Student Coaches Promote Student Success

     I have created a complete series of power point presentations that will assist and teach any student how to fill out scholarship and grant applications and to promote their success in obtaining financial aid.  My synopsis includes all of the steps it has taken me to achieve scholarship success. This is the inspiration for the title. I enjoy teaching students how to overcome the challenges of seeking financial aid through researching new opportunities, collecting a database of knowledge, and public speaking.  

     I condensed a considerable amount of hours of research into an easily understood presentation that would impact a broad audience. I was inspired to create the series along with printable brochures and a web page that would encourage and support any aspiring student to pursue their higher education without the pressure of taking out student loans.  As a nontraditional student, leaving the workforce and pursuing my education, I encountered several obstacles in addition to financial barriers. For example, where do I find legitimate scholarships to apply for or how do I write a collegiate level essay? I researched every area that I felt was necessary for me to overcome those obstacles and what I found was a compilation of invaluable information that should be readily available for other students. I returned to college without knowing if I would be able to complete my degree successfully while providing the essentials for my three children. However, I am nearing graduation of my A.A. degree and continuing onto my four-year university now with full confidence in my ability to utilize the resources and tools that are available for students like me.

     I organized all of my research in binders and after careful consideration, I decided to share my knowledge with other students. My desire is not to teach my peers how to win scholarships, but how to formulate a strategy that will break the financial and emotional barriers associated with higher education. I have realized that a student’s mindset can be the most dominant force behind a student’s success or failure rate. I am living proof of how strong the human mind can be in the midst of uncertainty. My will to succeed was my one-way ticket to overcoming any struggle associated with continuing my education. Once I became confident in myself, I decided that I should use my lucid ability to speak publicly on this research to further empower the students at my campus and throughout my entire region.

     My initial presentations were informative, inspiring, and uplifting. What began as a small performance for a handful of students has transformed into opened doors for speaking engagements all over the state. After partaking in different volunteer opportunities to see what my strengths are, I finally found something that I am passionate about. My ability to engage in conversations, hold an audience’s attention, and provide them with knowledge that will help them succeed has made me feel paramount. This is my most significant endeavor of my entire community college experience.