Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Qualifications

Gaining a full ride scholarship to college is a dream come true for many college students. Everyone is given the opportunity to live this dream, but few will take advantage of it. My dream goes beyond the scholarship, and past my degree; it does not stop, but only continues on after I leave. My dream is to make a difference in this world by helping others help others. As a physical therapist I am going to help those who are injured surpass the strength level they had before their incident. I am becoming a physical therapist not for the title but for the reward of knowing I have changed lives for the better. I have not lived long but I know the time I have lived has prepared me for the future. My teacher once told me, “If you do not know what you value are, then you will fall for anything.” I know what I value; responsibility, teamwork, and involvement.
Average student would not be a word to describe me. Having a single mother as a full time student with eight children, has taught me tremendous responsibility skills that I use to my advantages. My mom can’t always be there; therefore I have learned to be my own advocate. I want to become a physical therapist, so I have called schools up such as UNMC, Iowa State, UNO, Creighton and asked about their; job shadowing program, volunteer program, and Under graduate inter program. If I cannot find an answer to my questions I use my resource; calling, e-mail and,google. I am a very affectionate person, but then again I have to be. While my mother is in school I provide respite care for my 25yr old brother, David. This means my schedule is scheduled around his, which has taught me to be an excellent organizer. Along with David I have three little brothers that live at home with me and are involved in various sports that I drive them to. For example, last year I had to give up two of my classes at the end of the day in order to pick David and my little brothers up from. school, take them home, and drive back to school so I could make it to my track practice on time. Some might think I have a challenging life but I would not trade it for anyone’s because it has molded me into the person I am today.
Teamwork is skill that has given me huge advantages in life. I was elected captain of my Volleyball team by my teammates because of my great teamwork ability. I can be in any situation, with any group of people and still work together as a team with them. For example, during the Summer Scholars 2010 program I was 50 feet up in the air with 15 students I had never met before. We had various challenges we had to complete but the challenges could only be accomplished by using complete teamwork. I run the 4x8m relay for my school and before we run I go around and tell everyone that they’re going to run great and ask them what their goals are. Teamwork is everything I do and will help me out in college when it comes to having study sessions with my fellow class mates and getting involved.
I believe Involvement is vital to student’s success. Just this last year I have realized all the opportunities out there for students that can make their experiences all the better. For example, just this last year I have joined; Prom Committee, Student Council, Principle Advisory, Conflict Managers, and a National Honors Society, Officer. Since I have been Involved in these programs I have made more friends and exposed myself to different fields of interest. I am also a current volunteer for Blair Special Olympics that I take my brother to. Being involved in Special Olympics has given me the opportunity to experience first hand working with those who go to Physical Therapists.
Nobody’s life is easy, but that’s the definition of life and that’s what I love about it. I love having a challenge star at you for days, and that one day I overcome it just means the world to me. I have had a few challenges in my life but nothing I could not handle. I believe that nothing in life is given to you but everything is earned. All the skills I have I believe have been earned by life struggles. I know I will make my way through college and I know if I earn your scholarship I will surpass the goals of what you ever thought your money could possibly do. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely

Sharon Ward

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Connections

Life can be a challenge for anyone who lets it. People can choose to overcome it or let the challenges overcome them. I believe that involvement in activities can directly correlate to ones success. I gave a persuasive speech in English class last year on whether or not involvement in high school was vital to getting good grades, trying to persuade that it was vital. Being involved not only helps out others but it also helps you. I discovered this through getting involved in my high school through sports, extracurricular activities, and the honor programs.

I have participated in school volleyball and track for over three years now. I was elected captain of my high school and club volleyball team. Being involved in school gives me connections that not every other student has. I know the majority of students at my school because I am involved in various sports. For example, some might consider volleyball a white girl sport and some might consider track a black persons sport, so being involved in both activities I have learned to be very adaptable when I am around a different group of people.

Sports are fun and all but it’s always good to take a step back from all the excitement and go behind the scenes to help make things happen. Prom is a perfect time to help out. I was on the prom committee last year. I was part of team that worked together for one common goal, ‘make prom great.’ Teamwork is important for almost any task you do not do alone. Mastering the task of team work is something I have achieved through events such as prom committee where we are working with limited time to achieve one goal, make prom great. Then there is Principle advisory where we brain storm on how things in the school should be fixed. Picking up Fontenelle Park was hard work but was accomplished by the system we used to bag leaves the fastest. There are many more activities that I have done to help me build effective teamwork skills.

The honor programs school offers are free chances to get experience. National Honors Society was designed to select an elite group of students that are going to make something out of their lives. Student Council is a great opportunity to have a say in what is going on around the student body and help make a difference for the better. Getting selected for these leadership committees makes me think if I am a leader in high school, when I get to college the possibilities are endless.

I was given many opportunities and had the chance to turn them all down but instead I accepted everyone and would go out and look for more ways I could get involved. Working with students my age gives me an advantage because we will be following each other throughout the rest of our lives and if anyone of us ever need a hand out in life I know one of the many friends will be there for me.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Week 1

My first day on campus consisted of actually waking up on time so I wouldn’t be late for class. Now I should have been responsible by knowing what time to get on the shuttle bus and knowing where my classes were located. I realized the value of having my friends on campus with me. I didn’t know where I was going, but I was lucky because my friends would show me the way.

Walking in to college 101 for the first time didn’t scare me one bit. I felt like I already knew what was going to be expected of me and I was prepared for it. Walking in to English 1200 for the first time was a different story. I arrived to class a half an hour early and sat and waited for the teacher, I wondered what this teacher would be like, what were her expectations, and more importantly, could I meet them? Then she came in; she was a tall woman with dreads tied up in a pony tail that can reach half way down her back. I could tell that she had confidence in herself by the way she spoke with such clear diction. Her name was Helen Fountain.

English 1200 has given me the opportunity to experience a legit college class. We had the assignment of writing a close to perfect essay about a literacy narrative in less than a week. Before this assignment was due we had to start our next essay about a gender narrative. While writing theses essays we also have reading assignments that we are expected to do every night.

I learned that everything over laps in college. College doesn’t baby anyone, but challenges everyone. No one cares about your grade except yourself. I have to prioritize my schedule just to fit in my school work. I learned that black coffee is your best friend especially when you’re staying up till 3:40am, just trying to finish an essay. I realized that working out has to be before class or it will not get done. Walking is another one of my best friends, when you don’t have a car for transportation and are trying to avoid the freshmen 15.

I think that I have become more responsible just in this last week because I was accountable for everything I did. I was held to expectations and wasn’t babied along the way but figured everything out for myself. I feel that I have a pretty good idea what college life will throw at me next year and I’ll be ready for it.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

College Life 101

For the past week I have been living in Scott Residence Hall along with 44 other students. During this time we experienced many challenges and it was up to us on whether we overcome them. Summer scholars has given me the opportunity that has prepared me for college life. I have faced reality just like every other college student out there. From meeting new people for the first, to balancing work and school, and actually getting the full college experience by working and playing hard.

Day one of Summer Scholars I probably knew around five people at most, out of the 45 students. By the end of the five days that we lived together I had made 40 new friends. I went from seeing everyone as a big group of students that happened to be in the same program as me, to knowing each one as an individual and built trust with everyone. I would have not been as close with these students if it was not for the high ropes course that we did at Camp Carol Joy Holling. These rope courses gave me the opportunity to build trust with everyone in the program. We were 50ft in the air together and given the challenge to get to the other end of various obstacles. This could not be accomplished unless complete team work was used. Through this experience I have gained trust with all of Summer Scholars 2010.

Everyday we spent on campus was packed full of fun. There was always an activity going on; form sand volleyball, to basketball in your flip flops, lounging around the dorms with each other, having a water balloon fight, dancing all night, to meeting doctors, there was never a dull moment on campus. Our days were packed full with activities and we barely had enough time to do our homework. We were now in college and realized we had to step up and be accountable for our own actions. This meant turning down a game of volleyball in order to write your 1200 word essay. Summer Scholars let me experience the temptation first hand, so that when I go to college next year temptations will not be an issue because I have already faced them and overcome them.

The college experience is important for every college student. You do not want to work too hard and not have enough time to play and you do not want to be overloaded with playing/parting that you do not have enough time to do your work. Through summer scholars I experienced working and playing hard, the perfect balance. The students selected for this program are people that are going to make something out of themselves. I was surrounded by positive influences all day. People were always asking me if I got my homework done and if I wanted to study with them. We would have reading sessions where we’d go outside and everyone would take a turn reading a page. After the work was over we would all go play a game of volleyball, RTA’s against students.

Summer Scholars has given me a once in a life time opportunity, to experience college before I get there. I felt like a legit college student when I was walking on campus and people would ask me my major. I was treated like a college student therefore I acted like one. When I go to college next fall I will be ready for any challenges that get thrown at me. Summer Scholars has upped my immune system, from the time I entered into Scott hall to the day I left I have become a stronger person and one step closer to receiving my degree.