I was devastated. I thought my research had failed me. I thought I blew my only chance of receiving a full scholarship to college, but I stayed true to myself. I recalled my mother stating to me, "Sometimes our plans fail because God has another plan for us.”
These words became my motivation to keep trying.
The moment I was waiting for
The Sallie Mae Bridging the Dream Scholarship was the next scholarship on my radar. My college advisor and nominator, Mychal Wynn, believed that this scholarship would be a perfect match. After he placed the nomination, I was extremely nervous about whether I was going to actually receive this scholarship. Then in late October, I received a surprising call from my mother during school. Her voice was filled with excitement which made it quite difficult to perceive what she was saying, but then she said, "You're a finalist for the Sallie Mae scholarship."
This news overwhelmed me. The Sallie Mae crew came to my school and house to film me, my family, and my extracurricular activities. I felt like a mini-celebrity and like I was on a reality show.
November 7, 2017, is a day I will never forget. I thought it was just another night with my Dramatic Coffee Beans improv family, but it was way more. After our performance, I was awarded a huge $25,000 check. This was the moment that I was waiting for. This day told me that I was worth way more than what test scores or my GPA could explain. I had a dream, and because of the Sallie Mae Scholarship Foundation, my dream is now reachable.
Becoming an inspiration
Ever since winning the Sallie Mae scholarship, my life has taken a 180. Many people were inspired by my story and now understood why I was always hardworking and dedicated to fulfilling my dream. They know now that I will stop at nothing to accomplish it.