Escaping Monotony by Alyssa

Escaping Monotony by Alyssa - April 2024 Scholarship Essay

Dear scholarship committee,

My name is Alyssa DuChene, a self-driven and enthusiastic aspiring environmental conservationist for Michigan State University (MSU). Since the first revelation of what career I want to pursue, there was never a doubt in my mind that my future lies in the intersection of human lives and the environment in which we thrive. The scientific, societal, and ethical challenges that characterize environmental conservation have always inspired me towards unwavering dedication in my studies and future career.

Every day when I wake up, I am mindful of the minimum-wage jobs I've worked so far. They have served as both my humble beginning and an important reality-check. It's not that busing tables or making pizzas are not honorable jobs. They are. They help to put food on the table; they prove that hard work can make a difference. But I yearn for, and believe that I am capable of, more than just making ends meet. It is the awareness of the cyclic monotony of these jobs - forever distant from my true interests - that fuels my determination to pursue my academic goals.

I am relentlessly motivated by my aversion towards a destiny of just 'getting by'. Rather, my eyes are constantly set on bringing forth substantive environmental conservation solutions that would make a world of difference. With an Environmental Studies and Sustainability major at MSU, I aspire to partake in inciting the much-needed change in how we interact with our environment.

To make this aspiration a reality, it's imperative that I stay focused and centered in my academic discourse. One way I do so is by connecting my day-to-day life and experiences to my intended area of study. I leverage my time outside class to combine my life and mind around activities and pursuits that have ecological implications; from keeping up with journals and periodicals in environmental science to observing and aligning myself with sustainable lifestyle practices. By seeing the relevance of my courses to my life and potential career, I find and maintain an intrinsic motivation to stay enthusiastic about my studies.

Moreover, I embrace a results-oriented and disciplined approach to my academics. I never lose sight of how my academic performance today could enhance the prospects of making impactful environmental strides in the future. My high school GPA - 3.63 speaks to the efforts I already put to ensure excellence.

In conclusion, the scholarship would provide a significant push towards achieving my academic goals and realizing my career aspirations. It's a golden opportunity that I would approach with the utmost seriousness, appreciation, and humility. Apart from alleviating financial strain, it would allow me to engage fully in my academic journey with less distraction. Therefore, I am applying for the Varsity Tutors College Scholarship, convinced that I possess the commitment and resilience that aligns with the ideals this scholarship stands up for.

Thank you for considering my application.

Yours faithfully,
Alyssa DuChene