Anese Richardson

Scholarship Essay

I am a senior at Cedar Hill High School, Class of 2020. In my time in high school, I maintain to be in the top 25% of my graduating class while participating in band, marching and concert, and culinary. My current goals are to graduate from high school and attend a university to pursue my bachelor’s degree in hospitality management. My future goals are to travel abroad to study the arts of culinary and open my own bakery. I also want to start an outreach organization to provide meals to struggling communities around the world.

I have always known that I have wanted to be a chef since I was five years old. I would go into the kitchen and mix whatever I could find and make something that, for the most part, would taste good. Even if I didn’t know what it was, whether it was a spice or can good, I would always give it a try and work with what I had. Growing up my parents would take me out to different types of restaurants, and I would compare kids’ menus from other restaurants that we visited. I want to major in the culinary industry because it is the only industry that speaks to me. By challenging myself to do more while staying well-organized, correctly prioritizing my time and pushing myself to my limits. I can give my everything into something I have loved doing since I was a child. On March 18, 2019, my culinary team participated and won first place in the Ben E. Keith Food in Fashion Culinary Competition. I want to be able to focus and put time into my education while not having to worry about how I’d get through college financially, which is why I need the scholarship. It would be great to graduate college debt free so that I can start working towards my career and future.

My parents are supportive of my decision to go to college. However, my cousin, Victoria, is the most influential person in my life. She is hardworking, determined, and she never gives up on anything she sets her mind. Even when others told her that she was unable to do certain tasks,

she always proved them wrong. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree without any student debt and is now on her way to a job that can change her life. She inspires me to focus and pay attention to what is important in my life as a student.

In high school while I was beginning marching band as a freshman, I was ready to quit after a week of band camp. Every day started very early and it was scorching hot outside. But it was not until my first football game and halftime show, I promised myself that I would give band my all and never give up when times get tough. Being in band has been a physical and emotional experience for me. I have learned that I had to take care of myself to keep up with the physical demand of marching and be responsible for my equipment and instrument, all while meeting new people who I would later call family. At the end of my sophomore year, I was given “The Most Improved Sophomore” award. I was also awarded the “Extra Effort award” every year prior to my senior year.