For many high school seniors, the promise of scholarships is presented as the way to finance and unlock a higher education. Throughout schools, there are posters filling the hallways and offices along with teachers encouraging applications to achieve success. However, this hope for scholarships is a difficult reality. Many students struggle not because they lack motivation, but because they are excluded from the opportunities that require qualifications they have not had the chance to get.

College is a financial investment, and costly to most families. Scholarships are there to help students relieve the huge financial burden on their parents. Yet, scholarships often include a long list of expectations such as high GPAs, extensive extracurricular involvement, leadership positions, community service hours, and even awards. These requirements may seem fair, or there to create competition, but they often favor the students who have had consistent access to resources, time, and support throughout high school. For students who must balance a part time job, family responsibilities, or  have limited programs, meeting these peculiar requirements are unrealistic.

This promised chance to help students leads to a creation of a cycle that unintentionally leaves students out. Those who are truly in need of financial assistance are often the least likely to qualify for the scholarships intended to help them. A senior who has been consistently working long hours since they turned 15 to support their family may not have the time to join clubs or take any leadership positions. Another student who attends an underfunded school may not have access to the advanced courses that set students apart. These students are not less capable, they just have different obstacles.

The problem behind this all is not the lack of effort, it is the lack of equal opportunities. When a scholarship committee only focuses on achievement without considering circumstance, it is simply inequality. Merit should not overlook the qualities of resilience and responsibility. These traits are equally as important to becoming successful.

If scholarships are meant to expand access to education, then the system needs to be changed. More programs should look at students through a lens that considers these challenges. Holding a job at 15, helping family members, all while maintaining grades is a greater achievement than volunteering for 10 hours. 

High school seniors should not feel discouraged or looked over before even starting the application process. Scholarships are meant to open doors. Schools are meant to be inclusive and provide equal opportunities to all regardless of the amount of accolades received. There needs to be a way to honor those that spent hours leading multiple clubs and organizations and the students who lead their very own family.