American Dream Scholarship

$1,000
1 winner$1,000
Open
Application Deadline
Apr 1, 2024
Winners Announced
May 1, 2024
Education Level
Any
Recent Bold.org scholarship winners
Eligibility Requirements
Citizenship Status:
Non-citizen
Background:
Community service or volunteering experience
Citizenship Status:
Background:
Non-citizen
Community service or volunteering experience

Pursuing a college degree comes with challenges for any student, but undocumented students face additional barriers and are forced to fight hard for their dreams. 

The “American dream” is a well-known concept and is desired by many families and students who come to the United States to pursue higher education or career opportunities. While the American dream sounds great, getting there can be difficult - especially for undocumented students who have less assistance when pursuing their degrees.

This scholarship seeks to support undocumented students so they have the resources necessary to thrive in college.

Any student who is not a U.S. citizen and has community service or volunteering experience may apply for this scholarship. 

To apply, tell us what your definition of the American dream is.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Need, Boldest Bold.org Profile
Published May 23, 2023
$1,000
1 winner$1,000
Open
Application Deadline
Apr 1, 2024
Winners Announced
May 1, 2024
Education Level
Any
Recent Bold.org scholarship winners
Essay Topic

What is your definition of the American dream?

400–600 words

Winning Application

Sung-Ki Lee
Rush UniversityVirginia Beach, VA
When a potter molds clay to their heart's desire, it becomes a masterpiece; when an individual mold their life to their desires, it is the American dream. In essence, the American dream is unique to each individual as it takes shape after the originator's heart. The clay that I mold for my life is to become a physician who empowers and welcomes the most marginalized individuals through medicine and advocacy - this is my definition of the American dream. My parents immigrated to the U.S. in 2004, and as poor non-English-speaking immigrants, their lives were filled with challenges. I would hear my father's alarm go off at 4:45 AM as he got ready for work. During the day, he worked at a dry cleaner, and at night he worked as a janitor, coming home past 10:00 PM. There was one place, however, where their worries subsided: Dr. Chung's office. Understanding immigrants' obstacles, Dr. Chung took the time to listen to his patients and build patient relationships. As a kid, watching my parents find hope and calm as they spoke with Dr. Chung, I became curious about the possibilities of medicine - the potential of medicine thrilled me. Understanding that at the core of a physician was a heart to help others and a commitment to life-long learning, I sought opportunities to volunteer in underserved communities while pursuing my education. In one neighborhood I served, there was a tree with teddy bears hanging from it. I was appalled to learn that each bear symbolized the loss of a child's life by gun violence. Reflecting on these service experiences, I realized how larger system issues of social injustice can lead to health disparities in our communities. As my parents often hesitated to see a physician because of financial and accessibility issues, many families in these neighborhoods were not well connected to the healthcare system. Therefore, I want to become a physician who addresses my patients' health concerns and takes the time to recognize and care for patients' social, economic, and racial disparities. My journey to medicine, however, has not been so easy. As an undocumented and first-generation student, navigating the complex college application process was challenging. Colleges often viewed me as an international student and required me to pay international tuition, which my family could not afford. It was only by applying for scholarships and working to save since I was 16 that I was gratefully able to attend the University of Virginia. In college, I continued to work and translate for immigrant families as I pursued the pre-med track while majoring in Kinesiology. Through my challenges, I learned that through perseverance and determination, I could pave a path to pursue my goals even if it seemed near impossible. Currently, I am a Georgetown University student obtaining my master's in physiology before attending medical school in 2024. Though the odds may not be in my favor because of my citizen status, I believe I can mold my life into my American dream with enough persistence, resilience, and dedication.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Apr 1, 2024. Winners will be announced on May 1, 2024.