{"id":2860,"date":"2020-11-25T18:34:08","date_gmt":"2020-11-25T23:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.berea.edu\/give\/?page_id=2860"},"modified":"2021-08-02T09:50:22","modified_gmt":"2021-08-02T13:50:22","slug":"sharon","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/legacy.berea.edu\/give\/sharon\/","title":{"rendered":"Sharon’s Story"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/BTV8w97PeUk”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”Give Now” style=”custom” custom_background=”#ad1313″ custom_text=”#ffffff” size=”lg” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fberea.salsalabs.org%2Fgive%3Fsl_tc%3DWEBJUNFY21″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing up poor was something that I rarely ever shared with my friends because all of their families had money, so I knew they wouldn\u2019t understand my struggle.\u201d<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>-Sharon ’22\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

\"Sharon<\/a>

Sharon ’22<\/p><\/div>\n

The child of Taiwanese immigrants,\u00a0<\/span>Sharon endured the loss of her father and stepfather all before her high school\u00a0<\/span><\/b>graduation<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>After these deaths, Sharon lived with her mother, whose significant grief\u00a0<\/span>posed a major challenge<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>In addition to their grief, the single parent family faced<\/span>\u00a0financial hardship<\/span>, but Sharon never lost hope of her dream. The tenacious student switched public high schools <\/span>several<\/span>\u00a0times to attend the best and most rigorous school she could find.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She achieved academic success, despite working two jobs to help her mother make ends meet<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>participating in numerous extracurricular activities<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0All this hard work and struggle was in\u00a0<\/span>pursuit<\/span>\u00a0of a big dream<\/span>\u2014a college education<\/span>\u00a0leading to a fulfilling career and happy life.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBesides working to help my mom, I did all these activities to make myself the\u00a0<\/span><\/b>most competitive applicant I could<\/span><\/b>\u00a0be because I knew I could not afford college without a scholarship,\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/b>she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sharon had a plan. She knew of Berea College thr<\/span>ough three older cousins who are<\/span>\u00a0also Berea alumni and have gone on to impressive<\/span> Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>STEM<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0careers. She was aware of Berea\u2019s Tuition Promise Scholarship and the College\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>mission to serve talented students from low-wealth families. Sharon knew she would fit in at Berea and that her classmates would be able to relate to her experiences.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI knew that Berea served low-income students,\u201d Sharon said. \u201cGrowing up poor was something that I rarely ever shared with my friends because all of their families had money, so I knew they wouldn\u2019t understand my struggle. At Berea, I am able to connect with my friends here on a deeper and more comfortable level.\u00a0<\/span>I am surrounded with people that I know won\u2019t judge you based on your financial situation, because they also know what that is like.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Because Berea\u00a0<\/span>only\u00a0<\/span><\/i>admits students of academic promise who come from low-wealth families, Sharon never had to feel inferior for having less than her peers.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides knowing that Berea was designed for students just like her,<\/span>\u00a0Sharon<\/span> said she knew Berea would offer both the academic rigor she craved, but also the support she needed to succeed. She chose Berea knowing that faculty mentor and guide students closely<\/span>, giving them the tools they need to go on to graduate school or into the workforce<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBesides the money factor, what motivated me to choose Berea was the relationships professors had with their students,\u201d she said. \u201cThey genuinely care about the well-being of their students. At larger universities, due to class size or just habit, professors may barely know all of their students.\u00a0<\/span>At Berea, I knew I would get the academic support I needed to succeed in college.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>Many professors here will reach out personally to individual students to check-in. Not only on an academic level, but they are also open to general conversations about life. <\/span>They are not only professors but also mentors.<\/span><\/b>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sharon has achieved impressive success at Berea as she works toward her <\/span>goal of applying to medical school. She takes challenging courses, works in two on-campus labor positions<\/span>\u00a0(all Berea students work on campus at least ten hours per week)<\/span>, and leads two student clubs. One of her endeavors is\u00a0<\/span>managing<\/span>\u00a0a lecture series called Women in STEM, which involves inviting female scientists from all over Kentucky to participate in mini-conference events.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sharon<\/span>\u00a0also completed an impressive summer research internship at Vanderbilt University\u2014quite a feat for an undergraduate.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>This invaluable internship was thanks to a partnership setup by a Berea alumnus. <\/span>The Vanderbilt internship gave her exposure to the research side of the medical field and\u00a0<\/span>introduced<\/span> her to the thrill of applying her scientific talent to real-world research questions. She also connected with research <\/span>professionals<\/span>, who have now\u00a0<\/span>become<\/span> mentors, through seminars and labs. The internship is all part of Sharon\u2019s intentional plan for her future. She is now considering a dual M<\/span>D<\/span>\u00a0and Ph<\/span>.<\/span>D<\/span>.<\/span> program but is also interested in traditional medicine, or perhaps oncology. All along the way, Berea\u2019s faculty and support programs for students have been there to guide and assist Sharon.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Student<\/a>

Sharon with Berea College Professor Ron Rosen in 2019<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThe STEM faculty consistently challen<\/span>ge<\/span>\u00a0me in class, specifically<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>develop critical thinking and study skills,<\/span>\u00a0which are<\/span>\u00a0so crucial for medical school<\/span>,\u201d she said<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>Also, the Career Development O<\/span>ffice gives funding for MCAT<\/span>\u00a0(Medical College Admission Test)<\/span> prep, professional wear, and travel costs for interviews, all of which can be so expensive! My professors are always willing to connect me with their colleagues, and this will be beneficial for medical school and post medical schoo<\/span>l.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>I know Berea will propel me into a field I want to pursue with adequate resources and support<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/b>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Clearly, Sharon has much to offer the world. Her intellect and unrelenting\u00a0<\/span>determination<\/span>\u00a0are key to a bright and happy future\u2014she just needed the resources Berea provides for talented students from low-wealth families.\u00a0<\/span>Like her classmates and many Bereans who have gone before her, Sharon has overcome\u00a0<\/span><\/b>so\u00a0<\/span><\/b>much to find success at Berea.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because you and others give generously, students like Sharon find a stable and enriching environment at Berea College, complete with faculty<\/span>\u00a0mentorship<\/span>\u00a0and the kind of support progra<\/span>ms needed to help students from<\/span>\u00a0families\u00a0<\/span>with limited means\u00a0<\/span>make connections in the professional world.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please,\u00a0<\/span><\/b>help Sharon and her classmates\u00a0<\/span><\/b>by making\u00a0<\/span><\/b>a gift today.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Sharon\u00a0<\/span>is a reflection of<\/span>\u00a0what is possible through your support\u2014every person she\u00a0<\/span>will help\u00a0<\/span>during her medical career<\/span>\u00a0is thanks in part to you<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By giving to Berea College, you make a success like Sharon\u2019s possible. <\/span>Your giving\u00a0<\/span>help<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0Sharon and her classmates do great things in the world.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Invest in students like Sharon. Give today.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”Give Now” style=”custom” custom_background=”#ad1313″ custom_text=”#ffffff” size=”lg” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fberea.salsalabs.org%2Fgive%3Fsl_tc%3DWEBJUNFY21″ css=”.vc_custom_1627912218726{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/BTV8w97PeUk”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”Give Now” style=”custom” custom_background=”#ad1313″ custom_text=”#ffffff” size=”lg” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fberea.salsalabs.org%2Fgive%3Fsl_tc%3DWEBJUNFY21″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \u201cGrowing up poor was something that I rarely ever shared with my friends because all of their families had money, so I knew they wouldn\u2019t understand my struggle.\u201d\u00a0-Sharon ’22\u00a0 [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] The child of Taiwanese immigrants,\u00a0Sharon endured the loss of her father and stepfather all […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":2861,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2860","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSharon's Story - 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