Erik Gray's Journals
#journalgems
Written February 14, 2013
For a Scholarship Application
I am not like other teenagers- I
was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 15, a relapse at 18, and again that
same year. Although I am not grateful in any way for the diagnosis itself, I am
so grateful for the lessons I have learned and the experiences I have gained
because of it. My parents say that I “had to grow up fast,” and I have always
had the ability to easily talk to others and share my experience.
Some of my goals are to serve an
LDS service mission, graduate from college with a Bachelor’s of Science degree
in Communications, pursue a career either in Broadcasting or Public Relations,
and eventually become a motivational speaker, traveling around the state and
country to share my story and to help others in dealing with challenges.
A scholarship from the American
Cancer Society will help me with my academic career because it will help me to
achieve my goals. On the road of life, it is the cab fare for the taxi from the
“high school graduate” stop to the “college graduate” stop. The scholarship I
have now will cover about half of the cost of tuition and books. If received,
this scholarship will cover most of the other half of that amount. The money I
receive from working and have in my bank accounts will help me pay for an
apartment and to provide groceries, so that ultimately I will make more money
than I spend and save up for an LDS service mission and for a future family.
I am excited for my life ahead of
me and I hope that I can make a difference in the world. With the education I’m
pursuing, I will be one step closer to achieving my goals.
