https://sites.google.com/site/samanthajo59/

Samantha Fuentes

648 Torrey Pines Lane

Johnstown, CO 80534

8 February 2011

Ms. Lindsey Stinson

Coach

Greeley CO, 80634

Dear Ms. Stinson

                 As you already know I am planning on attending Western State University to play volleyball. To help make this possible, I am applying for the Pi Lambda Chi scholarship. I would really appreciate it if you could write a letter of recommendation for me. Because I have had you as a coach for four years, and have been under your club, you know the quality of my work ethic, and how effective my leadership can shine through to others. You also are aware of how passionate I am.

                As my volleyball coach, you have experienced my work ethic one on one. I believe that you have a great sense of the qualities I have, and need to be successful at Western State. You may also be aware that I am very capable of being helpful and involved throughout my community, and I have been part of volleyball camps held for elementary girls. I have also been a volleyball coach for third and fourth graders. I love helping out, and putting as much time as I can and trying to be a big part of our community. 

Please send me your letter by February 24, 2011. Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate you taking the time to write this letter for me. If you have any questions, or need more information don’t hesitate to call me. (970)217-2195

Yours sincerely,

Samantha Fuentes

Enclosed: Letter of Recommendation Guidelines

Samantha Fuentes

648 Torrey Pines Lane

Johnstown, CO 80534

9 February 2011

Mr. Mark Laurdison

Coach

Greeley CO, 80634

Dear Mr. Laurdison,

                 As you already know I am planning on attending Western State University to play volleyball. To help make this possible, I am applying for the Pi Lambda Chi scholarship. I would really appreciate it if you could write a letter of recommendation for me. Because I have had you as a coach for three years, and have been under your club, you know the quality of my work ethic, and how effective my leadership can shine through to others. You also are aware of how passionate I am.

                As my volleyball coach, you have experienced my work ethic one on one. I believe that you have a great sense of the qualities I have, and need to be successful at Western State. You may also be aware that I am very capable of being helpful and involved throughout my community, and I have been part of volleyball camps held for elementary girls. I have also been a volleyball coach for third and fourth graders. I love helping out, and putting as much time as I can and trying to be a big part of our community. 

Please send me your letter by February 24, 2011. Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate you taking the time to write this letter for me. If you have any questions, or need more information don’t hesitate to call me. (970)217-2195

Yours sincerely,

Samantha Fuentes

Enclosed: Letter of Recommendation Guidelines

Samantha Fuentes

648 Torrey Pines Lane

Johnstown, CO 80534

8 February 2011

Mrs. Brenda Otteman

Anatomy, Biology Instructor

Roosevelt High School

Dear Mrs. Otteman,

I am planning on submitting a scholarship application for the Pi Lambda Chi scholarship. I would really appreciate it if you could write a recommendation letter for me. Because I have had you as an instructor for a few years here at Roosevelt, you know the quality of my work ethic, along with my personality traits.

As my teacher, you are familiar with my grades, my study habits and my work ethic. I believe that you have a great sense of my qualities, and I need to be successful at a college level. You also know what I am capable of doing throughout the community. Currently I am a teacher’s aid for a third grade class at Milliken Elementary; while I am there I put in some community service hours. I have also been part of volleyball camps held for elementary girls. You also are aware that our class has helped out at the Middle school. I love helping out, and putting as much time as I can and trying to be a big part of our community. 

Please send me your letter by February 24, 2011. Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate you taking the time to write this letter for me. If you have any questions, or need more information don’t hesitate to call me. (970)217-2195

Yours sincerely,

Samantha Fuentes

Enclosed: Letter of Recommendation Guidelines

4. How has your identity shaped who you are?

Finding out who I truly am as a teenager in high school is probably one of the hardest things I have ever done, because I’ve heard who I need to be by my parents, my teachers and counselors for numerous years. What really matters is who I want to be and who I have become, so I have made a choice to become an inspiring athlete who is very outgoing and loves spending time with the people closest to me. I have been playing volleyball for ten years, and growing as an athlete ever since. I have learned to become responsible, respectful and I have learned how to really reach for the goals I set for myself.

Learning how to set goals can easily be accomplished when showing discipline and heart. My mom has always used discipline to raise my siblings and I. She has taught me that being discipline can get you anywhere you want to go. I have a very close relationship with God and learned honesty and loyalty as well as being a caring individual. I am a very humble person, and also strong willed. Being strong willed, has been a very important step in achieving the goals I set for myself. I have a big heart, and love helping others with their needs, while going out of my way just to make somebody smile. I am still finding myself as the years go on, but for now I am content with the person I am today.

3. What obstacle(s) have you faced in life and how have you been able to overcome it(them)? How did you learn from this experience?

The past three years of my life, the hardest obstacle has come into my life and has not completely left yet. Throughout my life my father has always been a difficult individual having problems with alcohol. He came home drunk every night and just passed out on the couch until he woke up for work the next day and started all over again. He never supported anything my mom, my siblings, or I did, unless it was what he wanted. My sophomore year of high school I found out a secret that my father had kept for a few years. I found out that he was living two separate lives. He had a serious girlfriend while married to my mother of twenty-two years. When he found out we knew about her, my father left us. I woke up one morning to find my house completely empty. While all of this was happening, the whole community knew what was going on and it could not be more embarrassing. My father’s actions have made me such a strong woman today. The strength he has given me is what got me to overcome his stupidity. I learned that my mother and I can make it through this world without anyone dragging us down. I learned how to keep my composure through school, and through rough times. From this experience I have become a stronger and better person. I do everything I can to make sure no one has to go through such pain.

2. When/How have you made a difference in your community?

Throughout my community I have had numerous experiences with community service. When I became a freshman at Roosevelt High School I became a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes club where we are expected to help out around the community. In FCA during the fall we go gather and rake leaves around Johnstown. During the summer I also mow lawns for the elderly people in my neighborhood. I am very involved in my community and with the people in it. The summer that I turned sixteen, I gave lessons to a ten year old girl. Every day that summer we went to the recreation center and played volleyball. I taught her how to serve, pass, set, and spike the ball. I became a role model and leader to this ten year old girl. Last year, I was a volunteer volleyball coach for a third and fourth grade team. We practiced twice a week for an hour each night. We also had games every Saturday. I learned a lot from the girls and they learned a lot from me. For these girls I have made a difference in their lives and gave them a great experience. It being the last semester of my high school year I am a teacher’s assistant for a third grade teacher. Throughout my time at the elementary school I spend a lot of time with the kids trying to make a difference. I care a lot about the community, it’s a great place to be.

1. What does community mean to you and why is it important?

To me community is a place of belonging, a place where people support me and where I feel most comfortable. Community is like one big home where everyone works together to help people succeed and protect one another: A place where we can learn and grow as a unit. It is a safe place where we meet new people and create new relationships. In communities you learn many skills to help you in the future. You have so many experiences that lead you to new opportunities. You gain leadership roles and other social means. Communities are full of trust, loyalty, friendship, and most of all happiness. People rely on each other; they have fun together and sometimes even work on achieving common goals they share. Communities are important and are needed in society. It helps shape who we are today, and also makes it possible for success among the people in it. The support of a community can go very far. It is important to realize what it means to you to be a part of the unit around you. The people around you can be a big influence on you, and the importance of your community is extraordinary. No matter where you are in the world, how old you are, or who you are, there will always be a community around you. As you grow up (move away to college) you will meet new people and share new communities.