To tell someone why one deserves an award above others without sounding arrogant or narcissistic is probably one of the greatest challenges to overcome and to present with humility. Nonetheless, I will rise to the challenge and present the reasons I have applied and why I believe I should receive this scholarship, while attempting to avoid all pretention.
Paying for college is daunting; almost all of the schools that I have gained admission to have price tags greater than $50,000 per year, when all the expenses are compiled. Moreover, if all goes as planned I will have four years of college and four years of medical school to finance. I have heard the horror stories of having hundreds of thousands in debt, and I want nothing more than to avoid a complete financial disaster. Thus, I realize the value of a scholarship, and the responsibility to continue performing well in school, helping the community, and being a good person. If I am awarded this scholarship I will utilize it in the best way possible. I will work for and repay every cent that was given to me by returning to this community, doing all that I can for this community with the skills I will learn in college, and becoming active in the school district that is responsible for the person I have become.
Throughout high school I have dedicated myself to being a well-rounded person who is always working to my highest potential in all facets of life, and I have had a great deal of success thanks to the support of my family, teachers, community, and friends. I will continue on this path, and this scholarship would be a generous gift that would help me accomplish my aspirations and dreams.
After high school, I plan to enter into undergraduate school at an academically rigorous institution that will encourage me to pursue my passions inside and outside of the classroom. In college, I intend to major in English and biology. This decision is a product of life experiences. My experiences in biology class have been incredible. My teachers made every topic interesting, encouraging me to investigate areas in which I had questions. From experiments on the mating behavior of fruit flies to heated discussions about the inception of life they have illustrated the limitless nature of science'" an idea that excites my intellectual curiosity. Moreover, my mother is a physician at the Cleveland Clinic; it is a place that I have grown up in and around. Last year, I applied for and received a competitive research internship at the Lerner Research Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. I completed a research project in which I investigated the etiology of male infertility from a proteomic perspective. My mentor taught me to use several advanced pieces of technology like a mass spectrometer, and different techniques like two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. It was an eye-opening experience in which I was exposed to many aspects of the medical field.
My love of English was founded upon my fascination with books, which started in early childhood thanks to my parents. However, it was the Harry Potter Series that catalyzed my love of literature. From there, I explored with writing, and fell in love with it. My passion for reading and writing has directed me toward an English major, which I will be able to call upon when I begin to write a novel for publication (my ultimate literary goal). After completing my double major on a pre-medical track I plan to attend medical school. I have always had an intrinsic desire to find an answer for those who are gravely ill and feel as if they are without options; everyone should have the opportunity to be completely healthy and happy. After graduating medical school I hope to achieve a competitive residency in a field of my interest, though I am not certain which field I will choose. I also look forward to returning to this area in order to start a family'" my goals for myself as a father and family man are just as ambitious as my academic goals.