Category: Scholarship

When I was growing up, I always felt like an outsider. There were very few people who had the same interests that I did. The boys my age talked different, looked different, and liked different things, including girls. Having grown up in a conservative household with a high regard for conservative values led to much confusion for me when I discovered I was gay. I felt like the only gay Christian boy in the whole world. Naturally, much confusion ensued when the only info I got about homosexuality was that my existence was wrong and that I should be fixed. However, my sexuality felt like an integral part of my identity, and I did not feel morally wrong. I had no resources to consult or people to talk to, but all things seemed to point to the conclusion that you were either gay or you were Christian – never both. During this time in my younger teen years, I had grown very bitter and angry because of this conflict, but I could not express this with words. This is where music became very important in my life.

My musical journey started out like many other people. Starting with piano lessons at age five, I was signed up by my parents to participate in recitals and competitions that I had little interest in. As a child, I was technically good at playing piano, but there was only superficial feeling. When I reached the age where I had my identity conflict, however, this began to change. I no longer had to think about the rules of music and rhythm; my own personal feelings manifested themselves into my piano pieces. I put the meaning into the music instead of the music presenting its own meaning. I did not need words to express my problems, and it was as if I discovered a new kind of freedom to be used whenever I needed it. I only wish that I had been exposed to the power of music earlier.

When I first learned about the field of music therapy, I was ecstatic. The psychological power of music is amazing, and I knew it from experience. Here was an entire field full of dedicated, competent people who use music as a medium to help others come to peace with or improve aspects of themselves, and I could one day join their ranks because I knew I had an affinity for music. Now, pursuing my BA in music therapy, I have a chance to maximize this, but also reach out to people who need music like I did. I am humbled at the thought that someday I will have the skills—that I am acquiring through school—that can be used to help those who need healing.

We are proud to announce Riley Kua is one of the current DiversityJobs Scholarship finalists. Vote for his essay (Facebook ‘Like’ and other social media sharing options in left column), click the ‘star’ just above comments section below, and/or leave comments of support to help us with the selection process.

[T]here is a Chinese proverb that states, “An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances”. My biological parents abandoned me at a hospital because I had a chest cold–and possibly, as I was born in China, because I was a girl. From that moment on, my life drastically changed direction, and so far, it has been a marvelous journey.

I am extremely grateful for the path my life has taken, and it is my dream to give others the love and care that my adoptive parents have provided me. Because I’ve been fortunate to grow up with my needs attended to and have not faced any adverse conflicts that would’ve prevented me from becoming a nurse, I feel an obligation to help others. Life often causes people to face unexpected situations that can inflict pain and heartache; as a future nurse, I hope to offer compassion to my patients.

I want to be the kind of nurse who can hear what my patients are saying, even when they are unable to express themselves well. Just as important, I want my patients to be able to count on me to provide accuracy and professionalism. With the increased responsibility that nurses across the country are being entrusted with, I feel like I can make a greater impact than ever before. By the time I graduate with my BSN, I hope that I have been challenged academically and mentally while still being given career-based and extra-curricular opportunities. I hope to become the best possible nurse I can through my upcoming rigorous courses and clinical rotations, and I desire to immerse myself in knowledge that spans from nursing-related material to humanities classes as well.

Once I receive my BSN, I plan on taking full advantage of all the career options that are presented to nurses. Graduating with a college degree will be a paramount moment in my life because the diploma will represent that all my hard work has really paid off. I desire to become a surgical nurse who works in the operating room. I enjoy the faster pace in the operating room because I feel like I can make a direct, immediate, and positive impact on patients’ lives. I had the opportunity to scrub in on a sinus surgery at my local hospital, and it was amazing to see how the surgeon and the nurses interacted with each other. They were calm and talkative, yet focused. I consider myself to be very focused and goal-oriented, so I believe I would thrive in this type of environment. After I gain a few years of experience, I hope to receive a Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia in order to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). This occupation requires immense responsibility, but I have always been accountable for my actions.

I feel that my past is having a direct impact on my future. My “red thread” is leading me back to working in a hospital, this time helping others instead of being the three-month-old baby who needed help.  No matter what type of nurse I become, my goal as a nurse is to give back to others who are in need of help; I’d like to make a positive impact on my patients’ lives. I already consider myself to be trustworthy, reliable, and caring, but I feel that my college experience—academic and social—will only amplify these characteristics. It would be an honor for me to receive your scholarship because, like the Diversity Jobs Scholarship, I would love to make a greater difference in people’s lives so they can achieve their dreams.

We are proud to announce Amanda McDonald is one of the current DiversityJobs Scholarship finalists. Vote for her essay (Facebook ‘Like’ and other social media sharing options in left column), click the ‘star’ just above comments section below, and/or leave comments of support to help us with the selection process.

[T]here is no single way that I chose my major. It began with a fascination with international affairs at an early age and progressed to recognizing that at the root of all politics is media. I became a mass communications major in college to further understand the effects media has on politics, which was directly related to influential aspects of government like public reactions to war. This is extremely important to me because as a Middle Eastern woman, figuring out how and why the United States has access to go to war on foreign soil is something I am still struggling to understand.

After the Arab Spring in 2011, I began focusing my energy to finding the correlations between the Occupy protests in the United States, the financial crisis protests in Greece, the political rallies in Turkey, and so on. The underlining difference I found in all of them was the way the media reported on these demonstrations and how that affected the overall strategy of the protesters. This further solidified my desire to become a political reporter because I understood how important ethical journalism is and the effects it has on society.

Some of the obstacles I had to overcome include the struggle of being an active participant in a dialogue that is generally dominated by men. As an undergraduate student, I was often the only female in my entire graduating class that ever spoke up or expressed a desire to further my education in political journalism. This made it easier for my male counterparts to take control of a reporting situation, often leaving me to work alone or fend for myself when it came hard news.

Another obstacle I faced (and currently face) is finding acceptance of an Arab, Muslim, headscarf-wearing woman to be at the center of a political crisis and taken seriously as a serious journalist.

A Masters degree from Georgetown University in Journalism would not only be a way for me to further my education in journalism, but it would also provide me with the resources and political connections through the D.C. area that would help further my career as a reporter.

We are proud to announce Sumaya Attia is one of the current DiversityJobs Scholarship finalists. Vote for her essay (Facebook ‘Like’ and other social media sharing options in left column), click the ‘star’ just above comments section below, and/or leave comments of support to help us with the selection process.

[M]y coming of age story takes place during the June, 2006 Lebanese-Israeli War. My eyes were forced open that summer and I became aware of the world around me for the first time. I was pushed into adulthood as an eleven year old American girl who had never before imagined what could happen outside the borders of her home country. I was confused and scared and tried to repress all the awful memories.

We were locked in our Beirut apartment for weeks as the bombs outside ravaged the city. The children were not allowed near windows for fear of a stray bullet or the concussion of a bomb. At night, airstrikes and missiles echoed over a silent, darkened city. Shaking under the covers, my siblings and I sought refuge in our parents’ bed, only to find out that grown ups got scared too. My whole family left everything behind and paid a driver to take us to a more peaceful Northern Lebanon where we stayed at a run down motel for a couple days before making the long exodus to Syria.

While I initially did everything I could to forget the trauma, fear, and violence of that summer, I learned to accept it as an integral part of who I am and began to see the positive effects it had on me. I began to speak about my experiences, getting up in front of thousands of people at protests and talking about my story. I became more interested in international relations and began to read about problems around the world. At eleven and twelve years old I was participating in other protests and learning about global issues while my classmates were still trying to memorize the 50 states. My outlook on life and the world widened as I experienced just what my parents had experienced growing up in the war-stricken Lebanon of the 1970s and ‘80s.

Choosing the Political Science major at UC Berkeley was natural as the memories of that summer and the devastation I witnessed fueled my passion for international relations and political science. I saw the effects of violence and war not only on the infrastructure of a nation, but also on the hope and faith of a people. It was like everything I had studied in my history classes came to life. Graduating from Cal with a Political Science degree will allow me to use my global perspective and my experiences in a war zone to become an active American leader in foreign affairs and diplomacy. I want to show people what is going on across the ocean and participate in creating a more connected and peaceful world. I have experienced what my parents grew up with as children in Lebanon. I don’t want my children to experience the same.

We are proud to announce Yara Mukaled is one of the current DiversityJobs Scholarship finalists. Vote for her essay (Facebook ‘Like’ and other social media sharing options in left column), click the ‘star’ just above comments section below, and/or leave comments of support to help us with the selection process.

[I] can distinctively recall the day I first became intrigued by the medical field. It was the same day my grandmother suffered her second cerebral hemorrhage. The doctors informed us that surviving two cerebral hemorrhages was a near-impossible feat and they gave her a thirty-percent chance to live through the night. Against all odds, she survived and remains a precious part of our lives today. It was in that moment that I decided to commit myself to earning entry into the medical profession. Seneca, the great Roman dramatist, philosopher, and politician offered an explanation for one such miraculous event: “Luck,” he said, “is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” This latter sense of “luck” afforded my grandmother a renewal of life. The meticulous preparation and arduous medical training of those physicians made this “luck” possible.

It is with the same sense of luck that I approached the seemingly disparate pursuits of medicine and basketball. Just as I endured grueling training exercises and practices with my college basketball team in order to bring championship victories within reach, I aspired after a regimen of rigorous medical training in order that I might one day administer life-altering treatment. The medical field is, in essence, its own Division I college sport. The pressures to perform with precision, care, and judgment, without exception, are manifest. Yet, these pressures, combined with a healthy dose of competition, help to generate advancements that serve both to prolong survival and improve quality of life for the public at large. Moreover, competition in this sport notwithstanding, any successful team understands that it scores its most indelible triumphs as a collective force.

When reflecting on the vast opportunities that I have been given as a Black woman in the medical field, I’m reminded that my grandmother and mother’s generations fought for the equality of Blacks and women alike. They are collectively responsible for feeding me ambition, encouraging me to dream big, and giving me the resources to reach those dreams. When commenting on the lasting effects of pioneers, John of Salisbury, a 12th century theologian and author, proclaimed, “We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature, add to ours.”

As a double minority in medicine (African-American female) I have made it my personal responsibility to change the way people with my background are viewed in the medical field. Also, as I prepare to enter a residency position in orthopedic surgery where all women (regardless of race) are minorities, I would be remiss to remember that my performance will build a foundation of expectation for all women who follow me. It is my intention that my dedication to this performance be reflected everyday in my work ethic and focus.

We are proud to announce Ashley Austin is one of the current DiversityJobs Scholarship finalists. Vote for her essay (Facebook ‘Like’ and other social media sharing options in left column), click the ‘star’ just above comments section below, and/or leave comments of support to help us with the selection process.

[A]s a female Asian-American public school teacher, one of the foundational goals in my pedagogical career is to develop a deeper understanding of the diverse ways students learn and to build a repertoire of instructional methods that bridge differences in the student population. With this goal in mind, I applied for a Masters of Arts in Teaching Social Studies at Columbia University’s Teachers College to collaborate with other teachers by sharing the mastery of their instructional methods.

As learners, I believe that our civilization is entering a new age of learning because technology has afforded us the capability of crossing socio-economic and geographical barriers. Thus, implementing an education grounded in global citizenship will allow students of various learning abilities and cultures to unite and create a community consciousness based on social justice.

With this aspiration in mind, my pursuit of teaching began in my undergraduate studies where I double-majored in history and secondary education at The College of New Jersey. Throughout my training as a public school teacher, it was easy to notice that in the field of social studies teaching, women are underrepresented, even more so minorities, and rarely Asian-American women serve as teachers. Consequently, the lack of Asian-American female teachers, outside of the math and science departments, subconsciously sends a clear and significant message to the student population that reinforces stereotypes of minorities in our society. As such, I have used my role as a teacher to serve as a model for both students and faculty alike to develop cross-cultural awareness and communication. In my curriculum, I teach students about African and Asian histories and cultures from ancient to modern times. As a faculty member, I prepare and share the customs of various holidays to highlight and promote cultural awareness.

In my teaching experiences, I have also strived to reach various communities of learners and to bridge cultural gaps, including two years of English instruction at a public high school and junior high school in rural Japan, as well as one summer semester of graduate level technical writing instruction at National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. In addition to teaching students of varying age groups and cultural backgrounds, I have also worked with students of varying abilities including gifted students at Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth program along with special needs students I currently teach at Millburn Middle School in New Jersey.

Thereupon, the financial aid offered by the DiversityJobs Scholarship will support my graduate studies at Teachers College and enable me to continue reaching out to diverse learning communities. Upon the completion of my studies, I intend to utilize my experiences to teach and build into international communities that can foster young leaders to make choices that promote global citizenship and social welfare. This scholarship will both strengthen the pursuit of my studies financially and also serve as an affirmation that the goals I have outlined throughout my pedagogical career will be a genuine reflection of the importance in educating our future.

We are proud to announce Alice Wen is one of the current DiversityJobs Scholarship finalists. Vote for her essay (Facebook ‘Like’ and other social media sharing options in left column), click the ‘star’ just above comments section below, and/or leave comments of support to help us with the selection process.

[W]e are proud to announce the six finalists for the 2014 DiversityJobs Scholarship award, which include future journalists, doctors, nurses, music therapists, teachers, and political scientists.   We received thousands of exceptional applications, but we feel that these candidates showed the best combination of passion, integrity, and dedication to their chosen fields of study.

Now we need your help in choosing the one scholarship award winner!  The final selection process will involve three different factors:

1.   outside voting (Facebook ‘Like’ and other social media options on the left side of the essays)
2.   comments left by visitors
3.   the DiversityJobs Scholarship committee’s scoring of the student’s application and essay

The one winner will be announced on Monday June 30th.  Please help us with our selection by voting for your favorite essay (Facebook ‘Like’ and other social media sharing options on the left side of the essays) and by leaving comments or clicking the ‘star’ icon above the comments section.

Sumaya Attia, Journalism, Georgetown

Some of the obstacles I had to overcome include the struggle of being an active participant in a dialogue that is generally dominated by men. As an undergraduate student, I was often the only female in my entire graduating class that ever spoke up or expressed a desire to further my education in political journalism. This made it easier for my male counterparts to take control of a reporting situation, often leaving me to work alone or fend for myself when it came hard news.

Click to read Sumaya’s entire essay and vote!

Ashley Austin, Medicine, Georgia Regents

I can distinctively recall the day I first became intrigued by the medical field. It was the same day my grandmother suffered her second cerebral hemorrhage. The doctors informed us that surviving two cerebral hemorrhages was a near-impossible feat and they gave her a thirty-percent chance to live through the night. Against all odds, she survived and remains a precious part of our lives today. It was in that moment that I decided to commit myself to earning entry into the medical profession

Click to read Ashley’s entire essay and vote!

Amanda McDonald, Nursing, Marquette University

I am extremely grateful for the path my life has taken, and it is my dream to give others the love and care that my adoptive parents have provided me. Because I’ve been fortunate to grow up with my needs attended to and have not faced any adverse conflicts that would’ve prevented me from becoming a nurse, I feel an obligation to help others. Life often causes people to face unexpected situations that can inflict pain and heartache; as a future nurse, I hope to offer compassion to my patients

Click to read Amanda’s entire essay and vote!

Riley Kua, Music Therapy, Seattle Pacific University

As a child, I was technically good at playing piano, but there was only superficial feeling. However, when I reached the age where I had my identity conflict, this began to change. I no longer had to think about the rules of music and rhythm; my own personal feelings manifested themselves into my piano pieces. I put the meaning into the music instead of the music presenting its own meaning. I did not need words to express my problems, and it was as if I discovered a new kind of freedom to be used whenever I needed it. I only wish that I had been exposed to the power of music earlier.

Click to read Riley’s entire essay and vote!

Alice Wen, Teaching of Social Studies, Teachers College Columbia

Throughout my training as a public school teacher, it is easy to notice that in the field of social studies teaching, women are underrepresented, even more so minorities, and rarely Asian-American women serve as teachers. Consequently, the lack of Asian-American female teachers, outside of the math and science departments, subconsciously sends a clear and significant message to the student population that reinforces stereotypes of minorities in our society. As such, I have used my role as a teacher to serve as a model for both students and faculty alike to develop cross-cultural awareness and communication.

Click to read Alice’s entire essay and vote!

Yara Mukaled, Political Science, UC Berkeley

We were locked in our Beirut apartment for weeks as the bombs outside ravaged the city. The children were not allowed near any windows for fear of a stray bullet or the concussion of a bomb. At night, airstrikes and missiles echoed over a silent, darkened city. Shaking under the covers, my siblings and I sought refuge in our parents’ bed, only to find out that grown ups got scared too. My whole family left everything behind and paid a driver to take us to a more peaceful Northern Lebanon where we stayed at a run down motel for a couple days before making the long exodus to Syria.

Click to read Yara’s entire essay and vote!