First Gen Struggles by Michelle

First Gen Struggles by Michelle - February 2025 Scholarship Essay

There are a lot of controversies on the topic of needing an education to succeed. Growing up, I learned that I didn’t need to have an education in order to have things for myself. However, I constantly witnessed the early mornings and late nights my parents experienced in order to provide for my family and our necessities. Although my parents didn’t graduate highschool, they managed to give my siblings and I the life they always dreamed of. Throughout the course of my studies, I soon began to realize how significant my education meant to my parents. They immigrated to a foreign country with nothing but aspirations and luggage to provide these opportunities for their children. Even if it meant they had to slave the rest of their life away, they were willing to give up their goals in order for us to succeed and have an impact on our community. As I've gotten older, I began to dread going to school less. I saw it as a privilege rather than a chore. As a first generation student, I realized that not everyone had the same perspective I did. To many, graduating high school might not seem like a big deal, but to me it is a milestone I have been looking forward to. I know that there will always be a classmate who is more intelligent than I am, a classmate who has more resources than I do, but not everyone has that drive and ambition to gain knowledge and make an impact. My education has made a significant contribution to the person I am today. I have acquired many skills that will follow me throughout the rest of my life. I have learned to manage my time, I have learned to work under pressure, and most importantly I learned to network and seek help when I need it most. Most importantly, through my education I was able to grow a passion for the medical field. Through my life sciences classes, I have developed a deep understanding of human anatomy and its functions. This has motivated me to pursue a career in nursing, where I intend to make a significant contribution to the healthcare field. All in all, my education has played a major role in preparing me for my future endeavors. It has been a long journey of self-discovery and growth. The lessons I have learned will continue to guide me through the next chapters of my life. My education hasn’t only contributed to who I am today, but to who I am working to become.