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Aryan Desai

1,335

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Finalist

Bio

I am Aryan Desai, a Banking and Finance major at the University of Mississippi, driven by a passion to help individuals, especially in underserved communities, make informed financial decisions. My life goal is to improve financial literacy and create opportunities for others to secure their futures and break cycles of financial instability. With a strong academic focus and leadership experience from high school organizations like Student Council and Beta Club, I am committed to using my education to make a positive impact. I believe my dedication, work ethic, and desire to help others make me a strong candidate for scholarships.

Education

University of Mississippi

Bachelor's degree program
2024 - 2028
  • Majors:
    • Finance and Financial Management Services

North Forrest High School

High School
2018 - 2024

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Finance and Financial Management Services
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Financial Services

    • Dream career goals:

    • Assist management staff with various tasks for day-to-day operations

      Northgate Inn
      2021 – 20243 years

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Student Council — Assist in setting up, organizing, and executing events
      2024 – 2024
    Bear Fan Scholarship
    Carmy, after all the stress and struggle, finally gets to a place where he’s at peace. He turns The Bear into a more successful, better-run restaurant, but still keeps the soul of what it was. He makes up with his family, especially his mom, and in the end, he’s able to relax a bit more, not carrying so much emotional weight. He’s still a chef, but now he’s found balance in his life. Sydney, who’s grown a lot over the series, opens her own restaurant. She’s learned a lot from Carmy, but she’s ready to stand on her own and show the world what she’s capable of. She’s no longer just his mentee—she’s her own person and a successful chef. Richie, who’s always been kind of lost, finds his place too. He might not be the best cook, but he’s great with people and gets involved in running the business side of the restaurant. He could even be in charge of opening a new location of The Bear, which he makes into a hit in a different neighborhood. The rest of the crew also gets their own wins. Tina becomes the head chef in the revamped restaurant. Marcus opens a bakery where he gets to be creative with desserts. Ebra, who’s been a steady presence, steps up as a mentor to the younger cooks and becomes a sort of father figure in the kitchen. The series ends with the whole crew having found their place. It’s not perfect, but everyone has grown, healed, and found something meaningful in their lives—whether it’s in the kitchen or outside of it. The takeaway is that life’s a work in progress, but they’ve all figured out how to make it work, together.
    Lucent Scholarship
    My interest in Banking and Finance was sparked by a combination of personal experiences, my natural curiosity about money, and a desire to help others make sound financial decisions. One of the most pivotal moments that solidified my passion occurred during high school when I participated in the Beta Club and helped establish a school uniform store. The idea behind the project was simple: create a way for students who couldn’t afford uniforms to receive them at an affordable price. However, as we began to organize the project, it quickly became apparent that this was about more than just providing uniforms. It was about creating opportunities for students who might otherwise feel left out or excluded because of their financial situation. My role in the project included managing the budget, keeping track of expenses, and making sure we had enough inventory to meet demand. This experience exposed me to the realities of financial planning and showed me how thoughtful financial decisions could have a lasting, positive impact on a community. I was deeply moved by the impact of this project. Watching students who had previously felt self-conscious about their clothes walk into school with confidence was incredibly fulfilling. This experience taught me that finance is not just about making money—it’s about creating solutions and opportunities for others. The project also sparked my interest in the deeper aspects of financial management, such as budgeting, saving, and investing. At home, my parents were also significant influences on my decision to pursue a career in finance. As immigrants from India, they arrived in the United States in the late 1990s with little more than their hopes for a better future. They often shared their experiences with me, explaining how they had to learn to manage their finances wisely to create the life they wanted for our family. Whether it was budgeting to send me to school or saving to buy our first home, their careful decisions and long-term planning provided the stability that I now take for granted. These stories inspired me to develop a deeper understanding of financial management and how financial decisions shape a person’s future. I realized that by learning more about banking and finance, I could help others achieve the kind of stability and success that my parents worked so hard to provide for me. The idea of empowering individuals and families to make better financial decisions is what motivated me to pursue this field. In addition to my academic and family influences, my involvement in community service further strengthened my desire to create an impact through finance. As a volunteer at a daycare center, I interacted with children from diverse backgrounds. Many of these children came from families struggling with financial instability, and I often found myself thinking about how financial literacy could improve their lives. I saw how limited access to financial education prevented families from making informed decisions about budgeting and saving. This experience reinforced my belief that financial knowledge can break the cycle of poverty and open doors to better opportunities. These combined experiences—my work on the school uniform store, my parents’ financial wisdom, and my community involvement—have all driven my passion for finance. I see it as a tool to not only build wealth but also create stability, security, and opportunities for others. This is why I am pursuing a degree in Banking and Finance. I want to help individuals and businesses make informed decisions that will improve their financial futures. Through my education and career, I hope to give back to my community and help others find the same stability and success.
    Riegle Family Scholarship
    My name is Aryan Desai, and I attend North Forrest High School. My educational objective is to graduate from Jones College in 2026 and transfer to Ole Miss to finish my bachelor's degree. I plan to pursue a career in electrical engineering. I have always been interested in computers, and I’m integrated by how things function. So I'm pursuing my career in electrical engineering; this allows me to pursue both interests. My parents told me to do whatever makes you happy, but to make sure to get the correct education. They have taught me a lot and inspired me to do the right thing and make the right decisions. My parents were born in India and then immigrated to the USA in the late 90s so they and their future children could have a better life. I was born in 2006, and my parents decided to have my sister 7 years later. My sister is one of the most important people in my life. She is loving, caring, and helps others around her. She taught me to be more involved in helping others, so she and my mom persuaded me to go into Student Council, so I would have more opportunities to participate in community service. My Student Council sponsor focuses on charity and volunteer work, which makes a lot of people happy. My experiences with children in a daycare center where they have called me their best friend, inspired me to keep doing what I'm doing and help the community. Student Council is only one of the organizations that I am a part of at my school. I'm also a part of the Beta Club. This is my first year, and I feel like I've been making a difference. We have worked to establish a school uniform store and a school garden for our Culinary Arts class and our special needs class. In addition to community service activities, we will be competing at the state level in various competitions. In addition, I also participate in Digital Media where I have become proficient in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, and Premiere. I also have a tremendous amount of experience in photography and music/sound editing and production. I have used these skills to produce several projects that have been used to promote events on and off campus. This scholarship will help me and my family. Although both my parents work, they do not earn a salary that is cohesive with paying a tremendous amount out of pocket toward my education. Most of their earnings go to provide for my sister and I. My parents have assured me they are willing to pay for my education, but I would like to reduce or eliminate as much of the cost as possible. This scholarship would alleviate some of the financial stress and all me to concentrate on earning a degree. More importantly it will reduce my parents’ stress and worry about my needs for college.