I have known in my heart since I was a little girl what I wanted to be when I grew up. It was not a stereotypical child’s dream such as a doctor or an astronaut; my vision was instead something that has shaped
my actions and decisions throughout my life. In the last few years I have realized that my passion for conserving the environment is a natural calling that I am destined to follow. This intuitive notion solidified while visiting my mother in Maryland a few summers ago. In my old bedroom my mother has kept framed
memorabilia from my childhood. One night before I went to sleep I looked on the bed-stand to find an old article that dated back to my third year of elementary school. After rereading this article thirteen years later, with a smile, I recognized my destiny is and has always been devoting my career to the conservation and
preservation of our ecosystems. In my third grade class we attempted to introduce higher biodiversity along a creek through adding plants, which in turn attracts other organisms. Some of the older teenagers had rampaged through and stole our plants while trampling the beautiful ecosystem. I wanted to send a message to stop such destruction and the following article ended up in our town newspaper. Although I was only in third grade, the destruction of the environment affected me more deeply than most of my fellow classmates and continues to do so today. I wish to embark on an educational journey to beautiful Montverde, Costa Rica for the Tropical Ecology and Conservation program in the Spring of 2009. In order to take this step in my educational career, I am applying for financial aid through the John E. Bowman Travel Grants, CIEE International Study Programs Scholarships, and the Jennifer Ritzmann Scholarship for studies in Tropical Biology. Throughout my life I have always been passionate about contributing to the conservation our earth. It became clear to me upon entering my college career that my focus should be in wildlife conservation. When I
learned about this program I became ecstatic. Partaking in this unique opportunity will prepare me for my future career goals and aid to my growth as a conservationist and a young woman. While participating in this
program I will apply the knowledge and resources learned during the courses that I take in Costa Rica to real
world situations. I will be working in the field amongst other scientists and gaining hands on experience, which
will enrich my current education and my future career. Furthermore, I will be able to contribute to the
conservation of the tropical forest through my education as well as gain a better cultural understanding of the
world around me.
I come from a broken home and was raised by my mother on a very low income. Thus I do not receive
any financial support from my family and little from the federal government to fund my college education.
Therefore my financial needs are very high. Throughout my life I have strived to achieve my goals solely on
hard work and determination. For example, the last five years that I have attended school I have struggled to
receive enough federal loans to pay my tuition and have been working at night while attending school in order
to barely scrap by. However, I feel like this makes me a stronger person and gives me greater passion for what I
am trying to achieve.
At this moment in time my situation is even more extreme than ever. Instead of working full time all
summer to save money, I have been going to summer school in order to complete required courses before I
depart for this program in the spring. The demands of summer school leave me no time for a part-time
employment. Consequently, in order for me embark on this incredible opportunity I am extremely reliant on
grants and scholarships to see this experience come to fruition.
These scholarships and grants will assist me in achieving my goals through supporting my trip expenses
in Costa Rica. In essence they will allow me to receive an excellent education in an amazing country as well as
apply this knowledge to help conserve our precious ecosystems that are in danger of ultimate destruction and
demise. Likewise, by supporting my education these funds will enable me to spread my newfound insight and
knowledge to further educate the people around me as I plan to teach in conservation programs such as the
Student Conservation Corps. I thank you so much for your consideration.
I have known in my heart since I was a
little
girl what I wanted to be when I grew up. It was not a stereotypical child’s dream such as a doctor or an astronaut; my vision was
instead
something that has shaped
my actions and decisions throughout my life. In the last few years I have realized that my passion for conserving the environment is a natural calling that I
am destined
to follow. This intuitive notion solidified while visiting my mother in Maryland a few summers ago. In my
old
bedroom my mother has
kept
framed
memorabilia from my childhood. One night
before
I went to sleep I looked on the bed-stand to find an
old
article that dated back to my third
year
of elementary
school
. After rereading this article thirteen years later, with a smile, I recognized my destiny is and has always been devoting my
career
to the
conservation
and
preservation of our ecosystems. In my third grade
class
we attempted to introduce higher biodiversity along a creek
through
adding plants, which in turn attracts other organisms.
Some of the
older
teenagers
had rampaged
through
and stole our plants while trampling the
beautiful
ecosystem. I wanted to
send
a message to
stop
such destruction and the following article ended up in our town newspaper. Although I was
only
in third grade, the destruction of the environment
affected
me more
deeply
than most of my
fellow classmates
and continues to do
so
today
. I wish to embark on an educational journey to
beautiful
Montverde
, Costa Rica for the Tropical Ecology and
Conservation
program
in the Spring of 2009. In order to take this step in my educational
career
, I am applying for financial aid
through
the John E. Bowman Travel Grants,
CIEE
International Study
Programs
Scholarships
, and the Jennifer
Ritzmann
Scholarship
for studies in Tropical Biology. Throughout my life I have always been passionate about contributing to the
conservation
our earth. It became
clear
to me upon entering my college
career
that my focus should be in wildlife
conservation
.
When
I
learned about this
program
I became ecstatic. Partaking in this unique opportunity will prepare me for my future
career
goals and aid to my growth as a conservationist and a young woman. While participating in this
program I will apply the knowledge and resources learned during the courses that I take in Costa Rica to real
world situations. I will be working in the field amongst other scientists and gaining hands on experience, which
will enrich my
current
education
and my future
career
.
Furthermore
, I will be able to contribute to the
conservation of the tropical forest
through
my
education
as well
as gain a better cultural understanding of the
world around me.
I
come
from a broken home and
was raised
by my mother on a
very
low income.
Thus
I do not receive
any financial support from my family and
little
from the federal
government
to fund my college education.
Therefore
my financial needs are
very
high. Throughout my life I have strived to achieve my goals
solely
on
hard
work and determination.
For example
, the last five years that I have attended
school
I have struggled to
receive
enough
federal loans to pay my tuition and have been working at night while attending
school
in order
to
barely
scrap by.
However
, I feel like this
makes
me a stronger person and gives me greater passion for what I
am trying to achieve.
At this moment in time my situation is even more extreme than ever.
Instead
of working full time all
summer to save money, I have been going to summer
school
in order to complete required courses
before
I
depart for this
program
in the spring. The demands of summer
school
leave
me no time for a part-time
employment.
Consequently
, in order for me embark on this incredible opportunity I am
extremely
reliant on
grants and
scholarships
to
see
this experience
come
to fruition.
These
scholarships
and grants will assist me in achieving my goals
through
supporting my trip expenses
in Costa Rica. In
essence they
will
allow
me to receive an excellent
education
in an amazing country
as well
as
apply this knowledge to
help
conserve our precious ecosystems that are in
danger
of ultimate destruction and
demise.
Likewise
, by supporting my
education
these funds will enable me to spread my newfound insight and
knowledge to
further
educate the
people
around me as I plan to teach in
conservation
programs
such as the
Student
Conservation
Corps. I thank you
so
much for your consideration.