Today, we’re pleased to highlight Amarylis Rodriguez – a recipient of the 2023-2024 Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarship Award! ⁠

“Anything of value, should have an obstacle”

Amarylis cites the quote above as one that drives her daily and shares a little more about her story below:

“At the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, I found myself having to make the tough decision to leave my job to ensure that my 8-year-old son had a safe space to continue his education. Since then, I have focused all my time and energy on pursuing higher education. I am very motivated, and it is with great honor to receive this scholarship to help me continue to strive for my goals in achieving a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services. Success to me is having a career that I love and that allows me to give my family a better life financially along with helping my community.

I look forward to accomplishing many things in my adult life, ones that my parents could never achieve, which include pursuing a higher degree. Post-graduation is another steppingstone to continue pushing my dreams of becoming a LCSW who specializes in mental health with a focus on children and adolescents. My personal/professional goals not only speak to me, but towards my family and community at large. Hardship, poverty, and economic difficulties stemming from systemic oppression have created barriers for me throughout my path to success. While this is so, self-motivation is what my parents instilled in me since I was a child and I continue to carry as I move forward.

Growing up in Hartford, with parents who were English language learners did not provide me or my family with opportunities for economic mobility. Their challenges faced led to them relying on welfare and public housing and did not have the chance to finish high school. I believe that motivation is driven by the goals set by an individual. Those goals for me include obtaining my master’s degree so that I can grow in the career path that I have chosen. I know that the investment of time and effort that I make in my education will correlate with career opportunities that can help me obtain other personal goals I have for me and my family which drive me. 

I will be starting the master’s program in Social Work in September 2023 to continue my academic journey.”

Congratulations again, Amarylis, on all that you have accomplished! We’re cheering you on for what the future holds!

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