It takes a village
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I am in my senior year of highschool at Kenmore where I partake in our Restaurant Management program! Recently I was accepted to The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. This is a huge accomplishment for me being the first APS student (to my knowledge) accepted to what’s considered the Harvard of culinary schools. Attending the college of my dreams has now become a near reality.
The Culinary Institute of America cost $28,240 a year. I have currently received $15,388 in financial aid leaving me with a 7,417 gap to make up for. As a young adult with no credit history or creditable co-signer I was unable to secure a student loan to cover this half of my tuition! All money donated will be used toward my attending the school of my dreams. No words can truly describe how grateful I am. To send a major thank you to all I hope to do so by continuing to make myself and those who supported me proud by taking my studies and applying them to create something bigger than myself! As a type one diabetic for nine years I've grown to appreciate healthy food that also taste delicious! My goal is to open a restaurant that caters to diabetics!
In my short 18 years of life I have faced many trials and tribulations. As a adolescent I found myself succumbing to my situation: a life filled with good intentions and consequential unfortunate events. Due to my parents mistakes I spent most of my high school career homeless or in the care of family members who felt me and mines were less than worthless. In their eyes I was destined to become a statistic as a black girl who never made it anywhere because of her upbringing and for sometime they had me convinced.
Looking into my parent’s eyes and seeing the future I would soon face. Knowing that I was slowly spiraling into their worst fear awakened the Daejah I was meant to be. Sophomore year I learned to block out my home life and dedicate my time to my studies. From then on I maintained a 3.0 grade report. This was a turning point until life dealt me something I till this day can’t seem to fathom. Junior year December 1st 2014 my mother passed away suddenly due to a heart attack. She made it her mission to teach me how to live without her. No lesson can really teach you how to live without the person you’ve ever truly new. I know know why the tough love and unwillingness to let me fail was necessary. I’ll spend the rest of my life asking why she isn’t here to see me in my time of triumph. I am happy to be here to say the loss of my mother, my protector, my teacher, fueled the fire that represents my ambition.
I believe my stories been written a before: a tale of loss and overcoming it. Still I find pride in being the 17 year old girl who lost her mother and somehow prevailed instead of giving up. The girl who returned to school two weeks after such tragedy and managed to still receive a 3.0 gpa. Who today maintains a honor roll gpa and holds a part time job at Acme Fresh Market Catering. I’m a girl who found history reporting itself in a much more horrific fashion.
As I write this letter I am not in a bad place but in an immense state of happiness. I am optimistic about what the future holds for me. Forgiveness has been given to all those who have wronged me and those who continue to do so. I feel I’ve come too far to let those stuck in a “keeping up with the joneses” state of mind have any affect on me. After all is said and done I want to know i’ve inspired anyone dealt a crappy hand to continue on and strive for greatness. My name I hope will be one to remember.
I would like to thank you for your time and consideration. Please if you have any questions feel free to contact me. Best of luck to you and your’s in all that you do!
Sincerely,
Daejah McCormick
The Culinary Institute of America cost $28,240 a year. I have currently received $15,388 in financial aid leaving me with a 7,417 gap to make up for. As a young adult with no credit history or creditable co-signer I was unable to secure a student loan to cover this half of my tuition! All money donated will be used toward my attending the school of my dreams. No words can truly describe how grateful I am. To send a major thank you to all I hope to do so by continuing to make myself and those who supported me proud by taking my studies and applying them to create something bigger than myself! As a type one diabetic for nine years I've grown to appreciate healthy food that also taste delicious! My goal is to open a restaurant that caters to diabetics!
In my short 18 years of life I have faced many trials and tribulations. As a adolescent I found myself succumbing to my situation: a life filled with good intentions and consequential unfortunate events. Due to my parents mistakes I spent most of my high school career homeless or in the care of family members who felt me and mines were less than worthless. In their eyes I was destined to become a statistic as a black girl who never made it anywhere because of her upbringing and for sometime they had me convinced.
Looking into my parent’s eyes and seeing the future I would soon face. Knowing that I was slowly spiraling into their worst fear awakened the Daejah I was meant to be. Sophomore year I learned to block out my home life and dedicate my time to my studies. From then on I maintained a 3.0 grade report. This was a turning point until life dealt me something I till this day can’t seem to fathom. Junior year December 1st 2014 my mother passed away suddenly due to a heart attack. She made it her mission to teach me how to live without her. No lesson can really teach you how to live without the person you’ve ever truly new. I know know why the tough love and unwillingness to let me fail was necessary. I’ll spend the rest of my life asking why she isn’t here to see me in my time of triumph. I am happy to be here to say the loss of my mother, my protector, my teacher, fueled the fire that represents my ambition.
I believe my stories been written a before: a tale of loss and overcoming it. Still I find pride in being the 17 year old girl who lost her mother and somehow prevailed instead of giving up. The girl who returned to school two weeks after such tragedy and managed to still receive a 3.0 gpa. Who today maintains a honor roll gpa and holds a part time job at Acme Fresh Market Catering. I’m a girl who found history reporting itself in a much more horrific fashion.
As I write this letter I am not in a bad place but in an immense state of happiness. I am optimistic about what the future holds for me. Forgiveness has been given to all those who have wronged me and those who continue to do so. I feel I’ve come too far to let those stuck in a “keeping up with the joneses” state of mind have any affect on me. After all is said and done I want to know i’ve inspired anyone dealt a crappy hand to continue on and strive for greatness. My name I hope will be one to remember.
I would like to thank you for your time and consideration. Please if you have any questions feel free to contact me. Best of luck to you and your’s in all that you do!
Sincerely,
Daejah McCormick
Organizer
Daejah McCormick
Organizer
Akron, OH
