Developing Demonstrable Skills by Shantara

Developing Demonstrable Skills by Shantara - April 2026 Scholarship Essay

As a new student, I've learned much in my first semester here. Within just several months I've been exposed to levels of bureaucracy that I have never experienced before, and as an adult with a disability who is currently experiencing homelessness, I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed with the system. The skill I would like to develop is that of navigating the systems in place: policies and legalities designed to protect a business are hard to get through and the accountability tends to evaporate before anyone is willing to take it. Submerged, a man will learn to swim much quicker than the one who watches from outside the water. While I am extremely grateful to all of those here who have helped me, I still see improvements to be made to help people feel like less of a cog in some money machine and more of a part of the community working together toward a common goal. Our society needs strong individuals who will be able to work through the policies and laws to make real change happen for the people who need it the most. Standing up for ourselves has never been more important than it is in the current moment. The rise of AI requires a response of a rise in humanity.