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A portion of Amanda's winning essay:
Love, honor, and commitment are vows that are embedded in matrimonial ceremonies across the world. Most people relate these vows to love and relationships, but I tend to relate these vows to life. In life we all want to achieve more and become someone that proves that we are worth more. Having been brought up in a single-parent home I learned early in life the struggles and dedication a person can have for the sake of others. We must learn to love ourselves, honor our promises to achieve higher, and stay committed to our goals. I want to emulate the accomplishments my mother has made as a person and incorporate that into how I live each day. Education is a key element of existence in a society that is growing and developing at fast rates. Learning is a journey that is never-ending and extends far beyond the classroom. Learning in the classroom can greatly enrich a student’s ability to communicate with others, but the ability to gain hands-on exposure from what society has to offer is worth while. I would like to study Criminal Justice by being an actively involved participant rather than a passive bystander. I want to utilize everything I have learned and prepare me for all that I still have to learn. My long range goals reach beyond merely being a lawyer. I want to be a legal advisor for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. I take crimes against children very seriously and wish to extend the message to parents the dangers that lurk every time a child logs onto a computer. In the fall of 2006 I began working with several police officers who utilized my computer skills to capture two would-be pedophiles from an online chat room. It was then that I realized that this was what I wanted to do. This was my calling. I recently hosted an internet safety event at my school for parents and a separate workshop for kids. The turn-out was phenomenal. It was a thrill to know that I have embarked on a journey that will lead me to my dream. I have taken my first steps. I would say the key factor in choosing this career was witnessing for myself how easy it is for children to fall victim to pedophiles. Out of pure curiosity I posed as a thirteen-year-old girl from Chicago in a 20+ chat room. Almost instantly five men wrote to this young girl asking crude questions pertaining to sex. I was beyond words disgusted. When I turned over the transcripts to the authorities I was told that nothing could be done because I was a mere citizen and the evidence would not hold up in court. This has influenced me to pursue a career that will put these men away legally. Law school is still an option I am seriously considering. I just hope that I can spread the message that children need to be protected and that laws need to be tougher on pedophiles. In the fall of 2006 I began working with several police officers who utilized my computer skills to capture two would-be pedophiles from an online chat room. It was then that I realized that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I want to make a mark in this world where I wouldn’t be just another lawyer, but someone who has the power to put away someone that has violated a child’s innocence. Not only will studying law be challenging for me but it will always be an ongoing learning experience--something I really look forward to. I strive very hard for the best. My academic GPA is 3.5. I am currently serving as the Literacy Officer at Wright College’s Theta Omega chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. I wanted to join an organization that allows me to serve my community and excel as a person. Although I do well in school, I do not strive for only that, but for personal enrichment as well. I am currently attending two colleges in which I am a member of their honor society. I keep busy, but I keep telling myself that I am worth all of the craziness. As the new Literacy Officer at Wright College’s Phi Theta Kappa Theta Omega chapter I have come into quite a bit of responsibility. I will be in charge of a tutoring program for young children at Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary School in the fall in addition to my membership in Phi Theta Kappa. I have participated in numerous events prior to my membership as well. I have always been active in community service, even being named as having the most community service hours in my high school graduating class. Some of the organizations and engagements that I have and will continue to work with are: The Y-Me Race to Empower, the Better World Books Room to Read book drive, Junior Achievement; the 2007 and soon 2008 Literacy Celebration, Heavenly Hats, Chicago Cares, Toys-for-Tots, Adopt-a-kid program, Project Graduation, and Wright College’s first ever Civil War reenactment. I have designed a literacy event for the fall for a grand outdoor event in which elementary school students will engage in several activities accompanied by a petting zoo and a cook-out. I pride myself on seeing children happen while in the process learning about myself and the impact I am making on them. As the page in my life’s story turns I anxiously anticipate the opportunity to stretch my mind and explore in the university atmosphere. Challenge in life is something that I have always looked for. When I was younger, I always debated and looked for answers to problems I feel were socially unacceptable. This instilled a fiery passion in me at an early age. Difficult challenges have tested my strengths and revealed my weaknesses. I feel though that my character has been enhanced and strengthened in learning to overcome these challenges. When my grandmother died in 2004 I felt as if a part of my soul was destroyed. The woman who has raised me along with my mother was now gone and a piece of me felt lost and unsure of what the future was to bring me. This was the biggest challenge I have ever been put through. Although the anger and pain I was feeling over her loss I still learned to grow from the experience. I did not let this personal tragedy interfere with my schooling. I completed high school with honors my senior year. I still continue to achieve more despite losing a valuable part of my life. This experience has positively affected my life in that I can now better empathize with people who have gone through difficult times. I have also learned that through hard work and perseverance I can get through really hard times, whatever the circumstances. In conclusion, I would like to receive the Straightforward Minority scholarship for the aforementioned reasons. I am a dedicated student and I have worked hard to achieve everything I am today. I feel that receiving this scholarship will not only help me to achieve my goals but also grant me more time to dedicate to my studies and community interests.
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