Below is the full text of a speech written and delivered by Steven Arce, a recent graduate of Chamberlin High School and a Hillsborough Education Foundation Scholarship recipient. The speech was delivered May 22, 2010 at the 2010 Scholarship Reception made possible by Citi, the presenting sponsor. Steven entered the Take Stock in Children scholarship program his sophomore year. His personally chosen mentor, Mr. Marcus, was his English and journalism teacher. During his two-year participation, Steven changed his career goals three times based on experiences in classes, interaction with his mentor, and actively participating in the writing for and production of the Chieftain, the school's newspaper. Starting this fall, Steven will begin his college career at the University of Florida.
As you read Steven's speech, you will be very proud of this confident young man, who along with his mentor, Mr. Marcus, has carefully planned his career and has certain resolve toward achieving the goals he pursues. There can never be any doubt about the importance of the Foundation's scholarship program and in particular, the positive impact Steven's mentor and the many other mentors have on the children and young adults they support.
I received my scholarship from the Hillsborough Education Foundation and Lazydays in 2007 when I just a sophomore in high school. I remember at the time I had dreams to be a doctor. I wanted to surpass myself and reach my goals. I wanted to go on to college and get a degree so I could be functional in a world that was increasingly getting more difficult. I didn't think about money at the time. I believed that my hard work would prevail, and that eventually, somehow, I would pull through.
That 'eventually' came that sophomore year. One of my counselors, Mrs. Aplin, called me up to fill out a form for the Hillsborough Education Foundation. I filled it out, hoping I would get something. And soon enough, I received a letter in the mail saying I won a scholarship. I was excited, and happy that I was one step closer to being able to pay for college. Mrs. Aplin called me up some time later and told me I had to choose a mentor. They had suggested Mr. Marcus, my creative writing teacher. It was a good suggestion, for Mr. Marcus was the one teacher who probably knew me more than every other. I was writing out my thoughts and feelings in his class, what I thought, what I believed in, what I wanted out of life. I was proving myself to him as a writer. Gladly, I told Mrs. Aplin that I would choose him as my mentor. And what a good decision that was. Mr. Marcus has proved to be more than just a mentor to me. He's been a friend, an adviser, a guardian even. My sophomore year he asked if I wanted to be a part of the school newspaper. I was a bit wary about it; I was not fond of the idea of writing so much with so many limits. And indeed I was not fond of the limits I had by working on the Chieftain at first. But it was the most enriching experience I had at Chamberlain. Soon, I learned that taking care of patients and marrying myself to a hospital was not my vocation. It was writing. I began to love journalism and what it meant to the world. Being able to spread the truth and inform people was attractive to me. I can thank Mr. Marcus for letting me discover it.
And while I have changed my decision to become a journalist and instead go into law (Yes that might seem ironic to you all), I have done so because I know have the confidence and opportunity to go to college now. Thanks to the Hillsborough Education Foundation, Mr. Marcus, my family, my teachers... everyone who's helped me really... I can say that this fall I'll be a freshman at the University of Florida. I thank the Hillsborough Education Foundation and my sponsor once again for letting me have the opportunity to be receiving another scholarship. Thank you.
Mr. Marcus expressed the following regarding his relationship with Steven: "I wish I could say that as his mentor, I inspired Steven to achieve. Quite frankly, he's been more of an inspiration to me. Steven's dedication is unparalleled and his motivation to excel has been infectious in our journalism class.
Throughout our relationship, I've had the privilege of offering Steven opportunities and advice. He's taken both and made the best of them, sometimes by doing what I recommend and sometimes by reasoning things out and making his own decisions. I'm proud to have contributed to Steven's development, but he gets all the credit."
It is apparent from comments shared by Mr. Marcus mutual respect has been cultivated throughout the mentoring relationship. Certainly, both will forever be positively impacted by the mentoring experience.
You may recall in the March Update we announced the availability to "tweet" through the Foundations Twitter site.
The warmth of your voice, the smile your mentee hears, the tone used for expressing concern, giving praise, acknowledging humor makes telephone talk almost as effective as in-person conversations.
