First-Gen Futures Scholarship

As a refugee who moved to the United States in search of safety and opportunity, the idea of pursuing higher education once seemed like a distant dream. My family and I arrived in this country with very little, carrying only hope and the determination to build a better life. Coming from a background where education was often inaccessible or interrupted by instability, I quickly realized that succeeding in the American education system would require navigating a path I had never seen anyone in my family walk before. Being a first-generation college student comes with many unseen challenges. There was no one in my family who could help me fill out college applications or explain the significance of standardized tests, personal statements, or financial aid forms. This made every decision from choosing the right school to understanding tuition and scholarships very difficult to navigate. I had to become my own advisor, mentor, and advocate. Despite the uncertainty and confusion, I knew that pursuing higher education was the most powerful tool I had to change my future and that of my family. My journey has taken me from being a newcomer to the U.S. 12 years ago to becoming a second-year medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia; the city I moved to. Gaining admission to medical school as a first-generation student still feels surreal at times. Medicine has always fascinated me, not only because of its complexity but because of its humanity. Growing up in communities with limited access to healthcare, I witnessed firsthand how disparities in education and healthcare often go hand in hand. My decision to pursue medicine was deeply personal. I want to be the kind of physician who understands the struggles of the underserved and can relate to patients from diverse, often overlooked, backgrounds. Being a first-generation student in medical school brings its own unique set of difficulties. Medical education is intense, and balancing it with the emotional weight of being the first in my family to take this path is not easy. I constantly juggle rigorous academic demands with the pressure of representing my family’s hopes and sacrifices. There are moments when imposter syndrome creeps in, or when I feel the weight of expectations pressing down on me. But in those moments, I remind myself of how far I’ve come and why I started. My journey from refugee to future physician has been fueled by resilience, sacrifice, and the unwavering belief that I can make a difference. I am not just working toward a degree; I am building a legacy for my family and for others who come from similar beginnings. I want to be an example that where you start in life does not have to define where you end up. This scholarship would not only ease the financial burden of my medical education, but it would also serve as a powerful affirmation of my journey and the potential that lies ahead.

As weird as it may sound, being a first-generation college student has the opposite impact on what you may think. By having two parents that did not attend college, it may be common that either parent does not want care for you to attend either. If they had a high priority or view of college, it would be very apparent and they would attend themselves, right? Well, it is very apparent that they both do think of attending college as important, but still, neither did attend it themselves. This is not even due to financials or capabilities. They simply lacked the work ethic in school. They made that very clear to me. What makes the difference is that they do not want to see me go down the same path that they did. At the end of the day, my household has a strong influence on me to attend. I have received the most unconditional support from my entire family for going to college. To say that it impacted me in amazing ways is a huge understatement. I am in a little different situation that most, but I believe this under-dog mentality is going to help me in the long run. My parents have been a major help distorting the mentality that I can’t do it, and because of them, I think they made it true! It is honestly a good thing. Both parents help me in any way possible. Though it is not good to help because neither knows anything about college, it is honest to help. They both try their best, and honestly, that is the best kind of help I can ask for. Since I earned my associate degree a year ahead of my class due to dual enrollment. I continued with community college for cost reasons. However, now that degree majors and colleges start to matter, I am continuing my journey at a major university. Not only that, I am continuing this journey with amazing and full support of my entire family. Of course, I am looking to my future with caution. I know that I will have a bright future in my career choice if I try my hardest in college right now. However, I am not going to stretch the truth. Having supporting parents like so helps so much in the college process. Even though being a first-generation student is hard, a lot of the time, you have plenty of support. I am lucky enough to say that I do.