Scholarship Essay Entry – Paula C.

I believe the word justice in its truest form really means equality. As a young adult studying and working in the social services field, I see firsthand on a daily basis a great deal of injustice in our community. There is an imbalance of power in Edmonton between the rich and the poor. While some people get to live in over-sized homes, drive over-sized cars, eat over-sized meals and receive over-sized respect, others sleep in over-crowded shelters, spend days under-fed and over walked, and receive little respect for the hardships they endure. People who waste and disrespect the community with ignorance feel entitled by their power to dignity, while other people fight for their basic rights.

I believe that as young people, it is our responsibility to use the power of our voices to bring back justice and equality for those in our community who have lost their dignity due to inequality. At a time in our lives when the privilege of education is paving our way to a brighter future, it is important for us to remember that unless we can educate our communities as well as ourselves, positive change will never come. With our education comes our power, and with that power comes the responsibility to inform others of what we’ve learned.

Over the past year I have been spending time in Edmonton’s inner city, getting to know the people who live and work there, and hearing their stories. My vision for the future of Edmonton is one where a greater understanding of poverty and justice can be had by all members of our city through public education about local social issues. I believe that through the education of the greater community, we can eliminate the general ignorance that perpetuates the injustice of inequality.

I want to be someone who can welcome others into situations where they can learn about social justice in a way that gives them a deeper personal understanding of the importance of equality. I want my actions as a young person who cares deeply for humanity to speak loudly to all those who see me. I want to affect people on a level that will cause them to care enough that their actions will echo throughout the community in a ripple effect. My dream is that through education we can get rid of ignorance, inequality, arrogance, injustice and apathy and replace these ideals with compassion, understanding, accountability, equality and justice for all.