Jose Montanez Memorial Scholarship

Yes, during the ages of 7-10 I was in the foster care system. I was taken away from my mother at the age of 7 and reunited with her at 10. Several years after my placement into foster care, specifically in my sophomore year of high school, I had endured severe trauma, resulting in me losing motivation for my education. I no longer enjoyed several passions I had loved before, and I resented the feelings I was experiencing. Having to deal with traumatic flashbacks and consistent reminders conjured feelings of heavy depression and anxiety. These strong emotions led to me attempting suicide in both my sophomore and junior years of highschool. After about a week into my second stay, I was gifted art supplies by an incredibly kind nurse, and I found happiness through art. I hadn’t felt mentally strengthened in so long, and realized I wasn’t the only one in this state. After wanting to do something meaningful, I decided to bring color to a place that lacked thereof. With the assistance of nurses, we gathered 9 other patients who I could share my materials with, and we made art together. I taught them to make origami which hung from the ceiling, spiderweb cutouts for the windows, and drawings. Seeing the glow in their eyes when they realized that they were capable of making something on their own is a memory I will never forget. I felt alleviated once I saw that I was able to help kids see positivity through creation. Tranquility settled through me, and for a few fleeting moments, I forgot the environment I was in. I vividly remember leaving, looking up at the tall windows from across the street and seeing one, lone window covered in spiderwebs and drawings. I felt like I made a real life change, minuscule or not. Regardless of its importance to the outside world, I knew I made a positive impact on the patients I created with. I realized then that by becoming an Art Teacher, I would be able to continue doing what I love while showing others success in themselves, helping students feel positive through creativity and inclusivity. This is where my future as an Art Teacher became an incipient beauty. I know that art can be a healthy outlet for students if they’re given the artistic space to make new things through their own means. This freedom is often restricted in academic classrooms, as subjects including math and english have set rules for what is “right” and “wrong”. The beautiful world of art is far from this black and white filter, and I aspire to show teens the beauty in a classroom with originality. Art is something many children doubt themselves in, and by providing a healthy learning environment, I would be able to help kids accomplish the level of potential that they’ve always been capable of. New things can be made with those of old, causing up and rising artists to fall in love with a hobby. To be an enabler of such an awe-inspiring process would be a way for me to help teens in ways beyond what shows on the surface. Teaching is something that I can see myself doing until retirement, as my educators growing up were people who have helped me emotionally and physically through my struggles of mental health. I want to be able to provide this helping hand to teens, as many students haven’t had someone offering them the level of support they need. Kids deserve to be heard, and I aim to help students feel like they belong.

Yes, I was in the foster care system. Napoleon Hill once proclaimed, “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” Coming from substantial adversity and struggle, I am inclined to agree with this statement. For a large portion of my childhood I grew up in an environment where I was surrounded by drug usage, prostitution, and homelessness. I was placed in and out of the foster care system, never knowing who’s couch I would be sleeping on that night. Luckily for me, I was adopted out of this atrocious situation and was given a second chance at a childhood, family, and life. But instead of balling my resentment for my situation into anger, I use it as motivation to make change. I am committed to turning my adversity into success and positivity. .When I was 13 years old, my biological mother passed away due to a drug overdose. This happenstance opened my eyes to the world as it was and the tribulation my local community faces. At 14, my brother passed away at the hands of a firearm. His death took a significant toll on me both mentally and emotionally. For a while, I felt distraught and futile but as I realized the mental catastrophic repercussions I was allowing myself to be dragged into, I decided it was time for a change. I wanted to take all my challenges and heartache and turn it into something optimistic. I started participating in community service, hoping that giving back to others would help ease the tragedy that lived in my head. With much success, I continued my volunteering journey and completely fell in love with philanthropy. The mental health journey I trekked on as I overcame adversity led me to deciding on a dream career that would suit me best. I decided to become a psychiatric nurse and lead the fight for change in my community. I fancy becoming the helping hand that I didn’t have during my times of struggle. I thrive to give back and assist those who need it. I want to construct an efficacious impact in my work and change the lives of others who need the support to regain a positive mental mindset. Through my hardwork and determination, I have overcome major adversity and desire to take that diligence to provide others the opportunity to overcome their own adversities. Napoleon’s seed of adversity has helped me sprout a bud of alacritous zeal that will continue to grow into a flower of success.