Scholarship Name: EXTRAORDINARY TEEN AWARD

I am from a single parent family. My mother and I live in a low income housing project run under the Housing and Urban Development. My sister attends New Mexico State University on a Regents Scholarship and struggles financially through college. And although My family is usually the party receiving assistance, I been taught to care for others within my community and always help people in need as much as I can.

Within my High school years I have participated in several community and volunteer activities that I felt were very successful. The most satisfying of all my volunteer efforts was a program designed to help "at risk" middle school students attain self-confidence and try harder in their studies s that they will stay in school and not be part of the 60% of students in our community that drop out of high school each year. These students came in with an attitude that school wasn't important, or that they just weren't smart enough. Through the process of tutoring and conference sessions with the students we were able to help them realize that for a little effort, an education can help their future, and give them the chance to make their dreams a reality.

Other volunteer efforts include: Caring for an elderly lady on a weekly basis, helping her with things that she is no longer able to do on her own. Planning, and assembling an annual Thanksgiving dinner held at school for the elderly people in our community that needed a pleasant dinner through student senate. Community improvement festivals, "Festival de Onate" in which there would be huge festivals to raise money for community upkeep and scholarship awards.

As I continue my education, and throughout my life, I plan to give as much encouragement and support, notably the youth, to people in situations that cause them to struggle through life to show them that there is hope, as various organizations have done for my family and me. Volunteer programs offer help to people in need as well as pride within one's soul.