Guest opinion: Don’t fall to Imposter Syndrome: Take the leap and apply for scholarships – heraldextra.com
Commencement Planned for May 1 and 2, 2025 Class of 2025 to graduate from Snow College
When I was seven years old growing up in Orem, I remember driving past Utah Valley University and thinking: college isn’t for kids like me. My dad worked in construction, my mom cleaned houses, and no one in my family had gone to college. A university degree felt like a distant dream that might be within reach of other families, but certainly not mine.
Fast forward a decade. I was a senior in high school, sitting in a class where we were discussing scholarships. That’s when I first heard about the Daniels Scholarship Program. It sounded almost too good to be true: a full-ride covering tuition, room and board, books, and fees.
At first, I doubted I could ever be chosen. I wrestled with imposter syndrome, which is that nagging belief that maybe I wasn’t good enough, that my success wouldn’t be real. But I also knew one thing with certainty: I didn’t want my parents to carry the burden of paying for my education.
So, I poured myself into the application process, leaning on teachers and mentors who guided me every step of the way. When I received the news that I had been selected as a Daniels Scholar, my life changed forever.
The Daniels Scholarship didn’t just open the door to higher education; it gave me the confidence to walk through it. I went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in business. That foundation launched me into a career in finance, where I now serve as a Vice President at Goldman Sachs in Salt Lake City. None of this would have been possible without the belief, support, and community that the Daniels Fund provided.
The Daniels Scholarship is just one of many available for Utah students to consider, and fall is the time to dig deep, do the research and step up. Despite the doubts, my message is simple: these opportunities are real, life-changing, and within your reach.
Here’s why my decision to take a chance truly altered the trajectory of my life. The Daniels Scholarship provides mentorship, professional development, and a community that feels like family. The goal is not only to help students pay for school but also to shape leaders grounded in generosity, service and leadership.
And here’s something else I learned along the way: you don’t need a perfect résumé. You don’t need a polished family pedigree. What you do need is drive, resilience, and the courage to tell your story.
To every high school senior in Utah who feels unsure or unworthy, go for it anyway and apply. Don’t count yourself out before you even start. I almost did, and by settling for the status quo rather than seizing a chance, I would have missed out on a wonderful life full of possibilities.
Lean into your story. Let your background, challenges, and triumphs shine through in your application. Ask your teachers and counselors for help. Work with them to review your essays and highlight what makes you unique. The process itself is an investment in your future–and one worth making.
Utah thrives when its young people thrive. Every student who steps through the door to higher education is proof that talent exists everywhere–in every school, every neighborhood, and every family. The mission of institutions like the Daniels Fund is simple but powerful: to ensure financial barriers never stand in the way of opportunity.
For me, the Daniels Fund Scholarship was more than a ticket to college. It was a call to believe in myself, to push beyond what once felt impossible, and to live with purpose. For the next generation of Utah students, whether through the Daniels Scholarship or another opportunity, the same transformation is waiting.
It’s scholarship season. Don’t wait. Take the leap. Your future, just like mine, is worth it.
Victor De Lara is an Orem native and proud Daniels Scholar alum, who now serves as a Vice President at Goldman Sachs in Salt Lake City.
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