In December senior Maria Parada won a $1,000 scholarship from the Trentini Foundation, awarded to a student planning to attend a two-year community college.

Like many other high school students about to take their first step into their future, Maria Parada was in search of financial help.

“I’m not from this country, so I looked for the opportunity. I was looking for something, some type of scholarship that I can apply to. I want to go to college, and I don’t have enough money to,” Parada said.

When applying, Parada had many thoughts.

“I was thinking that I wouldn’t because I came here two years ago, so I am behind everyone else. I thought maybe I couldn’t apply, but when I got it, I was like ‘Wow!’”

Some of Parada’s teachers influenced her to apply to a scholarship.

“My ELC teacher (Mrs. Cole). I talked to her because my English isn’t that good. I asked her if she could help me fix the writing in the essays. Also, Mrs. Pope. I talked to her about it,” Parada said.

Because of the scholarship, Parada has help towards accomplishing her future goals.

Parada said, “I want to be in journalism, in the next few years get everything done and travel.”