Escapism by Grace

Escapism by Grace - August 2025 Scholarship Essay

Ever since I was a child, I have felt a constant urge to leave. Leave my hometown. Leave everything I had ever known. I learned it is not quite that simple, however.

My whole high school career had been based on getting accepted into a top 20 school, from pulling countless all nighters to finish projects and study for exams to spending hours on computer science related extracurriculars that I didn’t even enjoy. I felt as though my Houston suburb and school were the reasons for my stress and obsession. “Once I get away, I will be okay. I will be free,” I believed. I was wrong.

Once college decisions came out, I was set on attending the University of Texas at Austin for the fall of 2025. I found an apartment, signed a lease, and met three amazing roommates that would be incoming freshmen as well. This was my chance to prove everything I had told myself growing up: leave, change, and independence. I learned things don’t always work the way you expect them to.

Two days before commitment day, May 1st, my mother came into my room to discuss the upcoming semester. The cost of attendance for my first year alone would be upwards of thirty one thousand dollars, a number that neither me or my mother could afford. The next two days were full of uncertainty, however, it felt selfish of me to put my education’s financial burden on my mother with my brother enrolled in university as well. I ultimately decided to stay at home and attend community college for my first year.

It is now August, and I have found comfort in the chaos of my hometown. Although I pride my hard work and dedication to my studies throughout my high school career, I was following the rigid steps given by my family and college counselors for college acceptances. It worked, however I was unhappy, dreading following in my brother’s footsteps pursing a computer science degree for the sole purpose of a promising salary.

During the summer of my junior year, I travelled to Bali, Indonesia where I observed how local traditions and culture were impacted by economic development, specifically through tourism. Prices for inferior goods in tourist areas were significantly higher than northern areas, driven by high exchange rates. This made it difficult for locals to make ends meet. However, I also noticed the positive aspects of tourism, providing jobs for thousands of Balinese people. This encounter not only strengthened my captivation with the subject, but inspired me to explore economics on a deeper level through my AP macroeconomics class and creation of an economics based website.

As I begin my college career, I want to pursue an industry that I find interesting and meaningful rather than following the path laid out for me. I intend to pursue a major in economics with a minor in sustainable studies and transfer to the University of Texas at Austin for the fall of 2026. With the understanding of the costly expenses and academic rigor required to attend this university, I will have to work upwards of 30 hours a week while maintaining above a 3.8 GPA in community college. Attending university has been a dream of mine since I was a child and I am confident that I will be able to achieve this goal with the proper time management skills.

Outside of academics, I would like to donate homemade crochet items made with sustainable yarn to local homeless shelters and donation centers. Since eighth grade, I have fallen in love with crocheting, spending over 200 hours crocheting various clothing and household items. By donating pieces I make, I will be able to give back to my community to those who need it more than I do while participating in an activity I enjoy. Additionally, I would like to continue volunteering at Senior Care First, a national organization that provides support for those in retirement homes. With a grandmother that passed from Alzheimer’s, I have always been passionate about creating a positive space for others in similar situations. My ultimate goal for the upcoming year is to branch out from the life I have always known by pursuing a major and joining organizations based on my personal interests and values. I no longer feel the need to escape, but to be the one to change.