More Than Just a Bookworm by Tanisha Karim by Tanisha

More Than Just a Bookworm by Tanisha Karim by Tanisha - August 2025 Scholarship Essay

When I first walked onto my college campus, I thought I was ready for what was ahead. I had always put all of my energy into academics because that’s what my parents valued above all else. School came first. I didn’t have many chances to work, volunteer, or get involved in my community, so my world mostly revolved around grades and studying.

But reality hit me fast. College is not just about books and exams. It's about real-life skills like working a job, managing money, and building connections. Things I have not done before. I realize how underprepared I am for the next stage of my life.

Most of my classmates have some work experience or are already involved in clubs, internships, or volunteer groups. I watch from the sidelines, feeling stuck and unsure how to even start. I envy how far ahead they are and I put them on an untouchable pedestal. I never had the chance to get that kind of experience because my parents believe academics come first. I understand that. They want me to succeed and have a solid future based on how they grew up. But their focus on grades means I miss out on learning how to navigate life outside of school.

On top of that, my financial situation is not easy. I rely heavily on need-based aid and scholarships to stay here. There is even a chance I might have to leave and go to college in my parents’ home country, an environment foreign to me. That thought scares me but it also motivates me to make opportunities for myself right now.

So this year I make a promise to myself. I am going to get involved on campus. I want to live fully beyond the textbook. I want to find a job, whether on campus or nearby. I want to earn my own income not just to ease financial pressure but to gain the independence I never had. I want to apply for internships even if I get rejected. I want to show myself that I can try and that I am allowed to try.

More than anything I want to become someone who does not see her worth measured only in academic terms. I want to be someone who learns how to balance responsibility and self-growth. Someone who is not afraid of being behind but is determined to catch up.

I still plan to keep my grades up, that is not going to change, but I also plan to stop hiding behind them.

This year I’m breaking free from the shy, rule-abiding version of myself who kept her head down and stayed buried in her books. Life is happening all around me, and it's time I keep pace.