The Ridge Alumni Memorial Scholarship selection committee unanimously chose RHS senior Yodalio Cabaleiro as the recipient of the $7,500 Ridge AMS award for 2012. Congratulations to Yo, who has demonstrated exceptional character and determination at Ridge High. Ridge AMS is delighted to award Yodalio its largest scholarship to date.

Following are excerpts from Yodalio’s application essay:

I moved to Basking Ridge my sophomore year, and I didn’t know whether it was going to be a good thing or a bad one. I came from a place where gangs run the streets and kids walk around in fear of not knowing what could happen to them. If you grew up where I grew up and you hear about a town like Basking Ridge, the first thing that comes to your mind is, “Wow, those kids must have everything.” Moving here made me realize that this town has more to offer.

I remember my first day here and everyone was wearing Aeropostale or Abercrombie. Kids my age were driving really nice cars. I kept telling myself I didn’t belong here until one day all of that changed. It was lunch and I usually sat with my cousin, but he was absent that day. So there I was, a kid from the city sitting alone at the lunch table. Then Elena Baurkot came up to me and asked if I wanted to sit with her and her friends.

From that day on I met more and more students who brought me into this family-like environment. They showed me that you don’t judge people by where they came from, but by their personality. They taught me how to work hard by pressuring me into playing football and wrestling. These sports not only taught me how to work hard, but how to work together on a team and I thank all my teammates for always being there to give me support.

The class of 2012 showed me that with hard work anything is possible. Besides in sports, they also showed me that where you are raised doesn’t define who you are. You are defined by the decisions you make. They showed me that no matter how much money you have, the only way to be successful is to work as hard as you can.

They made my high school career an experience I will never forget.