My Aspiration for the Upcoming School Year by Ethan

My Aspiration for the Upcoming School Year by Ethan - August 2025 Scholarship Essay

As I get ready to begin my first year of college at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, I feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. This a big step in my life, and I know it will take focus, hard work, and strong support. My goal is to study biology and forensic science. I’ve always been interested in science and how things work and I want to use that knowledge to help others. I want to learn as much as I can, take every opportunity I’m given, and become someone who can make a difference in the world. This scholarship would help me stay on track and give my full attention to my studies without worrying so much about money. One of the person who helped prepare me for this next chapter is my ACT Prep teacher, Ms. Renee Rieder. She did more than just teach me test skills. She gave me her time, care and support when I really needed it. Even though I had A and B grades in math, I still felt unsure about the ACT math section. Some of the questions were tricky, and I wanted to do better. Ms. Rieder saw that I was trying. She encouraged me and helped me study. What made it even more special is that she tutored me on Saturday mornings, before her own day started. That meant a lot to me. It showed that she believed in me and wanted me to succeed.
I remember one Saturday when I felt stuck. I had been working hard all week, but I still didn’t understand some of the questions. I started to feel frustrated. Ms. Rieder sat next to me and helped me go through each problem, step by step. She didn’t rush me. She didn’t make me feel bad for not getting it right away. She stayed patient and kind. That helped me calm down and start to understand. Because of her help, I started to feel more confident. I stopped being afraid to ask questions. I used to think that asking for help meant I wasn’t smart, but she showed me that asking ques