Karla Polanco

I graduated from East Bay High School in 1999.  I received the Florida Merit Scholarship, which paid 75% of my tuition.  This scholarship allowed me to attend the University of South Florida in the fall of 1999.  The transition from East Bay to USF was frightening.  I was fortunate to have friends like Ana Perez and Silvia Baltazar to ease the experience.  It is true that the first year of college is critical.  In our freshmen year we planned around each other’s schedules and we car-pooled from Ruskin/Wimauma to USF everyday.  The main reason we car-pooled was not due to environmental reasons; honestly we did it to save money on gas.  I also learned not to take 8 o’clock classes when you live 45 minutes away from campus.  We would also take our lunch to save money and sour school hours for that first year consisted of 8 to 10 hours of studying.  We used some of that time to explore USF hoping to find new parking spots.  The University library became our second home.  I’m certain that if we did not have each other, getting into the routine of college life would have been harder.  We were able to learn and experience different situations together. 

            At the end of my freshmen year at USF I was introduced to my sponsors Racias Cubans through the USF Latino Scholarship program.  Being a third-year recipient I would like to mention how wonderful it has been having a sponsor like them.  They are helping me reach a milestone in my family.  I am the first in my family to attend college.  No one in my family has ever attained their Bachelor’s degree much less a Master’s degree.  I have always wanted to be the one who makes it to the top. 

            I have recently been accepted into the undergraduate School of Social Work for my fundamental classes regarding my career. Currently I am a student assistant for the department of Child and Family Studies at Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute.   I have worked extremely hard to get the grades that have allowed me to become a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Arts and Science Honor Society, and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program.  I plan to enroll in the graduate program part-time, after I have received my bachelor’s degree.  Eventually, I would like to become a program director for a non-profit agency that addresses the needs of the Latin community.  I hope to learn how to contribute valuable information through grant writing, program implementation, and program evaluation in order to address poverty, dropout rates and other issues affecting the Latin community.  Having support and financial assistance only eased the process.  Thanks to you my future is unlimited, the only limits I have are the ones I place on myself. 

            The people who deserve the credit for my success are my parents.  They placed my education before anything else.  I personally did not have it hard growing up.  I was extremely lucky to be raised by my loving father (Cayetano) and mother (Naldis).  They told me that I could be anything that I wanted to be and I choose to believe that.  They respected my decision at attaining a degree in the social service field.  Along with their positive thinking came hands on lessons.  Entering my freshmen year in East Bay my parents decided to give me a little dose of reality.  That following summer my parent took me to work in the tomato fields.  Everyday my dad would say “es mejor que estudien a que esten aque abajo el sol”.  In other words, “it is better to study, than to be working under the sun”.  That summer I knew that I did not want to wear yellow gloves and worry about inhaling pesticides.  I knew that a career and not a job. 

            I need to give a special thanks to my boyfriend, Jon.  He has been with me seen I started college.  Jon, will also get a degree in Social Work when I get mine.  Well at least that is how it seems since he would proofread my essays, give me rides to school, and provide me with emotional support.  Thank you Jon, for all that you have done for me.  I am extremely lucky to have someone like you.  

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