Alumni Scholarship 52

Hello,
My name is Phillipa Carter, and I am writing to explain why I believe I deserve this scholarship. Before I delve into that, however, I would like to share a bit about my upbringing and how much I have changed as a person through my involvement in this program.

First and foremost, I have lived my entire life in Kansas City. For the first several years, my mother was a single parent, raising my little sister and me while doing her best to keep us happy and provide for us. This continued until she met my current father (stepfather), who moved in with us and became our primary provider. He also brought two other siblings into the picture—one boy and one girl—making our family six strong. Despite the usual struggles that come with a blended family, I consider us a perfect family.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 hit, and I had to transition to virtual learning for my 8th and 9th grades. This caused my GPA to plummet, damaged my social skills, and took a significant toll on my mental health. I entered my sophomore year not in the best mental state, but I am grateful for the people I met who helped me through that tough time.

Junior year was when I truly began to find my rhythm. I started valuing perspective and the importance of gaining knowledge, rather than simply trying to pass my classes. I also went on field trips that taught me about business and real-world experiences not covered in the classroom.

I began to adopt the golden rule: treat others the way I would want to be treated. I practiced pacifism and turning the other cheek, even though I played football, which I eventually stopped due to internal conflicts I had with using force on another person. Some might call this foolish, but I believe it was a crucial part of my growth. This year also marked the time I met my adviser, who introduced me to AP student government. Later, I was personally recruited into the 2020 Leadership program.

Now, as a senior, this year has been both exciting and intimidating. It’s my final year without the full weight of responsibilities and challenges that adulthood will bring. However, it’s also the year when I have the opportunity to grow even more as a person and as an intellectual. Through Leadership, I have learned empathy, compassion, leadership skills, patience, and time management. It has helped me find myself while being surrounded by people who support me and share common goals. These are the people I now consider my family.

Through this program, I’ve learned to be a beacon of light to others and a leader—not just on my own, but with others, showing younger generations that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. I hope to continue being the kind of person who uplifts others, and I plan to use everything I’ve learned to its fullest potential in my future. The virtues I’ve gained through this program have made me a better scholar and a better person overall, allowing me to reach heights that once seemed unattainable, while lifting others as I rise.

I hope that I’ve appealed to you, and that you’ve heard and understood the truths I live by and stand for. I truly appreciate you taking the time to read this essay. I am grateful for the opportunity to write this down and show how appreciative I am to have participated in this program. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Phillipa Carter