Yes, it's true. We aren't going to understand the struggle you have with all of the student debt you're building up. And there's a pretty good chance we won't have the same type of motivation to attend class that you do. However, that doesn't mean that we are ungrateful students who are handed free money to do with as we please. We work just as hard and appreciate our education just as much as you do.

We care about our grades. Just because we aren't paying for classes out of our pocket doesn't mean that we aren't working to maintain our grades and get the most out of our classes. In fact, there's a pretty good chance that we have to meet a certain GPA in order to keep our scholarship. So we're going to be right next to you in the library working for that A just like you. Plus, we aren't just given the money and sent on our merry way. We have to do extra things to keep our scholarship. Most scholarships require community service hours, attendance at required meetings, certain grades, and sometimes even extra work. We keep earning our scholarships every day.

A common misconception is that we got lucky and now we don't have to worry about paying for our degree. And while we are very blessed and recognize just how lucky we are, we still worked hard for this money. Whether it was through academics, athletics, or competitions, we did something to earn it.

We also aren't just using our scholarship as an excuse to not have to work in college. My scholarship in particular encourages us to have some type of job throughout college, even if it is just a small, part-time job on campus. They want us to have the experience having a job in college gives you. It allows you to develop the skills to budget your time, work for your money, and have some real-world experience. We are also encouraged to participate in clubs and on-campus activities. Having our college paid for does not give us the ability to lay back and relax through our four years. It simply provides us with the ability to participate in more opportunities.

Most importantly, regardless of who is paying for it, we still appreciate our education. We are beyond blessed to be able to go through college without the debt and stress of college loans. But more importantly, we are blessed with the opportunity to attend a university and obtain an education. My scholarship is not my pass to laziness. It's my pass to opportunities and hard work far more than I could imagine.