Success by Bryan

Success by Bryan - February 2021 Scholarship Essay

Success in college means a lot to me. It means more than earning some degree. It is a place where you grow: a place of opportunity. My success in college determines my future. Failing college means failing myself and my family. It is something that I cannot live with myself. Every job requires a degree. Most of the rewarding jobs come from graduating college. It provides job security, career satisfaction, long-term financial gain, and success outside the workforce. All these aspects are mostly obtainable after graduating college. Thus, success in college means everything to me, from acquiring a rewarding job to making my family proud.

College teaches you the fundamentals for your career. Many lack the necessary skill set for the workforce. Thus, they need to develop these skills through college. Not taking the courses seriously can impact your ability to work efficiently. College can help with your personal growth because it tests your intellectual ability through rigorous coursework. It also increases future prospects' knowledge in the field. It is time-consuming and inefficient to teach an employee with no background knowledge. Companies will lose money because they are spending resources on someone that needs more training, so they are less likely to hire you because of this. If they are less likely to hire you, you are unable to support your family financially. College also teaches us how to be self-reliant and independent. We are given more responsibilities. We cannot always rely on our parents. Building connections is also considered college success because you meet people that can impact your life in the long-run.

Making our families proud is one of our goals in life. Success in college is a step towards that goal. As a child, I was raised mainly by my mother since my father didn't arrive in the United States until I was in fifth grade. My mom didn't have enough money by herself to buy a home even if my dad sent money; thus, we are renting a room in my uncle's house. My mom would work minimum-wage jobs; I would see how hard my mom worked throughout the week. She would go to work early and comes home late, tired, yet finds the time to take care of me and do house chores. No matter how tired she was, she goes above and beyond for me. I never heard her complain. The only time I heard her complain was when my mother told me how she regretted not getting an education when she came to the United States. She regrets it to this day: berating herself and crying at times for not doing so. Thus, my mother would always push me to be successful, dreaming of a place of her own. My mother sacrificed her happiness for me to have the luxury she never had. For this reason, she inspired me to use this as motivation to gain a degree and become successful. As the only child, it is my responsibility to meet her expectations. When times get tough, I will remind myself that my mom is there to support me, no matter what, and that she wouldn't complain if she were in my shoes because it is for the betterment of my future. I plan to strive by using her determination and perseverance. I know that I cannot fail, or I will disappoint my mother. Everything will be worth it in the end: a place of our own, a luxurious lifestyle, and my mom's happiness, which is my happiness. All this for my mom to say, "I'm proud of you, son."