#scholarship entry

[artdadstuff]

Transgender First entry

Navigating the dual perspectives of the gender spectrum has gifted me a profound understanding that few ever encounter. Ultimately this experience has shaped my perspective for the better, giving me the ability to empathize more with others and have a stronger sense of self. While this unique insight enriches my worldview, it also unveils daunting challenges, often overshadowing the positives especially when it comes to getting an education. Some of the challenges we as trans individuals face that could impact our accessibility to college include struggling with familial rejection, financial uncertainty, and employer bias, all of these interlinked with each other. It is these hardships that often come as roadblocks for us trans individuals and our ability to successfully transition and prosper. 

  My revelation of being transgender at 16, met with a mixed response from my traditional Hispanic parents, revealed a reality starkly different from my expectations. Despite their disdain, they chose not to disown me, a privilege not shared by many in the transgender community. Too often, those who bravely come out at a young age face ostracization, homelessness, and a lack of familial support. This instability severely impedes their path to higher education. Stripped of a stable home and financial security, pursuing a degree becomes a herculean task. Due to my situation at home where my family struggled to understand my transition, I ultimately had to move away in order to further comfortably explore my own identity. My own venture into college away from home was riddled with challenges as I struggled to juggle work and studies, barely making ends meet financially.  

Affording college poses a universal concern, yet for transgender students, it magnifies into an overwhelming barrier. Securing a steady income becomes a privilege, elusive for many in the transgender community, especially those in mid-transition. Personal encounters with job rejections due to disclosing my transgender identity on applications, sans legal name or gender marker changes, have been disheartening. Interviews often mirrored confusion or surprise, my physical transition through hormone replacement therapy often confounding expectations. As a trans man, my journey contrasts starkly with that of trans women. Their physical transition may not seamlessly align, leading to dismissal by certain employers. This makes getting job opportunities even more difficult than it would be for the average student. This systemic bias obstructs transgender individuals from securing and sustaining employment opportunities that would in turn financially support their studies.

Another hurdle faced by the trans community when it concerns the accessibility of college is the personal challenges that come along with the process of transitioning. Battling body dysphoria, depression and anxiety at times can come in the way of completing one’s studies. In my situation, during my transition, I developed a severe depression while I was enrolled in college. A large part of that depression stemmed from my inability to cope with my body dysphoria, along with my inability to financially support myself through my schooling. Eventually I finished only two years of college before I went to see a therapist in order to get started on hormone replacement therapy.  This shows yet another consequence that comes with being transgender and a student. Transitioning brings along many health challenges that include mental illness, and at times that becomes too difficult to cope with. 

The hurdles faced by us transgender students in affording and approaching college intertwine with societal biases and systemic challenges. Familial rejection, financial instability, and employment discrimination form an intricate web hindering academic pursuits. The disparities between trans men and women in societal acceptance further compound these obstacles, magnifying the complexities of our journeys.

The #TransgenderFirst College Scholarship- For Transgender Students

The first national scholarship exclusively dedicated to help the underserved Transgender student community get affordable access to college

[kayrates97-blog]

Education and the World Around Me

As a young girl, I often found myself in more trouble than I could handle. I had a nasty habit of running down the street to this house where three teenagers lived, but not telling a single soul where I would be. My poor mom would spend hours searching for me around the house, our large yard, and the nearby neighbors homes, at least until she discovered my not so secret hide out. All too often, my mom would repeat to me, “You’re too smart for your own good, Kassidy.” Being as I was younger than five back then, I didn’t understand what she was saying. Everyone told me I had too much energy and too large of a brain to fill, so I  brought it upon myself to burn that energy and fill my brain with experiences. I ran my mom to the point where she enrolled my in preschool for a few hours five days a week to give herself and my infant sister a break from my chaos. 

That is when my life turned around. I had an unbelievably nice older lady as a teacher who would sit my class down every morning and tell us a story from her bible-sized story book, then take us to the church’s kitchen to teach us how to make healthy snacks. My teacher mainly focused on reading and writing skills, with the occasional math coloring sheet, but that was all it took to spur my mind into loving learning. I started reading not just picture books in my spare time, but chapter books as well. By the time I was in the first grade, I had read every single Juny B Jones book my public library had to offer. Now, as a college freshman, I was able to surprise my english professor when I told him my favorite book was The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I spend my free hours reading articles on animal abuse, homelessness, and climate change, and this is all because of one decision from when I was a child.  

Learning became my favorite pass time over 14 years ago, and I wouldn’t change that for anything in the world. My life would be completely different had I never gone to preschool back when I was almost four. I may have not grown out of my chaotic stage until long after I began elementary school simply because I had grown too used to acting that way. I may not have gotten the grades I did simply because I was busy acting rebellious and not concentrating on my work. I may not have the ability to help my younger cousins with their school work simply because I thought slacking off was more important than learning. Without learning, I wouldn’t have the ability to aid others in the ways that I can now, and I will forever feel blessed for that opportunity. 

I aim to continue learning throughout my entire life, yes, even after college. I do not believe there is a reason to stop learning just because you earned a piece of paper that says you have learned enough for a certain job or career. I honestly believe that there is so much knowledge in this world for every person here to learn that we all should learn throughout our lives. We should learn how to not only read, but interpret any literature we see. We should learn the facts about our environment and the different places around the globe. Learning is the one thing that can help prepare the future generations for success and greatness, not just for certain jobs or an essay that is needed for a high school class. With the power of knowledge, anyone can do anything, and that is the greatest gift any soul could receive. 

(Click on this link, https://www.activia.co.uk/scholarship-us , and you can also apply for this wonderful scholarship!) 

[bloodandwatermixing]

HELP! Aspiring Educator in Need of Your Votes.

I don’t need your money. I need your clicks.

Vote for my scholarship entry. A girls gotta pay for college somehow! It takes about 1 minute to register and hit that “VOTE” button 10 times. Love you all! 

 http://createrealimpact.com/view/1254

Or if you’re busy at the moment, a reblog is almost as nice! Not quite as nice, but we can still be friends. I still love you.

(Feel free to actually read it and give me feedback if you’re into that)

[rereedingmaterials]

The pupae assembly line ‘We see no difference In your design Your mold is this You’re one of us Stop putting on airs You’ve no right to fuss You need to reform You’ve come out half-baked Go back in You’re a mistake'

-Poem by anonymous Scholarship Winner http://www.1800wheelchair.com/scholarship-2015-winter/

[janinehume]

CourseHorse Learners Scholarship, 2015

               Lead the way Having an education can seamlessly open up a world of possibilities and opportunity for an individual. As the saying goes, “Knowledge is power”- those who have chosen to seek an education are undoubtedly leaders and role models within their community. Though the journey of receiving an education may not always be the easiest; the mere purpose of obtaining an education makes it all worthwhile. An individual on this journey will not only gain further understanding of the subject, but one will be able to equally teach others about the learned subject and positively influence those around them. One of the main reasons why people strive to be educated is to gain knowledge on a subject. The idea of not knowing or even not knowing enough can be a setback. For instance, one may have to go back to school to meet the requirements for a certain job. In other words, one of the purposes of an education is to be at a mastery level of performance and understanding. A good education not only ensures these previously mentioned factors, but it also makes getting a job easier. As humans we want to belong and with an education one can find their niche; securing their own place in society.   Another notable purpose of education is being able to pass on what you have learned to others. In order to teach effectively and properly one must be knowledgeable of the subject. And to be knowledgeable one must first seek an education! Once youhave been educated it is ones responsibility to go out into the world andinform others. Be mindful that some may not have the same means as you to receive an education and you may be their only hope.  As individuals step up and teach others, they become leaders and role models within their community.   Thus allowing the educated individual to positively influence and impact their community. To put it simply, education is equivalent to a fruit bearing seeds that will create a multitude of more produce. The community is rich soil-waiting to be used. In this case, taught. The educated individual is the farmer who will plant these seeds amongst the soil; creating more produce and wealth for all. Ultimately, the purpose of education can be put into three distinct categories: the first being to gain knowledge, next is being able to teach others, and thirdly enriching ones environment. Whether it is for oneself to gain an education or to better ones surroundings both will occur while obtaining an education. Again, though the journey may be rough; these purposescontinually inspire me to pursue an education.  coursehorse

[shadowyuniverse]

New Look Laser Tattoo Removal Scholarship

               One night, a college student named John, with promise to graduate in the top of his class from Stanford University’s medical program, has one idea that could change his life forever: get a tattoo of a cannabis plant on his hand. His roommate convinces him that it is a good idea, so that he can fit in at the party they’re going to that night. “Plus, laser tattoo removal is easy, quick, and affordable,” he tells John. The next morning, John wakes up and looks down to see the marijuana plant in forest green covering the top of his hand, and remembers that he needs to go to the nearest laser tattoo removal place as soon as possible to get the troublesome, permanent mark removed from his body. However, he finds that the process will take up to ten weeks to remove, and now he has no choice but to face his school administrators, and realize that his future, which he has worked so vigorously to achieve, might just crumble right in front of him, all because of one dumb tattoo.

           We all make dumb mistakes, but not all of us make permanent mistakes, and those that do often find themselves with no way out, such as John. Similar to him and his roommate, many others will soon believe that tattoos are easily removable, and get anything they want tattooed onto their body, including, most popularly: drug affiliations, alcohol displays, and the names of lovers. These types of pictures put into one’s skin usually lead to shame, as drugs and alcohol are seen as evil and lead to terrible lives; and relationships often fall apart, even if we think they won’t.

            But who cares? They can get tattoos like these removed easy as pie. But what they don’t know is there are many problems that could potentially arise from laser tattoo removal, and the long procedure is only one of them. The removal process might cause harmful side effects, such as, but not limited to, redness, bruising, blistering, hypopigmentation, and hyperpigmentation. The thought that tattoos are no longer permanent could poison the minds of today’s youth, and lead to personal physical and psychological problems in the future. All in all, the best decision to make is to NOT GET THAT TATTOO. Do not be like John; keep your future in mind, and make sure that the choices you make will not negatively affect you forever. With that in everyone’s mind, society will not be affected by stupid mistakes and thus will lead to a better, safer future for mankind. (Source)

[woman-shaped-battering-ram]

 This post is for a generous scholarship program from http://myvisasource.com. Good luck to everyone who enters!

There has been a recent controversy over some of David Suzuki's comments. The famous environmentalist apparently has strong views on Canadian immigration. He told a French-Canadian news magazine that “Canada is full” and that immigration should be discouraged.

David Suzuki's may well be discouraging to new Canadians and has provoked a lot of ire, especially from Jason Kenney, a prominent federal cabinet minister. However, his comments are not only potentially offensive – they're not necessarily accurate.

It's a hyperbole of the highest order to say that Canada is “full”. David Suzuki's argument is that Canada's natural resources are strained, and that we cannot accommodate more people without stretching them to their breaking point. Let's think this over: what resources are necessary to a human being? Food, water and living space seem to be the bare essentials, the things that the Earth provides and that we depend on to live.

Food is the first thing that springs to mind. According to an atlas site (1), Canada has 676 000 kilometres squared of agricultural land. To put that in perspective, that's an area larger than all of France, about the size of Myanmar (2). Bear in mind that those countries have larger populations than Canada (2). We should also consider that Canada has some of the best and most modern farming practices in the world, so that agricultural land is being used efficiently and productively. This is surely enough agricultural space and production to not only feed our country, but to grow our population, and still have a surplus to allow for trade.

Water is another necessity that Canada is perfectly capable of providing – our country has an exceptional amount of fresh water. In fact, the Great Lakes are the world's largest bodies of fresh water, and Canada also has access to technology and resources to manage our water. We have the capability to purify it, and there is consistent monitoring that ensures safe water. Although avoiding waste is very important, there is no urgent concern regarding drinking water. Certainly, the modest increase in population caused by regulated immigration couldn't cause a strain on this resource.

Living space does not seem to be much of a problem for us either. Canada is simply a massive country, with a small population, giving us a population density of 3 square kilometres per person (2). This does include uninhabitable areas of the country, like the arctic, and our cities and towns are indeed growing; Canada is both urban and rural. Still, it seems like a reasonable flow of immigration couldn't possibly overburden our available living space, since there is simply so much room to grow.

So, it would seem that none of these three key resources are strained to the point where immigration is impractical. In fact, it seems like Canada has room to spare, and that the economic advantages of immigration are still possible to reap without burdening our resources. Immigration is limited and controlled to certain amounts of people per year, no doubt calculated with our available resources and current needs in mind.

Suzuki's second argument was that Canada “pillages the countries of the south” by taking in immigrants who are qualified as professionals. It is true that Canada particularly seeks immigrants who are qualified for in-demand jobs, which means that immigrants to Canada tend to be trained and educated people. It is, however, hyperbole to say that Canada “pillages” countries. Canadian immigration is limited to a certain number of people, who come from countries in various areas of the world, and not just the south. In fact, Canadian immigration in 2014 aims to accept, in total, about 73,900 people under the “Skilled Worker” category. (4) This is the category for people who wish to immigrate and who are qualified in a skilled trade or a profession. Keeping in mind that Canada accepts immigrants from all over the world, this is hardly “pillaging” any one group of countries, but simply accepting new Canadians who will be able to practice their trade or profession in Canada. It simply makes economic and practical sense to try to find immigrants who will be able to find useful employment once they arrive in Canada. It's an arrangement that benefits immigrants, who get the opportunity to improve their lives and futures here in Canada, as well as the Canadian people, because these immigrants fulfill needed positions as professionals and tradespeople. It's also an arrangement that has existed for many years without harmful consequences to Canada or the source countries of its immigrants: Canada was built on immigration, and it continues to be a key to population growth and economic growth.

So, it's pretty clear that David Suzuki's comments were not factual or well thought-over – they simply sought to get an emotional response from listeners. It makes a good sound bite to accuse Canada of being environmentally and socially irresponsible; but in this case, it simply isn't the truth. This is a case of comments that were not called for or true.

1. World Statistics

2. World Atlas

3. Immigration Canada News Releases

[princessofthewhitemoon]

Internet and Education Scholarship Essay Entry

As a new university student, I had to really choose what I was going to bring to my dorm room. This was made simpler by the fact that I, like a majority of the incoming college freshmen on campus, own a laptop.

It was simply a matter of fact. My room at home was larger than my dorm room, and there was more stuff in my room than my dorm would allow. Fortunately for me, I had a laptop, and the laptop allowed me to have in a very small space a device that would act as a television, a boom box, a library, a portfolio, and a DVD player, at very least. None of that would be possible if technology hadn’t gotten smaller, smarter, and faster. I know – I remember the days when I only had a couple inches on my father’s compute monitor.

I also know that because of this technology, I am able to watch my favorite shows and listen to music while I study, and I’m grateful for it. Media is the background of my life, and I’m usually plugged into something when I’m not in class. I use the Internet to find resources for papers and then to take study ‘breaks’ to see pictures of cute cats and cuter men. I use iTunes to play my favorite music when I need to concentrate. I use Netflix to unwind and watch movies with friends, even when my friends might be hundreds of miles away, and I use YouTube to find shorter videos to help explain theories and equations to me when I don’t quite understand them in class.

None of this would have been possible even ten years ago, and for that I’m grateful to be a college student now.  The OnDemand revolution and the shift to consuming media online have definitely impacted me positively as a student.