Yesterday, I received a bill from my school that totalled well over $25,000. This was a shock to me and my parents, because we had received a lot of aid from the school and external sources, so it should not have cost $25,000. Upon later inspection, my school had never processed my awarded aid and scholarship money, but billed it to me anyway. It was a shock to see that number. $25,000 for one semester. Two semesters would cost $50,000 total. That's more than my family's annual income by nearly $20,000. It was what made me realize how costly college was and how expensive it can get. From here on out, it's going to be bill after bill, and I don't want to stress out my parents with how expensive it can get. Even with all my awarded financial aid, the amount I have to pay is still a large sum, and I want to graduate with the least amount of debt possible. As a first-generation and low-income student, my parents moved from their home country to America with hopes of leaving the horrible conditions behind and being able to have children in a better environment. I know that all they have done is for me and my brother. The endless hours, extracurricular costs, and additional tutoring it was all done so that my brother and I would succeed in the future. This scholarship money would mean a lot to me, as it would lessen my tuition fees and become less of a stressor for my parents. That is my priority. I don't want my parents to worry about the costs of college, and I want to be able to cover it on my own. As hard-working as they are, they don't make a lot of money. I know they want to provide for me and my brother, but college now is so insanely costly, and I don't want them to feel burdened with the costs. I also want them to be able to support my brother throughout college later on, instead of having to shell out money for my fees. This money would alleviate a burden off my shoulders. I currently work part-time to contribute to expenses, and this would help me and my family out a lot.

When I was in 6th grade, I was in a horrible bullying incident, where my teacher would constantly berate me and accuse me of things that never happened. One day, she called me into the hall and told me the way I was looking at her was rude, and that it looked like I "wanted to kill her", which I was deeply disturbed by. She then sent me back into class, where I proceeded to cry for the rest of the day. At the end of the day, she pulled me aside and told me, "It looks like what I said must have upset you", and then continued to invalidate and accuse me of attention seeking. I was in the class for an extra 30-40 minutes or so, and outside the door were two of my friends. One of them was my best friend, who secretly slid me tissues under the table as I cried earlier. She rubbed my shoulder and comforted me as I told her what the teacher had said to me. I found out later that she had told her parents about this incident, and they had come into school to have a meeting with the principal and the teachers about their behavior towards students. I'm grateful to this day that she stood up for me when I wasn't brave enough to do so myself. The other friend waiting outside for me was this short little boy, whom we would sometimes play with at the park. Sometimes we would tease him often, and hold things above our heads so he couldn't reach them, and he would laugh along with us as he jumped trying to reach them. We were never all that close, but it meant a lot to me that he stood outside the classroom for half an hour just to make sure I was okay. We became a lot closer after that, and he's had my back the whole time I've known him. I hope he's doing well now, as we went to different schools and have drifted apart. My best friend has always supported me from then til now, whether it was studies or a personal issue. She'd share her lunch with me as we played card games together during break, and guided me through hard times, as I did for her. She's one of the strongest people I know, even when her health took a hit. I did my best to return the favor for all she has done for me in the previous years by sending her my school notes, writing her little letters, and giving her gifts. As a first-generation student, I was unsure a lot of times when I was facing injustices at school. My parents didn't go to school here, and they didn't know how the school system worked either. I had to bear the burden of navigating enrollment, exams, and school events all on my own, so as not to stress out my parents. I'm sure in my efforts, I've made a few mistakes, but now I've learned to stand up for myself when times are difficult. During the incident with the teacher, I didn't know what to do, and I never told my parents about it. I know now that my teacher's words and behavior were completely inappropriate, and that I should have reported it when I had the chance. Being a first-generation student comes with many learning curves, ones that I have gotten past, but I wouldn't have been able to without the support of my friends and family by my side.

I'm an 18-year-old Chinese-American, and I want to give my parents the best life I can. For the longest time, I didn't know what I wanted to be or what I wanted to do, other than make money to support my family the way they have supported me. My parents moved from China to America in hopes of being able to raise their children in a better environment, and they have given their all in supporting me and my brother. I was going back and forth from being a pharmacist to a sonographer, and even considered cancer research, until I settled on nursing. I'm currently enrolled in Molloy University, a school with an excellent nursing program. I think in today's day, a healthcare job would be able to help my community the most. Healthcare workers are the backbones of our society and do an immense amount every day to help people. I want to be like that, too. My plans are to study hard and do well, and pass the NCLEX. I eventually want to go back to school to become a nurse practitioner, and even a nurse anesthetist if my circumstances allow it. I'll pursue my education to the best of my abilities, because life doesn't stop after you get a job. I want to be constantly learning and improving, and reach for higher dreams. While being Chinese-American, my Mandarin is not the most proficient. I want to be able to communicate with the Chinese members of my community and help them when they are in need. Language barriers are still prominent in today's day and age, and it's a large struggle, especially for the elderly. A lot of them are on their own, navigating a world that does not have ways to help them. By improving my Chinese as well as my studies, I want to be able to close the gap for those who need it. This way, they will feel more welcome as they seek out professional medical help, instead of ignoring it due to healthcare settings not being accessible. This scholarship would mean a lot to me and would go into my tuition fees. I want to graduate as debt-free as possible, not for my sake but my parents' sake. They've always told me not to worry about money, and to do what I want, and they will support me through it, despite not having much themselves, and I want to do the same for them. I want them to know that I am going to a good school without having to pay extensive fees, as I know they will always worry about how much it costs to go to college. I also want them to support my brother to the best of their abilities once he enters college in a few years, and I do not want them to worry about having to pay for two children's tuition. I want to give back to my parents the moment I get a job, to show them that their support all these years has always meant a lot to me. I hope you will consider me for this scholarship.

I live in a very asian community, which is predominantly Chinese and filled with the elderly. Oftentimes, they do not know how to navigate around the community, and get lost frequently. They tend to get lost and need help in many ways, such as pushing a walker over a particularly uneven sidewalk tile or looking for a certain store. Language barriers in today's society make it difficult for them to communicate and receive the help they need, and they often do not take care of themselves or see the doctor because they are unable to understand them. My further education would allow me to have the knowledge, skills, and technicalities to address these issues and help the community I grew up. I dream to pursue nursing, starting with my bachelor's in nursing, and eventually going into grad school to become a nurse practitioner. I want to be able to fill the language barrier in these fields, as health is one of the most important things in everyone's lives. As a registered nurse, I would be able to work in hospitals or other clinical offices and provide translations to those who need them. Sometimes these offices do not have people who can understand their struggles, and I want to close the bridge between them. I want to show people that they are worthy of care, and they are able to receive care, because I will be there to help them. Many times, they are ashamed of not understanding English, and so they do not seek out help, even when they are at their lowest and need the most aid. Eventually, I would finish grad school as a nurse practitioner and be able to open an office in my area. With this, I can help people more locally around me, and they would be able to find help in their situation much quicker. Even though I would not have the same qualifications as a doctor, with a vast understanding of medical knowledge, ideally, I would be able to perform check-ups, or listen to them about their health concerns, and even redirect them to another doctor if need be. Even if I would not be able to help them solve all of their problems, it is much better than knowing they have problems and not doing anything to help. My pursuit of further education is a reflection of my goals to help my community, because I know that everyone is struggling. I want to offer support to a group that does not get it often, and make their lives easier.