Upward Bound Research Paper

When I was in the fifth grade I had joined West Side Boys & Girls Club they had opened my eyes on how to be friendly and how to respect others around you.They had prepared me on how to include people and how to open up myself and how to get ready for college and what it has to offer me.

Students in the criminal justice department are taught that our main objective in the justice system and our careers is to serve and also protect those involved in our community. For as long as I can remember, my goal in life has been to provide service by protecting and serving those who are close to me. My penchant for service is what eventually led me to the Criminal Justice program at Valdosta State University.

"At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we can think."- Frida Kahlo.

Achieving a higher education is a dream of mine. I am not your traditional college student I am thirty-one, African American female and a mother of a six year old son. Coming from a family that has little means, the thought of attempting to go to college was farfetch, something that was merely impossible to achieve. I am the second person in my family to achieve a high school diploma and the first to attend college. Growing up in Oakland Ca in a neighborhood that others seen as impoverished I called home and treated it as such. I knew my neighborhood had the possibilities of being great. I was aware of the stereotypes that was placed upon me and I decided to fight these stereotypes, by going outside of the frame of societal norms. With in my

To better myself will help my future for not just me, but my family as well. I want to have a degree in something that I love doing. I do not want to have just a job. I want to have a career. I love bettering myself, too. If I can better myself so will my kids. Also, I want to learn more about the career that I love doing. Bettering myself will make mine and my family lives better.

I was able to grow up into adulthood as I experienced a significant event, pushing me out my comfort zone, and learning who I truly am, thus better preparing myself for the future. And this was made possible due to my time dorming at Cal Poly Pomona, as a student of the Pasadena City College Upward Bound Program. However, in truth, intentionally, I didn’t want to go. Afterall, during my childhood, I was an easy target for bullies, constantly physically and verbally abused; lasting from elementary school to middle school. And due to this, I became a much more antisocial and shy person. But regardless, I still went because of my parents and my oldest brother, Edgar Diaz, an alumni of Upward Bound, told me that it would be good for me. I thought nothing of it at the time, but in the end, they were right.

In the autumn of 2009, I learned about Upward Bound. I decided to apply to the program. It was the first time in my life that I felt that I was making a difference in myself. Due to the hard work and dedication of Ms. Amber and Ms. Shesheena, Upward Bound has given me something much more valuable than knowing how to fill out an application or conduct an interview. It has given me self-confidence. Beyond Upward Bound’s Saturday’s classes, SAT Prep, or summer courses, there were casual text messages from both supporters, venting calls, especially from me, and inspirations that were effortlessly passed down to students. It was these concealed actions of Ms. Amber and Ms. Shesheena that kept me motivated and installed a breath of confidence, which allowed me to not only hope, but act towards future endeavors. Understanding and obtaining self-confidence allowed me to step outside of my comfort as I selected where to attend college. With such a confident selection, new experiences, knowledge, stress, most importantly, success are open that were essentially closed for me and so many others.

Senior year has by far been the craziest, scariest, and most important year of my life. Many people imagine senior year to be laid back and care free; so far, it has been everything but that. Senior year consists of trial and error and is full of surprises (a great deal of surprises). It is full of late nights and taking chances. Can that homework assignment wait until tomorrow? Will I be able to afford a ‘B’ on my next test? These are questions every senior ask themselves.

Catholic school is important to me because we learn about Jesus and God. In my religion class we learn more about our Catholic faith such as the forty days of Lent, Jesus carrying the cross, when Jesus was born, and why He was born. At my Catholic school, we get to go to church often and we go to church to say the rosary, and soon we will make our First Communion. Attending a Catholic school is also important to me because we are learning about Jesus Christ and that He died for our sins so that we are forgiven. I have heard that in some schools they do not get to talk about God and they are not even able go to church. At Sacred Heart there are so many beautiful statues, many Mary statues, crosses, and other statues. These icons are reminders keeping Jesus and God on my mind. I love going to Sacred Heart because we learn about Jesus and when Jesus rose from the dead and Thomas said I will not think it is true until I feel the holes where the nails went. But I think it is true and I did not see. I really like my teachers at Sacred Heart and I really like going to Sacred Heart School.

Educatonal Goals- Write a paragraph describing your ultimate goal, the goal that gives meaning to everything you do.

    My goals for academics are normal goals for some like one of mine is get all A's all year. I'll be the first one to tell you doing this isn't easy by any means but I know if I work hard at it and do my best on every paper

An independent disposition. Afters years of confusion of my identity and aspirations, this is the term I have coined. After years of feeling as an outcast in the safety of “home, sweet home” and the walls of a public school classroom, this is the term that describes my entire academic career and lifestyle thus far and to come. This independent disposition I have created for myself is exactly why I want to attend college.

Going to college was always a dream of mine, to be able to experience a high level education for career I always wanted to go into. I never knew if I would have the opportunity because I did not have the financial means to go; however, I applied to college anyway and hope for the best outcome. The free application for federal student aid is what helped me get the tuition to go to college. Just being able to go college for me is a privilege and is something fundamental for my future goals. Therefore, going to class for me is not a chore or something I dread, going to class motivates me for my future.

Hi,my name stevi and i'm going to tell you the things i carry today. I've been through a lot throughout my life many up, but almost more downs. I've carried a lot of emotions with me with me ever since i was 15 and my dad died . the emotions that really stick out to me though are my fear,guilt , and ambition.

1. How would receiving the scholarship be transformational in your life, and why are you deserving of a scholarship?