1. Do you have to work to supplement your family income?
I do not work to supplement my family's income, although it could be extremely helpful to our financial situation, because I have some medical disabilities that hamper my working ability. I even receive Social Security for my disabilities. My Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS) make it difficult to work while attending both high school and college, for dual enrollment, due to the sporadic symptoms. I also have Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) which adds difficulty to completing my school work. With all of this, I tend to find it difficult to add more to my plate because it eventually limits my thoroughness and attentiveness I usually like to give my work, as well as, the overall quality of the work. Therefore between school and my disabilities, my ability to work is extremely limited, especially for a time consuming job, despite my family's financial need.
2. Do family obligations limit your participation in extracurricular activities? If so, please describe:
Throughout much of my life, my mother's health issues has required a lot of my attention, and as a result has hampered my ability to be thoroughly involved in many extracurricular activities. At times I must help her with many chores or tasks that she usually performs. Also on days which her pain is worse, she is often stuck in bed or put in the hospital leaving her unable to drive, which includes me to school or extracurricular activities. Often, I attempt to obtain rides from friends, but other times I cannot. While my mother's physical condition requires much of my attention, both my grandfather and cousin have serious illnesses as well that often require my mother and I to travel to Florida to try and relieve my aunt, who takes care of them. Also various deaths over the years have required my attention and time. Due to the many of my family obligations, my extracurricular activity participation has been limited greatly.
3. Extracurricular activities. List the organization(s) that are most important to you and in which you have made your highest achievements. Include your position, a description of the activity and the number of hours you contributed each week.
My most important activities are my high school clubs, which usually meet monthly for meetings with the exception of special events. Art Club is my longest commitment that joined freshman year of high school and spent about 3 or more hours a month participating, along with, extra hours during football seasons to do face painting during lunch periods. Friends Club, which I have been a part of since my sophomore year and spent about 2 hours or more a month on, spends time with the special needs students at our school. We have the opportunity to be a part of the local Special Olympics, although because of conflicting issues I was unable to attend. Cultural Diversity is a new club that I joined my junior year, but was unable to participate due to being home-bound. Lastly, I joined Spanish Club sophomore year and spend an hour or more a month participating. Sadly, I was not of top position in any of these clubs. Still, I enjoyed them all.
4. Community service. List of activity, role and level of responsibility.
I unable to participate in community service during my years of high school, although I did apply for state director of the Miss Amazing Pageant for girls age 5-35 with disabilities last year. Even though I was not chosen for state director, I still look forward to volunteering in the near future now that the pageant has spread to most states as well as participating in other community programs in the near future.
5. Honors, awards and recognitions. List each and describe the level and the number of years of your involvement.
My freshman year in high school I was nominated for student of the month in the subject of Spanish, but unfortunately did not win. Still, I did win student of the month in my Law and Justice elective class for outstanding achievement and achievements in my career and technology course. I was awarded this honor in November of 2010 during my junior year of high school.
6. List any programs or activities that helped you prepare for higher education, such as University Outreach, Talent Search, Upward Bound, etc.
The dual enrollment program, which allows me to attend college while still attending my high school, has helped me prepare for higher education. By allowing me to take real college courses on a real college campus alongside its current undergraduate students I have become accustomed to the mechanisms of a college. I have also learned how to juggle my coursework in terms of having time to complete it and having the motivation to complete it, despite only having classes twice a week. Overall, II feel confident and ready to take on college after graduating from high school. Another academic program I took that helped me prepare for higher education is taking an advanced placement course; however, I find dual enrollment much more helpful when preparing me for higher education.
7. Employment. List and describe each job you've had, including dates of employment, job titles and hours worked each week.
As stated previously, I cannot work for health reasons; however, I did babysit children for money as a favor to my friends and neighbors. The dates of this employment were sporadic. The hours I worked varied upon request for me to babysit, but usually ranged from 4 to 8 hours a day.
8. Any other information for the Admission Committee to consider when your application is reviewed?
I would like to make it known that I was homebound for the major majority of my junior year because of medical reasons. Being homebound affected my grades tremendously, resulting in a failed semester of American Literature and Spanish 3, which are being or have been made up through online Brigham Young University Independent Study courses. Also my ability to excel on standardized tests is greatly hampered by many of my medical conditions, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Anxiety disorder, Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and my Ulcerative Colitis. Also my arthritis makes it difficult when taking a timed written exam. I also want to express that I am determined to succeed, despite the many problems I must overcome.
