why should i receive a scholarship essay

why should i receive a scholarship essay

The Importance of Receiving a Scholarship

1. The Benefits of Scholarships

Scholarships are beneficial to not only the student but also to the school that they have been accepted to. Scholarships have a unique ability to grant students, regardless of their background or family income, an opportunity to attain a higher education and the well-being of their family. It has been proven that scholar students will perform at a higher academic standard than those who do not receive scholarships; thus, in the long term, raising the bar for academic excellence as they set an example for other students. Also, scholars have a tendency to be leaders and role models where they would give back to their community. Scholarship holders would experience the personal satisfaction of assisting those in need, often the same as or worse off than they once were. When a student earns a scholarship, this provides a signal to others that they have something valuable to offer. This holds true not only for the scholar but also for other students who recognize that their classmate is someone who should be taken seriously. This can be invaluable in terms of self-esteem, providing a vote of confidence that will inspire the student to aim high.

2. Academic Achievements and Potential

According to Leonard King, scholarships can be more than just money. As someone else’s money can be a tool to helping others progress in life, an investment. Colleges and universities always seek students who have the potential to be their future alumni and to help their institution gain national recognition. With that said, students who have demonstrated academic excellence will have a better chance at landing themselves a scholarship. Many scholarships are merit-based, meaning that you must possess a specific quality or ability in order to earn the scholarship. This is usually reflected on one’s academic record, and although it may not be explicitly stated, possessing this record can significantly increase self-confidence as a reflection of your potential. High academic achievements set certain people apart from the others, and this is only to recognize their potential to do great things in the future. A scholarship award will very much then be an investment for this person, with the sponsors knowing that this person now has an obligation to succeed.

3. Financial Need and Overcoming Barriers

Maintaining financial aid for this demographic is essential not only for degree attainment of first generation college students, but for upward mobility of their families as well. In addition, scholarship aid from institutions serves as a recruitment tool, and data indicates awarding scholarships increases the likelihood of enrollment, retention and degree attainment for low-income students. The most common response when being asked the biggest barrier in choosing to go to college was cost. Now that cost has been identified as a primary barrier, it is wise to analyze current shifts in public education policy and in state aid. Steps have been made to increase accessibility to higher education, through expansion of the federal work-study program and increases in Pell Grant awards which are directed towards low-income students. These efforts are in fact making college a more feasible option; however, it is important to note that not all aid is free money and often times these students are still left with unmet need, making it necessary to secure loans. Today’s student loan debt has increasingly become a defining factor for those seeking a college degree, and students’ willingness to incur debt has vastly changed theories from the past. Data from national studies still indicates that financial support is one of the most important factors in not only enrolling in postsecondary education, but degree attainment as well. This is a shift from past theory which stated the sole act of enrolling signified a student’s will to earn a degree, and thus succeeded in doing so. The combination of these factors has created the need for scholarships specifically designated towards low-income and first generation college students, in hopes to break current trends and increase degree attainment of these students. It is crucial for the current and future state of the economy, nation, and individual to maintain higher education participation and increase degree attainment of underrepresented students. The demographic shift of lower income and minority students making up a larger portion of our nation’s population further emphasizes the need for increased educational opportunities. Failure to do so would not only widen the gap between the majority and these minority groups, but hinder possibilities of social mobility and the ability for our nation to be competitive in the global economy. Budget cuts and increases in tuition costs can no longer be seen as solutions to the economic downturn of the U.S. as they hinder degree attainment of the students hit hardest by these cuts, and revolutionary changes must be made to aid these students in their quest for a college degree.

4. Contributions to the Community

A scholarship also provides much-needed recognition. For good students, a scholarship is a mark of excellence, which will be the ultimate in regards to personal satisfaction. For students who need to work their way through college, a scholarship is an incredible reward for determination and hard work. For students who are considered a minority, a scholarship is proof that there is a potential to succeed, it is an opportunity to a brighter future. No matter what a student’s situation may be, there is at least one kind of scholarship which is suitable. Scholarships also allow a student to focus more on their studies than part-time work in order to pay for tuition. Whether the student is considering on-campus employment or off-campus employment, a scholarship will limit the student’s dependency on it. On-campus employment is competitive and may not provide enough money, and off-campus employment consuming a lot of off time and both taking away from your studies. During my time in high school, I have witnessed an education almost lost by a good friend of mine due to work. He was working at a grocery store in the produce department, which was not considered high-demand. His boss was constantly telling him that he needed him to work more hours and even though my friend explained that he wanted to keep the job part-time, he kept being scheduled for more hours. This combined with a lack of transportation forced him to drop out of high school and earn his GED. This is a situation I am almost positive my friend would not have encountered had he been awarded a scholarship. Many students who are in similar employment situations would greatly benefit from a scholarship. Overall, a scholarship promises a brighter future. It can open up the doors to opportunities that a student would not have available without it. This is why I stress the importance of a scholarship. I have seen many of my peers and adults without a degree that are struggling to get by from week to week. They are living paycheck to paycheck and have high stress to maintain a steady income. Often times they are required to work extremely hard physical labor in order to provide. These are situations that they are trying to escape, yet there is little time or money to spend on education which is the way out. A scholarship can pave the way to a world without these troubles and that is the reason why I value a scholarship so highly.

5. Future Goals and Aspirations

By earning my degree, I hope to better my future and the future of my children. One of my greatest wishes is to be someone my kids look up to. I feel with my determination and willpower, I can provide a strong example to my children and other people that anything is possible. I want to be involved in the nurses association where I can continue to learn from others and provide my knowledge to those in the association. After gaining experience and extended knowledge in the nursing field, I would like to travel the world with my family, taking short-term jobs in different areas, helping those in need. This scholarship will be a great step into helping me achieve my goals and aspirations. I hope to better my future and the future of my children in an attempt to create a dream for them, but also to be someone they can look up to.