Our first college-scholarship recipient, MaKayla, has wrapped up her first college semester at SLU and is absolutely killing! Not only did she successfully finish the semester with a 3.52 GPA, but she did so while also balancing work and 10+ hours of community service.
Not surprisingly, she chose to give her time to a local St. Louis organization, Almost Home, that has a mission to "empower young moms to become self-sufficient and create a better future for themselves and their children."
As part of her scholarship requirements, she also completed a well-thought out, articulate essay reflecting on what this first semester meant to her. Below is one of my favorite quotes from this essay and something that I find so motivating each time I read it.
MaKayla reflecting on her first semester in college
When I first read her essay and saw the official transcript of her first semester, I couldn't help but feel so damn proud of her and what she is setting out to accomplish. So many young adults across America, who are also first-generation college students, can struggle with the rigors of higher education for myriad reasons.
That's why it's so important that we as an organization take responsibility for how our students perform in school and don't simply hand out tuition funds based on prior achievements. We try to make ourselves available 24/7 to the scholarship winners so that when they inevitably encounter the challenges that make the question if they're capable of actually succeeding, we are one of the first ones to adamantly say how much we believe in them!
As supporters of I Do It For Her, you too should feel this sense of responsibility and pride. Your donations have made this life-changing event possible and your continued support allows us to have an unbelievable impact on the lives of low-income students who otherwise may not have this chance.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
- Adam