GSW Scholar Finishes Freshman Year

As a senior in high school, I couldn't wait to go to prom, graduate, and experience all the perks that go with being a senior. When the time came to make sure all of my college applications had been sent out and that I was on the right track, I started to wonder, "How am I going to pay for all of this?" Most of my siblings graduated high school top of their class and got half, if not full, scholarships to the colleges of their choice. With a family like that, I had a huge standard to live up to. My guidance counselor told me about the Garden State Women's Scholarship and I made it a duty to apply for it—thank God that I did. I received notice that my good friend Cherae Boyce and I were the two finalists from Saint Vincent Academy and that Garden State Woman wanted to schedule a meeting with us. The meeting went great and Cherae and I were both awarded with the scholarship. My mother and I were so pleased that some part of my tuition will be paid for.

Starting all over again in a brand new environment, with all different kinds of people, majors and backgrounds, had me ecstatic about starting college—this day couldn't have come by any sooner. The first semester was a bit difficult to get used to but nothing I couldn't adapt to. I made great friends, some old and some new, my roommate and I are inseparable and I was able to learn different things while being at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. I had a couple of obstacles I had to overcome but I was still able to manage to get my head on straight and focus on what was important. The deaths of my choir director, Charles Osei-Owusu and my cousin Delores Opoku-Boateng, were very hard to endure but I had to keep on moving because that is what they would want me to do.

Overall the last year of my life has been a rollercoaster, but I have been blessed to still be here and be able to share my experience with others. I was always told that it is not about the quantity but the quality and that is just what the Garden State Women is to me. The quality of support and care that I receive from Ms. Judy Chapman is indescribable. I have definitely recommended GS Woman to so many of my fellow Vincentians in hopes that they too would be able to have the same wonderful experience(s) I've had this past year.