ASL Foundation Scholarship Winner Spotlight:
Samuel Trujillo
In my life the only paths easily accessible to me were challenge, poverty, dismay, depression, gangs, crime, and hopelessness. Although I found myself to be successfully destructive in each of these paths, each of them was just that, destructive. Today I have chosen many new paths, one of which is that of education. Although I never fully believed that I was capable of pursing an education, or that I would live long enough to have that option, I currently find myself excelling in it. In fact, never in my wildest dreams while on the streets, did I ever imagine I would be receiving merit for academic accomplishments. More surprisingly meaningful, with a long history of Latino struggles in my family, I will be the first in my generation to receive a degree.
Thus, the acknowledgement, recognition, and awarding given to me by the ASL scholarship committee has greatly impacted my life on multiple levels. This is a landmark accomplishment for me, which is one of many to come, that will continually break the cycle within my family showing that the pursuit of education is indeed achievable in spite of, or maybe even because of, the adverse circumstances that may be present in Chicano life. In brief, in the words of Cesar Chavez, the ASL scholarship proves to me that that "Si se puede!" Additionally, with five children to provide for, and a loving wife whom without her my education would be impossible, the additional funding also provided much needed financial encouragement. Although these brief words can only provide you with some insight on the value of this award, trust that I am fully appreciative of your program, and the assistance it has provided. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and the heart of my family.