Peering through the Lens into the Future by Nick

Peering through the Lens into the Future by Nick - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

I’ve always been curious about the natural world, the things that can and cannot be seen. Since the study of biology has had its hooks in me, I’ve shaped my life to align with my scientific interests and ambitions, with the ultimate goal of pursuing a career in scientific research. Attending a college with a strong microbiology program will help me achieve this goal, and to ultimately align my passion for biology with my desire to serve my community by discovering treatments and cures for diseases.

On the first day of biology class, I was amazed when my teacher focused a light microscope at 100X magnification on a slide containing a sample of lake water and let me take a look. I saw a whole new world! A tiny ciliate caught my attention, and it reminded me of the tireless hours I used to spend catching bugs and reptiles in my backyard. But these organisms were different: they were tiny, and I knew nearly nothing about them. Unexpectedly, as I had grown taller and older, my curiosity had shifted to smaller and smaller organisms.

Wanting to know more, I enrolled in AP Biology and Biomedicine courses where I learned more about microbiology. I worked hard and earned strong grades in these and in my other classes, and even earned a 5 on the AP Biology Exam. I also started to volunteer at Kaiser Permanente, one of the nation’s leading healthcare providers. These opportunities helped me to understand the true impact that scientists have and how I could turn my passion into a career. There are so many problems in the world that need people like me to help solve, such as the changing climate, poverty, and deadly diseases. It is answers to these problems for which I hope to find solutions that will lead to the development of treatments that will someday help people with chronic or progressive diseases live longer and better lives.

Now as I fix my eyes on the future, I hope to enter into a new ecosystem in college. Attending college is my next stepping stone and will allow me to deepen my knowledge in the area of microbiology. As I pursue this goal and one day enter into the field, I hope to learn all about a plethora of different microscopic organisms; either friend or foe. I am currently deciding between a few different University of California programs, each of which has top notch biology and microbiology programs. Receiving the Varsity Tutors Scholarship will help me to reach my goal of obtaining an undergraduate degree with as little debt as possible.

I grew up in a middle-class family where I was taught the values of hard work and appreciating the things you have. I do not have my own income or personal savings, as I have focused on my education and on volunteering in my community. Although my parents have been saving money for my sister and me to go to college since we were both young, due to the high cost of living in San Diego, they have currently saved up a little less than what it will cost for me to attend a University of California program for one year. As a result, I will need to take out loans. Further, I recognize that as a student of science, I will most likely need to pursue postgraduate studies. It is very important to me that I am not already buried in debt when I graduate with my bachelor’s degree. I am extremely grateful to have this opportunity to apply for the Varsity Tutors Scholarship, as it aligns with my passions and my experience and will help to make my dreams of attending a UC a reality.

Each of these important steps will help me to arrive at my goal of advancing critical medical research. Volunteering at Kaiser has shown me the criticality of the many vaccinations people receive and the necessity of advanced treatments and medications such as antibiotics, and has served as an inspiration for me to continually pursue my goals. I believe that my hard work both inside and outside the classroom, and my continued dedication to biomedicine and advancing scientific research, make me a strong candidate for the Varsity Tutors Scholarship. I want to be the one with the ability to help millions with just so much as a seemingly insignificant medication, antibiotic, or medical procedure. After many years peering through the lenses of the light microscope I know that microbiology is something I can see myself doing through college and far into the future.