School: Reedy High School

Grade: 11th

Age: 17

Essay: Obstacles are in everyone’s way and mine has to be my father. When I was 14 years old we already had a rough go. My dad was verbally abusive for a few years and got worse when my mom got cancer. He started to get worse and worse and then it became physical with my little sister. My older sister and I would hide because we knew what was happening and if we got in his way we would also get very hurt. One day when my mom and sister was out my dad and little sister were fighting and it got to a point where a big mirror in our hallway was knocked over and broke. I came out and saw my dad grab my sister and drag her into the kitchen and started to really hit her. I called my mom and she called the police. We calmed him down and we got him to leave the next day. Soon after we had therapy to try and work it out. We let him back into the home and he was worse. We never let him in again. My mom divorced him and ever since then he would do everything in his power to make our lives difficult. He would not give us child support money and we would not have money for food or clothes and would have to search for pennies to buy these things. It has been like this for years now and it is not getting any better. I do have to see him once a week and it is very hard on my little sister and me, but soon I will be aging out and will not have to deal with him anymore. I live with my mom and two sisters in a three bedroom apartment. I am so happy that my mom is able to keep us in this school district even though it is so expensive, it has the best programs for my little sister and I we both have a learning difference. My mom has sacrificed so much to keep us where we are. Sometimes I would love to take her to dinner like Chipotle or Pei Wei. I want to go to college and get a degree in business so I can start my own art company. I know it is a risky choice but was I live I think my mom and I will be able to sell our work to a lot of moms. We all have Samsung Galaxy J3. My little sister has just gotten into fashion design and is really good. She needs fabrics in order to create her works of art. My mom does not have her own computer and I have been saving for a computer for a Christmas, birthday, mother’s day, and next Christmas gift. I am just trying to find a cheap device to give a special gift for my mom and a gift card with a little money will go a long way. I want to give my mom the Christmas she deserves. My older sister is one of the nicest and selfless people there is. She comes home from college and goes to work at the Star all weekend. She is a very stylish girl that get really creative with her clothes and jewelry. I feel she needs new amazing clothes and or jewelry. I can never really give my family what they deserve and giving to me is the most amazing thing that I love to do. Every time Christmas or a birthday rolls around I get so excited cause I want to give my family member the best thing I can provide. I love to draw and I always give an art piece to my family and I know they love it, but I want to give them something that will help them in the long run. I would really love some help to make my dream as a great Chrismas come true.

School: student opportunity center

Grade: 12

Age: 17

Essay: Apply for a tree by
My experience with high school started off in a bad path freshman to sophomore year i had poor grades and bad behavior! Was usually in iss or oss, although this was when i was at my home campuses fsh and rhs.
Although my path changed very dramatically when reality hit me that finishing high school is a must and one of my goals! And whenever the student opportunity center accepted me on a side, the academics recovery, i started getting better grades with the help off all the nice people in the soc community
The steps i took for my pathway to success is keeping my head up, learning to face my terrible anxiety problems and adhd with coping skills that to this day i still use and create more ways to cope
And then whenever i graduate from soc im looking to get a good job in the business field and look at different college courses i could apply for to help me in the long run, unless i get lucky and find my dream job or say win the lotto which i really wanna cross my fingers on the lotto!!
What does giving mean to me? Hmm to be honest it’s to surprise someone, putting a smile on there face and just hope and caring love to others even enemies
The items i’m wishing for x mas is to have a more connected relationship with my family and money considering most our money goes to my father’s cancer treatment even tho he is on hospice right now still fighting to the max for his life, and maybe a car if possible with the income…
I stay with my lil 10yr old bro , older sis 22yr old and also my mother and father!
The way i get to school is a struggle every morning really wish that the dmv accepted my hardship but they didn’t so…
On my free time i like to either play 2k a nba game on my ps4 or just real basketball and spend time with my loved ones and friends! Or just sleep
I rarely go out to eat so i don’t really have a favorite place to eat, unless you consider my house food as the favorite place lol..
I do own a old cracked iphone 5 black version, gets the job done tho!
I really hope to win this it be meaningful for me and my family
p s at the student opportunity center, grade 12 with a handful of credits to make up but im sure that will happen by the end of this year!

School: Student Opportunity Center

Grade: 11th

Age: 16

Essay: Hello I am a student at the student opportunity center. My life so far has gone great the reason I go to this school is because I was home schooled for 4 years and it wasn’t accredited so when I tried to return back to a regular high school I couldn’t . I want to continue my journey in life and achieve big goals and to go to college for theater arts!

School: Student Opportunity Center

Grade: 12

Age: 18

Essay: High School was tough on me ever since my freshman year, I had to go through dealing with my anxiety and depression since I was bullied in my previous school years. I finally had the courage to tell my parents how bad it was near the end of the school year and I had to go into this counseling program. My sophomore was actually pretty great, until we had to move to Dallas the beginning of my junior year. Once again my depression returned and my anxiety was out of control so i dropped out of school for about a year and a half. When 2017 came around I started to think about what I was gonna do with my life since I didn’t have a High School diploma, that’s when I decided it was time to go back to school and the SOC has been nothing but great help with getting my High School diploma. After I graduate from school I wanna work at a daycare for about a year to save up money to go to college, my dream is to be able to study marine life out in the sea and be able to explore the world around us that way as well. Giving to me means being able to repay those who have done everything possible to make my life better, and that does not just include my family I wanna be able to help at least one person in need that doesn’t have a home or family to celebrate Christmas with. There’s not really any one specific item that i can think of that will make it special, i think just being able to get someone in my family something for Christmas for once will be special enough. My household is pretty filled, I live with both my parents, my older brother, my older sister and her daughter and husband. They stay with us in order to help us pay rent for our house without them we wouldn’t be able to pay our rent since I make little money at my job and can barely help with expenses. Someone usually drives me to school since i’m too scared to ride the bus, it is usually is my sister or my mom. I’m really grateful for them both especially my mom since she will get off work at 7:00 a.m from her night shift and takes me to school straight after. I usually spend most of my time at home with my dogs and playing video games, occasionally i’ll go walk around the mall with my sister and her family to just look around, and if i’m not doing either of those things i’m usually at work. We don’t usually go out to eat much but I do love going to Taco Bell and Genghis Grill, the last time we went there was on my birthday in June. Lastly I am lucky enough to have a cell phone, my parents worked really hard to be able to get me my iPhone but I do help them pay my phone bill, even if it’s a small gesture I know it helps them a lot. That’s all I have to say, I hope this essay helps you understand a little more about me and my family.

School: Heritage High School

Grade: 12th

Age: 18

Essay: My greatest obstacle would be the constant pain that I’m in. About a year ago I notice pain in my knees, so I went to the school trainer, and was diagnosed with jumper’s knee a.k.a. Tendinitis. But after a month with no signs of healing they sent me to a doctor, who agreed with their diagnoses, and saw nothing else wrong. A little over a month later after a lot of doctor visits I was diagnosed with migraines, and they dismissed all other pain. Then followed a whole lot of other problems like being gassy, not being able to sleep, mood swings, forgetfulness, lack of concentration, cold & tingling sensations in limbs, sensory overload (sensitive sense). When I searched using these I found fibromyalgia, which they dismissed. Some steps I have taken to overcome the pain is hopping prescriptions all the time, made adjustments to my life like staying in more or wearing sunglasses all the time, trying to focus on school & work, and fight the urge to stay in bed all day. My plans after high school is college two years at Collin College, then University of North Texas. Get masters in mathematics & engineering, and do internships in those fields. Giving to me is taking a second & acknowledge that others aren’t as fortunate as yourself, then doing something to make another’s life better/brighter. Things that I am most in need of would clothes, shoes, and food. I live with my mother, and 10 brothers & sisters. I get to school by bus, and my mother drive me to work. No, but as much as I watch my 5 youngest brothers & sisters it sure feels like it. For fun I like to hang out with family, and friends.Some places I like to eat at would be pizza places, red lobster, panda express, McDonald’s, Denny’s, and cheddar’s. Yes it is a Samsung galaxy 7s.

School: student opportunity center/ reedy

Grade: 12

Age: 18

Essay: i suppose my life did have many obstacles in it. I never truly realized my situation until recently. of course there’s always a kid poorer than me always a kid climbing higher trees, but i like to think that doesn’t take away from everything i had to face in life. from a young age me and my parents struggle to find a roof to keep over our heads. i reflect on the countless motels we slept in and the 4 star vending machine dinners. both my parents escaped such a struggle only finding themselves heading towards an even darker path while im strapped to my mothers back. As i become a victim of Americas failed society i began to witness the violence and drug abuse our country holds. I thank god that i am here and have an opportunity to get a great education

School: student opportunity center/Lone Star High School

Grade: 11

Age: 16

Essay: When I was in 8th grade, we lost our home after my mom lost her job. We lived in different relatives homes and friends in Wisconsin. We moved to Texas for better opportunities We are now living my aunt and have struggled financially. After high school I wold like to go to Texas A&M University and major in business because I get along well with people. For fun, I play video games, help my aunt clean house and play basketball. I like to eat at McDonald’s, Chic-fil-A, Oliver Garden. I have a Samsung Galaxy Avant phone. Giving to me is helping other people like my aunt and my mom and my friends. My aunt has helped us a lot too. I would feel blessed to have this opportunity to give back to the people I love.