryougetknockeddown. Youwi l l .Thequest i oni si fyou’ r er eadyt o getbackupandf i ghtf orwhatyoubel i eve i n. ’ ”
Kor iHi l l Bal t i mor eCi t yCol l egeHi ghSc hool “ Theoppor t uni t yt oat t endt heUni ver si t yof Mar yl and,Col l egePar ki snotonl yan ac hi evementf orme,buti sanachi evement andr ef l ect i onofmyf ami l y’ scont r i but i on t hr oughoutmyent i r eschoolcar eer .Iam ver ygr at ef ult omygr andmot herf or suppor t i ngmyf ami l yandmeovert hese pastyear s.WhenIl ookbackonal loft he t r i al sandt r i bul at i onsI ’ veexper i enced,I mustsayt heset hi ngst r ul yshapedwhat
Iwanti nl i f e.Iknowcol l egewi l lbedi f f i cul t , butwi t hper sever anceandhar dwor k,Ican succeed.Mor ei mpor t ant l y ,Iunder st and t hatt hi sj our neyr eal l yi sn’ taboutme,i t ’ s abouthel pi ngmyf ami l y ,l ocalcommuni t y andt hewor l datl ar ge. ”
Dul ceHer nandez Hi ghPoi ntHi ghSchool “ Comi ngt ocol l egei sl i keanewwor l df or meandmyf ami l y .Iknowsomepeopl e
woul dbeappr ehensi veaboutbei ngont hei r own,butIam l ooki ngf or war dt omeet i ng newpeopl eandment or st hatwi l lhel pme al ongt heway .Sof ar ,mydet er mi nat i on hashel pedmeexceli nl i f e.Nomat t erhow r ought het askmaybe,I ’ veal waysbeen det er mi nedt oaccompl i sht het askathand. Looki ngt owar dst hef ut ur ei swhathas hel pedmesetgoal sf ormysel fand
mai nt ai nmyf ocus.AsIt aket hi snextst ep, Iam eager l ywai t i ngt ogi vebackt omy communi t ybecauset heyhavet r ul yhel ped met ogett ot hi spoi ntofl i f e. ”
Ashl eyHal l Bal t i mor eSchoolf ort heAr t s “ I ’ vebeenver ybl essedt ohaveexcel l edi n schoolf ormostofmyyear s.Mybackgr oundandl i f eexper i enceshaveequi pped mewi t haf i er cedet er mi nat i ont osucceed.
Mybur ni ngdesi r et omakesomet hi ngoutof myl i f ei ssuppor t edbymyl oveofl ear ni ng andt hi r stf orknowl edge.Ir ef uset obea vi ct i m ofmyenvi r onmentandbecome anot herst at i st i ci ni nnerci t yBal t i mor e. Ibel i evet hatmyper sonalf or t i t udeand st r ongwor ket hi cwi l lenabl emet o posi t i vel ycont r i but et osoci et yandbe successf uli nt hef ut ur e. ”
SadeDi ggs West er nHi ghSchool “ Iam ver ygr at ef ulf ort hi soppor t uni t yf or I ’ vewor kedver yhar dt ogether eandIwi l l wor khar dt ost ay .Overt heyear s,Ihavea gai nedagr eatappr eci at i onf orl i f e.I ’ ve t r i ednott ot akeanyt hi ngf orgr ant ed becausei nonedayyourwhol el i f ecan change.Iam ver ypr oudoft heper son t hatIhavebecome.Notonl yam Ia
soci abl eper sonandeasyt ogetal ongwi t h, Il ovehel pi ngpeopl e.Iam r eal l yl ooki ng f or war dt omyt i meher eatMar yl andasI havemadet hechoi cet ogot ocol l egeand Idon’ tpl ant owast et heoppor t uni t y . ”
Al exsi sDavi s Pot omacHi ghSc hool “ Char act eri st r ul ybui l tbyhowpeopl e ov er comechal l enges,l ear nf r om mi st akes t hatar emade,andi nt ur ni nspi r eot her st o di l i gent l ypur suet hei rgoal s.I ,f orone, under st andwhati t ’ sl i ket ol i vei na
nei ghbor hoodwher eeducat i oni sn’ tval ued, butIam gr at ef ulf orpeopl el i kemymot her whohavet aughtmeot her wi se.I thasbeen di f f i cul tf ormet oi dent i f yt headver si t yt hat hasoccur r edi nmyl i f ef orIl i vebyt he phi l osophyofdoi ngwhatyouhavet odot o succeed.Al t hough,manywoul dcat egor i ze someoft heevent si nmyl i f eashar dshi ps, Iwoul dn’ tchangeat hi ngbecausel i kea wi ndonamount ai n,t heyhaveer odedmy char act eri nt owhati ti st oday . ”