Ricardo Brens is a rising sophomore at Millersville University of Pennsylvania and immigrant from the Dominican Republic. Ricardo graduated from Edison/Fareira High School in Philadelphia and is a 2011 recipient of the Ann C. Phillips Scholarship sponsored by The Stafford Foundation. In speech below, Ricardo shares his first year experiences at Millersville University and how scholarship funds like the Ann Phillips Scholarship provided much needed support during his first year.
Here are Ricardo’s remarks from our Annual Tea Fundraiser for the Scholarship Fund held on Saturday, June 30th, 2012.
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, Youth Action members and Allies:
My name is Ricardo Brens and it is such a great honor to stand before you on this beautiful and exciting day to share my first year experiences in college. First, I would like to talk to you a bit about myself. I came here to the United States almost 3 years ago from the Dominican Republic. At that time I didn’t know English and I was very afraid about my future. I can honestly say that it was hard for me to adapt myself to live in this country, with the culture, and the everyday life, but that was not a reason to give up and renounce my dreams. In addition, I graduated as the Salutatorian of my graduating class last year, giving a speech and obtaining many different awards for my outstanding work and involvement in different organizations, clubs, and community service.
When I decided to go to college for my Bachelor’s degree, I felt scared about failure because I didn’t know if my English was good enough. I heard some friends who were in college how difficult college is and that, unfortunately, many students drop out for the same reason. However, I’ve always said that it feels better to know that you tried hard, even though you failed, than wonder what would have happened if you would have tried. So, I started my first semester at Millersville University. There, I went through many different struggles, long and bad days, some procrastination, lack of sleep, etc., I even felt like giving up at one point, but I kept moving on, I finished my first semester, and was awarded for getting a 3.0 or above GPA. Then, my second semester started. I joined an organization called the Society On Latino Affairs for which I’m the Public Relations Chair, got a fantastic job working for a professor as a research assistant, and finally, on June 15th, I received an official letter sent from Millersville University notifying me that I was named to the Dean’s list because of my excellent academic performance throughout the year. I honestly said: “Woo, I never imagined this, thank you God, I am very proud of myself.” My family congratulated me as well as my high school teachers and counselors after I posted a picture of the letter on Facebook. “I had to share my happiness and success with my loved ones.”
On the other hand, one of the things that worries many first year college students as well as parents is financial aid. Scholarships like this one are one of the wonderful ways to help freshman students pay their first year of college. Having a good financial aid package, can help students start their first year of college on the right foot and concentrate on their academics rather than financial issues, which can become an obstacle in their path towards success.
Finally, I want to thank the Youth Action members and Allies for giving me as well as many other students who won this scholarship, the opportunity to make my dreams of getting a good education and become successful. I want to give a special thanks to Mr. Anthony Phillips for giving me the great honor of sharing with you my first year experiences in college. Thank you all very much for your time and attention, and have a fantastic rest of the event, as well as the day.