Receiving the POBC Young, Gifted, and Black Scholarship has been an inspiring experience for me. Beyond the financial assistance it provides, it has affirmed my dedication to academic excellence and community empowerment. Knowing that my efforts have been recognized and valued by such a committed organization has instilled a deep sense of validation and pride in my achievements. This award has also alleviated the financial burdens associated with pursuing higher education, allowing me to focus more fully on my studies, extracurriculars, and personal growth. Moreover, it has inspired me to continue striving for excellence and to use my education and skills to make a positive impact in my community and beyond.

I would wholeheartedly recommend your scholarship award application to my peers. Not only does it offer valuable financial support for their educational pursuits, but it also provides recognition and celebration of their hard work and dedication. The application process is well-designed and accessible, allowing applicants to effectively showcase their achievements and aspirations. Furthermore, receiving this award can have a profound impact on one's confidence and sense of belonging, inspiring them to continue striving for excellence and making a difference in their communities.

I found the application process to be both engaging and rewarding. It provided me with an opportunity to reflect on my achievements, aspirations, and contributions to my community in a structured and comprehensive manner. The application instructions were well-organized and easy to understand, and the guidelines provided clear direction on how to effectively showcase my qualifications. Overall, the process was transparent and efficient, which made it an overall positive experience. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to apply for and receive this scholarship. It has reinforced my belief in the power of education and community empowerment, and it has inspired me to continue my efforts to make a positive impact in the world. Moving forward, I am committed to using the resources and support provided by this award to further my academic and personal goals, while also giving back to my community in meaningful ways.”

Receiving this award has been incredibly impactful for me, not only financially but also emotionally and academically. It has relieved a significant burden of financial hardship and allowed me to focus more on my studies and personal growth. The application process was straightforward. It required reflection on my academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and personal challenges. I would highly recommend the Scholarship award application to my peers. It offers invaluable support to students facing financial hardship, and the process is fair and transparent. As a Black person, financial hardship is unfortunately a reality due to systemic inequalities rooted in historical injustices like slavery, which deprived generations of my ancestors of the opportunity for generational wealth. This scholarship not only provides financial assistance but also acknowledges and addresses these broader societal issues, paving the way for greater equity and opportunity for marginalized communities.

The recipient award has 100% positively impacted my financial experience moving into the university setting. It lifted some of the pressure of paying my tuition and residence fees, and I'm so grateful for it. YES! I would recommend the scholarship. I am going back to my high school this week for their Black Excellence Showcase and will for sure be mentioning it to the Black students there. I think getting the message out about the scholarship into high schools earlier on would be much better. I'd just like to say an overall HUGE thank you to Parents of Black Children for the Young, Gifted and Black scholarship. It has helped me so much, and now I get to wake up every morning and see the award certificate in my dorm :). It's extremely uplifting and helps remind me that even though I'm not at the most diverse school (Queen's University haha), I still have a large support group of BIPOC individuals who are wishing me the best, so thanks a bunch.

The POBC award has greatly helped me in offsetting the costs of my first semester expenses, which were already high due to international fees that I was forced to pay as a result of immigration delays. I was in a difficult financial situation and had to make a lot of sacrifices and take some bank credits. However, receiving this scholarship along with others made it easier to manage the high first-semester costs. Additionally, the scholarship questions required me to be introspective and delve into what my blackness means to me. This self-reflection was important and helped me understand my identity and how I can make a positive impact in my community. Regarding the application process, I found it to be well-organized and straightforward. The instructions were clear, and the application process was easy to navigate. I was particularly happy about the video recording option as it gave me a chance to express myself verbally, instead of using the typical written method that most scholarship applications require. I would recommend the POBC scholarship to my peers. It is an excellent opportunity to receive financial support and engage in self-reflection about one's identity and aspirations.

As a recipient of the 2022 PoBC, Young, Gifted and Black Scholarship award, it was truly an incredible experience. What’s unique about PoBC is their unparalleled commitment to supporting Black students, in a way that both motivates and inspires students all over. When attending the Summer event and receiving the award in person, I got a glimpse of the wonderful work the PoBC commits themselves to. To witness an environment that instills a mindset that inspires young Black children to achieve greatness, was truly a moving experience. The application process is one that provides you with the liberty to express your full self, within that 2-page letter, I had the ability to touch on my passions, values, the work that I do, as well as my future visions. I strongly recommend that all Black students apply to the scholarship for the reasons that the process is clear and coherent, and most of all due to the financial impact PoBC can have during your undergraduate or graduate career. During the process, I also got to meet the other PoBC award recipients, and build relationships that continued beyond the day of the event. Don’t miss the incredible opportunity to apply to the Young, Gifted and Black Scholarship.

Receiving this award has impacted me greatly financially and emotionally (and mentally). Financially, this award has eased some financial burden such as covering for my book expenses. Emotionally and mentally, this scholarship has brought a lot of solace. There are certain emotions and there is anxiety that comes with worrying about how you can pay for your tuition or your books or even living expenses especially when you have no financial support system. When you are offered help, especially from people who you believe recognize your struggles, it motivates you to continue trying and persevering, because someone else recognizes your work and believes in you. I am very grateful that I received the award. I believe the application process was fair. I do not think it was too much work or too daunting. What I
loved most was that as applicants, we were not being asked to write or talk about some abstract topic. We were asked to talk about our life, our struggles and the impact the award will have on our lives. It was one way of making the applicants feel heard and seen because from the very beginning until the end of the application, it is all about the applicant. I would definitely recommend the scholarship application to my peers because I believe it is a good and fair
process for applicants. You don't need to be an expert in writing or in any one topic to be
considered; you just need to showcase yourself. I believe this scholarship is a motivator to youths, especially black youths. For a youth like myself who has been through a lot, receiving this award was emotionally rewarding knowing it came from my own people, and especially in a
difficult time.