My personal experience by Silvia

My personal experience by Silvia - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

I, Silvia Camacho, have a goal to pursue higher education as a first generation student. My experience of being first generation has felt like a weight on my shoulders because I was always questioned about what I wanted to be growing up. I was told by my parents to envision myself in a workplace where I do not come out dirty but rather well dressed. Neither of my parents had the opportunity to get an education, therefore experiencing the hardships of not having an education.

With many career options out there, I have decided to be an artist and a programmer following my parent's advice. I did not spend much time with art previously until I took the fundamentals of art class in high school. When I first understood the basics I felt excited to master art. This class made me conscious of the beauty of the world, and how it has impacted the world, such as the Renaissance era. With the experience I have gained, I have had a better understanding of how to explain things through images rather than words. This is a way in which many of us can express ourselves even better. This made me want to partake in the world of art to continue learning. Eventually, I can envision myself creating something.

As a child, I was intrigued by technology. I did not grow up in a household where it was often seen. The only accessible device was a phone my dad had always taken to work, so whenever he would return home I would rush and ask for the device so I could play with it, but I always had the curiosity to know how it worked. I found it fascinating how technology functions whenever I interacted with it. I ended up taking computer programming the same year I took the art class in high school, and when I first attended my class, Intro to Programming, I coded my first line. I fell in love with the idea of telling the computers what to do. This made me look forward to finishing lesson after lesson, amazed by the process.

Having taken those courses helped me proceed with the idea of both careers, majoring in Computer Science and Art. Once I achieve and pursue both careers, I would like to do creative things. They do seem to be contradicting, but knowing both fields I can showcase an engaging and interactive project. This will allow me to combine both of my likes and share what I have learned. I am a committed individual and persistent in bringing my ideas to life. I am eager to explore both careers in depth and blend them together. With the support provided by the Varsity Tutors College Scholarship, I will be able to make my vision a reality and continue to grow.