More Than a Test Score

Congratulations to Ebenezer Agaro, our latest Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship winner!

We’ve all heard the expression “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” It’s a time-tested idiom that shows us it’s not about the situation we’re put in, but how we react to it that really matters.

We know our students are some of the most adaptable pupils around, so we asked to hear about an instance in your life when you turned a potential disaster into a success. Ebenezer’s essay won us over for proving any obstacle in his path can literally be cleared one step at a time.

Here’s his winning essay:
The morning of my half-marathon at 5AM my parents’ car stopped working. Rather than being distraught or panicked, I stretched and ran 6 miles to the race. The race started twenty minutes after I arrived, [but] I still ended up finishing twentieth out of four thousand.

Here’s a bit more about our winner:

My name is Ebenezer and I was born in Ethiopia. I’m a smart guy that loves to run races and I love summer breaks because I get to learn new things.

Here’s a few of our favorite runners up:

In 11th grade I wanted to organize my school’s first ever prom. I tried for months to try and get approval and help from other students. Two months before prom I had no help and barely any money. Through sheer determination I raised enough money by myself to have a great prom! -Sarah R.

My project was a mess. We had nothing done and my group members could talk about nothing except last night’s episode of “America’s Next Top Model”. Then it hit me, and we turned our mess of an English Project into a video short incorporating modeling and English literary terms. -Ted T.

When designing our class T-Shirts I misspelled the word “Laboratory.” Instead I wrote “Labratory.” When we got the shirts, everyone thought I was so clever to incorporated the word “Labrat” (what our school is abbreviated as.) -Kehaulani L.

Miss out on your chance to apply under this scholarship prompt? Don’t worry, it’s not a disaster! We post a brand new question for our Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship every Monday, so you have a handful of chances to win each month! Apply today to earn some awesome tuition funding.

It’s the end of the semester and all your academic worries are about to go on hold. While it’s easy to file away your notes, sell back your textbooks, and toss that class schedule in the trash, wrapping up your internship is a bit trickier. Sure, you could say your goodbyes and shake a few hands on your way out, but is that really the ideal way to make the most of your experience?

Your internship is worth a lot more than just class credits—it’s a chance to get real work-place experience, make connections, and if you’re lucky, even score a permanent job.

Read College Prowler’s 7 tips for ending your internship with class and style>>

Congratulations to our latest Double Your Money Winner Hannah Turpin! Hannah was awarded the Ohio Elks Association Most Valuable Student Scholarship for $1,000, and because she found and applied for the scholarship through Zinch, we’re hooking her up with another $1,000.

We wanted to bend Hannah’s ear for a moment with a few interview questions, and here’s what she had to say…

What’s your strategy behind applying for scholarships?

While my test score is one part of who I am, it is not a definition of me. My test score may showcase my academic abilities, but it fails to capture my personality, my activities, my leadership positions and my service.

Looking for a way to get ahead on tuition? Hit up our Double Your Money program to find out if you’re eligible for a scholarship match!

Congratulations to Jourdan Lewanda, our latest Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship winner!

Behind every great hero is an even greater teacher—Harry Potter had Dumbledore, The Karate Kid had Mr. Miyagi, and the X-Men had Professor X. That made us wonder, if you had the chance to study under the tutelage of any fictional mentor, who’d it be? Jourdan’s answer stood out to us for picking a mentor that’d teach her everything she’d need to survive in the wild, including the bare necessities.

Here’s her winning essay:
I would learn from Baloo, the bear from the Jungle Book. When Mowgli was found in the jungle, Baloo helped him learn the languages of all the animals, to help him communicate and flourish. Language is the door to our world, if we segregate ourselves in one culture we will never know the beauty of the world around us.

Here’s a bit more about our winner:
I am Jourdan. Gryffindor, and excited and unsure about my future. I watch Phineas and Ferb on a regular basis, and love getting mail. I’m involved in my school’s Stage Company, where I have mastered about 6 different accents. I have a pet Dachshund named Kirby. He likes carrots.

Here’s a few of our favorite runners up:

I would study under Yoda. He is very wise, and he takes the long view. I would want to learn about the universe, the force, and life. And maybe a little lightsaber dueling. -Joshua D.

Given the opportunity, I would pick the world’s only consulting detective to be my teacher; the unfathomably intelligent Sherlock Holmes. He doesn’t care for useless garbage like the solar system or politics, so I’d waste no brain space under the supervision of Mr. Holmes. My incredible fictional educator (and his teacher’s assistant, John Watson) would expand my knowledge about deduction, disguise, self-defense, and maybe even the violin. -Geri I.

Stephen Colbert would come pick me up via his Bring Back America helicopter and fly us away to his secret underground training base located under Fox News studios. He would help me perfect the art of irony and sarcasm. Together we would conquer every bear in America. -Jamie H.

There’s an old Chinese proverb that states, “Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself.” What better way to take that to heart than by entering our Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship to earn yourself a thousand bucks towards college? Click the link, fill out the application, and you’re done!

Congrats, you’re ready to graduate! These last four years of hard work have been leading up to this very moment, but when it’s all said and done are you really ready? We’re not talking about passing your finals or heading off to college—we’re talking about bringing your A-game on graduation day. If you’re like most students you probably thought ordering your cap and gown was all it would take, but there’s a lot more you can make happen to exit in style.

Here are our top tips for rocking your big day like a boss.

• Pre-plan your under gown attire – Chances are your graduation ceremony is going to take a while, which means whether you like it or not, you’ll to have to idly sit still for a few hours while your teachers quote Mark Twain and hand out the diplomas. If your school is planning to hold the event outside in the sun (or even inside the gymnasium) things can literally heat up quick.

Make sure you wear something comfortable under your gown that allows your body to breathe and stay cool. This sensibility should apply to your footwear as well—though it may be tempting to wear that new pair of heels or boots, remember you’re going to be on your feet all day long. If you must absolutely wear your fancy new shoes then consider asking your parents to bring a pair of sneakers as back up.

• Prepare for the elements – To go along with the point above, the best kind of graduate is a prepared one! Amidst the cheers and congratulations you’ll have little time to focus on much else. Think about bringing a few handheld items you can carry in your pockets (or purse) for those crucial moments. A few of our top picks include a bottle of water to stay hydrated, a pack of tissues for those tear of joy, and a Sharpie to sign your friends’ yearbooks.

• Decorate your cap – Want to stand out from the endless sea of billowy grad gowns? Then pick up a puff paint set and turn your square cap into a wearable canvas. Whether it’s a shout out to mom and dad, a message to the crowd, or just a fun design you thought up in class, adding a little flair to your ceremonial threads will surely turn some heads.

• Handwritten thank you notes – Sometimes a text message just won’t cut it. For those teachers that went the extra mile or the classmates you’ve bonded with over the years, writing a small thank you note can make a huge impression. Jot down a few lines of why a certain someone was special to you and hand it to them on your way out—when they open it they’ll have a constant reminder of the impact they’ve made on your life.

• Buy a disposable camera – This may sound like an old-school suggestion, but hear us out. Sure, your classmates will post hundreds of grad pics on their Facebook Walls and Flickr accounts, but wouldn’t it be great to have a set of personal pictures to commemorate the occasion? In a time when every person on the planet can take a photo and share it with the world in seconds, being able to privately capture a moment is a real rarity. By taking this route you’ll have a set of exclusive pictures nobody else will see, except for those closest you choose to share with. Disposable cameras and photo prints can be picked up for cheap, but the memories they’ll capture will be priceless.

Do you have any tips on how a senior can rock their graduation? How are you prepping for the big day? Tell us in a comment below.