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My College Prep Scholarship Experience
I remember clearly the day that I first heard about QuestBridge. Fifth Period Advanced Placement Biology had just begun and my teacher was making his introductory announcements, which that day included information about a scholarship for low income, academically motivated students. Of all the scholarships I heard of previously, I had the vague sense that this one was for me. I sprinted to the library during my lunchtime to look it up and discovered that not only was QuestBridge a scholarship for college (which then seemed so far away), it also included a summer program that paid up to ten students' ways to summer programs that I previously thought out of reach. The exclamation of joy that came out of me at that moment when I was flooded in excitement startled the girl at the neighboring computer. I finally had an opportunity that I could not pass up. I knew that the chances were slim that I would get the scholarship, considering that only a handful were selected from a fairly large applicant pool. Yet, I knew that even if there were the slightest chance of getting the prize, I would never forgive myself if I did not at least try. The time I spent filling out the forms, writing my essays, asking teachers for recommendations, and ordering transcripts was the best spent time of my life so far. Nineteen days later I was a semifinalist, then proceeded to send in supplementary information, and learned the next day that I was selected for the summer school prize. My journey had just begun, and yet I did not know how far it would take me. I was ignorant of the world I would soon get a taste of, one completely unlike any other I had ever experienced before. Over my summer at Harvard, I learned more than just the material from my classes, I learned about life and myself. I learned what it is like living away from home, in a place where people are happy to spend an hour debating string theory. I learned that there are places in the world where people are polite, considerate, and understanding. At Harvard, not only were the professors captivating and intellectually stimulating, the students were brilliant as well. Everyone had their own talents, hobbies, and quirks. I learned more about myself this past summer than I have in years. I grew not only as a student, but as an individual. I have now seen what a real academic world is like, and I am dedicated to meeting the challenge, to expand my horizons. My summer experience has reaffirmed my goals and taught me that taking calculated risks can pay off immensely. Click here to return to the College Summer Programs award page.
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