September 10, 2010
To the Family of Stephanie Burgos,
I would like to thank you again for having chosen me to receive this scholarship, and would like to apologize for being a knuckle-head and not writing to you sooner! However, this year was such a whirlwind that, in retrospect, I could not have written a satisfactory letter without enough time to reflect.
The college I picked is everything I dreamed of, and more, I wish you guys could see how amazing the countryside of upstate New York is, stark but beautiful contrast to our own wonderful city. Though many students refer to St. Lawrence University as the epitome of "the middle of nowhere", I think they underestimate how much its quiet and serene environment can impact a kid who grew up in a neighborhood known for being loud. Not that I did not love New York City, but I needed a real lesson on autonomy, what puts the liberal arts, and that in a nutshell is St. Lawrence University.
I gained a new sense of independence not simply by living away from home (although it did help), but also having the opportunity to explore my many passions and dreams through this school. Yes, it certainly is very far away from any big city, but I appreciate that it is free from distractions, as it is a place built primarily on the principle of enriching knowledge. The small classrooms kicked me into gear, as I made an effort to let my opinions and ideas be heard. I made an effort to not only absorb the material in all my classes, but to also contribute to it, which made me realize how learning is very much a collaborative effort.
You will be proud to know that not only did I focus on my studies and maintained a good average, but I also pursued a social life with very wonderful, educated people from all parts of the country and from different sides of the world! Through my network of friends, I was able to travel to a lot of new and interesting places. I visited Vermont with my roommate, and went to the city of Burlington. I visited Canada twice, even the St. Lawrence River and its amazing thousand islands. However, my most memorable experience was going to Washington DC, as I participated in the National Equality March, which supported equal rights for the LBGT community. It was my first work of real activism, and felt like a part of history. As I write this, I am already planning on going next semester to London. Our school has an amazing study abroad program that gives students from low income families, such as myself, the opportunity to visit other countries and learn about different cultures.
Though London has always been a dream of mine, I was hesitant to apply at first because it is a lot of pressure. I wondered to myself, what if I don't get in? Then, I thought back to awards nite in Grover Cleveland, and receiving the Stephanie Marie Burgos Scholarship. I thought about the brave girl who could have achieved her dreams, if it were not for tragedy. There are many who could have been in my place, and seized the opportunity straight away; I could not let the people who believed in me, such as yourselves, down... So I have begun the application process. I have also begun working longer shifts as the Deli at our school, in order to afford the plane ticket to London. I will do whatever it takes to achieve my dreams, because I realize that life is precious to not even try.
Wish me luck,
Richard Bohan
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