5 Why

I am interested in joining your program because I feel that Atlantic Impact is the piece of the puzzle that I'm missing. This puzzle represents the road to college and builds on all the experiences and opportunities that are helping me to get to my goal. I have my family, friends, school, the Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program, and my big brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit to help me. However, I would love to finish putting the pieces together by adding Atlantic Impact to help me expand my knowledge of other places and cultures. I have many talents and skills to offer to your program. I'm funny, outgoing, respectful, a leader, and open to new ideas. I own up to my mistakes, and I love math. I love to play chess, football, am a member of the Distributive Education Clubs of America, being on the student council, and so much more.

Partnering with Atlantic Impact will have a positive impact on my life. My school has given me the tools needed to learn, and help me function and make smart choices for my future. I am currently in the 11th grade at De La Salle Collegiate. I have been there for three years and I'm planning on finishing my last year there. I am fortunate to be there, as it is an expensive private school. I was able to earn a scholarship thereby being a strong student, and being a part of the Detroit Boxing Gym, a partner of De La Salle. I even met my big brother there, through an event they were hosting. To this day I look up to my big brother as a mentor and father figure.

My big brother has taught me skills that will help me through life, like how to tie a tie, sail a boat, and believe in myself. My big brother has helped me out the last four years through tough times. In 2016, I lost my grandpa. He committed suicide resulting from dementia. He didn't want my grandma to take care of him or see him at his weakest point. A year later, I lost my biological father, although he was mostly absent from my life. It hurt to lose two people I loved so dearly. Because of those events, I started to fall behind in school and felt depressed. Then I met my big brother, Ron Stefanski, and he changed my life for the better. I was able to bounce back and get back on track and finish middle school with a 3.5 GPA.

My family is big-I have two sisters and three brothers, and my parents never went to college. I want to be the first to go to a four-year college, not only for my family but also for myself. My biological father had my two sisters, my little brother, and myself by my mom. My stepfather (I call him old man) had my other two siblings by other women before he met my mom. He's been with me ever since I was nine months old. I live on the eastside of Detroit off Seven Mile and Outer Drive. It's an alright neighborhood, but there's nothing special about it. I go to De La Salle, a private catholic school. My grandpa was a devoutly religious man, so I'm trying to become a catholic myself, just like him. As you can see, Atlantic Impact can be the piece of the puzzle that I'm missing, building on all the experiences and opportunities that are helping me in every way possible to get to my goal. I would love to have this opportunity to be a part of Atlantic Impact, and it would be an honor to be selected. Thanks for considering me for the program.