Never Stop Dreaming by Gabrielle

Never Stop Dreaming by Gabrielle - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

I would tell myself, “Keep dreaming. The dreams got you where you are today.” At the time, I didn’t always have the words for it, but I didn’t have dreams of living just because. I wanted to live with purpose, heal, and help others heal too.

Growing up, I often felt like I had to shrink myself to fit into places not built with me in mind. But I kept dreaming. I dreamt of one day going to college and being someone who could hold space for others. Now, I study psychology at the university that I worked hard for, meeting wonderful people, and experiencing things that couldn’t have been possible if I didn’t dream about them first.

Every leadership role I’ve taken—from co-founding a club in high school to creating an organization for Black women in psychology—has grown from that same place of dreaming. When I have moments of doubt, I go back to that younger version of me and I thank her for believing.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that dreams are strong. And even now, I’m still dreaming. I dream of graduate school, international study, of building bridges between mental health and culture. I will never stop dreaming, even when it seems like just a fairytale.