Blog #3: Personal Statement - Infuential Person

"Be the Star You Are" the card read as I Opened it. It struck like a cliche. I opened the card. It's stars vibrant and full of colors danced around the inspiring phrase. "Mynesha" it read. "You will amount to great things, be sure to reach far, You'll never stop shining brightly because you are a star". I very well could have continued reading the words. But that phrase was empowering enough, so I stopped reading there. I clutched the card dear to me and I began to cry.

Ronda Harvey-Shaheen had always meant every word she spoke to me. Every minute I spent with her was a prerequisite for knowing that I would succeed in my future. I realized that my time could not be spent doing anything better than listening to her inspirational thoughts or emotional lectures. The woman is devoted, responsible, overly organized and simultaneously, modest. She had been an educator for well over 30 years, my elementary school counselor and depending on what four year institute I attend, she could very well be my professor. She was boisterous, in a formal way, whenever I was blue she would encompass a sprinkle of drops of bright oranges and bold yellows on me. She was altruistic, her heart stretched further than the Pacific Ocean. She was profoundly humble, talented and full of "the works". She was dedicated; rarely would she call into work for family matters. Without doubt she had an overflowing amount of character with an optimistic attitude. This woman was special. Special because she was Ronda Harvey-Shaheen- and well she meant the world to me!

Mrs. Sheheen words were empowering and her heart was where the words had derived from. Her laudable examples had alone, encouraged me. Her reassuring cards and inspirational lectures had encouraged me just that much more! Knowing she always stood firmly advocating for me, I would never hesitate to dream big.

This woman taught me to work hard by demonstrating her hard working efforts to me. She taught me the courage to dare to be different, after all she was the only educator at her work who educated students differently than "the rule book". My particular qualities distinguish me from every other individual. My leadership, skills, intelligence, knowledge, adaptability and command all mocks the presentation of Ronda Haarvey Shaheen.

Mrs. Shaheen conveyed the importance of individuality to me and whether or not she knew it, I had become a diligent, persevering, goal-oriented individual who would dream big for the rest of my life!

Blog #4: Personal Statement - Infuential Person

As a child growing up, my father would always tell me and my older siblings to "Never cheat yourself." In reality, I never knew what he meant until I reached high school and became an all star athlete. He would tell me to take the same motivation and self determination I had on the basketball court and track and use it in the classroom. It wasn't until then that I made paying attention in class my focal point for doing well in high school. I found it necessary to study. Learning came relatively easy for me and I didn't have to use as much energy as some did with learning new subjects or getting familiar with new concepts, but I put forth the effort anyways. It's apparent to me that since high school, I've started to do the same thing with life.

I had always thought of myself as a mature, young adult, but now I do more than ever. I moved out of my mother's house my second year in high school, applied for many different job positions and improved my resume by getting involved in different service learning projects and extra curricular activities. Adding a child to the busy life of school and work didn't make life any easier, but definitely added value to all the little things that I usually took for granted. I promised my daughter our last day in the hospital that I would do all I could to make her proud of me, and to give her the best in life. As of our eighth month together, I have kept my promise. As I am a firm believer in Jesus Christ, I pray every often that God empowers the strength in me to uphold my promise. Unlike many others teenage moms... failure is not an option for me.

Blog #2: A Freshman's Frontier

I've always been a straight "A" student; working hard and over achieving. I've always excelled academically and allowed no obstacles to deter me from success. Over my three years of high school, I've contemplated thoroughly on potential post secondary schools. I attended several different college tours and college fairs and NEVER once thought of staying home, here in Omaha. My heart had always knew that UNO was a possibility for a four year institute, but my mind twirled around in Southern States like Texas and Louisiana. My mind danced from Texas Southern University to UNO and UNL when I read about the Summer Scholars Program. After examining the program; I made one of the mountainous moves in my life; I transitioned from high school to college in just two weeks!

One can imagine a junior, a product of Benson High School attending a U.S. History class by a doctor, not a teacher. I was now searching for a classroom on a campus full of 15,000 students, not 1,500 students. I had over forty people in class, not fourteen anymore. It was not required of me to raise my hand when I had to use the restroom, I just walked out of class now. I didn't raise my hand to answer questions, I civilly spoke out now. This was not too difficult to keep up with, but keep in mind that I was a junior; not even a senior in high school transitioning to a freshman in college. I was meek and nonetheless appalled. I felt as though I was Nemo swimming in an ocean. I realized, for the first time that there is education outside of Benson.

I have managed to maintain a 5.0 G.P.A. throughout high school and rarely ever met the need for studying, simply because I didn't have to. When I enrolled in Dr. Scherer's U.S. History course, without doubt, I met the need for studying. On the first day in class, my peers and I were distributed a course syllabus. Our syllabus consisted of many different tasks...and deadlines of which accompanied those tasks. I'll admit, I felt a rain of dismay sprinkle on my body. I trembled with discouragement and in High School, I had never before. We were responsible for being successful on 3 exams over the course of five weeks- and I knew that if I had any chance at being successful in class, that meant a great deal of studying and heavy reading at night's hour.

Don't take my thoughts out of context, I didn't struggle transitioning from Benson to UNO; I just staggered transitioning from Benson to UNO. I was intimidated by the work load but I managed to make the most out of the $2,500 scholarship I was rewarded.

After a week in the Summer Scholars Program I would say that though the academic expectations were challenging, the element I learned stemmed from one's character. I learned to have patience, as the world around us is dissimilar and inconsistent.

Blog #1: Living the Life

On May 11, I was informed that I was a selected Summer Scholar who would seek the privileged as a high school senior to reside on UNO's campus for five days. On May 11th, I was not informed that I would meet life altering relationships or that I would share a suite with three other complete strangers who would be beneficial throughout my academic and occupational careers. On May 11th, I was not informed that I would develop self esteem or confidence in the form that I have. On May 11th I was not informed that I would grow- just in five days in the way that I did. On May 11th, I was not fully aware of the responsibility I would be assuming, but I am proud that I dived head first into that very place of activity. Honestly, the program was called Summer Scholars. It was not called Fear Factor or The Flavor of Love, so I expected it to be an academic experience and an academic experience only.

I come from Omaha, Nebraska, where the typical teenager lives inside of their high school. They go to work or participate in various extra- curricular activities. The typical teenager lives in the "high school world".The opportunity to live in the Scott Residential Hall distinguished me from the typical teenager. Literally, there was no "living in the high school world" for Mynesha. I kicked back and absorbed a serene, positive environment. I was encompassed by people I don't get the chance to meet often- people that were Scholars like me. One must realize that I am solely antisocial. In very little time I built firm relationships with peers and put my life in what was a total stranger's hand. I allowed myself to be encouraged by strangers to hang by a harness high in the air and walk through a rope course. I went from being meek to dauntless and from Mynesha to "Super Fly" in less than two hours. I exercised my critical thinking skills and boldly led a group in jumping onto spots while imaginatively floating over hot lava. During peer meetings I not only learned how to step up and take the lead of a group when I needed to, but I also learned how it takes courage to sit down and listen when need be! I encountered several disagreements and I am proud to say that I learned how to settle an argument without screaming to the top of my lungs or running away from a situation.

So while on May 11th, I sat attentive in my chair across from the competent '09 Summer Scholars, I had no idea that I was going to enter five days breaking through my shell or learning to trust strangers while hanging form a harness 50 feet high in the air. But because of my auspicious, sensational acquaintance I had merely been matriculated. I matured and maintained a willingness to be mindful of the differences other teenagers and I share.