Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Break The Cycle Scholar!

Before you begin, it’s important to know that the Break The Cycle Scholarship Fund, was founded on the belief that scholarships should not only play a vital role, in removing some of the financial burdens for first generation, post-secondary bound students, but should also provide mentorship, that will help support a successful transition to a post-secondary institution of your choice. Furthermore, we believed in developing a scholarship application that students wouldn’t feel overwhelmed by—an application free from the traditional bureaucratic requirements, like an essay, teacher recommendation letter, G.P.A requirement, etc. Lastly, and probably the most important aspect, we believed that there needed to be a scholarship available that was radically focused on the resiliency and unique story behind the student, not just on the student’s academic achievements.

So what does this all mean?

It means that the Break The Cycle Scholarship Fund isn’t interested in your G.P.A or the number of clubs you joined in high school. What we want is, to know YOU—your unique and authentic self, the story behind YOU. We want to know the challenges you’ve faced, and how you’ve overcome them. We want to highlight your resiliency, and commend you for staying strong in times of adversity. Ultimately, we hope to be more than just a scholarship fund; we hope to support you in achieving the goals that YOU find truly worthwhile.

So yes, this application will encompass a short-answer question, some reading, and an interview. But it’s our hope that the application process is manageable enough, so that you won’t feel discouraged from applying. All we ask is that you are thoughtful in your responses, and let your amazing story shine through.
 
Good luck!
- Break The Cycle Scholarship Fund Review Committee