Wilbert Goes to College?
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One of my most memorable experiences relating to the financial struggles of my family was a time that my grandmother, who worked at the Sheraton Hotel as a chambermaid, came home late at night. It was probably close to midnight. That night my grandmother walked in the house crying, talking about how much her feet ached, and how she felt guilty for the life that she had brought on to us. I was only nine years old, and had a limited perspective to process those then current circumstances. I was confused. I wanted to help alleviate her stress, but I did not know why she was upset or how I could go about helping her. What I have come to learn is that she was not at fault for the limited opportunities that she had access to in her life. What I have also come to understand is that her parents were impoverished, her parents’ parents were impoverished, and that she was simply a victim to a vicious cycle.
I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I lived there until I was eleven years old and then moved to Camden, New Jersey. When moving to Camden I faced various changes, the city’s population was more condensed, thus crime was more concentrated. It was, though, only due to the news and the people around me that I was reassured of Camden's infamous recognition of crime and its distinct label as "America's Most Dangerous City.” Despite this label and the reputation of the city, even at a young age, I considered Camden my city. It was my city that I enjoyed struggling in. It was my city, the one that would teach me to value life in a different way than most people in this country. In high school, I learned that I would take my love for the city and strive for greater things because I want my city to be better.
My journey through high-school was not the smoothest. I often faced obstacles in and outside of my home, which meant that my academics were affected. The lack of a father figure in my life, the instability of a shelter at various moments through my high school career, and the lack of emotional support made my focus on academics a difficult venture. Despite these challenges, ill too common for the typical Afro-Latino boy, I learned to face these difficulties and maintain my unyielding faith towards making it to college.
In times of despair I was fortunate to have people that shed some light on my life and what was possible. Of all, in recent time I have had new developed mentors and family that assisted me in the process of applying to college and refining my own life vision. The once Camden kid with limited support and few traces of focus due to his extenuating circumstances is now on his way to Ursinus College. I plan to get myself involved with courses relating to economics along with courses in the department of politics. I seek to influence policy changes in the future along with being involved in the making of structures that will help people, particularly those within the inner-city, achieve financial stability and gains of assets. I want to help families prepare for their children’s college aspirations, to avoid circumstances like my own.
I invite you to help me in my transition to college, and be a part of making my dream of attending college a true reality. I chose Ursinus College because it was the one college that best fit my financial needs and needed support from high school to college. The total tab of Ursinus College is $59,600, that includes tuition, room and board, and additional fees. I have accumulated some moneys in scholarship and grant funds, a large amount (about $20k) in loans, and with all that accounted for, I am still missing roughly $12,000. These are twelve-thousand dollars that I simply cannot afford, and it is currently placing my college dreams in jeopardy. Through a summer program at Ursinus College, I learned that college is exactly the place for me and the place that I need to be in order to grow socially and academically.
I thank all who have helped me get to this point. I thank you in advance for taking the time to read my story. I thank you for giving me another chance in helping me in this movement towards making a difference in the world. Please share it with your friends and those who you believe will support me on my journey towards college.
I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I lived there until I was eleven years old and then moved to Camden, New Jersey. When moving to Camden I faced various changes, the city’s population was more condensed, thus crime was more concentrated. It was, though, only due to the news and the people around me that I was reassured of Camden's infamous recognition of crime and its distinct label as "America's Most Dangerous City.” Despite this label and the reputation of the city, even at a young age, I considered Camden my city. It was my city that I enjoyed struggling in. It was my city, the one that would teach me to value life in a different way than most people in this country. In high school, I learned that I would take my love for the city and strive for greater things because I want my city to be better.
My journey through high-school was not the smoothest. I often faced obstacles in and outside of my home, which meant that my academics were affected. The lack of a father figure in my life, the instability of a shelter at various moments through my high school career, and the lack of emotional support made my focus on academics a difficult venture. Despite these challenges, ill too common for the typical Afro-Latino boy, I learned to face these difficulties and maintain my unyielding faith towards making it to college.
In times of despair I was fortunate to have people that shed some light on my life and what was possible. Of all, in recent time I have had new developed mentors and family that assisted me in the process of applying to college and refining my own life vision. The once Camden kid with limited support and few traces of focus due to his extenuating circumstances is now on his way to Ursinus College. I plan to get myself involved with courses relating to economics along with courses in the department of politics. I seek to influence policy changes in the future along with being involved in the making of structures that will help people, particularly those within the inner-city, achieve financial stability and gains of assets. I want to help families prepare for their children’s college aspirations, to avoid circumstances like my own.
I invite you to help me in my transition to college, and be a part of making my dream of attending college a true reality. I chose Ursinus College because it was the one college that best fit my financial needs and needed support from high school to college. The total tab of Ursinus College is $59,600, that includes tuition, room and board, and additional fees. I have accumulated some moneys in scholarship and grant funds, a large amount (about $20k) in loans, and with all that accounted for, I am still missing roughly $12,000. These are twelve-thousand dollars that I simply cannot afford, and it is currently placing my college dreams in jeopardy. Through a summer program at Ursinus College, I learned that college is exactly the place for me and the place that I need to be in order to grow socially and academically.
I thank all who have helped me get to this point. I thank you in advance for taking the time to read my story. I thank you for giving me another chance in helping me in this movement towards making a difference in the world. Please share it with your friends and those who you believe will support me on my journey towards college.
Organizer
Wilbert Diaz
Organizer
Camden, NJ