My name is Osayonamen Notemwanta. I am the fourth daughter and child in my Nigerian family. Growing up, my mother used to tell me stories of how she wanted to achieve her dreams but her financial status was an obstacle that made it hard for her. Due to her poor financial status, she had to work harder to achieve her dreams. But she didn’t let that discourage her, instead, she put in the extra work to reach her goals.

 

When hearing these stories, two major thoughts always appeared in my mind. One, the admiration of my mother and the dedication she had. Two, the hard work she put in despite the financial troubles put her at a disadvantage. My mother worked hard to get my siblings and me in the spot we are in today.

 

I believe one way to show my gratitude towards her is to work to my fullest potential and take my education seriously. During middle school, I wasn’t passionate about anything. I always focused on completing the given assignments to my fullest potential instead of learning and being interested in the topic being taught. I also didn’t put any thought into my future career. It was during high school that I discovered my passion for math and science classes. In my math and science classes, I found myself intrigued to learn more and disappointed whenever the class was over.

 

During sophomore year, I researched various careers in my Careers Exploration class. I wanted my career to be in the STEM field and I researched careers in the healthcare field. I concluded that being a pharmacist was my ideal, future career.

 

When the college process came around, I applied to Rutgers University Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy and was accepted months later. I was excited that I was accepted into my top school. However, getting accepted into Rutgers University was one thing, and figuring out how to afford it was another. I have four siblings, two of which are in college and one is in a private high school. I knew my mother was juggling paying three different tuitions and I felt terrible adding another one to her plate. I applied for many different scholarships but wasn’t fortunate to receive them.

 

When receiving the email from School and Beyond stating I received the Elisheba and Maya Odei Scholarship I was beyond elated. I knew that receiving this scholarship would help my mother with the financial burdens of my tuition. This scholarship would also help me attend my dream school and be a part of a program that would help me reach my dream career.

 

My main goal for college is to put in my best efforts in class and finish my classes with passing grades. I know college is different from high school and I need to put in more hard work, effort, time, and dedication. However, I’m prepared to put in the extra work and do what I must to make my dreams a reality.

 

Alongside this, I hope to meet new people from various backgrounds and ethnicities. I want to learn about different cultures and traditions. I want to get involved in multiple events and clubs and improve my skills for future opportunities. Overall, during college, I want to learn and engage in new activities and improve myself for the better.