As a high school student, I was always sure that I would go to college after graduating. However, as the graduation date approached, I realized that college was not what I needed. I wanted to travel and experience different cultures and styles of life. I studied French throughout all four years of high school and decided that I wanted to continue after graduation. There was, however, a small problem. I didn’t know how to achieve this. In high school, you have access to so much help and guidance in terms of college and university, but not much else. Not only that, I didn’t know how I would be able to afford such a dream. I’m one of four children, and I felt guilty for having this dream to travel, when my parents and family had other children to care for as well. So, I worked extra shifts and kept this dream to myself. Eventually, I heard of this Golden Ticket Scholarship that works to help high school students travel and chase their ambitions abroad. I applied with the hopes of hearing back, and I soon did. After being granted this scholarship, everything moved so fast. I told my family about what I had planned and that I could achieve it with the help of scholarships. They were shocked of course but happy as well. 

Next thing I knew, I was off to France. I spent 10 months living and working in France as a Language assistant. I was not a student, but an adult with a job and my own apartment. It was the first time that I felt like I knew who I was. I made amazing memories throughout those ten months, which felt like years. 10 months is not at all a long time, it went by in blink. I met my best friend while I was in France and we visit each other every month. I visited other countries like, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. I made great connections and acquired so much experience. I genuinely believe that had I not been given this “Golden Ticket” I would not have gone to France and experienced the life that I loved so much. I would highly encourage anyone who is itching to travel and experience the world outside of Half Moon Bay or wherever they may be from to do it! It’s the best decision I’ve made in life, and I am grateful to The Golden Ticket Scholarship and the amazing people behind it who made this decision a reality.