CSF Alumna Martina Amate Perez attended St. Paul School with a CSF scholarship and is currently a sophomore at Aquinas High School.
What are your goals for the future?
My goals for the future are to be accepted into an Ivy League university and then into law school. However, my ultimate goal in life is success, particularly success in a law career. A short-term goal is to graduate high school as an AP Scholar.
Have you received any special awards/honors while in high school and/or college?
I have received Principal’s Honors, the 2016 Justice Academy for Young Women Certificate of Achievement, the St. John’s University Women in Science Certificate of Recognition, and Academic Excellence Certificates in Spanish, English, Music, and Religion.
What motivates you to study and work hard?
First and foremost, I believe it is my utmost responsibility to my parents to be the most successful I possibly can be in my school work and my life in general because of all they have sacrificed for me. My parents immigrated to this country to provide me with a better life. They have always advised me to never take my education for granted because it was their hard labor that gave me that education. Many are not lucky enough to have the education that I have.
I am always motivated to work hard and never slack in my work because my parents have high expectations for me. I am motivated to achieve what my parents did not have the opportunity to achieve in their home country. Furthermore, my older sisters motivate me to study and work hard because they are prime role models. Academically, they have set the bar high for me.
How did your CSF scholarship help you?
Having a CSF scholarship to attend a private elementary school definitely helped get me to where I am today by providing me with the skills and resources I needed to be accepted into a private high school. I was shown a variety of options for private high schools and was able to take the TACHS exam because I attended a private elementary school. Furthermore, my private elementary school taught me presentation and public speaking skills by providing opportunities such as speech contests. The skills I developed helped me profoundly in my high school endeavors, and I am certain will further help me in my college years and future career.
Why do you think scholarships are important to families and students?
Scholarships are important to families because they give low income students a chance to receive the education they deserve. Many families are often unable to pay for private schools. However, money, or lack thereof, should not hinder a child from getting an education.
What advice would you give to a younger student?
The advice I would give to a younger student is to never give up on their goals and always put their best effort into everything they do.
If you could speak with a CSF donor, what would you tell them?
If I could speak with CSF donor, I would tell them that my education, and all my academic success, was only made possible because of them. Through their generosity and kindness, I have the opportunity to pursue a law career and have success in life. I will always be grateful for all they have done for my family and me. Years from now, I will look back and continue to have the most profound appreciation for their aid in my schooling that allowed my success.
Tell us more about yourself: What are some of your hobbies/interests and what are you passionate about?
Some of my hobbies include reading books, filming make-up tutorials, and writing short stories. I am most passionate about writing. I love writing articles, short stories, songs, etc. One event that changed my life was when I first visited Argentina. That trip opened my eyes to what is truly important in my life – my family.