As a senior in college, I have the opportunity to reflect on my experiences and how they might help others as they begin, or continue, their own college journey. I have managed to leverage scholarships and financial aid to graduate debt-free. I feel proud of the work I have put in, and the scholarships I received from working hard and putting myself in the best position possible for success.
When I started college, I had the TN Hope Scholarship (which you can receive by filling out the FASFA) and a general academic university-specific scholarship that I qualified for due to test scores and grades. They were helpful, but college can be incredibly expensive, and there was still a large remaining balance. Since I was undecided, I put my focus on completing my gen-eds and finding my career path.
At the start of my sophomore year, I had the same scholarships, but I was awarded an additional one that I applied for on an external scholarship website. I know there is hesitation when filling out multiple random scholarship applications, but taking the time to find ones that represent you and your qualifications can lead to better chances at receiving the scholarships.
My junior year of college is when I really began to dive into my major-specific classes (Finance) and when I became more involved in campus clubs like the Financial Management Association, where I was elected to be VP of Marketing. I also spent over 60 hours volunteering to do taxes for lower income individuals and families, which was an experience I really enjoyed because of my love for helping others. I continued to prioritize my education and grades, and it paid off. I was awarded a scholarship halfway through the year because of my grades. This was unexpected and gave me even more motivation to keep expanding my knowledge and opportunities. I had also received the Pell Grant and the TSSA Grant, both made possible through filling out the FAFSA. These scholarships and grants helped make my second semester of junior year completely tuition free. I never thought this was a possibility for me, but I learned that putting in effort and persevering pays off.
At the end of my junior year, I applied for the College of Business scholarships, which I had never done before. I was not confident that I would be awarded any scholarships, but I chose to apply anyway. To my surprise, I ended up receiving two business scholarships, awarding me with over $4,000. I was so shocked and grateful to have been a recipient, and I know I would not have received them had I not continued to improve and grow throughout college. Along with this, I applied for scholarships from my sorority and was fortunate enough to receive one due to my leadership as VP of Finance, grades, and involvement in the sorority. Once again, I would not have received this had I not applied myself and put in the work. I learned that I had to pursue opportunities rather than wait for them to find me.
I am now currently in my senior year, and my scholarships have completely covered my tuition for the entire year. I will be coming out of college debt free, and I could not be more grateful.
I hope that sharing my personal scholarship and financial aid journey will help encourage others to believe in themselves and want to set themselves up for success. I know some may think college is not an option for them, but if you take advantage of resources and apply yourself, it can be achievable. Making the most out of your experience can take you very far. You can make yourself stand out by maintaining good grades, volunteering, being involved in clubs and activities, having drive, and taking advantage of every opportunity. The possibilities are endless if you chase them.