No ifs, ands or buts.

Finding an excuse for a problem, is avoiding to face the reality of the situation. Sometimes we do not credit ourselves enough for the power and the things that we are actually capable of. Finding others to blame can sometimes be easy than blaming ourselves for our failures, although for some it is easier to just put the blame on themselves. By putting ourselves down we avoid the disappointment of actually trying and failing. Finding excuses to not try is an easy way out. One sometimes needs encouragement to gain the confidence in themselves to just try. After reading "Finding Your Power" it reassured me that people may make excuses because of the lack of confidence and motivation. They may feel like no one believes in their ability, thus why should they believe in themselves. One can be a good source of motivation and inspiration by encouraging others to explore their options and just try. If one can do it, so can they. Set the example.

Being a good ALLY can be a challenge. When discussing sensitive topics one can get very into the discussion and neglect others' opinions. One needs to realize that not everyone has the same opinion because they possibly grew up seeing a different side of the situation. After reading "The Do's and Don'ts of Being a Good Ally" I learned that one needs to be a good listener. It is important that you are conscious of the other person's point of view. One should not put themselves or their feelings first. By putting yourself down there is no help being done to either side. I feel like I am pretty good at just listening to what the other person has to say when in a sensitive topic situation, but I could really work on informing myself more on the issues. Gathering relevant facts that can support/frame my opinion. This applies to STARS LEAD because throughout the course of this program we have discussed important topics that need attention, such as educational inequalities. It is a topic in which we have had to inform ourselves of the situation and realize that there are privileges that some students are given that give them an advantage that others could also benefit from. We need to realize that if we want to be a good ALLY we cannot back down from discussing a topic.

Scholarships are a privilege. It is something that is attainable for everyone. You need to have the drive to look for them and apply! They really give a student the advantage to receive an education that could possibly not be available to them because of financial situations. Scholarships can make an affordable education possible. It is a rewarding feeling to try and win, rather than to fail and not have tried at all. There's a saying, you never know unless you try. You have NOTHING TO LOSE.