LatPro.com’s scholarship program for Hispanic students is proud to announce Michaila Oliveira as one of the three finalists for its December deadline application. Vote for her essay by clicking the thumbs up button at the bottom of the page, and/or leave comments of support to help us with the selection process.
Michaila Oliveira‘s Essay:
How did you choose your major? What obstacles have you had to overcome and what will it mean to you to graduate with this degree?
In the fall of 1994, I stood before a judge for the first time. I was only three years old and the American justice system was about to set the tone for the rest of my life. I truly believe that God guided the hand of the judge that day when he ordered that I be removed from the custody of my incredibly young, drug-addicted mother and put into the custody of her older sister, my Tia Maria. This experience is the first thought that forms in my head when I am asked why I chose to pursue a degree in Political Science. I chose this major because I want to study and eventually interpret the law. This major chose me because I desire to save the lives of children who have no one to speak for them; I want to give them the chance to thrive that a family court judge gave me 17 years ago.
My family emigrated from the Azores, an autonomous archipelago of Portugal, in the late 1970s. My grandparents and their 9 children truly had nothing when they settled in Fall River, Massachusetts; they relied on the generosity of the Portuguese community already settled in the area for base necessities until my grandfather could find a job in a factory. My Tia Maria scrubbed floors at her catholic school in order for them to waive her tuition and my Tia Helena cleaned houses to supplement her father’s income. A few years after settling in the United States, both of my grandparents passed way and that was when my mother began her downward spiral. Life for my familia was incredibly difficult at that time, but we are a strong, stubborn people and nothing could keep us down forever.
As time passed, things got better. Although uneducated, my aunts and uncles were able to find jobs and settle into life in a new country. When my My Tia Maria took custody of me, she lived in a comfortable single family home that she shared with her husband (my Tio John), mother-in-law, and older brother. She worked so hard to give me the life she never had. She and her husband truly treated me as their daughter and I will always think of them as my parents. My Tia Helena and Tio Charlie took me to church and Sunday dinner every weekend; they encouraged me to follow my dreams and take risks and if I fell, they promised they would be there to catch me. These four amazing people told me that I could do anything, and I believed them…I still do. But, as I’ve gotten older, the reality of my socioeconomic position has caught up to me. I have no connections and no money, but I have my brain, my heart, and my family. I need this scholarship to fulfill my nearly lifelong dream of becoming an attorney and eventually a judge. I will be the first in my family to graduate with a college degree, but I refuse to be the last. This degree will not just be a measure of my academic success, it will be a source of pride and honor for my Tias and Tios and it will be proof to my young cousins that, just like our parents, we are a strong, stubborn people and we can overcome anything.
Congrats on making it as a finalist! I love your essay and I know you will make your family proud throughout your life and career! Good luck!
Great essay, congrats on making it as a finalist! Best wishes.
Great essay, you amaze me!
Congrats! Although for different reasons, my dad followed that same path and I am so honored to be his daughter because of it. You will do amazing things in this life and your motivation is truly inspiring. Good luck!
This essay is so inspiring, I know you’ll make your family proud. Good luck Michaila!
Amazing! Best of luck.
This is beautiful. I am so proud of you!
Awesome essay, Michaila! I always knew you’d great things. You have a lot of smarts and even more heart.
Congrats on being a finalist! You deserve the scholarship more than anyone. Praying for the best! Good luck and have fun!
Absolutely amazing! you are such an inspiration, Michaila!
Michaila! This was an amazing essay. Good luck!!!
A truly heartfelt, amazing essay! Congratulations on all your hard work
Michaila! This is honestly inspiring to read. Congratulations on your nomination and best of luck with the scholarship!
Great Essay Michaila! It’s amazing that this is a story that you have told me many times, but reading it for the first time has given me a chance to see it from a different perspective. Thank you for that. Good luck!
Michaila, I’ve never known the story that has molded you into the wonderful person you are. I wish you the best of luck!!
Wonderful and well spoken! Best of luck, I hope you get it!
Great essay! It takes a lot of courage to share such a personal story.
There is a saying to “shoot for the moon, even if you miss you’ll land among the stars”. You are already a star Michaila, so keep shooting for that moon girl, we believe in you!
Congratulations on being a finalist! You deserve that scholarship 🙂 Good luck!
You’ll make a wonderful lawyer.
You have convinced me that money given toward your education would be a very good investment!
What a beacon of determination and hard-work. Good lucj Michaila!
You go Girl, Amazing only touches what you have accomplished already. You are a special lady, I am glad to have met you.
Inspiring! I am rooting for your success in pursing your dreams!
Your essay tells us about your resilience and that of your family’s. It also exemplifies how this country is a land of opportunity for all. I hope you may accomplish your dream.
Besos, Anabella
Michaila,
What a wonderful essay. The passion and compassion that you convey are inspiring. Thank you for sharing your story. I have no doubt that you will succeed.
Thank you for sharing your story. I am a teacher so it brings me so much joy to see students who are succeeding despite huge odds.
Such a beautiful story. Good luck and may all of your dreams come true!
Wow, great story, well written, just amazing!
Great essay, Michaila! Very inspiring-you deserve this scholarship!
Excellent essay! Good luck to you!!!
Very inspiring! I know that you will go on to be an excellent attorney and judge!
Michaila, the only thing that matches your drive and determination is your heart! You deserve this more than anyone, best of luck with the scholarship!
This is amazing and so inspirational. Congratulations on being a finalist and good luck!
Congrats on making the finals love! You are an inspiration to me every day and you have truly earned every wonderful thing in your future! I cannot wait to see what comes next!
Love,
Little
Michaila, you and your story are an inspiration to anyone privileged enough to hear it. Best wishes on this, you deserve it.
Good luck!
Your essay is amazing and truly inspirational. Congrats on being a finalist!
What amazing courage and strength it takes to share your journey! Thanks for sharing. Congrats on being a finalist and the best of luck on all of your future endeavors.
A very inspiring story! I wish you all the best.
Amazing essay. Best of luck to you, you deserve it!
You inspire me to be a stronger person! I hope that the financial reward is yours to support you in you dreams. Should it not be yours to win… I know you have already won. As is witnessed by the wonderful posts above!
An inspiring story, written by a truly motivated individual. The justice system needs more people with your enthusiasm, intelligence and compassion. Great job on your essay. No one deserves this more than you.
This brought a tear to my eye!! I’m so proud of you!
This is an incredible story Michaila… Congratulations on being selected as a finalist, a most deserving honor. You are an inspiration for all of us. AOT
Great Esay!! Best of luck, if you have the drive you can accomplish anything!!!
Best of luck.
Good luck on this endeavor!
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Very well written essay. Best of luck.
A very inspiring story!! The best of luck to you. With your motivation you will go far.
Good luck!
Great story! Good luck!
Great Essay!! I hope you get the scholarship!
Good luck!
Great essay! Good luck to you now and in your future endeavors!
Some of my family came from Pico…good luck!
Very inspirational!
This is a great essay Michaila. You have become an amazing young woman that has a wonderful future ahead of you. Keep following your dreams and best of luck.
Great essay. It’s an inspirational one.
Best of luck to you!!
Truly inspiring story.
Best of luck, Awesome Essay!!
Good Luck! Great Essay.
Nice work!
Best Wishes!
Great essay! Good luck!
Very well done!
Good job!
Lots of luck to you. You deserve it!
Wonderful essay. I wish you the best.
Great job Michaila….I’m proud of you
This is a beautiful essay and I wish you the best of luck!
Excellent essay! I wish you the best of luck.
Very Inspiring. Great Essay! Wish you the very Best!
Wow! What an inspirational essay and a strong young woman.
Earle
Awesome essay!
Good luck!
A very inspirational story! Almost brought me to tears. Good luck Michaila!
What a remarkable young woman! Your family must be so proud.
Amazing essay. Good luck!
Fantastic essay, very inspiring. Good Luck!!
Good work!
Thumbs up!!!
Great essay. Good Luck
Best wish and Luck!!
Com a família e amor você sempre será rico e quando você tiver sucesso em seus objetivos, em seguida, é quando sua vida vai ser definido e passá-lo para a sua família algum dia como você mencionou que você não será a última. Desejo-lhe boa sorte!
Great essay! Good luck to you!
Your essay brought tears to my eyes. It was so eloquent and inspiring. It speaks volumes about your family and their values and work ethic. Congratulations and I truly hope you win this scholarship.
Great essay!!!
Michaila, What a great essay. You wrote a beautiful essay. Good Luck on your future endeavors. Anything is possible!!!
Best of luck!
Very nice essay – I wish you the best of luck in all of your future endeavors.
Beautifully written. Best of luck!
To have someone with your motivations, involved in the field you aspire to, would no doubt be a benefit to generations of young people such as yourself. Intellect without experience is not true knowledge. Good Luck to you AND to those who would benefit from your service.
Such a beautiful essay…so heart warming and real…makes one want to cry…all the best
You are an example of what a person can do if they work toward their goals, no matter what anyone says, or what is in the way. You will always have your family behind you, but you will do great things on the strength of your own hard work. Best of luck with your scholarship, you deserve it. Great Job!
Congratulations on making it as a finalist!!!
You are an inspiration to all of us. I wish you all the best in this venture and for your future goal of helping other children who need someone in their corner to help them in their lives.
Michaila your essay is inspirational. Being an immigrant myself and growing up abused I understand your determination. But I admire that you did not write as a victim of circumstances, but a CHAMPION. You will go far.
Wonderful moving essay that highlights the importance of a loving, supportive family and the opportunities in the US.
Good luck!
Meaningful and heartfelt. Good luck!