We at NYCTutoring.com acknowledge that there’s a long way to go before we see the day when every young person across the globe receives the empowering foundation of education, but that doesn’t mean we can’t strive to make that possible for at least some.
This year, to play a part in making education more accessible, NYCTutoring.com decided to award a $500 scholarship to a student who shows great dedication and potential in effecting change through learning.
The essay prompt
In line with our mission of helping individuals reach their academic potential and goals, we asked every applicant of the scholarship to write an essay between 500 and 750 words based on the prompt:
At NYCTutoring.com, we understand the value of education, so our goal is to help students of all ages achieve their learning goals. What are your learning goals, and how will achieving these goals improve your life or the lives of others?
In response to the prompt, we received a total of 280 submissions from students in various parts of the United States. Their essays tell of a breathtaking range of experiences and interests that have led to each person’s unique academic and career aspirations.
We read about people of color who are determined to become health professionals in order to increase minority representation in the healthcare field. We read about individuals whose personal experience with social injustice has ignited their desire to advocate for those who can’t speak for themselves. Then there are others who want to break the chains of poverty in their family through opportunities afforded by the pursuit of higher education.
Choosing the recipient of the scholarship was no easy feat, as there were so many entries that captured our attention. But after going through every essay, we’re excited to announce the winner of the NYCTutoring.com Scholarship for 2020.
And the winner is...
Mary Donnelly!
Mary of Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY, wrote about the terrifying experience of witnessing a close friend almost lose her life to an opioid overdose. The same incident ignited Mary's drive to be part of a solution to the opioid epidemic. Besides presenting a meaningful purpose behind her learning goals, Mary’s essay skillfully weaves her personal story into a wider, societal problem.
Two other essays that deserve to be acknowledged are the ones written by Sherry Chen and Tanisum Halim.
After playing a significant role in a loved one's victory over drug addiction, Sherry wants to help others in similar situations by engineering biomedical devices that treat addiction withdrawal. On the other hand, Tanisum’s fascination with the human mind and experience working with immigrant children and parents have led to a desire to improve the wellbeing of underprivileged communities through counseling and rehabilitation.
What all three of the essays have in common is that they each demonstrate the power of personal experiences in molding meaningful life paths.
Congratulations, Mary, on winning the 2020 NYCTutoring.com Scholarship award. May you be ever hungry for knowledge and understanding in your journey of making a difference in the world.