American First Italian Always

SCHOLARSHIP WINNER – DANIELLA SHELDON  

I thought long and hard about a contemporary Italian descendant to write my essay about.  I finally chose someone that may not be known worldwide, but it quite influential to my life, and on my decisions.  This woman has single-handedly had the biggest impact on my life. 

As a child, I wasn’t so fond of her.  She told me what to do, she yelled at me when I did something wrong, and she made me eat spinach.  I didn’t understand some of the things she did, but as I grew older I learned some of her language and loved her foods and soon it was my friends who did not understand some of the things that I did- that WE did.  You see, this person taught me that when you’re Italian, family comes first- always.  She taught me how to care for others before myself, how some old remedies work better than new medicines.  All her life she wanted to be a nurse, and for the life of me I couldn’t understand why.  Nurses had to work twelve hour shifts, clean, feed, and care for many patients all at once- I didn’t understand why anyone would want to do such a thing. 

As I began high school, I enrolled in a Health Program designed for students considering the medical field, allowing them to observe in the hospital.  As I began my rounds at Memorial Regional, I noticed some of the nurses.  They fed the patients, gave them medication to feel better, read to them, cleaned them and their beds, and made sure they had everything they needed.  Watching closely over the days, I realized that these people are secret guardians, and they reminded me of someone.  They reminded me of my grandmother, my Nonna- and I knew then that I wanted to be a nurse.  All along Nonna was MY nurse, she fed me when I was hungry, bathed me when I was a mess, and cared for me when I was sick. 

Nursing is a field only for the strongest; it takes hard work, care, and compassion for others.  Sometimes nurses have to do things that maybe be embarrassing to a patient, and the nurse, but it needs to be done, and that will be my job, I know that I will do whatever it takes to reach my goal.  I have already been studying and gaining hours in the hospital.  Every time I start to think it is getting harder, I think of my Nonna.  If she could take care of all of us and still get her day’s work done, I can go to school and learn how to care for others too.  I want to be able to handle any situation with the best of my ability. 

When I begin studying at Florida International University’s Nursing School, I will not only be able to take care of my family, but everyone’s family.  Everyone I care for will be my family, because in the end- that’s what being Italian is all about.

SCHOLARSHIP WINNER – MICHAEL CRANE 

First off, I would like to introduce myself.  My name is Michael Crane and I am currently attending Monsignor Farrell High School in Staten Island, New York.  I am currently enrolled in a mixture of classes within the Advanced Placement and Scholars curriculum.  I applied to Wagner College, University of Bridgeport, St. John’s University, Pace University, Iona College, CUNY Baruch, College of Staten Island and Hunter College.  I would like to attend a local school so I could stay local to help my mother.  By staying local I cut out housing expenses, but still colleges are too expensive.  In my family there is Italian heritage.  My great-grandparents were born in Agregento, Sicily.  My grandmother has spent much time with me over the years discussing older Italian traditions and teaching me Italian.  My grandmother and my mother have influenced my life in so many ways. 

Although my father was Irish, my mother came from Italian background.  My grandmother has shown my mother all of the Italian traditions.  Even today, my mother and grandmother keep the Italian tradition of pasta with Italian bread every Sunday at about 3 o’clock.  Since my dad passed away, my mother sacrifices to keep me in Catholic High School.  My grandmother also assists my mother and she always brings the family closer each and every year. 

My grandmother is very pound in her Italian heritage.  My grandmother belongs to many Italian-American Associations like Enrico Fermi Lodge of Hollywood, Italian American Club of Miramar, Italian American Club of Coconut Creek, Italian American Civic Club Wilton Manor, A Sicilian club of Fort Lauderdale, and Sons of Italy of Delray Beach.  I admire my grandmother’s dedication to her societies and heritage.  My grandmother is the head of my household, and she always displays selflessness by always putting her family first in her life.  In my daily outlook, I try to emulate my grandmother in her dedication attributes as well as her belief to unite family and exercise family traditions. 

In my life, I emulate my grandmother’s fine attributes and Italian qualities.  I stay loyal to my friends and family and whenever they need me, I put them first before any act I do for myself.  I have endured a rigorous high school curriculum as well as numerous extracurricular activities.  I dedicate my hard work and dedication to my grandmother and mother for guiding me throughout my life so that I would become a well-rounded student. 

Personally, I would like to thank whoever is reading and considering my application for this scholarship fund.  This scholarship would help my family a great deal with dealing with finances for college.  My mother had lost her career in the financial market due to the recession.  Now it is my obligation to pay for college because now my mother can not.  I want my mother and my grandmother not to worry about paying for college, so I am taking on the responsibility and I believe this scholarship is the first step.  This scholarship would help me start my new journey in life and allow me achieve my goals and dreams and one day return for favor by staring my own scholarship foundation.

Copyright © 2001-2012 Florida Federation of Italian American Clubs, Inc.