Announcing our 2013 Scholarship Recipient—Juan Castrejon
June 2013
Juan Castrejon, a senior at Edwin G. Foreman High School, has been awarded the 2013 PBKACA Scholarship. First in his graduating class, Juan has participated in a number of extracurricular activities, including both National and Hispanic Honor Societies and the University of Chicago Young Scholars Program for Mathematically Talented Youth. He will be a freshman at Columbia University in the fall and plans to major in financial economics.
His counselor describes him as having an inspirational and positive spirit. Juan’s own words illustrate this spirit: “I hope to set an example for many of the people around me. I want to be the individual that allows others to believe in themselves and fathom that success is possible if one strives and devotes themselves to their goals.”
We are delighted to help this intelligent and determined young man to achieve his own goals.
Juan provided PBKACA with the following letter (download the .pdf):
Dear PBKACA,
Coming from a community where education is not placed on a high pedestal, I initially found it difficult to commit to my academics. Fortunately, I have always possessed an inherent drive to learn, to retrieve knowledge. That innate motivation has allowed me to graduate at the top of my class at Foreman High School and has led me to where I will be attending this fall: Columbia University in the City of New York.
When I reflect on my past four years of high school, I come to realize how strenuous it was to plan for my future. I did not know where I wanted to go or who I wanted to become. Although my family members made it obvious that they cared about my future, it was difficult for them to understand my situation in the academic sense. Therefore, I felt alone. That was when I decided to join a plethora of extracurricular activities, ranging from the Academic Decathlon to volunteering at my neighborhood hospital. Exploring various activities and academic disciplines allowed me to discover myself in both the academic and career-related aspects. Now, I am committed to majoring in Financial Economics.
Receiving this scholarship, though, has allowed me to realize that I am not alone. There are organizations like Phi Beta Kappa that truly care for the academic success of students. Because of this prestigious scholarship, I will be able to eliminate a huge financial burden and focus 100-percent on my academics at Columbia. While attending the institution, I will be able to gain a great education not only in business but also in the liberal arts. Reading classic literature, studying art and music, taking core science courses, and gaining a good understanding of the business world will allow me to understand my surroundings in a completely new perspective. With such education, I will be able to connect with individuals from various academic backgrounds.
Once again, it is truly an honor to receive this award. It will allow me to focus on my academics and engross myself into the Columbia community, giving me the opportunity to explore my passions in greater depth. I could not be more excited for the imminent events I am set to experience.
With sincere gratitude,
Juan Castrejon