nwasianweekly.com
June 20, 2008

Photo by Paul Boupha

Sam Lim poses in front of the beautiful architecture of Berlin, Germany, August 2007, during a study aboard program.

Sam Lim pays it forward with scholarship mojo

By Eleanor Lee

Northwest Asian Weekly

University of Washington junior Sam Lim is known as the “scholarship guru.” That’s because not only did he apply to 75 scholarships and earn 18, he’s now coaching other students on how to apply for, and win, college scholarships. We were so impressed with Lim that we asked him to describe his work, his motivation and his goals — and, of course, we pumped him for some scholarship advice!

NWAW: Tell us about your background.

Lim: I was born in Singapore and moved with my family to Portland, Oregon, when I was 6 weeks old. My father was going to seminary at the time, and we grew up with humble beginnings. My father later became a pastor, and over time, our family grew with the addition of two more sister — I am the only boy and have three sisters.

My sisters and I were allowed to only check out a few books from the library every few weeks or so because otherwise we’d just spend all our time reading and not want to take care of our chores, homework and piano lessons.

In third grade, I sprained my ankle playing basketball. This injury didn’t heal quite right and within six months, I began having trouble walking. I was diagnosed with dystonia, a neurological movement disorder. I began using crutches in fifth grade, and by the end of that year, I could not walk without them. I began to develop a scoliosis, and when I finally got a wheelchair in sixth grade, the scoliosis had worsened to 45 degrees.

At this point, one of my doctors told me, “If you keep sitting in a chair, you’re going to look like a chair.”

The summer after my junior year, I flew down to San Francisco to UCSF Medical Center and underwent a Deep Brain Stimulation implant, a nine-hour operation. The success of the operation was like night and day. That summer, it took me three months of intensive three-times-per-week physical therapy to regain my ability to walk, and I finally stopped using the wheelchair at the beginning of my senior year. It was such a blessing to be able to walk from class to class for the first time in high school.

Seeing the sacrifices my parents and family made to help me get medical treatment, even when finances were tight, motivated me to apply for over 75 scholarships throughout high school.

I ended up winning 18 total scholarships and through the entire process really learned about myself.

NWAW: What are you studying at the UW?

Lim: I am majoring in international studies with a minor in European studies and potentially a minor in comparative history of ideas as well. I started out as a business major, but then my study abroad trip to Germany compelled me to switch to international studies.

NWAW: What type of career do you hope to pursue?

Lim: I hope to pursue a career helping students successfully transition to college. I’d like to work for a nonprofit and perhaps even start my own nonprofit one day. I can also imagine myself doing work on a policy level in thinking of different ways to help students start thinking about college not as a possibility but as a reality. I would love to continue doing work with scholarships and doing speaking engagements as a motivational speaker.

NWAW: Why do you feel so compelled to help other students?

Lim: I think it was just a sense of obligation I felt after being given the types of opportunities I had — this sense of paying it forward. I gained so much knowledge about scholarships and paying for college that it would be irresponsible of me to not share it with other students, particularly when I was given such great support from my teachers and counselors.

NWAW: Do you think talking about being Asian American is a good topic for a scholarship essay?

Lim: I think a good topic for a scholarship essay focuses on telling your strengths and your personal story, so to answer this question, you’d have to really think about whether being Asian American has really shaped who you are and how you tell your story. If being Asian American is a large part of your personal story then it might be good to include some background, since the most effective scholarship essays are very personal. I think the bottom line with scholarships is, if you write about being Asian American (or any other characteristic or trait you have for that matter), you really need to think deeply about who you are, how it’s affected you, and then how you tell your story.

NWAW: Do you ever feel personally responsible for students’ acceptance or rejection by scholarship committees?

Lim: This is an interesting question. In some sense, when they do receive a scholarship, it is nice to know that you were able to help them along the way, but I think it’s a testament to the level of commitment they have in pursuing scholarships. It is difficult to not feel at least some sense of responsibility when you’re investing your time and energy in someone. My goal in helping students focuses more on learning to tell their story and to really discover who they are, their goals, their interests, and the potential they have to make a difference.

NWAW: How do you encourage young people who feel they are unremarkable — low grades, no accomplishments, etc.? Do you really think anybody can be successful if they follow your advice?

Lim: I am a very optimistic person, and I believe that everyone has a story to tell and that everyone has the ability to make a difference. When I talk to students about my own experiences, I often start off telling them about my first year in high school when I was not involved in any activities, didn’t volunteer, and just went to school and came home. I share with them that I was presented with a leadership opportunity during my sophomore year and when I seized that opportunity, I realized that I had the ability to make a difference.

I don’t want to paint the scholarship process as easy because it certainly is not, but scholarships require time, energy, dedication, organization and a real hunger to want to make a difference. I think somewhere in some combination of these things you will be able to find success, such that if you are willing to put in the work, you can achieve success too.

NWAW: What do you like to do in your spare time?

Lim: During my spare time, I like to travel. One of my goals in life is to travel around the world. I also love sports, especially baseball and basketball. I try and go to a few Mariners’ games every year. When I get the chance, I like to read as well. I’m also a big fan of photography, so I try and take pictures when I can.

For more information, visit Sam Lim’s Web site at scholarshipjunkies.com.

Eleanor Lee can be reached at e.lee@asianweekly.com.

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