Against All Odds by Darius

Against All Odds by Darius - December 2016 Scholarship Essay

Resilience is defined in Webster’s dictionary as an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change. This is one of the best traits that I believe I hold; being able to bounce back from a seemingly impossible situation, and still perform as if it never happened.
I love my mother dearly, and anyone who knows me can attest to that statement. Growing up, I was known as a “mama’s boy”, but I was perfectly okay with this title. My mother and I did everything together, and much of what I know today derived from her wisdom. One day during the summer of 2015, while we were driving home, we were struck with complete tragedy. We had hydroplaned across the highway and rammed into a tree. Much to my horror, my mother had died upon impact.
Following this occurrence, I knew I had much work to do in my life. Prior to the accident, my GPA was merely a 3.2. The next school year, I came back as a senior in high school, and through hard work I was able to bring my GPA up two points to a 3.4. My academic works did not stop there however. That same year I formed a leadership club amongst my fellow male peers. The club was designed to have upperclassmen who were bound for college, guide, and mentor underclassmen to become distinguished men. Along with these accomplishments, I was also granted the ability to speak before my student body on the topic of perseverance and motivation.
My most proud school achievement was being able to bounce back from tragedy, and performing better than I previously had despite my circumstances. I finished my high school career at the apex of my academic performance. I currently have a career college GPA of 4.00 after completing one full term of classes.
If I were awarded this scholarship, I would be extremely grateful because it would go towards continuing my educational endeavors. I value my education greatly, and I have every intention of using my education to better the world. I am certainly worth the investment.