Boyd J. Cameron Memorial Scholarship

My name is Harvey Garcia. I am a first-generation student born to immigrant parents. I am transferring to a 4-year institution. I am very excited of being able to experience this. I can say this, my perspective now of higher education at the age of thirty-one compared to my early twenties is vastly different. I've experienced several setbacks throughout the years and have firsthand experience the opportunities higher education brings. The reason I am pursuing a degree in business administration is because of the importance of financial literacy and entrepreneurship. In 2014 I attempted to start my own business and while it did not succeed it was a huge learning experience. They say that the average entrepreneur fails at least three times before establishing a successful venture. I am currently attempting to start a new business providing janitorial services for government agencies. I have so far bought the supplies and I am currently looking for my first contract. I am hoping that by the time I start school the business will be somewhat established and will help me pay for my education. I have seen the consequences of poor financial literacy. in hindsight, I wish I could have been there 20 years ago to tell my parents to buy a house, to use high-interesting yielding savings accounts and to invest in an IRA. My mother is unfortunately no longer with me due to Covid-19 but my father is nearing retirement age with very little savings. And I've come to the conclusion that this experience cannot be unique to me. Many immigrants and first-generation Americans lack the financial know how to build long term wealth. Realizing this woke me up to the fact that this is a major issue plaguing disadvantaged communities particularly communities of color. The way I plan to give back to society is to start a non-profit organization after establishing successful businesses that focuses on teaching financial literacy to disadvantaged communities. That is the common denominator keeping entire communities down. That is the difference from being given food and being taught how to fish for lack of better terminology. When people begin to invest in themselves and their future, they will have the capacity to break generational poverty. It is an issue I feel strongly about. I do not feel bad about having been born in a disadvantaged environment, it actually motivates me to lead by example and be the first in my family to graduate.

I am pursuing a degree in marketing because I am passionate about the transformative power of communication and the role it plays in shaping our daily lives and interactions. Through advertising, social media, and public relations, the way we communicate with each other can influence and alter the way we think and act. I believe that by studying marketing, I can develop the skills and knowledge necessary to make a positive impact on my community and the broader world. One way I hope to make a positive impact through my education in marketing is by using my skills and expertise to promote important causes and messages. There are numerous issues within my community and across the globe that I am deeply passionate about, and I believe that marketing can serve as a powerful tool for raising awareness and catalyzing positive change. By leveraging my marketing skills to promote messages of social justice, environmental sustainability, and other critical issues, I hope to contribute to making a positive difference in the world. Another way I plan to make a positive impact through my education in marketing is by using my skills to support ethical and sustainable businesses. Many companies are committed to doing good and having a positive impact on the world, and I believe it is essential to support and help these businesses thrive. By using my marketing skills to promote products and services that are environmentally friendly, ethically produced, or otherwise beneficial to society, I hope to contribute to creating a better world for all. In addition to using my marketing skills to promote important causes and support ethical businesses, I also plan to make a positive impact through my actions and choices. This could include supporting local businesses, volunteering my time and resources to help others, and using my platform to speak out on important issues. By setting a good example and being a positive influence in my own life, I hope to inspire others to do the same and make a positive impact in their way. Overall, I am confident that my education in marketing will provide me with the skills and knowledge needed to make a positive impact on my community and the world. Whether it's through promoting important causes, supporting ethical businesses, or simply spreading positive messages, I am dedicated to using my education to make a difference and contribute to creating a better world for all.