I am a senior at Pepperdine University. I will be receiving
my Bachelor Degree in Business Administration this coming May. I am so
thankful for the opportunities that were given to me through the Glenn
Langer Scholarship. This scholarship helped build my confidence, taught
me that with determination no hard work ever went unnoticed, most importantly,
it taught me the power of giving.
At the age of only eleven I was very aware
that if I were going to realize my dream of one day going to
college I would have to be strong. I come from a single parent home and
have three younger siblings. I knew then that I would not have the financial
support of my family. It is not that my mother did not wish for what was
best for me. Asking her to financially support my education meant I would
be taking away from my little brothers and sister. It was too much to ask
for. Although my drive was strong, so was my sense of reality.
It is amazing
to look back and see how different my life became after I was
elected one of the first Glenn Langer Scholarship recipients
in1996. It is a rather unusual, but clever scholarship consisting
of electing a child and following him/her closely through their
middle school and high school years. As a scholarship winner
I was helped financially, but most importantly I was offered
the support of a mentor. In my experience, this was what continued
to feed into my dream of college. Through small changes in
our life the program ensured that each of us would stay focused
on our vision. Our mentor would take us school shopping, on field
trips, but what made the real difference is that they became
our friends.
There are not many scholarship funds like the Glenn
Langer scholarship foundation. If more people understood the
power of such a program in the life of a child, I am certain
this would change. It is a mentoring program so carefully planned
as to help children stay focused during the time they are most
easily influenced. This scholarship enabled me to surround myself
by people who believe in
me and by placing me at a private school, this scholarship
allowed me to be surrounded by people who believe in themselves.
I believe this is where the true value and the success of the
scholarship lies, when others see the possibilities along with
you your dreams no longer seem out of reach.
I have been so blessed
to find, despite of my surroundings, people who supported and
helped guide me. It is they who made all the difference through
their support and through their willingness to give of themselves
to someone else. Although I cannot say for certain where I would
be today if I had not been chosen, I do know that being a Glenn
Langer Scholar ensured that I would one day be were I always
hoped to be, where I am today.
Reflections
from the Executive Director,
Meg Sanchez
I feel very privileged to have been part of the
Partnership Scholars’ Program since its inception in Lennox in
1996. We started with just one site and seven students and currently
there are over 300 students at more than twenty five sites.
The mentoring that children receive throughout the six years impacts their lives
in many powerful ways. When scholars’ experiences include visits to the
L.A. County Museum of Art, The Museum of Tolerance, the Pantages Theatre, the
Mark Taper Forum, UCLA, Loyola Marymount, San Diego, Santa Barbara, (and in some
cases Boston, NYC and Washington D.C.) their world literally opens up. New environments,
when experienced with a mentor, are no longer frightening or “off limits”,
and these experiences gradually result in confidence and independence.
Partnership scholars come to fully realize that there is no limit to what they
can do with their lives when education is a focus. Glory is so often given to
the athlete; here we give a strong message that being a scholar merits glory
and much more.
One of the most compelling results of the program is that our students become
increasingly more curious and see themselves as capable of satisfying that curiosity.
It becomes apparent that the college experience is essential and that it is clearly
within their reach.
