Andrea Silva Awarded Corporate Resource Alliance Scholarship

Andrea Silva, a Howell resident and student at Brookdale Community College’s Freehold Campus, has been awarded the $500 Corporate Resource Alliance (CRA) Scholarship. This scholarship, available to students registered at the Freehold Campus who maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, is awarded based primarily on a compelling essay submitted during the application process.

Andrea plans to use the scholarship funds to support her educational journey. “I have the scholarship money saved, and I will be using it towards school supplies, textbooks, or classes for college. The money will be used towards my education,” she explained.

Andrea’s winning essay, responding to the question on the application, What Are You Passionate About? reflects her deep dedication to her education and gratitude for her parents’ sacrifices. She writes candidly about the struggles she faced in school as a first-generation student with limited resources and the challenges her Mexican immigrant parents encountered while providing for their family.

“I struggled a lot in elementary school trying to keep up with the rest of my classmates on my reading level, writing, and being at the same pace in learning,” Andrea shared in her essay. Despite her academic challenges and the financial hardships her family endured, she credits her parents’ resilience and sacrifices as her greatest inspiration.

“My parents lived off each paycheck and made sure we had food on the table, a roof over our heads, and clothes to keep us warm,” Andrea recounted. “Even though I was not able to understand it before, I do now. They went through a lot to get here, and they continued to go through it in this society where they struggle to know the English language and are yelled at for not living like an American.”

Her passion for education and her determination to give back to her parents led her to pursue a career in nursing, with aspirations of becoming a NICU nurse or ultrasound technician. “I hope they remind themselves that it was all worth it in the end,” Andrea wrote, reflecting her desire to honor her parents’ sacrifices by building a brighter future.

The Corporate Resource Alliance, Inc. (CRA), a professional networking and referral organization, is dedicated to fostering success and growth among its members and the community. CRA’s scholarship program supports students like Andrea, whose stories and aspirations exemplify resilience and determination.

With the help of the CRA Scholarship, Andrea is one step closer to achieving her goals, proving that determination and hard work can overcome even the most significant challenges.