To whom it may concern:
First of all, I would like to thank you for considering my application for this award. In the upcoming essay, I will outline my reasons for applying for this award.
Informally, let me take this time to say “hello” and introduce myself. My name is*****, I am 21 years old and I currently attend Norquest. I will attain all my 30 courses as to ensure I am as knowledgeable as the rest of the student body coming fresh out of high school. Furthermore, there is a chance I may attend a university outside of the province as I aspire to attend a school with a baseball program, so it will be important that I write my diplomas also. I am unsure as to what I will study in university at this point. Several possibilities have presented themselves: I have considered a bachelor of arts, with the hope of getting good enough marks so that I am able to further my education and pursue my masters after I am done, perhaps specifying in psychology or political science… I have also considered staying faithful to my career goal and see how far I can get down that path, possibly becoming a doctor.
When I was younger I sustained a very traumatic brain injury. One night, while I was stunting pur se, I flew 6 feet from outside of a vehicle and landed head first on a curb. I was then immediately rushed to the hospital. This incident occurred on the west end; thankfully the friends I was with were unaware of the Misericordia Hospital nearby, so instead they took me to the University Hospital, which consequently saved my life. If I were delivered to the hospital a half an hour later than I was, I would have been dead. As the doctors later determined, I suffered a brain stem injury.
I am uncertain as to what part of the brain stem but if you are unaware the brain stem controls many of our automatic functions and serves as a communication center between the cerebellum and the frontal lobe. I was in a coma for nearly a month.
During those days while in a coma my mom was constantly asked to consider what kind of standard of life she would like me to have since it was predicted I would be in a vegetative state for the rest of my natural life upon release from the hospital; she was also asked on several occasions if she wanted me to be an organ donor. At one point, sneakily, not wanting anyone to know what they were up, the University Hospital, on a Sunday, phoned a specialist to come in and determine whether or not they could legally unplug me. According to law, if someone in coma has minimal brain activity, the institution that individual is in cannot legally unplug him/her; conversely, if that person is pronounced brain dead, that institution can legally pull the plug without approval from family or anyone in a state of authority of the individual hospitalized. It’s politics, it is a matter of money, consider how much money was being spent on me to keep me alive, lots! I appreciate the fact that they wanted me to go; they wanted to clear up space for someone who might have a chance at living, since I didn’t. Well, luckily, I had brain activity and they could not be rid of me so easily. A short time after that, I began to make such gains that I was transferred to the Glenrose, where I stayed for 5 more months.
During my rehabilitation at the Glenrose, I re-learned how to talk, walk, eat and how to use the washroom by myself. Basically everything we take for granted.
The accident disabled me both physically and mentally. But I hope not to the extent to which it “disables” me from fulfilling all my dreams and aspirations. I know that it is not holding me back at this point in my life. I am trying to attain the highest marks in school possible by working extremely hard and therefore getting my acceptance into a University of my choice. I also work extremely hard at rehabilitating my physical nature also. I workout when time permits; I also train during the winter with a group of athletes at Athlete’s Nation in St. Albert. I do whatever I can to ensure that I live the most fulfilling life possible attempting to limit any regrets down the road. I have big aspirations which I know I will achieve.
I don’t come from the richest or the poorest family, although considering “poor” is just a frame of mind. I live with my mom but I have full support from my father also, who is a big part of my life. My mom, to say the least, has seen better days financially, but it is not the end of the world and we will get through it. My father, similarly, is not the richest man. I do not live in poverty but this money that this award offers would help me out considerably. I work part time at the Alano club, a sobriety club, one day a week for 6 hours. My other form of income is from the government that I receive for going to school.
Last year I entered a contest called, “Agent For Change.” I became aware of the contest from advertisements on the bus. Its motto was, “someone 16-22 will change the world, is it you?” My answer was, “yes, it is me.” Sadly, it wasn’t. It wasn’t the end of the world though, it was fun. The contest’s criteria was to submit a 5 minute video, no longer, to the Agent For Change website. It asked that your video contain what you think should be changed in the world, and how you will make that change. I not only said that the publics political awareness/involvement should be increased, but that the publics environmental awareness/involvement should be increased also. The theme was too broad and I did not submit realistic enough solutions to be considered for top 10. I would be honoured if you checked out my video: you can access it by Googling *****or alternately you can go to You Tube and type in, “Agent For Change ****
I am also a member of the ACE student board committee. I have attempted to implement a recycling program into the school of Norquest also, but to no avail.
Another attempt that I have made to reach out into the community, for all the life experience I have accumulated so far in my life, is that I have contacted three schools, to date, and asked them to allow me to speak to their student body to talk about life choices and how they affect your life down the road. I would explore topics like drugs, insecurities, sports, work ethic and how important school really is. Sadly again, I got rejected. I have one more school I have in mind to contact. I feel very passionate about speaking to students of that age because when I was that age, to summarize my state of mind, I was a lost cause. I feel that there may be similar children who are experiencing the same problems that I faced. I think how sad it is how kids make such poor choices during a time that they don’t understand is so crucial to their future. I am just lucky that I have been given the chance to do things again that at one point in my life I took for granted, I can’t say everyone is that blessed.
In context, I have provided you with a brief history of my life. I listed some of my aspirations and dreams; I included some of my family background and a brief understanding of the obstacles I have overcome, and obstacles, that consequently, I face everyday.
One thing I am not afraid of is failure. They say that everyday you have a window of opportunity that presents itself, and that it’s up to you to take advantage of it. We as humans don’t know what opportunities to choose, or even when an opportunity actually does present itself. That is why I believe that you must do anything and everything that catches your attention, because that could be the opportunity you‘re looking for. It is also said that we make our own luck. Meaning, that if we do everything in our power to better ourselves, we’re creating opportunities for ourselves. In everything I venture into, I venture into 110% with the intention of being successful and finishing what I began.
I thank you for your consideration of my application and I look forward to hearing back from you. NOTE: I have also submitted my diploma transcript for English
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