As a teenager in Lamar, I stared down the reality that college might never happen. My family could not afford it, and the thought of graduating with heavy student debt was overwhelming. But I knew one thing for sure: if I wanted a different future, I had to try. So, I applied for every scholarship I could find. 

One of those applications changed my life. 

My older sister had applied for the Daniels Fund Scholarship. She didn’t receive it, but she encouraged me to go for it anyway. Our school counselors supported me through the process and gave me advice I still carry with me today. One counselor told me that the time spent on a scholarship application could be worth far more than the hours I was putting in at my $7-an-hour job. 

“If you spend 10 hours applying for a $10,000 scholarship,” she said, “you’re essentially earning $1,000 an hour.” That math made sense to me, and I decided to apply for as many opportunities as possible. 

Being selected as a Daniels Scholar opened doors I could not have imagined. 

Because of the scholarship, I graduated debt-free. That freedom gave me choices many of my peers did not have. I was able to buy my first home, start a business, and take career risks that others could not afford. I believe I would not have met my husband without the opportunities the scholarship created. Meanwhile, many of my peers are still weighed down by student loans that limit their options. 

The Daniels Scholarship and many others like it can be about far more than paying for school.  Yes, it provides financial support, but it also comes with wraparound resources that make a difference. I received a laptop to get started, guidance from staff who were invested in my success, and entry into a lifelong network of more than 3,500 alumni who know the journey because they have lived it. 

That network is powerful. Daniels Scholars are now leaders in many fields. Alumni are working at SpaceX and OpenAI, serving as teachers and lawyers, and even holding public office as mayors. The scholarship is not just an investment in your education. It is an investment in you as a person. 

Today, I serve as the director of Alumni Relations at the Daniels Fund. In this role, I witness how the program continues to change lives across Colorado and beyond. I hear stories every day from students in rural towns, suburbs, and cities who dared to apply for scholarships and are now pursuing dreams they once thought were out of reach. 

Education remains one of the most powerful tools for transformation. College may not be the right path for everyone, but if it is the path you want, do not let fear or self-doubt hold you back. Exposure to new people, new ideas, and new opportunities can be life changing.  For me, it absolutely was. 

So, to every high school senior across Colorado, and especially those in rural communities: seize these opportunities. Apply for scholarships. The dream of college may feel like a luxury you cannot afford, but standing still is not an option. 

Make that bet on yourself. One application could be the beginning of a life you never thought possible. 

Susie Loyacona, a 2012 Daniels Scholar, is director of alumni relations at the Daniels Fund.  The Daniels Scholarship application window is open through Oct. 17 at www.danielsfund.org/scholarships.