Learning My Worth by Sommiya

Learning My Worth by Sommiya - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

If I could offer one piece of advice to my past self, it would be this: “Don’t let other people’s limitations define your worth or your path.”

Growing up as the child of an incarcerated parent, I often carried a heavy burden of stigma. Many people judged me not for who I was, but for circumstances far beyond my control. My father’s incarceration cast a long shadow over my life, and my mother’s struggles with mental health meant I frequently had to step up in ways most children never do. We lived paycheck to paycheck, and financial hardship was a constant reality. There were times when even basic needs felt uncertain.

Because of this, I learned early on how easily society can box you in, writing your story before you ever have a chance to hold the pen. I was overlooked, underestimated, and at times outright excluded. Whether it was peers who couldn’t understand my situation or systems that weren’t built to support families like mine, it was easy to internalize the idea that my dreams were somehow less possible.

However, with time, I realized those were never my limitations; they were those of other people. I refused to let someone else’s narrow view keep me from seeing the vast horizon ahead. Instead, I poured myself into service, advocacy, and academics. I founded a nonprofit to empower youth impacted by parental incarceration, using STEM and creative learning to break cycles of disadvantage and open doors to new possibilities. I began speaking to legislators about reform, determined to change the narrative not just for myself, but for all children who feel voiceless or overlooked.

Through all of this, I discovered that resilience isn’t just about surviving hard things; it’s about refusing to let those hardships dictate your worth. If I could reach back and speak to my younger self, I’d tell her: You are more than what others expect of you. Your dreams are valid. Your compassion is a strength. And no circumstance, no matter how painful or unfair, gets to decide how far you’ll go.

Today, as a university student on the pre-med track, I continue to carry these lessons forward. I hope to become an anesthesiologist, serving communities often left behind, and proving by example that your start does not have to determine your finish.