"Who is Amanda Burton? A struggling high school senior, or an outstanding prospective college student? Will she make the grade? Can she bravely face the perilous journey of learning to achieve what is commonly known as a  ‘college education?’ What qualities does she possess that make her worthy of consideration for this scholarship? And more importantly, does she like green eggs and ham?

        "This story and more on Channel 19, tonight at seven..."

         Unfortunately, not all of us can broadcast our great potential and college candidacy on national television. Hi, I am Amanda Burton, and I would love to take a moment of your time to tell you a bit about my outstanding characteristics - free of charge, no commercial breaks. If you like, you can pretend I am on TV, smiling and chattering away, but you just might want to check Channel 19 to make sure you are not missing the real thing.

         At any given moment, I am an ambitious eighteen-year-old student attending Davison High School. After school, on Mondays and Thursdays, I can be found at the Flint Institute of Music, playing my flute in various ensembles. On Tuesdays, I take private flute lessons, and on Wednesdays and Sundays, I go to church. Do I stop there? Of course not!! I usually work on Fridays and Saturdays to make the money I need for my trip to Europe this summer.

        "A typical week in the life of Amanda. How does she keep her head on straight?"

         Well, isn’t that what this essay is about?

         The first and foremost trait that keeps me going is my determination. I am considerably self -motivated and I take pride in my work and my achievements. I possess a desire to do my best and I will persistently pursue what I want out of life. My ambition has helped me to study hard to earn excellent grades in school, to be patient with myself and others, to hold out for the best, to achieve personal happiness, and to be proud when I finally succeed. My motivation will certainly pay off during college. I have already developed good study and work habits and have proven that I can succeed through difficulties. I refuse to let others put me down, as I can appreciate even the slowest progress, which will aid me in my chosen major, Special Education. (How could I bear to leave school forever?)

         A related trait is my willingness to continue trying and learning more. Since elementary school, the phrases, "persistence pays off," "practice makes perfect," and "if at first you don’t succeed..." have been inculcated into my brain; they resound whenever I get frustrated and need a small reminder that I am not perfect. My ambition to continue maturing and trying new things will help me to adjust to a new college environment (new friends, new classes, new teachers, new room...) and will make me more willing to ask for help from, and be helped by, others. (Excuse me, should I wear my blue sweater or my gray one while I go pick up the pizza? Of course, it does not matter; according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, food is more important than clothing. One must keep one’s priorities in order.)

         My number one priority is just that - keeping them in the right order. The proper order for me is not the same as for everyone else, but over time, I have discovered that no matter how hard I try, I cannot please everybody, and I should not try to do so. My mother has always encouraged me to be who I want to be. Once I started being myself, I found that I was much happier. This frame of mind will permit me to flourish in college; I know what I want and what is best for me. A similar attribute I possess is my self-concept. I believe in myself and I know that I can reach any goal I set if I work for it. This came as a result of my mother always being there and standing up for me, having great friends to inspire and encourage me, and a supportive church family to keep me on track and out of trouble. I have the strength and conviction to stay focused in college; I know to avoid parties and ‘bad company,’ even while I am away from home, without friends and family to warn me about what I should or should not do. "To thine own self be true," someone once said.

         Of course that someone was Shakespeare, or rather, Polonius from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Reading is a pastime that I enjoy, and it is also one that not a lot of students my age have the time or desire to do. I have been fond of reading since I learned how. I share my love of books with my mother. Reading affords me the opportunity to expand my knowledge on subjects I take interest in. It lets me escape the pressures of the outside world and leave the occasional hardships of reality behind, at least for a little while.

         Playing music is another way I like to relax. I play in various band and orchestra ensembles and go to a few music camps each summer. I have practiced and worked hard to further my ability and understanding, and I have taken advantage of my talents to share wonderful music with my school, my church, my community, and the world. A friend and I visit nursing homes and daycare’s every Christmas to play carols for them on the flute. I performed with our mission team in several cities in Brazil last summer. This summer, I will be touring six countries in Europe, plus a small area of the Midwestern US, with the Blue Lake International Symphony Band, playing some really great music. Music will continue to be for me an outlet through which I can relax, have fun, and enjoy doing something that I know I am good at. Music helps me to feel good about myself, to touch and inspire others, and to meet potential friends.

          Perhaps Emerson was correct when he stated that to have a friend you must be a friend. Friendliness is a quality that will give anyone an advantage in society. I have found that oftentimes the difference between those who succeed and those who do not is a matter of attitude. Being open and easy to get along with distinguishes a good student from an outstanding one. My ability to make friends readily and to be a leader has frequently given me an edge over ‘the competition.’ Kindness counts, especially since I am going to be in college soon. I can make friends and adapt easily, which will certainly make getting along with dorm-mates much simpler. On another note: while I would love to get my way all the time and I will do all that I can to be the best, I will not step all over others while trying to make it to the top.

         Being a compassionate and just person also means that I am reliable. I do my best to be dependable and be there for people when they need me. I believe that if someone knows that I am counting on him, he will take on more responsibility to come through for me. If they do not, there are always hitmen lurking in the background, just waiting to beat some sense into the negligent individual....

         Not everybody needs common sense beaten into him. I personally believe that all people are capable of becoming who they want to be on their own. All are able to change themselves for the better. Over the last few years, I, with the help of God, have overcome a bitter childhood and made several necessary modifications to my lifestyle and way of thinking. I feel that no matter where one comes from, who one’s parents or friends are, or what one has been through; everyone can break free of that influence and become their own person, not a product of their environment. This is important for me to keep in mind as I attend college, for I will need to believe in myself and have faith in God and in those who will be there to help me along my way to a higher education.

         Religion is a prominent influence on my life. I have barely attended church for three years now, but I already have the growing support of a church family to lean on. I am refining better morals and values to keep me going through the tough times I encounter. I have found many new companions through the church. Last summer, I had the exciting opportunity to travel to Brazil on a mission trip. There, I was able to minister with my testimony and music, and I met a few people that I still keep in touch with through mail. I even learned a bit of Portuguese. My involvement with the church will be to my advantage throughout college; the special organizations can take part in will give me the chance to meet other students with whom I have common interests. Going to church will give me sense of routine amidst the chaos of an all-new college environment.

         Speaking of chaos, how many times can one lose one’s car keys during the course of a week? As for me, I seldom misplace my belongings. I have learned to keep my room neat and my affairs arranged simply because staying organized makes life a whole lot easier. This is a great habit to develop and it will stay with me throughout college. In my mind, organization produces less stress, which equals better grades. Keeping track of all of my activities and having my priorities in order will allow me to flourish in all areas I participate in.

         Finally, it is good to keep in mind why I have the chance to attend college in the first place. Though I am not a big fan of my American History classes, they have taught me one thing - to appreciate my country and those who died to give the rest of America a chance to live in a free country. Whether I receive a Centralis Scholarship or not, I will always value the opportunity to go to Central Michigan University, and I will never take that for granted.

         The skills and characteristics that I have learned to value in myself are what make me who I am - different from anyone else. They will continue to assist me for the rest of my life; upholding me through the struggles and escorting me to the good times. Some of the most demanding years that I will ever live through are coming up faster than ever - "the college years." I have great plans for myself, and the outstanding characteristics that make up my personality will let me prevail with flying colors...even if I never ‘go national.'