By Dominik Drabent, Friends Scholarship Recipient
Hello everyone, my name is Dominik Drabent, and I am an international student from Germany. I am currently studying at Minnesota State University, Mankato and I do believe that the Friends Scholarship is awesome. Why do I think so? Well, this scholarship has the power to relieve some stress from students and decrease their financial burden making education accessible for them. This is true for me as well.
When I applied for the Friends Scholarship in March of this year, I was highly concerned about my future as personal issues were intensified by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the Friends scholarship but also other scholarships that I have received with much gratitude, my education was secured, and I will be able to finish my studies on time. Moreover, this financial support allowed me to focus on my career aspirations. As a result, I am pursuing two majors in Aviation Management and Gender & Women’s Studies as well as a minor.
I would have never made this decision when worrying about the financial obligations my studies carry with them. Therefore, scholarships have an invaluable significance for me and I believe that scholarships are a crucial aspect of providing equitable access to students of lower-income families, minority students, and other underrepresented students where policymakers and decision-makers fail to provide assistance and fill in the gaps. Of course, it would be amazing if higher education was a basic good rather than a luxury that many clever minds cannot afford. In my opinion, education is not only the key to the success of an individual but also for society.
Society heavily relies on knowledgeable people but at the same time, we only show little value for education. I am hopeful that one day, education will be accessible for everyone in the United States. As I mentioned before, I am from Germany, where education is free. So why did I create this extra financial burden for myself to then struggle? Let me share some advice with you to explain myself: The easiest way is not always the best one. I have seen the value of cross-cultural exchange for myself and my future career and as a result, I decided to take on this extra burden. Sometimes it is worth it to not follow a straight pathway.
Nonetheless, that does not mean that all hurdles must be accepted quietly. Advocacy never sleeps and the terms of your decisions must not always align with your beliefs. For me, that means that I can study abroad and pay tuition while studying in my home country is free but continue to advocate here for what I believe is right: Accessible free education. Thus, do not be afraid to make decisions not everyone will understand, stand up for yourself and others, and ask for help if you find yourself struggling. For my future, I hope to continue with graduate studies after my graduation in May, so that one day I can give something back to the new generation of students and help someone with a scholarship like someone else did now for me. If you can, please donate to students! It is highly appreciated by us.