Brenda Xiong

SPRING 2019 Engagement Scholarship Recipient

When I told my parents of my interest to study abroad, I saw the worried look on their faces. Initially, I wanted to stop pursuing this because of the financial burden it imposed on them. But I decided to study abroad to give hope to students who are also struggling with finances that there are opportunities out there that want to see first-generation students and children of refugees succeed. I always hated hearing that dreams are cut short because of finance. In the communities that I identify with, this is a common obstacle. I want to be a form of hope to others that are also struggling like me.

This scholarship contributed greatly in my goal of easing the financial burden on my parents as well as myself. Currently, my commute from my host family's home to my school location is about a 40-minute drive with traffic. Because of the distance, the cost of traveling is much higher than I had anticipated. However, thanks to the scholarship, I do not have to worry about letting my location impact and limit my experience. Not only that, but with studying abroad, there comes a lot of fees such as: uniforms, school materials, food, transportation, and etc. With the help of this scholarship, I am able to be fully invested and present in the city of Chiang Mai instead of worrying about finance.

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