The Memory of You. by Mystique

The Memory of You. by Mystique - August 2025 Scholarship Essay

Though in the beginning there looks like there were no ways or paths that could lead you to the place you want to be. Now in the future we look back to that past and see that all those obstacles or challenges were opening the paths to a place where we are now.

My Grandma is one of my greatest inspirations. She grew up in Haiti with about 8 or more siblings.  It was hard for her family to financially support education. So my grandma dropped out of school around the time of Elementary school. She stayed home and looked after her siblings. Which was so fascinating to me. It really shows the sacrifices we have to make just to take care of the ones we love. She wasn’t introduced to Christianity at first. But as she grew she got into the Seventh Day Adventist denomination. Years later she went to the U.S where she got the job of a Nurse. She even got her driver license and lived in a nice apartment. Ever Since then from Haiti to moving to America she did her very best spreading the gospel. Everyone describes her as stubborn and resilient. She always stood up for what she believed in and when she says to sit down and listen you best believe you should. No matter the age. 

Like her growing up I had some influences of Christianity. Every Saturday morning we’d go to church and it would be the same routine but as I got older I started spending less time with her. So everything I learned or was taught all faded. Until the age of 10 when I got my first invite to church in years from my aunt. From that day on I’ve been going to church. Being Christian means you’re in this big or massive supportive family. We are all connected through God and there isn’t division between us. Unless someone mentions something from social media that some think is true while others don’t. This is also when Creole comes out and everyone's just trying to understand each other. 

Growing up watching my Grandma I never could understand why she did the things she did or how bold she became. But now on my way to college I see how. Everywhere she went you would know something of her, hear something of her. She was always ready for a challenge big or small. She’ll make you laugh or make you think in ways you didn’t know you could. I tend to follow in her footsteps. I feel as those who actions help me shape my path of what my future can look like without me worrying. 

My family carries the old bibles she used to use that have been around from as early as the 1960’s. From the days me and my siblings were born she gave us our own personal bibles. As proof you can see the aging and her signature on the bibles. I feel like these bibles show a bit of my family's background and beliefs. Up until her last days she always prayed and read her bible. Praising and believing in God. I want to be like her where I keep my family's religious legacy alive.