Published in Scholarship Winner by Chris Eskew on September 30, 2024.
Derek Baker II
Florida Atlantic University
Scholarship Essay
It is difficult for children to admit their parents are not perfect and they make mistakes. I know that I never wanted anyone to judge my Dad for the mistakes that he made in his life. My Dad had a very difficult time while he was growing up. He made very poor decisions and was convicted of a felony as an adult and was incarcerated for his crime.
My Dad’s father was not in his life growing up and he was often left home alone due to his mother’s work schedule. He eventually dropped out of school in 8th grade. He was constantly in trouble as a minor and was heavily involved with drugs and alcohol. His mother kicked him out of her house and his life continued to spiral out of control. My Dad was in and out of jail as an adult for violating his probation from his original felony. He knew he had to make changes in his life in order to be successful and happy.
My Dad completely changed his life around and he is not the same person he used to be. He has been the most impactful person in my life due to his journey. He taught me so many valuable lessons from his experiences. It was important to him that I did not follow in his footsteps as a teenager and young adult. He also taught me it is never too late to change your path and to always focus on the positive things in life. My Dad wanted to make sure I was given every opportunity to succeed in life. His guidance and selflessness has helped me excel in every area of my life. My Dad always made it a point to be present for everything in my life. He never missed any of my games or events. I remember after a long night shift, he drove to my game and slept in the parking lot until my game started. It meant so much to me knowing that he was always by my side. He always put his family first before himself.
Additionally, my Dad has always stressed the importance of education and doing well in school. He knew that having a good education would help to open up more opportunities for me. My Dad would always help me study for my tests and work on school projects. He taught me a very strong work and study ethic. I have maintained a 4.3 grade point average while taking dual enrollment and honor courses in high school. I was accepted into the pre-engineering program at Florida Atlantic University. My Dad’s guidance and encouragement has made this possible for me. Additionally, I have worked with at-risk students at our elementary school through a mentorship program. I wanted to make an impact in their lives and be a positive role model for them. I felt if my Dad had a positive male role model in his life growing up things may have turned out differently for him.
In 2014, my Dad petitioned the courts to have his felony conviction set aside. I was in the courtroom in Michigan when the judge agreed to set aside his conviction. The judge spoke so highly of him and the changes he made in his life. It made me realize that anything is possible with hard work and determination.
