Cierra Carter

I am an AACPS: Alum, North County High School ‘13

My name is Cierra Carter and I graduated from North County High School in 2013. I spent the majority of my primary and secondary educational career in AACPS, with a brief stint in private school. Over the course of that time, I came in contact with incredible teachers who saw more potential in me than I ever saw in myself. They constantly encouraged me and pushed me to improve as a student and as an individual. From my teachers Mrs. Hoffensetz and Ms. Lucas in elementary school, to Whitley, Bittinger, Mermod, Sullivan, Singer and Bittman in high school–and so many others in between.

As a junior in high school, the thought of college was an overwhelming and stressful one. With Mr. Whitley’s [NCHS AVID Site Coordinator] guidance through the AVID program, my questions were answered and I began to develop a plan. As senior year rolled around, I had a plan, but no financial means of achieving it. Mr. Whitley and Mrs. Singer [my counselor] both encouraged me to apply for the Gates Millennium Scholarship, and though I knew it would be competitive, I did it anyway. I wrote eight essays, filled out pages of information, submitted resumes and frequently voiced my worry that it might not even be worth it. I received the initial notification that I made it through the first round somewhere around mid-March, and that alone was mind blowing. But April 19th. One of my fellow classmates, Fatima, told me that she had received notification from Gates, and she was one of the 1,000 winners. I was SO pumped for her, but also discouraged. I hadn’t heard anything. I just knew that meant I would be receiving the “I’m sorry to inform you…” email soon. Later that day, as my mom and I were waiting outside of a store for my grandma, talking about college, I received an email. I braced myself for the worst, as my mom rambled on, unaware. I scrolled down cautiously, only to see, “Congratulations!” and my life has forever been changed.

Winning Gates was an incredible blessing that I don’t think I deserved more than the next person, but I know God has and will continue to use it in big ways. I’m currently studying Journalism and Global Studies at Liberty University, and will go on to study Public Health with the hope of working in humanitarian relief with a nonprofit… or maybe starting my own. I want to use what has so graciously been given to me to help those around me. My biggest dream is to serve. I’m so thankful for Gates, for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, for AVID, for April 19th and for the way that God has allowed me to be impacted by them all.