To whom it may concern,

I am an undergraduate student, and I have valued nothing more than my education for as long as I can remember. I continually try my absolute hardest to do my best in every course I take regardless of what it may be or how it may contribute to my education. I distinctly remember my freshmen year in high school being told that if I “achieve outstanding grades and stay involved” I will have no problem receiving financial aid for college. That is why I am shocked as I sit and scroll through my university's offered scholarships in the winter of my freshman year unable to find one that I can even apply for, let alone receive.

Throughout my junior and senior year of high school, I was one of five students from my high school to be chosen to begin my college education while finishing my high school requirements. On top of high school classes and college courses, I was also on the nationally ranked dance team, performed in two musicals, was a senate member of the student government and the Vice President of our National Honors Society. Despite all of my involvement, I was still able to achieve a 4.009 grade point average and be awarded the honor of Summa Cum Lade at graduation. I believe I fulfilled the request of high "academic achievement and involvement" but unfortunately received very little financial aid.

Throughout my first year in college, I tried my hardest in my academics and involvement in hopes of receiving future financial aid awards. I was accepted to my University as one of sixteen freshmen directly to their school of nursing. I maintained a 4.0 grade point average in some of the hardest prerequisites the college has to offer such as biology and organic chemistry. I also became involved in greek life. I became elected to join various honors societies such as Alpha Lambda Delta and the Golden Key International Honors Society. On top of volunteering on campus, tutoring my peers, and working part time at a local golf course, I was still able to make the most of my freshmen year of college. Unfortunately, I was still unable to receive any financial aid from outside sources or university offered aid.

Federally, I received next to no aide becaus in the eyes of the government, my family makes enough money to contribute to my education. However, my father runs his own small business of concrete removal so he is no CEO, and his work is unpredictable at times and next to none in the winter months. I would never say that my family was disadvantaged. However I also do not see it feasible to pay over half of my father’s yearly income in tuition.

My father found a way to make it work though because he knows how important and valuable my education is. What really upsets me the most is the fact that my family is doing everything they can to make sure they will have enough money to pay for my four years of college, while other families could care less if their child graduates. I work harder in my classes than most people work at a daily job. I spend nearly ten hours a day seven days a week attending classes and studying. I am rewarded academically for my efforts and I feel I deserve to be where I am in my class standing. However, I lived on a floor with students trying to pursue the same career as I am who continually drink alcohol, smoke marijuana and skip class and don’t pay a penny for their education. I value my education greatly, and I do not mind paying for something I deserve. But it is not fair that my family and I try as hard as we can to make my education worthwhile, and yet we are unable to apply for financial aid.

It is not fair that students receive financial aid such as the Pell Grant and don’t even use all the money awarded for their education because they have money left over. It is not fair that every scholarship advertised has “financial need” labeled as a requirement. It is not fair that out of 124 scholarships listed on my university’s website, not one of them pertains to nursing majors. It is not fair that scholarships are no longer awarded to students who exemplify outstanding academic achievement, involvement and community service, and instead American’s tax dollars are used to send students who could actually care less about their education based on their behavior to college.

I understand that life isn't fair, but how can one person's financial need be compared to another's. We all use money and earn money in different ways and my need and someone else need could have entirely different meanings. Scholarships should be awarded to applicants who would make the founder proud. They should not only be offered to those in financial need, but also to those who exemplify extraordinary academic success. That's why they receive the financial aide, right? They receive it to better their education, have a chance at a college degree, or is it to be able to attend a college of their dreams for the "experience?" I am proud of my academic achievement and I feel that it is time we start rewarding the students based on their accomplishments, rather than the parents for their struggles.

Sincerely,

A concerned student