Dreaming Big in a Small World by Brenda

Dreaming Big in a Small World by Brenda - December 2024 Scholarship Essay

Balancing school with helping my parents at their janitor job at the laundromat has been one of the hardest challenges I’ve faced. Every evening from 8 to 10 PM, I helped clean floors, wipe down machines, and fold linens. It was exhausting, especially when I had homework or big tests to study for, but I knew my family depended on me. On top of that, my dream of studying astronomy wasn’t something my parents supported. They thought it wouldn’t make much money in the long run and encouraged me to focus on a “practical” career instead like business or medical fields. While I understood their concerns, it hurt to feel like the one thing I’d been passionate about since fifth grade wasn’t something they believed in.
Despite these challenges, I was determined to keep going. I started planning every hour of my day to make sure I had time for homework and studying. I stayed after school for office hours in my harder subjects, like calculus, and even used my lunch breaks to catch up on assignments. It wasn’t easy, and there were nights when I felt completely overwhelmed, but I kept reminding myself why I was doing it. Astronomy has fascinated me ever since I saw pictures of the stars and planets in a science textbook, and I knew I couldn’t let that passion go.
I also started talking to my parents about why this career means so much to me. I showed them how I could make it work, researching scholarships, internships, and careers in astronomy to prove it wasn’t a dead end. Winning this scholarship would be a huge step toward making my dream a reality. It would relieve the financial stress that comes with pursuing college as a low-income, first-generation student and allow me to focus on what I’m truly passionate about. While my parents are starting to see how serious I am, winning this scholarship would also show them—and myself—that my hard work and dedication are paying off.
By the end of the semester, my grades improved, and I felt proud of what I’d accomplished. Helping my family at the laundromat taught me the value of hard work and discipline, while standing up for my passion showed me how important it is to stay true to myself. This experience wasn’t easy, but it proved to me that no challenge is impossible if you’re willing to put in the effort and believe in yourself. Winning this scholarship would not only help me financially but also serve as a reminder that no dream is out of reach.