In Her Words

Jessica Sunclades | Bellevue East Scholarship Recipient

The Bellevue Public Schools Foundation Scholarship has allowed me to look at doors I previously thought were closed. I always dreamed of going to school out of state, mainly because I can’t handle the Nebraska weather, but also because my major is more specialized in the south. 

Due to the support this scholarship has offered me, I’m able to attend the University of Arizona to study chemical engineering. While I’ve always wanted to further my education, college is not a common path in my family. Neither of my parents finished college, and only two out of their four kids are planning to attend a university. So to put it lightly, this is a huge opportunity for me and my family.

The biggest thing I’ve learned is to be grateful for everything I have. The saying “you never know what you have until it’s gone” couldn’t be more true. Until my junior year of high school, I felt like I had a normal family dynamic. My parents were divorced, but I could still see my dad whenever I wanted, even if they didn’t get along. Everything quickly changed, and I had to move in with my grandma. She has been the biggest supporter of everything I do, and I’m so grateful for what she has done for me. My grandma has taken care of me since I was born, and without her, I wouldn’t know what to do. So thank you grandma for always being there for me.