To be considered for this scholarship, students were asked to write an essay explaining why they are “Canyons Strong”. Here are a few lines from each of their essays, taking a glimpse into their past – so that we can join them in looking ahead to their futures.

“I was juggling school and work … while there was a constant thought in the back of my mind – wondering each day whether my little sister would survive another.”

“My family has always been something I couldn’t escape … I began to see the cracks in my life, to realize that the danger wasn’t just outside – it was inside my own home. … I owe my life to my sister.”

“At I neared 10-years-old, I was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition. I was only the seventh person ever diagnosed. This led to the discovery of a congenital heart defect, requiring immediate open-heart surgery.”

“Slowly and quietly, I walked to the kitchen, and I appeared face to face with a man I’ve never met, covered in blood from head to toe. … I was certain those eyes were of a man who knew he was about to die.”

“When I asked adults in my life for help, I felt ignored. I had no supportive adults in my life and when Covid happened I just never made it back to school.”

“When we had to go to the doctor or school, we had to walk there.”

“My father was deported. … My mother was in a car accident that left her permanently disabled. I was 11 without my father or mother to tell me everything was going to be okay.”

…

That’s a lot to take in …

These seven students painted vivid images as they shared their stories. But that’s not why they are Canyons Strong – Those quotes aren’t the ones to remember – Instead, remember these:

“I am a passionate and goal-driven teenager. I have learned the most valuable lessons in life; lessons about resilience, purpose and the importance of living life fully.”

“I want to go to college; to chase the dreams I was once too broken to imagine. I’ve seen the worst in life, and now I want to find the best of it.”

“Teachers have made a profound impact on my life. Their support, encouragement, and belief in me helped me overcome countless obstacles, and I hope to pay that forward to my future students.”

“There have been days where I’ve quit and given up, telling myself there is no point. Yet – that’s far from the truth. If you can’t find a way to love yourself, and truly love everything about what you’re doing, you’ll never be comfortable and never will grow.”

“I am learning to be strong in the face of adversity, to overcome hardships, and to fight to reach my goals and dreams of a successful higher education experience, and more importantly – long-term self-sufficiency and housing stability.”

“My educational goal is to learn as much as I can, no matter what it is. One of my career goals is to make an impact in my community and help others.”

“My goal in life is to help those in need around me, be the person that people were once for me. That’s all I’ve ever wanted, to help people and make a meaningful difference in someone’s life. I want to create a change.”

…

Passionate … Finding the best in life … self-love … strength in the face of adversity … helping others .. creating change – These are the characteristics of these hard-working students who have chosen to take their lives – their futures – into their own hands and to reach for the stars. 

We cannot wait to see what they have in store for the world to witness as they continue to prove they are – Canyons Strong.