Grit. Give Back.

In high school, the aim was simple: get to college. For someone like me, raised on sardines and eggs, it wasn't just a goal but a dream. Lucky for me, my school was free.

College was the real battle. Costly. Yet, we believed it would lift our family.

Fortune smiled again though. Tutors from top colleges volunteered to mentor. One day, the principal singled me out. He knew me, somehow. "You," he pointed, "be here next Saturday."

I showed up. I put in the work. A mentor took notice. She handed me a college application. "Fill this," she instructed. The form questioned about fees. I ticked "scholarship needed." The entrance fee worried me. "Don't," she advised.

A telegram came months later, nearly overlooked. It confirmed I passed. Full scholarship. I was elated.

That mentor, however, vanished. I couldn't express my gratitude. Her full name escaped me.

Years flew by. I graduated, landed a decent job, and now mentor others. I work full time as a manger and I lead a non-profit part-time in the design field.