This fall after a successful crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo we were able to fund 13 dreams of young women nationwide. Some girls used the funding to help pay for school books, another girl purchased a camera, and others used it to study abroad.

For the next few months we will be catching up with the #1000Dream recipients and sharing their stories. This week we are following up with Karina an aspiring lawyer. She has about two years left of law school and is looking forward to making a difference in politics.

weheartit.com

How did you use the 1000 Dreams Grant?

I used my #1000Dreams grant to pay for my law school course books for spring and summer classes.

How is this helping you get closer to your dream?

The course books are essential to class. And they are expensive. Having a fund directly for books helps me organize my finances a bit better. And, because of this grant, I was able to take out a smaller student loan. Student loans are something I think about often. I don’t want my student loans to determine the job I get out of law school. Instead of working for a salary at a large firm to pay back students loans, I want to have the freedom to take a job I truly enjoy.

In coming semesters I will also need an internship. Most of the internships are unpaid. And in order to follow my dream and make a difference in politics, I am going to have to take an unpaid internship.

What advice do you have for other young women looking to go for their dreams?

I find, at least for me, that most of the adversity of whether or not you can achieve your dreams comes from within. No matter how crazy or unachievable your dream may seem it is possible if you believe it to be. I also believe having something to dream about is something every young woman should have. It motivates you when you need it the most, and having something internally to strive for is incentive enough to keep you going on the toughest of days.

Any setbacks? How did you get around them?

Law school is a huge adjustment with a steep learning curve. The first semester was definitely a challenge, but succeeding in such a tough environment motivates me even more to achieve the goals I set for myself.

What’s next for you? What is your next goal?

Make it through law school! I have two and a half years to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my career, but those years fly by pretty quick. Hopefully soon I will be participating in some awesome internships for a company or agency that I believe in.

You can still apply to the UChic #1000Dreams Scholarship here!  Time is ticking. So don’t delay. If you miss the first round, don’t worry! Our next application deadline is next fall. Sign up for our Newsletter to find out when the next scholarship application is available.