Tai W.

2009 Scholarships.com Resolve To Evolve Scholarship Winner

Scholarships.com: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Tai W: In 10 years I hope to be working for the U.S. Department of Energy. I hope to have a master’s in environmental engineering or a related field, and be assigned to a project related to environmental management. I hope to be on the front lines protecting our country’s natural resources.

SDC: How do you think a college education will help you get there and what would you say to students about the importance of a college education?

TW: Without a college education there would be no way that I would be able to work for the DOE. A college education will prepare me with the information necessary to succeed. More importantly though, a college education will prepare me to succeed in a world where national borders are becoming less defined. Returning to college has given me the opportunity to find solutions to the environmental and socio-economic problems that society faces today. It is important for successive generations to attain higher education so that society may advance.

SDC: Winning a scholarship means different things to different students. What does your scholarship mean to you, or why do you feel it is a significant accomplishment?

TW: For me, winning the Resolve to Evolve scholarship has a special meaning. I am a returning student, and it took a lot of motivation to return to school after a seven-year hiatus. Returning to school is the beginning of my evolution into a professional. Winning this scholarship helped me prove to myself that I can succeed and accomplish my goals. Scholarships.com not only helped me to find funding for school, the site helped me to boost my confidence.

SDC: Where do you go to school, and why do you attend that school?

TW: I currently am finishing my associate’s at the University of Phoenix. I chose to attend University of Phoenix so that I could get the necessary credits to transfer back into an engineering program. University of Phoenix also offered me the flexibility that I needed so that I could transition from working adult back into fulltime student. I was able to be there for the birth of my daughter, and spend time with her through the critical developmental stage of the first year.

SDC: What do you think about college life so far?

TW: I have lived the traditional college campus life before. I currently live a non-traditional student life, and I will be transitioning back to a traditional campus college life. All stages of my educational journey have been great, but there are a lot of distractions along the way. One thing I wished I would have learned the first time around is good time management skills. One thing that I am glad I have learned is to never give up. The determination I have now allows me to tune out most of the distractions and focus on my goals.

SDC: What advice would you give to the class of seniors who are now making decisions about their college careers?

TW: My best advice would be to not forget how to think like a first-grader. As a child, when people asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up, your answer was based on passion and innocence. Make your decisions based on what you are passionate about. You will be much happier in the long run. In the end, it’s your life and you have to live with yourself.