Jack Kent Cooke (JKC) Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Essay Example

Narrative Autobiography

Every morning, as a student at Paul Revere Jr. High School, I would start my hour-long journey from my South Central home, staring out of the bus window, watching in amazement as my inner-city neighborhood disappeared, replaced by the suburban paradise of Brentwood. My initial reaction was wow, but soon the thrill was gone and the daily commute evoked a more philosophical response: why? Full of good questions but without answers, I began to spend hours studying. The statistics that I read suggested that African-Americans lagged far behind whites educationally and economically: those facts created a desire within me to become an agent of change.

Valuable life experiences have allowed me to become a better-rounded individual. For example, I was thirteen years old when I decided to become a rap star. Through hard work I landed my first recording contract at seventeen. The first song I released was a phenomenon. I became a full-fledged celebrity at nineteen and toured the world until I was twenty-one. However, I came to the conclusion that my purpose was not to rap about materialism and such, but to teach while I entertain. I dissolved my record contract, got a 9-5 job, and started a positive hip-hop band. I quickly fell in love and married one of my background singers. We have a son who has been able to see some of the most amazing countries before the age of three, while touring with his parents.

Now, I am a full-time student, who works a part-time job. I used to make $15,000 a month, and now earn $15 an hour. I am most proud of the fact that my wife and I have persevered through all of the ups and the downs. We are raising our 3 year-old to be a good person, and I look forward to explaining to him why I stopped, took a bow, and left the stage during my fifteen minutes of fame.

After a twelve-year hiatus from school I returned, determined to succeed. My personal and intellectual growth, since enrolling at LBCC, has served to strengthen my resolve to serve, to teach, and to advocate on behalf of the most disadvantaged in our society. A scholarship will help provide me with the foundation necessary to build steadily upward toward the achievement of my educational goals. I thank you for your consideration.

Original Source: Long Beach City College