Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Graduation speech by Rozaura Cendejas


Good afternoon, my name is Rozaura Cendejas and I am really happy being here.  It is an honor to stand in front of you and share  my experience as a student and what my journey was to get here.  

Five years ago, I came to the US with nothing but a bunch of dreams which seemed to be unreachable and overshadowed by one little detail, the difference of language.  So I realized that the only thing that was going to give me the wings to fly and reach my dreams was education. On my way, I found many obstacles and negative comments like “Don’t waste your time going to school”, “Find a job and get money”, “Education wasn’t made for an immigrant” and the most painful comment was “You don’t love your children, since you’re leaving them just for school.”  Those comments hurt, yes, but they never took away my desire to succeed.  Success is based on education and requires a lot of effort.  Is not easy, nor is it impossible.

I want to thank this wonderful school that gives us the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed.  Of course that wouldn't be possible without our incredible teachers.  Thank you so much! I really admire your patience and how great you all are.  I thank you because you never left me alone.  I knew you were going to be there at any time and always willing to help me.  I also want to thank the TAPP program for taking care of my kids while I was studying.  I am here thanks to their support.

Dear fellows, my advice for you is that you have to take education as a gift, not as a punishment.  That’s what education is, a gift which we can open and take whatever we want out of it.  It gives us the opportunity to choose our future.  I understand that sometimes we feel discouraged, but think about what you really want and what’s the best for you.  Seek help, talk to your teachers and give yourselves the opportunity to learn and improve your lives.  Based on my own experience, nobody forced me to come to school, nobody told me “Wake up,  go to school, do your homework.”  Studying was the gift that I chose.  Which gift are you going to choose?  I know that you all are going to succeed because you are already here and after one, two years or more, you are not going to be sitting down there, but standing here, ready to say “mission accomplished.” Although this is just the first step towards our dream, college is waiting for us with its arms open.  “Don’t just follow your dreams, chase them and if you ever fall down, stand up and be proud of what you have learned from that fall.”

Thank you.

Scholarship Essay by Anonymous


Falling is very painful but just as hurricanes, the return is always stronger.  Is not the strongest who first reaches the goal without obstacles but one that solves the overhead obstacles and find solutions to achieve it’s goal.

My life as been full of hardships since I was in my home country.  I believe that my nightmare started the day that I lose my father.  I was just 7 years old but I clearly remember that day when he died.  My father was the support for my family but also he was our protection.  I felt that apart from losing my dad, we also lost the nuclear family that we used to be, and very importantly  we lost respect for some people to my family.  My mother was the one who most suffered from that situation.  I felt really bad too but also I felt that I had to be strong so my mom could feel more confident.

I was succeeding in school. I was the best student in the municipality.  I received many diplomas when I was in school.  I have a very special one.  The president of my country, Vicente Fox, sent me a diploma in recognition of my efforts and for being a good student.  I was full of joy and proud of myself.  My family was proud too because they thought I really merited it.  In the midst my joy, I was facing problems because the people in my community think that women should be at home instead of studying.  I didn't care about those persons because all I wanted was to be a successful woman.

When I was 16 years old, a tragedy changed my life completely.  A man forced me to go with him.  He threatened me with a gun and told me to get in his car, he took me to his house and he raped me.  His family had power in the community so I was afraid to leave his house.  I stayed with his family for about 6 months.  His family treated me as their slave.  I did everything for them.  One day I decided to leave the house but my life had taken a terrible turn.  My mom and I were worried about my safety and the only solution I found was to immigrate.

When I got here, I signed up for school again, but also I had to work.  That was arduous but I completed eleventh grade.  Then I quit school because I was pregnant.  When my baby was one and a half I got pregnant with my second baby.  I became really depressed because I thought my dreams were over.  I found Wellstone and it opened the door for me.  It’s been challenging to divide my time and energy between work, school and my children but I am tenacious and this year I will finally graduate.

Once I finish high school, I will go to Minnesota Community and Technical College for two years.  Then I will go to the University of Minnesota to earn a 4 year degree in Psychology.  My favorite subjects are Social Studies and Health.


My dream is to became a Psychologist.  I would like to work with women and children.  The experiences of my life have nurtured a feeling in my heart for helping people.  I think that if I can get ahead and succeed, then everyone can.  I want to support people because I know very well how it feels to live in the midst of solitude without having someone by your side, anyone who will listen or a shoulder to cry on.


My life now is very heavy and stressful.  Its like a labyrinth but I know the way out and the way up is through education. With study and hard work, I will find my way to a new life that will be better for me and my children. With your help I can find a way out of the labyrinth.


Autobiographical Scholarship essay by Egigayehu Ashagre

           I am Egigayehu.  I was born in Wanji, Ethiopia. I grew up in a small town. When I was growing up my mom left me with my grandmother and went to live in another country.  It was a difficult time to learn because nobody helped me.  I started school when I was 10 years old.  I started school late because my grandmother had no education. How could she support me? When I was nine years old, my mom, my brother, and sister went to Nairobe, Kenya to go to the United States of America because my older sister got engaged and was already in America. 
           
            When my mom went to Kenya, I was carefree because I thought she would come back after a month, but she never came back. When I thought of her, I cried a lot, got a headache, and slept.  When I saw other children with their mother’s I felt deep sadness and cried because my mom was not with me. I felt lonely.  I liked to sit in a quiet place by myself and think about the day I would see my mom again.  When I was a little girl, I lost my mom and dad’s love.  My dad lived without me because he married another woman. My mom left me to make a better life. When I went to school, I was not learning, I was thinking of my mom. After a long time, my mom called my grandmother and me.  When I heard her voice on the phone I could not control my tears, I could not say anything, and I was happy to hear her voice.  My mom told me that she would come back someday. I had a dream to see my mom and to live with her.  I also loved my grandmother  because she took care of me and she gave me what I wanted. She represented my mom.  

            After ten years, my mom came to see me and my grandmother. Then she started the process to take me to America, and after one year, I got my visa to come here. I felt two things; happiness and sadness.  I was happy because my dream to live with my mom came true.  I felt sadness because I had to leave my grandmother. When I said goodbye, my grandmother was crying and she told me, “Concentrate on your education and come to see me before I am dead. Don’t stay a long time because I am too old of a woman.” I said, “Don’t say that. You will live a long time and I promise you I will focus on my education.” After that I hugged her and said goodbye. I believe that knowledge is necessary to achieve your goals.  I came here in May 2010.  I have been here one year and six months. Now I am running to catch my dream and fulfill my promise to my grandmother.  
    
            My first post-secondary goal will be to go to college and get a degree so that I can achieve my dreams. After I get my high school diploma I will go to St. Cloud State University.  First, I will earn a 2 year degree, then I will take a break to work in order to make money to complete my 4 year degree.
        
             My personal aspiration is to go to college to become a radiologist. After I get my degree, I hope, to work in a hospital.  I am interested in this job because I really want to help those who do not have anything, like the homeless, orphans, and senior citizens. Being healthy is very important.  When people need medical help I want to be able to help them.  Helping people brings me happiness. No matter where I am going, I will always remember where I have been.  When I get my job, I will help others and immigrants.
    
           I serve my community and school as a student council member and a member and teacher in the women’s bike club.  I learned how to ride a bike after I became involved with the team. Now, I teach others how to ride a bicycle. I gained work experience in Ethiopia.  Every weekend I worked to help my cousin at her restaurant.  I washed dishes and worked as a hostess, greeting customers coming in.
     
             My mother and I live together. My mom does not have a job because she is old and she has a disability.  The government helps her live. That is why I ask you to help me.  My mom can not afford to pay for my college.  When I go to college, I will live on campus, because I want to focus only on my education.  Living on campus will be more expensive, but it will be beneficial because I will be able to focus.  If I get this scholarship, I will be able to accomplish my goals, achieve my dreams, and help people in my community.