6/365 question of the day

Marianne, if you had to pick one, what goal do you promise in the future?

I obssess over the idea of being a sponsor and creating my own scholarships.  It has always been a goal of mines since the eighth grade.  Of course, this idea bounced off of my successful winning of the most prestigious scholarship award at Waipahu Intermediate called, "The Sakuma Award".  Ever since that day, I wanted this goal to happen no matter what.

My parents, with four kids on their hands - always told us to take advantage of all the scholarships and help we can get from others.  Everything we want, especially prices for important matters like college for example - ain't getting any cheaper.  Thus, we need to take this situation into our own hands and reach out to those who can become a part of our success story.

That is what I want to do.  I want to be there to help build someone's success story.  If they believe in my scholarship/grant and believe the meaning behind it - then I most certainly would love to be a part of there life.  I appreciate the help I have gotten through many scholarships.  All I want to do is give back.  Especially to the future humans that will handle the world next.

I have not made my decision about the criteria of the scholarship... but I did decide on which schools I wanted to sponsor.  My first, most important school to sponsor is Waipahu Intermediate.  Not only because it was where I won my first scholarship - but it was the school where I had the most support.  Teachers, faculty, and even the principal!  They were my backbone who helped me learn, perservere and even dominate my intermediate years.  The school absolutely deserves scholarships because of how they take care of there students.

Honestly, my intermediate years were the roughest two years of my personal life (cancer related).  And with everyone around - I would not be instilled with the first rewarding characteristic of myself - perserverance.

Another school I would like to create scholarships/grants for is my first ever college - Maryville University.  I have a jist of what criteria my scholarship would be here because the scholarship will definitely revolve around diversity.  The Office of Diversity & Inclusion is the program that has changed my life, helped me find who I can become, and has become my family.  I can not thank them enough for what they have done for me - so a scholarship I will give in return.  I am hoping to create a scholarship for LGBTQIA+ and/or Asian identities... only because that is who I represent and it is very underrepresented at Maryville.  Of course, I trust my bosses to create the criteria for them - but I also think I would like to add some of my input into it too.  It would not be for The Office of DI that I would find my next rewarding characteristic - fearlessness.

The last school I would love to create a scholarship for is Waipahu High School.  Specifically only for students who are STEM and music arts (Band) related.  STEM because, LOES was really the house that pushed and challenged me to stay on track in the medical field.  And Band because that was the extra curricular that allowed me to continue my music passion.  It was also the program that kept me on track, challenged me, and also gave me many opportunities with my French Horn.  I am hoping this scholarship will go to students that may be in both because these two subjects developed my last rewarding characteristic - versatility.

So yes. I do plan on creating scholarships/grants for the children of our future. I promise you that.  No matter what situation I am - it will happen.

Love,
Mari J Leano