After attending East Chicago Central High School, I received free tuition to Indiana University Bloomington as a 21st Century Scholar. I attended college because I wanted better for myself. I saw potential in myself that I couldn’t let go untapped. Also, I had and still do have a desire to give back to a community that gave me so much. Lastly, I love to learn! I truly believe knowledge is power and I strive every day to learn something new. But without 21st Century Scholars, I would not have been able to make it through college.

21st Century Scholars paid for about 90% of my education, but the benefits were far greater than financial. The 21st Century Scholars team at Indiana University made the transition from high school to college more bearable. During the orientation process, they made sure I knew exactly which classes I needed to take to start working towards my degree. They also hosted information sessions during Welcome Week. During these information sessions, they told us how to contact and find the 21st Century office, how to find resources on campus, how to navigate campus, and much more. The 21st Century Scholars team made sure I felt welcome to come to the office for any needs that I had. They made sure I understood my scholarship and bursar account, which is so very important to staying on track to graduate.

When I no longer was happy in my major, I had a fantastic 21st Century guidance counselor who connected me with different individuals on campus to assist me with finding my passion. They truly made me feel like I was a part of a family.

If I could go back and talk to my high school self who was busy participating in the National Honor Society, the National Technical Honors Society, the student government, and working as a Peer Tutor, I would tell myself to look into to 21st Century Scholars so I could understand all the benefits and ways to stay connected and to answer the emails from IU’s 21st Century Scholars team. I feel like I would have been more prepared had I connected with them prior to orientation.

After graduating from Indiana University Bloomington in 2020 with a degree in Community Health, I am a Prenatal Care Coordinator for Franciscan Health’s Prenatal Assistance Program.

The 21st Century Scholars Scholarship paid for my tuition, helped me thrive in college, and enabled me to have my career today. To find out more about how you can receive the same benefits, reach out to your school counselor today!