Now don't get me wrong...I realize that sometimes it's very difficult for some people to earn scholarships, just based on the sheer population and diversity of their high schools. But I think that with hard work, dedication, and having God behind you, anything is possible.
Last night was my high school's senior awards night. I won 3 awards and 4 scholarships. I was absolutely amazed, but I know how hard I have worked throughout my schooling to get to the point at which I am at today.
And I know that none of this could have been possible without God. He helped me to get through the hard times, still with enough determination to go back and fight for what I want. He gave me the words I wrote in all of the essays for my applications. He gave me the morals which is one of the characteristics that most of the scholarships are looking for. He gave me the desire to do community service so that I could help people who are far worse off than I am.
The beginning of this year was filled with local and national scholarship applications, essays, etc. So many weekends were spent putting the fixing touches on my essays, or perfecting the applications. Now I have been rewarded for my efforts.
Soome people have said it's impossible for anyone who is not a minority to be awarded a scholarship. Maybe that's true with some of the national scholarships, but I think this stigma makes many causcasians stop from ever applying and trying for scholarships. I'm not a minority. I'm half Brazilian, but that wasn't even apparent on my applications. Then again, the majority of my school is white. But still, out of the 250 students in my graduating class, I was chosen for 4 local scholarships.
Don't ever give up on you dreams. They ARE possible...especially if you have God on your side. I give all my thanks to Him for helping me to become the person I am today. So for all of you who incessantly question my belief in God and whether or not He is real: I hope that one day you will find Him as I have. ANd this blog may not make you believe in His existence, but I know that nothing could have been possible without Him. Two of the other winners of various scholarships from my grade are also two very religious people. Coincidence? I think not. I think God rewards those who rely on Him.
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I was driving with my husband the other day when something happened that made me think of you.
We came up on an old car that looked pretty beat up. The trunk had flown open and there were things all over the road. A lady was standing with a young child, about two, crying on the side of the road. I told my husband to pull over. He got the flares out of our trunk and placed them. Then he and I helped to gather the lady's things. We got some rope and helped to tie the trunk back down because the latch was broken. I let her use my cell phone to call for a mechanic, who came out a few minutes later; and my husband and I waited there with her. Since I have five young nieces and nephews, I usually have some dolls or books or something in the car, so I was able to keep the little girl busy.
I already know what you're going to say - that God somehow made me think to stop, or made my husband listen to me. I know this because that's what the lady said; that Jesus sent me to her. I told her that I appreciated her sentiment, but that I did not believe in Jesus. She could have easily started preaching to me, or saying something like he believes in me even if I don't believe in him. But she didn't. Instead, she smiled and said maybe Jesus got together with my Goddess. I found her sentiment much more inviting - it actually had heart, didn't ridicule me, or try to tell me I was wrong for not believing, or sound in any way defensive as though I had struck her down. She thinks I stopped because of Jesus - okay, but I stopped because of what I was taught by my own religion.
That's what made me think of you - because you do get very defensive (from what I've seen) whenever someone says they don't believe in your own beliefs. Perhaps that is why it seems as though you are always under attack?
As far as the scholarships - hey! We actually agree on something! :) You have to look and work hard to get them - nothing comes to you unless you put forth energy. It's like trying to lose weight - you can pray to any God until you're blue in the face, but unless you go on a diet and/or exercise, you won't see the pounds come off. I myself have been applying for scholarships since starting college - every one that I've ever found that I met the basic criteria for (ethnicity, gender, age group, GPA). I take a day every week to go through every application and essay I have ready to be sent all year round, as well as to find any new ones. I am now in my Junior year, and to date have been awarded close to 15 scholarship and grant awards from 12-13 different sources (some I've applied to more than once). Do I believe in your God, no, we've already established that. But I see no problem with you believing, if that's what makes you feel comfortable.
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/user/fanaile-drupal-org
congratulatiosn for you
Good for you, but unless you have perfect grades scholarships are hard to get. They ought to make more for people who actually have a life.
I disagree. Yes, I have good grades, but not perfect. My GPA is about 3.8. From the scholarships awarded last night, the majority were based on comunity service primarily. And also financial need. The vaedictorian and salutatorian didn't get scholarships because they both come from very well-off families. But with your theory that they only go to people with perfect grades, then I guess they should have gotten scholarships. But they didn't.
Yeah well I have a 3.4 and a lot of financial need. I applied for 13 at my school and won zero. And one girl that won a need one over me, makes twice as much but she has a 3.8. School awards are rigged to the smart suckups.
Hi SM :)
My GPA has been right around 3.98 (stupid human nutrition course, LOL) and it took a long time to even find any scholarships. I wasn't awarded my first until well into my freshman year of college - and I graduated high school 12 years ago, so I couldn't count on anything from there.
What school are you going to? Some Universities offer lots of programs. Also, have you tried the Pell Grant? And, your GPA qualifies you to apply for nomination with the National Dean's List. You'll need a recommendation from one of your professors, but if you get accepted, there's a new group of scholarships available that you can apply for. I've been nominated three times and accepted twice to that - they have really good programs! Last year, I had been invited to China to attend an anthropological study, to include an archaeological dig, but the hurricanes wiped me out and I couldn't go. It might be worth checking into for you, though.
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/user/fanaile-drupal-org
How interesting that someone thought of you when they saw someone in trouble on the side of the road. It's a pity that she hasn't decided to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior - but I know that he's doing His "work" on her, anyway. First with what she's read from you and then when the woman from the car mentioned Jesus. Who knows how many other times these "God-instances" have happened to her? She can resist all she wants - He gives us free will - but for her sake I hope she comes around. And now they'll be an added pull on her because I will be praying for her now that I read her answer to your post.
PS: Way to go with all of those awards - I agree that God has moved in your life because you place him first in yours.
Oh please.
Reading is a crucial part of this site, next time - re-read my comment. In there you will see that what reminded me of Peppermint Frost was not her beliefs, or the lady in trouble - but the fact that the lady didn't try to save or convert me, just accepted me for who I was and continued on in her own belief.
Pray away, all you want. I'm glad I've made such an impact on your life that you've decided to include a Pagan in your prayers. But don't speak as though I need to "come around" or that I'm ignorant for having studied and denounced the ideas of Hell, sin, or one God, a savior, or that any man could absolve any other man of sins (*if* there were such a thing). If the only reason you're praying is to save me, don't bother. I don't need saving, find someone to pray for that might change their minds.
I'm not that weak-willed.
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/user/fanaile-drupal-org
You don't need to be saved? Maybe you just don't realize it yet.
And not everyone is going to peach to you about finding Jesus, but you should have a more open mind towards Him.
so this means that if you win a PU scholarship you will give it to me becuase you do not need it now, right? JK :) But i do have to say that I always agreed that local scholarships were worth it. I encouraged PU users to apply for them versus national ones because they are easier to get. I too got a fair amount ofmoney from local scholarships- heck a lot of people did. Some people with worse grades and no community service won them. Why? Because local scholarships are about who you know half of the time not what you know. But good for you anyway! and good luck in the schol contest on here as well.
Yea I wish it meant that..but I still have 4 years of college to pay for...none of which are going to be easy to pay off, even with the scholarships. Though I am so incredibly thankful about the onces I have gotten thus far.
A lot of people say they're about who you know. For me, I think it's because I live in a small, rich town, where very few people even fill out applications. For one scholarship, there were 4 winners, but only 6 people total applied. My town is a bunch of stuck up kids whose parents buy them cars, cell phones, iPods, you name it. The last thing they need is a scholarship. Also, I don't know any of the people on the committees of the scholarships I received.
Peppermintfrost, Fanaile doesn't believe in your God, so why is it so hard for you to understand? She has said she doesn't need 'saving' yet you find it so unacceptable that someone should find comfort in a faith other than that of the Catholic Church.
"And not everyone is going to preach to you about finding Jesus, but you should have a more open mind towards Him"
- Isn't that a bit of a hypocritial thing for you to say?
Maybe it is you who needs saving from your own narrow mindedness.
No I don't. I'm happy that people have faith at all. Though I know that Jesus Christ is her savior, whether she knows it yet or not. Part of religious faith is evangelization. When we know that we have the truth, it would be selfish not to spread the word of God.
I think it is she who is narrow-minded. The minute the person told her that she pulled over because of Jesus, she automatically said she doesn't believe in Him. But whether she believes in Him or not, He is always with her, watching over her.
I fail to see how my comments are any less open-minded than your comments.
When she mentioned Jesus, I said I didn't believe in him. That doesn't say she's wrong or that I know the truth. She was very open-minded about it. She simply accepted it and even made a comment about our Gods working together to help her out. That is open-minded.
Additionally, you are trying to tell me my beliefs are wrong, because "you know the truth" - that is extremely closed-minded. I've not once told you your beliefs were wrong - only that I do not share your belief.
Also, you treat me like I don't follow because I'm ignorant to his teachings. This is not accurate. I've learned a lot about a lot of religions. Am I an expert? Certainly not! But I've been studying on every religion I can get a book on for close to 20 years. I've gone to church and to Bible Studies to *learn* and still decided that it was just not right for me. You, on the other hand, studied and decided it *was* right for you. That's great, I think that's admireable. But my not agreeing with the faith does not make me closed-minded. What would make me closed-minded is if I never learned anything about it and blindly said "no, you're wrong".
Additionally, might I add that you've never even attempted to learn anything about my religion before deciding to tell me that I was wrong for following it?
How exactly is that open-minded?
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/user/fanaile-drupal-org
You haven't mentioned what your religion actually is.
If you believe that Fanaile is the narrow minded one, then you really didn't read her post at all.
Hi Bec :)
Thank you for your comments, I appreciate them. I have no idea what religion you follow, but if it happens to be Christianity - you've just given them a very good name. And if it isn't, well, that explains your understanding in this matter, too :)
I really didn't expect my comment to generate this much controversy. I thought my comment was, overall, a positive one. Apparently, though, it wasn't.
LOL
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/user/fanaile-drupal-org
You're welcome :) I do happen to be a Christian. I believe in God but I don't agree with many of the ideals the Catholic Church belives in.
I love a bit of controversy!
Peppermintfrost, I've posted on some of your others blogs and while I usually disagree with you, I do enjoy reading them because you raise some very controversial issues. I apologise if I ever offend you, I think we just have very different ideas when it comes to God and the church's beliefs.
Like Shayla said...hard work pays off.
Congratulations - however, it's important to bear in mind that not all schools award scholarships so liberally. My school, for example, awards a single scholarship every year to one girl who has taken French for at least four years... and it has to be used to study abroad in Paris for a year. Needless to say, I have no chance at winning that and I probably wouldn't even use it if I could win it.
One. question. what does "GOD" have to do with scholarship money?...
absolutely nothing....
I mean it doesnt matter if you have "god" in your life and it doesnt determine if you
do or don't get scholarships.....
that is the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard
Nice blog post and nice encouragement. More people need to have the optimistic attitude that you carry.