The prompts for the essays you will read are: · Describe one obstacle to your academic success and how you overcame it. · Describe how one individual has contributed to your academic success. Rate the essays below using this rubric: · Proper use of spelling and grammar · Content (quality and clarity of thought) · Organization of paper  For your discussion post:  In a 200-300 word essay, answer the following questions: 1. Discuss how you ranked the 3 scholarship essays you read. Who do you believe is the most deserving individual? 2. Discuss why and how you selected the winner. What were the best parts of this person's essay? Provide concrete examples. 3. Discuss why and how you selected the 2nd and 3rd place individuals. What made you decide that these were 2nd and 3rd place? Provide concrete examples. Go hereto post your discussion. __________ DANIEL'S ESSAY Countless destructive implications were presumed upon me after high school because of my decision to attend a community college rather than a university. Eventually however, those assumptions began affection me, leaving me to question myself and my potential. It wasn't until I took Dr. Smith's Political Science class that my confidence was rebuilt. Dr. Smith showed us videos on current governmental event, talked in depth about the criminal justice system, and introduced us to the world of politics. Dr. Smith noticed my enthusiasm in these subjects and persuaded me to attend several town hall meetings where mayors, candidates, and assembly members spoke. After one particular meeting, Dr. Smith informed me of internship opportunities available to students. I sent an application and was hired as an intern. While interning, I was responsible for assisting the constituents of my district though skewered processes such as health care and unemployment as well and amicably communicating with angry constituents. Dr. Smith was the only professor who stayed in touch with me throughout this experience. My passion for communications merged with my developing passion in political and governmental services to form my dream job of one day becoming a criminal attorney. With a clear goal, I have become more motivated to do well in school and work hard to maintain my academic standing. YVETTE'S ESSAY In the summer of 2014, I traveled from a small country all the way to Los Angeles, CA with the ultimate goal of acquiring a bachelor's degree. Considering the incredibly high tuition cost, I went to a student loan institution in my country and took their "4-year regional student loan", limiting me to four years. Given that I was uninformed and convinced I could get a bachelor's in four years by completing 15 units each semester, I only took 15.3 units in Fall 2014. Toward the end of the semester, Pathways required its students to visit a counselor and make an education plan in order to receive priority registration for the following semester. The moment I fulfilled this requirement, I realized the shortcoming ...

1. The prompts for the essays you will read are:
· Describe one obstacle to your academic success and how you
overcame it.
· Describe how one individual has contributed to your academic
success.
Rate the essays below using this rubric:
· Proper use of spelling and grammar
· Content (quality and clarity of thought)
· Organization of paper
For your discussion post:
In a 200-300 word essay, answer the following questions:
1. Discuss how you ranked the 3 scholarship essays you read.
Who do you believe is the most deserving individual?
2. Discuss why and how you selected the winner. What were the
best parts of this person's essay? Provide concrete examples.
3. Discuss why and how you selected the 2nd and 3rd place
individuals. What made you decide that these were 2nd and 3rd
place? Provide concrete examples.
Go hereto post your discussion.
__________
DANIEL'S ESSAY
Countless destructive implications were presumed upon me after
high school because of my decision to attend a community
college rather than a university. Eventually however, those
assumptions began affection me, leaving me to question myself
and my potential. It wasn't until I took Dr. Smith's Political
Science class that my confidence was rebuilt. Dr. Smith showed
us videos on current governmental event, talked in depth about
the criminal justice system, and introduced us to the world of
politics. Dr. Smith noticed my enthusiasm in these subjects and
persuaded me to attend several town hall meetings where
mayors, candidates, and assembly members spoke. After one
particular meeting, Dr. Smith informed me of internship

2. opportunities available to students. I sent an application and
was hired as an intern. While interning, I was responsible for
assisting the constituents of my district though skewered
processes such as health care and unemployment as well and
amicably communicating with angry constituents. Dr. Smith was
the only professor who stayed in touch with me throughout this
experience. My passion for communications merged with my
developing passion in political and governmental services to
form my dream job of one day becoming a criminal attorney.
With a clear goal, I have become more motivated to do well in
school and work hard to maintain my academic standing.
YVETTE'S ESSAY
In the summer of 2014, I traveled from a small country all the
way to Los Angeles, CA with the ultimate goal of acquiring a
bachelor's degree. Considering the incredibly high tuition cost, I
went to a student loan institution in my country and took their
"4-year regional student loan", limiting me to four years. Given
that I was uninformed and convinced I could get a bachelor's in
four years by completing 15 units each semester, I only took
15.3 units in Fall 2014. Toward the end of the semester,
Pathways required its students to visit a counselor and make an
education plan in order to receive priority registration for the
following semester. The moment I fulfilled this requirement, I
realized the shortcomings of my plan. Owing to financial
difficulties however, I was still forced to take 14 units in the
spring. "Demoralized" is an understatement of how I felt during
this time. I had even contemplated leaving the U.S. because I
feared the failure of completing my studies in four years. At
least I knew all the requirements at that point, including the
completion of 19 units last semester. However, I still need 26
units in order to graduate by spring. I did it though; I am
currently enrolled in 26 units. Although many staff and students
said I would eventually drop a class or two, I passed all of my
classes with A's. At first, the workload was excessive, but I got
used to it. I feel extremely content and accomplished because
attending PCC for one more semester would undoubtedly ruin

3. me considering I am only financially supported for four years.
RICARDO'S ESSAY
When I was young, my mother taught me about what struggle
was as a refugee. She had no food and money arriving in the
U.S., but was lucky enough to receive help transitioning. I want
to work hard not only for my parents, but for future immigrants
and myself. Those kindhearted people who helped my mother
has inspired me to follow their footsteps and continue this cycle
of helping immigrant families transition to the United States. In
high school, I was involved with Red Cross. I have been able to
help those in need by collecting cans for Thanksgiving and
earning money to donate to Relay for Life. I've volunteered at a
program that enriches environmental knowledge to elementary
school children. This experience deeply embedded my
connection and motivation to work with children because I
knew I wanted to guide them towards a positive attitude in their
education. As a future psychologist, I hope to continue working
in the education system and use my skills to help those students
have a better transition to a new school, especially those from
another country. Not all children are born with the same
opportunities and mentality. From volunteering, I learned that I
have the opportunity to help others improve themselves both
physically and mentally. Those kindhearted people who helped
my mother didn't just improve her settlement here. They also
taught me how to teach and give back.