Clarke Central High School college advisor Darnell Shelton and senior and office aid intern Fajr DeLane pose in front of a wall filled with college logos. They celebrated the news of DeLane receiving the Bill Gates Millennium Scholarship. “So proud of you again and again. You are the next big CEO of a major impactful company and many other things. Go Dr. DeLane,” Shelton said. Photo courtesy of Fajr DeLane.
By FAJR DELANE – Print Staff Writer
Senior Fajr DeLane receives somes shocking news on the evening of April 20th, 2016.
“Open it, just open it, hurry up, open it,” the voice inside of me said.
I was on the couch watching a show and a commercial was on, so to make time go by, I checked my phone. I checked my email to see if I had any information from schools or scholarships that I applied for.
I saw an email from the Gates Millennium Scholars Program that was when my inside voice said, “Open it, just open it, hurry up, open it.”
I started reading.
“Dear Fajr,
Congratulations! We are very pleased to inform you of your selection as one of the 1,000 Gates Millennium Scholars for our GMS Class of 2016.”
Automatically my eyes started to widen and I started thinking, “No, no this can’t be true,” so I kept reading…
“We commend you on your strong leadership, community service and academic achievements that contributed to your selection as a Gates Millennium Scholar. Your accomplishment is especially notable in context of the more than 53,000 students who applied, making this final class of Gates Scholars one of the most competitive candidate groups in the program’s history. We are very excited for you to join the community of Gates Scholars and we are very pleased to confer this distinct honor that distinguishes you as a Leader for America’s Future™.”
Originally I heard about this scholarship at the beginning of ninth grade and started looking at some of the essay topics my junior year. I was only able to write and articulate myself in the eight essays because I am a very active high school student.
Getting the email is when I knew it was real – I was being honored.
I fell to my knees crying and screaming for the amazing news I had just received. I called my mother, all of my family and all those who were a part of my journey.
I checked my mailbox and had a huge Bill Gates Millennium Scholar packet regarding what this scholarship means. It was mesmerizing. On the packet mail, it had 4 Rs: Rigor, Relevance, Relationships and Responsibility.
I was on an emotional high because I thought of all the countless hours I spent on becoming my best self and preparing myself for a moment like this.
I have spoken to different organizations and the Athens Banner-Herald about myself and receiving this scholarship. My community has embraced me for this honor and is excited for me, which makes this great news even better.
I am the only person this year in Athens, Georgia who received this prestigious scholarship this year. I am really honored and blessed to have received it and cannot wait for my future that awaits.
