Meet Joseph Conte: Business Administration Major and Leadership Scholarship Winner
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1. Describe what your essay was about.
Out of all the virtues, I wrote about wisdom. My sophomore year of high school, I had to undergo surgery; it really put me away from all the things I loved, including sports. That developed my character and my leadership.
My surgery prevented me from playing so I ended up coaching lacrosse. I used my wisdom of the game to coach the kids from my hometown at a local club and make it important to them, like it was for me. It made me feel a little more fulfilled that even though I couldn’t play, I could still be involved in the game and still feel connected to it.
2. Describe your reaction when you found out you won the scholarship.
I was stunned, because I’m just a lacrosse kid from Philadelphia and nobody from my high school has ever gotten this scholarship. I was very happy and proud of myself. My mom was probably happier than I was. She knows the stuff I’ve been through, so she knows how much it meant to me.
3. Favorite thing about DeSales?
I really enjoy how close-knit the community is. When you think of going to a big school, you’re kind of looked at as just a number. I like that everyone here knows each other and that it’s not a huge school, but it’s big enough where you’re experiencing new things every day.
4. Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I see myself going to law school. I want to go to Villanova Law. My mom and dad went to Villanova for their post-graduates, so I feel like I want to carry on that legacy.
5. Fun fact about yourself?
I was a lifeguard this past summer in North Wildwood, New Jersey, and I got bitten by a baby shark.
The Leadership Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship offered to six students who have shown outstanding leadership in their high school careers and who plan to continue to develop those skills at DeSales. The deadline to submit your application, essay, and resume is Friday, December 1, 2023.
