Annie Liu, WH ’26, Philadelphia, PA
This summer, the scholarship I received played a crucial role in allowing me to work with underprivileged students and support higher education in lower-income neighborhoods. The funding provided essential support, covering my living expenses and enabling me to fully commit to my role without financial stress. This opportunity was special to me as a first-generation, low-income student who benefited from similar programs growing up.
The financial relief from the scholarship allowed me to focus entirely on my students, many of whom are English language learners and face significant challenges. Through dedicated tutoring, I helped them progress from struggling with basic phonetics to reading more complex words confidently. Additionally, I worked with students facing behavioral obstacles, implementing methods that made learning enjoyable and seeing small but meaningful improvements in their academic performance and mindset towards learning.
Reflecting on this summer, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community and help shape the future of these young students. The progress they made and the confidence they gained reaffirm the importance of supporting education in underserved areas. This experience has not only advanced my professional goals but also deepened my commitment to making a positive impact through education. The support I received was invaluable, providing the stability and peace of mind needed to fully engage in this vital work. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.
This is part of a series of posts by recipients of the 2024 Career Services Summer Funding Grant. We’ve asked funding recipients to reflect on their summer experiences and talk about the industries in which they spent their summer. You can read the entire series here
