Shirley Jackson
My name is Shirley Jean Jackson and I am so very interested in becoming one of the lucky winners of the working moms and dads scholarships for several reasons. One reason is for my parents who were never able to go to college themselves. The second is for my sons, to prove to them that despite previous set backs in life, when optical come your way perseverance will allow the opportunity for success if the willingness to try and the drive to succeed is there. Third, I would like to acquire the scholarship because I have wanted this for a long time because teaching and administration came naturally, as I tutored my siblings, helped my parents in directing my siblings lives and began management when I was just a teenager. Finally and today most importantly, I want this scholarship because I truly want to make a difference.
Clarence and Christine are my parents, though they found a way to be successful, they were unable to complete high school until later because they were raising eight children. My dad only had a sixth grade education until I was about 12 years old. He went back to school to encourage one of my brothers who wanted to drop out of high school. Though my father was doing okay financially, he wanted us all to know the importance of an education so that we would have it a little better in life. He completed his high school diploma in one year I believe and my oldest brother went on to complete school and eventually college.
My mother was a nurse's aide for years but could not get to the next level for many years because she was a black woman and there were few opportunities for her to go back to school. She had an eleventh grade education, but later went back to become a LPN, trained to become an RN but was not allowed to pursue the career until she was over 40 years old. Back then black females at least in our little towns were not allowed such a position. However, later in her 50's she became a supervisor and was satisfied with the success.
I would like to do this for them as they were instrumental in my wanting to be successful in life. However marriage and other issues curved my opportunity to go to school which is a story in itself. The second reason I would like to win the scholarship, is for my sons, my youngest seems to be loosing the drive to excel. He is only sixteen years old and doesn't have a lot of motivation. He doesn't understand the struggles people went through to allow him the opportunities he has today to acquire and education. I want him to understand the importance of doing your best and striving to be successful in everything. I also have a nephew that I raised from 3 weeks old, (I call him my son as well) who dropped out of college his junior year and I am hopeful that this will encourage him to return to school as he is 30 year old now and thinking he is too old to go back.
I will finish my BA on June 15 and I would like to continue on to complete my Masters Degree in an effort to show him it is not too late for him as he is only has a little more than a year for completion. Like my dad, I believe this is a worth while cause to set this example for the boys; I am hopeful that he will go back to school. He has spoken to me about it after seeing me go back for my BA. I believe this will be the motivation they will need, because if I can finish my masters at 53, they can do what is necessary to be successful to complete their education.
The third reason I would like to receive the scholarship, is because I have always wanted to be a teacher and an administrator. As a young teen I took care of my siblings, by organizing the house, taking care of them, making sure they got up on time, ate breakfast, when off to school and assisted with their homework, while my parents worked. In addition, I began work at an early age when my parents separated because my mother's salary was too small to support herself and 5 children. It was necessary to help buy clothing and other goods for my sister, three brothers and of course me so that we did not look badly going to school.
My mom did her best, but when we first moved to Florida after the separation, she did not make much money, so I volunteered to assist. The situation gave me a good work ethic, caused me to be more responsible and of course made me grow up pretty fast as I was the oldest child in Florida, which was quite a change from being the over protected sister and daughter back home. By 16, I was made manager of a shoe department in a local store and by 20 I had been married divorced and had lost two children that were born premature. These were difficult times and school was not in the picture for me at that time. However, it made me stronger. I then helped my mom to buy a house and took in my 3 week old nephew who is the 30 year old that I previously spoke about. I had some success, but whenever new management came to a job they would demote me and make me work to get my position back. It was generally because they saw me as a young woman and at that time it was difficult to be a manager with a child and of child barring age. There were still some prejudices regarding women in key positions who were of child bearing age. I seemed to have three strikes against me, one I was young and looked even younger, two, I was female in a male's world and three, being black back then did not always get me places easily. However, I stuck in their. The fact that I had no degree was generally the reason I was told I had to be demoted. However, eventually they would see my work ethic and how I was a benefit and promotion would come again, anyway. It was frustrating as that slowed my progressive plans for success down tremendously. Teaching and administration work was the work I enjoyed so I stayed. Often I was allowed to do training and development in these positions, so I learned to be okay with that, but I always wanted more.
You see I always did much of the work, trained many people that would eventually become my boss because they had degrees. At age 19 I taught at Nova University in a home based preschool program while managing Sears Portrait Studios at night and on weekends. I have also worked as a substitute teacher for about 10 years. The only thing in my way was a degree. This brings me to my final reason for wanting the scholarship.
I really want to be a teacher and administrator of a school so that I can be in a position to truly make a difference. I have always seen the big picture in business, being able to determine points of action that should take place from the top down. My goal is to get into the (AP) Assistant Principals program while teaching and working on my Masters in Education Leadership, acquire my PHD and eventually become a principal. All that prior experience can only be an asset now so I have not regrets.
I currently work at an alternative school where children really need people like me to assist them in areas they may not be able to receive elsewhere. Most of our children have legal or moral issues and we are working on the education and behavioral change that will help them to become good citizens. My principal thinks that I am a great candidate for administration and is backing me with moral support and as much on the job training as allowed without a degree. I see the big picture and it is my belief that once I have finished the education and training I will be able to bring all the hard work, organization, administration, training, development and motivational skills previously acquired in my career and life time of working with children to that of principal of a school. Schools today need people who are strong leaders, with a big heart, great plans, and variety of skills. I plan to be a guiding example to the staff and students I will lead.
My father is deceased, but my mom is healthy at age 86, I would like to have this completed while she is still here to see that the hard work ethic she gave her children did not go to waste. My plan is ambitious but attainable. I will finish the Masters, in Education Leadership, the PHD in Administration within the next three years, as I already have 13 credits towards my master's degree already.
It takes approximately three years to complete the leadership program. Therefore I will work to complete my masters in a little more than a year which will leave nearly two years to complete my PHD. All will be completed at around the same time three years making me eligible for leadership. Yes, it is ambitious, but realistically attainable.
So in conclusion, I truly want this scholarship for my parents who were not able to go to college, my boys to keep them on track for success, for myself because I have always wanted to teach and be an administrator and most importantly, for the children and my community because I want to make a difference to the children and staff I plan to lead. It is important that our schools have people that want to help and work to ensure our children are successful. I am one who is ambitious, experienced and realistic about the roles of teacher and administrator.