Everyone Get’s a Big Break, Don’t They?
My immigrant parents taught me to work hard. Work hard, and you will get ahead. So that is what I did, worked hard to get all A’s in high school. I had a 4.2 GPA, high SAT scores, and was class president. A perfect academic record and resume as well. Every year, one student from our high school gets into UC Berkeley on a full-ride scholarship, and I was a shoo-in.
“Suzanne, you are great. I’m so excited for you and your nomination for the KAL full scholarship fund,” said my school adviser. For the first time in my life, I finally thought, “this is it; this is my big break.” No more worrying about money; this would be my meal ticket for a better future for myself and my family. My father, reasonably enough, wanted me to go to a junior college and work before going to a University. “Unnecessary money wasted,” he would say, so he did not support my dreams of going to a four years college. But I didn’t push myself so hard not to get into a four-year college. After years of commitment to better myself, trying myself academically with all AP classes, volunteering in 3 different organizations, and being involved in leadership, I finally said, this is it, it is all paying off.
UC Berkeley gives one student a full four-year scholarship based on academic merit, community involvement, and financial need every year. Having met all those qualifications, I was nominated by my school adviser. Rounds of essays, referrals, and interviews later became one of the last three finalists standing. I was on top of the world; all my dreams seemed so close and clear. My family, teachers, and friends all supported me; they all thought I was the most likely candidate to get the position.
Candidate number 2 had nothing on me; she was undoubtedly smart, scoring a high score on her SATs and had a too high GPA, but what she lacked and what I had was a financial need. Candidate number 3 was the opposite of 2; she had the economic hardship and community involvement but lacked academic performance, failing out of the Calculus class we had together. With a mere 3.0 GPA, it didn’t seem on par with Berkeley standards.
The moment of truth has finally come. Acceptance letters were to be posted online at 5 pm, and I eagerly went home to check.
5:15, nothing.
5:16, nothing, minutes felt like hours as I was constantly refreshing the page every minute.
Then at 6:05, the scores and my future was finally up:
“Dear Miss Suzanne,
Thank you for applying to UC Berkeley. After careful consideration, I am sorry to inform you that UC Berkeley is unable to offer you admission for the fall semester 2002.”
My heart stopped, I overwhelming feeling of doom and failure all starting pouring into my head. Rejected, rejected from my hopes and dreams, I just wasn’t good enough; I was a failure. I was going down a hole so dark, not even God himself could cheer me up. I immediately got up from my computer and headed out the door. “Mom, I’m running to the grocery store,” I yelled as I walked out. “Okay, honey, love you,” she replied. I didn’t want her to see me in pain; I didn’t want her to know that she couldn’t make all my dreams come true based on our family financial situation; it wasn’t her fault, I had to take control over my life. As I grabbed the front door handle, I couldn’t hold it in any longer; tears ran down my face; I then bolted to my car.
I didn’t know where to go; I drove while uncontrollable emotion and tears went down my face. I drove past a viewpoint and parked my car there. There it all came out; I couldn’t stop it, tears and tears. Was this it was I doomed to go to city college and stay in this town forever? I was a failure; I had no one to help me; I was utterly helpless.
Hours later, after I’ve had time to calm myself down, I looked down at the massive load of used up tissues, and I looked out to the city. It was then I realized that I had a choice, I could have a self-pity party and just give up, or I can suck it up and try.
At school, I found out who did get it, Candidate number 3. I then soon realized this was her big break. Although she was the weaker candidate academically, her being Hispanic, she was a minority group and was able to get accepted. I, on the other hand, was Asian. And there were thousands of Asian applicants with even strong academic performances than I. Racial profiling seemed to work against me. At first, I was angry, and then I realized that only I could do something about it. I choose anger; I choose happiness; it is my choice. I choose not to take action. I didn’t work this hard to end up at a city college. Some people are just luckier than others. I didn’t’ get the big break I wanted, so I decided to create it myself.
Inspiration: “Never Settle, Never stop” I moved on to win 13 scholarships to college and the most awards at our school.
Tip: Commit to a plan of action. The difference between a goal and a dream is a specific date. Give it your all, so you have no regrets.
Peace, Love and Stiff Cocktails 