CollegePlus! Scholarship

Wow, can't believe how fast this last week went and how fast this Monday has been going.
Well, I'm not going to write my regular blog post this week as I have something, actually, a big favor to ask of you as you read this.  As you've probably heard, CollegePlus! is offering a $25,000 scholarship to the person who has the best essay, 12 months of free college, and iPads to the two people (one with an essay and one with a video) who has the most votes. I'm not good at asking for things, but if you feel led to, please feel free to read the following essay and vote for it at the link below.  And if you also entered this contest, I'd love to know so that I may vote for you, too!  Thank you all so much for your support.

God bless,
Anna

"I have been with CollegePlus! for almost a year now and I definitely feel that I made the right choice in choosing it as my college. For a little background on myself, I’m a nineteen year old who’s going for a Bachelor’s in Journalism. I was homeschooled all my life and grew up with a passion to write everything from stories to poems to plays. I knew finding a great, Christian college was going to be a challenge, but that was until I found out about CollegePlus! through Vision Forum in Texas. God has just really opened doors for me and given me great, inspirational memories throughout this last school year. 
I admit, doing CLEPs is a bit of a challenge, but that’s why I’m so glad for coaches. My CollegePlus! coach has walked me through step by step on how to complete my goals while making sure that I have enough time in my busy life to complete those goals. She’s very flexible with me and is an awesome encourager. My coach, Brittany Barden, sends me what’s called “coaching notes” with everything that we’ve covered on our every-other-week coaching calls. She also attaches a verse and a blessing for my next study week. 
I find that not only are the coaches a great part of the CollegePlus! experience, but so are the staff members. The coaches have very busy schedules and sometimes, we students need to get a hold of the CollegePlus! office. They’re friendly team members who try to serve both new students and old ones, to the best of their ability. 
Now, to the heart of why I am writing this. 
CollegePlus! has given me a hope to earn my degree in a shorter time, for not as much money as you would have to pay for at even a regular technical college. That’s one of the many reasons that I wanted to be a part of CollegePlus!. 
Throughout my time so far, I’ve made some of the best friends that I could have ever asked for. Friends who pray for me when I test and friends who have some of the best study tips that I need to complete an exam and score well on. The experience has been beyond belief and God has mightily used it to bless my life. 
I first started out by writing a Life Purpose Statement, which I’ll share with you at the end of this essay. It’s a way to find God’s real plan for your life and gives you an idea where to start in this new way of learning. 
Through my experience so far with CollegePlus!, I’ve had the ability to build on the knowledge that I received in high school and transfer it to the next level and work towards a degree for a future job. Learning not only how to be a better, Christian adult in this society, but also learning how to be successful in communicating with people and with how to effectively reach those around me where I work. CollegePlus! is doing just that. Preparing me for the real world and getting me to the point where I can say, “I feel ready for this”. 
Traditional colleges have one thing and one thing only in mind. No, it isn’t the students. No, it isn’t the education that the future generation is receiving. It’s the money. Colleges over-charge at these schools. That’s one of the reasons why CollegePlus! is so wonderful. It’s much more affordable. It also gives me the “space” I need to complete my studies at my own pace. 
After my time with CollegePlus! is up, my next step would be to get my degree through Thomas Edison State College. Not only would this be a dream come true, but it would be an answer from God, as I’ve been seeking His direction in my whole college choice process. I know, it will not be easy, but if God’s will for me is to follow His plan for my life, then I know I can do it as my Life Purpose Statement explains: 

“I am resolved to first of all, be an inspiring witness for Christ by sharing what He has done in my life through writing and talking with others. Then to help those, both younger and older than myself, with their spiritual needs; whether they need someone to get advice from or simply someone who will listen to them share what God has been doing in their lives. In every situation, I can only be an effective witness with Christ guiding me on my life's journey. Working with the press-which has a lot of power over the people who read their material-I can write and communicate with people on "their" level. Not only the highly educated in important positions, but those who do not have as much of an education. Only with God's help, can my Christian witness and writing, influence the general public and my co-workers, by the way that I act and respond to problems at my job and in my personal life.” 

I guess to sum everything up in one paragraph, I’d like to say that my experience with CollegePlus! has made me see how blessed I was to be able to find it and also, how much I would have been missing out on. The benefits of my learning process, Godly staff and CP! friends guiding me, my Mom who is standing beside me all the way, is just a blessing beyond words. And now as I continue my schooling through CollegePlus!, I have confidence that God will lead the way and will give me the ability to help those who come behind me. To be part of CollegePlus!’s past and to be an example to the future."

Here is the direct link to my essay: http://scholarships.collegeplus.org/essays/88-why-i-chose-collegeplus

These are the links to anyone else's essays/videos that you would like to vote for: http://scholarships.collegeplus.org/essays

http://scholarships.collegeplus.org/essays?sorting=most_votes&type=video

Thank you all for your help in this effort and just to end this blog post on a Biblical note, I'd like to quote a passage from Psalm 86:12, as the topic of praising God whenever has been on my mind a lot lately.

Psalm 86:12 "I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever."