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Foundation here for class of 2021
Commencement season is upon us, and if you are anything like me, the graduation signs, party invitations and the proclamations of post-high school plans are a welcomed reminder of how things can look in a “normal” year.
For the Putnam County Community Foundation’s staff, board and committee members, this time of year also serves as an annual reminder of our role in ensuring graduates from our county’s four high schools have the resources to pursue their dreams.
Thanks to the support of our donors, the Community Foundation awarded 71 scholarships to 51 scholars totaling $233,000 this spring. Commutatively since our founding in 1985, that figure is in the millions. This fall, we anticipate our scholarship award totals to be our highest ever, with the ceiling limited only by the generosity of our supporters.
While those figures are impressive, what I find to be most inspiring are the individual stories each scholarship dollar awarded represents, like a first-generation college student with a proud family cheering them on. It is a single mom working hard to build a better life for herself and her young children. A college sophomore reapplied to fund upper-division courses for a major that was not even on their radar when they ended their high school career.
To the class of 2021, one piece of advice that I will pass on to you that I admittedly did not heed when I graduated high school is to slow down and enjoy this milestone. Pat yourself on the back and say, “Good job!”
After congratulating yourself, keep dreaming and never stop. However, dream deliberately. Picture in detail how you are going to get there. Odds are a scholarship from the Community Foundation will help. So, begin getting those letters of support you need for the fall application season lined up now.
Whatever comes next, please keep a few things in mind. It is going to be hard. Remember, though, that most things worth it usually are. You will have moments of self-doubt where you may ask yourselves things like these: Am I good enough? (You are.) What if I fail? (On occasion, you probably will.) What would an actual adult do in this situation? (Believe me, they do not know either.)
By remembering all the challenges you have overcome to get to this point, you will realize that each passing day and every experience makes you better-equipped to overcome the next obstacle around the corner. There was a time that you could not walk, yet now you run. Once, you could not ride a bike, and now you drive a car. More recently, there were activities, games, classes, proms and exams where you showed that you could excel even during a global pandemic.
Lastly, never forget where you came from. Whether your next chapter takes you just down the road or a world away, the Putnam County Community Foundation will still be working on your behalf, partnering with our generous donors to keep the scholarship endowments growing.
Congratulations, class of 2021 — you’ve got this!