What the Textbook Didn’t Teach Me by Elias

What the Textbook Didn’t Teach Me by Elias - May 2025 Scholarship Essay

Education has always been more than just learning, it’s a way to understand the world, to ask questions that matter, and to shape how we live our lives. If I had unlimited time and money, I would use what I’ve learned to keep families together.
I come from an immigrant family. Both my parents came to the United States when they were 17 years old, determined to build a life filled with opportunities they never had. They started a family of four here and built a future from the ground up. Growing up, I always felt safe until the day I learned about I.C.E. and what they do to families like mine. At twelve years old, I cried for days, haunted by the idea that everything I knew could be taken away in an instant. As I matured, that fear faded, but it never truly disappeared.
I am incredibly thankful for the sacrifices my parents made. They gave me the chance to form friendships and learn lessons they never had the opportunity to. One of the most valuable lessons I learned in school was empathy. I could never imagine the pain of watching the two people who love you most being taken away, their hard work and sacrifices erased in a matter of seconds. On social media, I’ve seen heartbreaking videos of I.C.E. raids where parents are ripped from their children’s lives with no guarantee of return. No child should have to experience that uncertainty, and if given the opportunity, I would dedicate my resources to making sure families stay together.
With unlimited time and money, I would ensure no child has to live in fear. I would fund legal assistance for families facing deportation, ensuring they have the support to fight for their future. I would build community centers where immigrant families can access mental health support, financial aid, and temporary housing. I would create educational programs to help people understand immigration policies, focusing the conversation on humanity rather than politics. Most importantly, I would push for policy reform, working with lawmakers to build immigration laws that keep families together.
What I’ve learned has shaped how I see justice and fueled my drive to help others. If given the opportunity, I will dedicate everything I have to making sure families stay together so no child has to live with fear, and so love is never separated by borders.