Your Story Exists, You Just Have To Tell It – Lesly’s Gore Scholar Experience

Photo courtesy of Lesly Hernandez

As a Wichita native and daughter of a Wichita State alum, I was always aware of Wichita State’s presence in the city. Because WSU was in my backyard, I never felt the need to explore the full extent of its programs and activities. Unlike most of my peers in high school, I knew I wanted to stay close to home during my college years, making WSU the obvious choice for my education. I chose WSU because of its proximity, but it was the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational (DSI) that provided me a glimpse into the endless opportunities offered at WSU.

During my senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to take a course dedicated to scholarship applications and college exploration. With the help of my teacher, I began to apply and take steps towards my future. I had never heard of the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational, but my teacher suggested I apply since I was planning on attending Wichita State.

As I wrote my application essays, I began to think about how life-changing it would be to win. This thought, though, brought me a lot of anxiety, and so I decided to focus on each small step, pouring my heart along the way. It was this mentality that allowed me to enjoy every step of the process and truly discover the fruits of an education at Wichita State.

The first step was for me to apply. I spent hours ensuring my essays were a reflection of my experiences and the people I had encountered. It was an opportunity to share my story and introduce myself. I applied in October and then spent the next month stressing about the day of the competition. I remember feeling anxious the night before the competition. I scrolled through articles announcing the past winners, noting all the characteristics past winners possessed that I did not. I realized I had to shift my mentality and just enjoy the process. I could never be the past DSI winners, but that was not necessary. I needed to show up and be myself. I realized the advantage each person has is being able to speak about their own journey.

Photo courtesy of Lesly Hernandez

I woke up the day of the competition with nerves, but ultimately, I knew the best decision I could make was to enjoy every moment. I met so many people and gained valuable insight into WSU. I still see many of the people I competed with around campus. Each of us had different outcomes but we all share the same spaces and similar goals of attaining our degrees. I left the competition feeling relieved and excited to come back in the fall regardless of the outcome.

I received the call in December informing me I was a semifinalist while I was at work. I was so thrilled and felt accomplished knowing I did nothing special besides reveal my personality and leadership qualities. I attended Gore Core and once again took advantage of the opportunity to meet my future peers. I received yet another phone call a few weeks later that I was invited to the finalist interviews. I was truly in disbelief which carried on to the moment I found out I was named a Gore Scholar. It was emotional for me to see the fruits of so many years of hard work and dedication come to fruition. It was rewarding to know I had given myself the opportunity to meet others and gain skills throughout the process.

Some of you may read this with the same mentality I had the night before the competition, "I could never win. I am not like them." I encourage you to step away from this mentality. DSI offers value to every single student who participates. You walk away gaining interview skills and friendships. I believe the best part about DSI is the opportunity to meet your future roommates, research partners and friends. In the fall, you’ll already recognize the faces of students, staff and professors.

I encourage you to take my personal story as an encouragement to invest in yourself. Applying to scholarships is an integral part of your college preparation. You have already worked hard in high school to build your resume, why not take a little extra time to hit submit? The content for your essays already exists, you just have to tell it.

I can’t wait to see you on campus. Go Shockers!