Steps That Matter by Cameron

Steps That Matter by Cameron - August 2025 Scholarship Essay

As I step into the upcoming school year, my aspirations extend beyond grades and GPA; they are about growth with purpose. I am aiming to strengthen my academic foundation, and leave a meaningful impact on my community before graduation.
Academically, I plan to challenge myself by taking dual-enrollment college courses in the Computer Science and Math areas. I want to deepen my understanding of how science and data interact in solving real-world problems. I'm pursuing this not just to prepare for college, but because I see education as a key to unlocking solutions for underserved communities like my own. I want to be more than college-ready; I want to be life-ready.
In addition to academics, I hope to take on a leadership role in my neighborhood’s outreach initiative. My goal isn’t to add another activity to my resume, but to create a space for the voices of my community that often go unheard. I want to expand on our outreach support initiative to include not just helping our elders with things around their homes or shopping for them, but to also just sit to talk with them. Learn more about the history of our small town. Learn more about their lives. Be an ear to people who may not have anyone who can sit to listen. Too many elders have to live alone, and if I can help brighten their day even just a little, it will be worth every effort.
What motivates me is knowing that I will have started something amazing that my grandparents and other elders in my town will be able to find comfort in. I come from a hardworking family that has faced financial instability, cultural barriers, and sacrifices most people never see. I’ve watched my mom put dreams on hold so I could chase mine. That fuels me. I carry this knowledge with me daily as a reminder, and let it order my steps in the right direction. I don’t expect the journey to be easy, but I’ve learned that the most important steps are rarely the easiest ones. They are simply the ones that matter.