Like many students, the pandemic put a strain on Scarlett T., a senior at Eisenhower High School in Decatur, Illinois. But she pushed through and is looking ahead to her collegiate future. While this Girl on the Rise isn’t sure about her dream school yet, she can see herself as a future elementary school teacher or psychologist.

What is something you are most proud of?

I am most proud of persevering and getting through hard times in my life — and I’m also proud of my dedication to succeed.

Have you gone through any tough or challenging times? If yes, how did you deal with those challenges?

I have gone through some challenging times such as not feeling motivated to do my work and falling behind last year during COVID-19. I dealt with that issue by forcing myself to get up while reminding myself of the future I want for myself. I scheduled a time in the day to start my homework and wouldn’t stop until it was completed.

What does it mean to you to be selected as a Girl on the Rise?

To me, it means that I can achieve anything I put my mind to.

What inspired you to want to be involved with Girls on the Rise?

Living in a low-income area and not being involved in any sports during my high-school career inspired me to want to be involved in this program. A lot of scholarships are given to students who play sports or have perfect grades. Even though I’m not an athlete or the smartest student, I still try my hardest to succeed and I believe that being in this program will help me.

How will funding from the 1,000 Dreams Fund help you reach your goals? In other words: Why is the opportunity to visit your prospective colleges important to your journey?

Having the opportunity to visit colleges that I’m interested in is important to me. I believe that if I get a feel of what campus life is like at each college, it will help me decide where I want to go to school.

What schools will you use the funding to visit, and why?

I would like to visit Illinois State University, Arizona State University, and Eastern Illinois University.