The staff at Benson Polytechnic High School really put their foot on the line for their students. Never once did I doubt that their hearts were devoted to the well-being and success of their students. I was granted thousands of dollars in scholarship money before I left Benson for college. I go to a technical art and design college, and with the help of my coaches and teachers in high school who believed in me, who advocated for me every step of the way, I not only received several academic scholarships, I received athletic scholarships and other merit awards. I am 19-years-old and taking 400-level design classes, graduating in a year and a half, and working with real clients and dealing with real work scenarios. My point is, Benson isn’t an art school and it didn’t prepare me with a paintbrush in hand, but my experiences there gave me the confidence and the skills to handle the cut-throat environment I’m in now. I left high school prepared in all dynamic aspects: mentally, physically (skill-wise), and emotionally. It isn’t without the technical programs and the emphasis on skill-building that I am where I am today. When I was in Health Sciences, I learned how to write a 15-page thesis paper, learned interpersonal skills through clinical services at hospitals, nursing homes, as well as competing at state-wide and national HOSA conferences; I learned how to write top-notch resumes and cover letters, and learned to create portfolios, which I use extensively now at my college. I graduated a Communications major, and the design programs I learned there gave me an advantage to some of my classmates in college. On top of that, I was a three-sport athlete and I can’t even begin to tell you all the things I gained through athletics at Benson, especially as a young lady. Lets just say I was Sportswoman of the Year in 2007 and received a scholarship through the PIL Hall of Fame. How did I get that award?
My coaches and teachers made something out of me.
