As the child of two military parents, one of whom retired from the active duty Air

Force after a 22-year career, I come from a family in which education is highly valued.
As far back as I can remember, my parents have been pushing me to work harder and
strive to be a better person. They have taught me that knowledge is one of the most
powerful weapons in today’s world, and that it takes a strong, educated mind to
accomplish great things. That is why I want to get the best education that I can, so I can
continue to move forward in this world and contribute to the progression of humanity.
However, in present times education comes at a great cost, and many intelligent
individuals who have the potential to be great and contribute to solving our world’s
problems are hindered by their financial situations. Most jobs in fields that help solve
problems like cancer, climate change and world hunger, require a person to have a
degree to be considered for hire. This is why it is so important that people and
organizations such as the AOG provide financial assistance to these bright individuals
seeking a higher education who would otherwise not be able to achieve their dreams. In
the following paragraphs, I would like to tell the AOG about myself and why this
scholarship will give me the boost I need to fulfill my aspirations in life.
I was raised in a military family, and because of this I have been accustomed to
moving from place to place and adjusting to new circumstances. Ever since I was born,
my family has relocated every few years. This has posed challenges for me, such as
saying goodbye to friends and adapting to new schools and cultures. I lost many
friendships, but in the process also gained new friends and now have long-term friends
throughout America. I have been exposed to a wide range of people and their beliefs,
have been immersed in interesting cultures from the deep south to Polynesia, and have
had the chance to learn about cultures through activities such as Hawaiian dance
groups. These experiences have awakened in me a love for other cultures and
languages. I now have a vast appreciation for the “Great Mosaic” of cultures that is
America. I was inspired by these experiences to learn as many languages and study as
many foreign cultures as I can.
I began learning Spanish in fifth grade and continued through high school. I
realized how much I enjoyed learning Spanish and learning about the culture, and so I
decided to start teaching myself French using the app DuoLingo. I learned the whole
French I curriculum on DuoLingo and my advanced Spanish teacher, who is also fluent
in French, suggested that I skip French I and move straight into French II. At this point I
started teaching myself Russian as well. I then took Russian I and Japanese I online
during the fall semester of my senior year, and excelled greatly in those classes. I also
hope to learn German and possibly Mandarin. I think that being the child of service
members has inspired me to serve my country as well. I plan to study Russian at the
university and join the foreign services. Although I love this beautiful country and its
cultural diversity, I would like to continue to explore outside the boundaries of the United
States and experience other countries and their cultures as well. I hope to work
overseas, possibly as a diplomat.
 Even the smallest contribution from organizations like the AOG help make it
possible for young aspiring individuals like me to advance in life and reach their full
potential. I believe that this scholarship can bring me one step further towards fulfilling
my dreams and aspirations.