Applying for college is a stressful process, but the high blood pressure does not end there. Many people in college feel the stress of balancing academics and a social life, and one needs not even mention the financial burden of tuition.

College is an expenditure that takes a mighty toll on the wallets of many parents and students. After the cost of tuition, books,  supplies, housing, and other life expenses, some of your top choice colleges seem impractical. The cost alone is the deciding factor in the minds of many aspiring seniors.

But for fifty-four lucky and extremely bright students around the country, university fees are no longer a problem. Thanks to the Morehead-Cain Scholarship,  those fifty-four seniors are able to take their minds off the price and onto the eductation. The Morehead-Cain Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the scholarship covers a variety of the burdensome college costs.

The prestigious and exclusive scholarship opens doors for young people seeking a program that offers an abundant amount of resources. At Saint Stephen’s we have our very own Morehead-Cain Scholar, Jakob Hamilton.

In addition to full tuition, the Morehead-Cain scholarship pays for housing, books, a laptop, meals, supplies, and a four-year summer enrichment program. Jakob’s summer enrichment choice for this year is a High Sierra Alpine climbing program with Outward Bound, which will test his physical limits on a 21-day rock climbing adventure. But his eye is really on his third year summer internship: studying with world-renowned concert organist, Cameron Carpenter.

The scholarship is the whole package, and it’s not given to the average student. Interested students go through a highly selective, five-step process, where only about three percent of the original nominees are chosen as scholars. Those accepted underwent several interviews, including two at the UNC Chapel Hill campus during the final selection weekend at the end of February.

The Morehead-Cain dates back to the 50’s and was the first of its kind in the United States. The program was founded at UNC Chapel Hill in 1951, and named after the two prime benefactors, John Motley Morehead III and the Gordon and Mary Cain Foundation. Since then, this program has brought forth CEO’s, Pulitzer Prize recipients, accomplished actors, and many congressmen. One day, Jakob will join the list of these successful Cain scholars.

Jakob Hamilton is generally described on campus as the over-scheduled, smart, piano kid. From speeding to teach a piano lesson to  sprinting to beat his cross country personal record, he is always on the move.

He is extremely talented musician and his specialty is the piano, which he has played  since he was 12. He has since grown into a well-respected performer by showcasing his music any chance he gets.

Hamilton can be found in the band room at seven-thirty in the morning, practicing an original composition, not because he has to, but due to his love for music.

Jakob’s band teacher, Ms. Sloan, raved about his talents as a musician.  “Jakob is an amazing musician. If his life at Saint Stephan’s were a song, it would be: ‘Life in the Fast Lane’.”

However, the excellence does not end with music. Like many Morehead-Cain scholars, he is a diligent student, esteemed athlete, and infinitely passionate about anything he devotes his time to.

Jakob has  found many mentors at Saint Stephen’s. For example,  Mr. Yanelli, who guided  him through the writing process of his book (Yes, Jakob is writing a novel).  Mr. Yanelli helped Jakob organize and prepare his story.  Additionally, he has looked to Dr. Anthou, who has read basically every one of Jakob’s essays since the eleventh grade. Doc has watched  Jakob’s successes accumulate. Doc said, “His many strengths come from [one] fundamental strength: his energy.”

Hamilton was devoted to his Morehead Cain scholarship application as well as all his other college application because he understood the importance of it. Ms. Lord, the head of college admissions, said “[Jakob] put his all into every piece, starting with the application process… and [that]  has enabled him to be successful.”

At Saint Stephen’s, Jakob’s presence is well-known: every students knows of him and his talents. Many consider Jakob as a thoughtful, talented musician, interested in the world around him.

When asked about how scholarship program has transformed his future , Jakob said, “Now, because of this opportunity, I’m going to be studying only music… and I will be able to visit places I never thought I’d be able to. Potentially, I can pursue a career in academia for music.” The Morehead-Cain  scholarship provides an opportunity that gives him the power of choice and flexibility. He can pursue his passion for music and explore his interests in the sciences as a surgeon.

Many students find themselves “stuck” or “plateau’d” during their senior year because they look back at their grades, scores, and extracurriculars and feel a sense of inadequacy. Jakob found himself in a similar situation with his standardized test scores and worried that it would define him.

Jakob doubted himself and believed everything he didn’t do would overshadow all the things he did. He thought colleges, like UNC Chapel Hill, would see his failures, mistakes, and missed opportunities. However, they saw much more. They were interested in more than a number on a paper. They were invested in the opportunities he did seize during high school and the obstacles he hurdled.

Jakob stressed the importance that “standardized test scores do not define your future.” In ten years, he explained, looking back at your high school career your standardized tests and grades will look insignificant in comparison to the rest of the your life, your hobbies, and your passions.

He wants students who are stressing over school-work and extracurriculars  to know that “[you] are made up of so much more than [your] transcript.”

Believe it or not, passion and dedication shines through. Jakob is dedicated to music and when he went for his semi-finalist round at UNC Chapel Hill, “They were really interested in the unconventional side of the application. They wanted to know about the music [he] composed and the novel [he] was writing.”

He  stresses not pondering  on the “what ifs” and the “should haves,” because you can’t change the past. The future is the only malleable element, so change the things you can and move past the things you can’t.

From Jakob’s experience, one discovers that opportunities come knocking at the door everyday, and everyday people have the choice to open that  door or just listen to the knocking. When Ms. Lord told Jakob about the scholarship, he could have seen the slim chance of his success, or doubt his worthiness, but he did the exact opposite. He completed the application in less than a week and prepared for the long journey ahead.

Opportunity often comes knocking, but it’s often drowned out by  excuses.  People say to themselves “They don’t pick people who have never done (blank) before”; or ” I can’t do that, I have too much on my plate right now”;  or “She’s doing that also and I don’t want to take her thing.”

These excuses are everywhere. Sometimes they are used as a way disguise the fear of failure. On a daily basis, the fear of failure triumphs over the reward of ambition.

Consequently, affluent societies preach “The sky’s your limit,” but in practice, they often discourage outward ambition. People that reach for goals deemed “too ambitious” are sentimentalists and rarely get labeled as visionaries. Too many brilliant minds of the world play it safe and achieve an unfulfilled, but a comfortable life.

The solution is clearing your mind of the thought of failure and filling it with the images of success. Stop fearing failure because it’s inevitable. J. K. Rowlings said, “It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might has well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default.”

Congratulations Jakob!

If you would like to find out more information about the Morehead-Cain Scholarship please visit (http://www.moreheadcain.org/)