KAILUA-KONA — When Julia Lim was looking for scholarships to help her pursue her dreams after graduation, the Konawaena High School senior set her sights high.
“I was looking big,” said Lim, 17, “because I thought, ‘Might as well shoot for the stars and hope for the best.’”
It’s an attitude that paid off: Lim was named one of 150 Coca-Cola Scholars, netting her a $20,000 college scholarship and making her part of a network of scholars and program alumni across the country.
She and her cohort of students were chosen from 95,715 original applicants.
Altogether, those selected received $3.1 million in scholarships, according to the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. Over its 31 years, the foundation has given out more than $69 million in scholarships to more than 6,300 scholars.
“We believe that identifying these young leaders throughout the country and encouraging their passion for serving others not only empowers the students, but also lifts up those around them,” said foundation president Jane Hale Hopkins in a press release. “The Coca-Cola system is dedicated to giving back to the communities they serve, and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation is proud to be a part of that commitment.”
During her time in high school, Lim’s been heavily involved in the Army JROTC program, serving this year as battalion commander. She’s also captain of the rifle team, has been an intern for Sen. Brian Schatz during her senior year and was involved in the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii Youth Council.
At the start of April, Lim attended a Scholars Weekend put on by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, where those selected for the program had the opportunity to come together to meet one another.
For Lim, it was a great opportunity to meet her peers from across the country all of whom have been accomplishing great things in their own communities.
“You just meet these people that are like absolutely astounding,” she said.
In addition to the $20,000 scholarship, Lim’s inclusion in the program plugs her into a wide network of fellow scholars, including access to an online network exclusive to scholars and alumni, where they’re able to connect for possible jobs or internships.
“They kind of just say that they’re always there for you,” Lim said.
After graduation, Lim will study at Williams College in Massachusetts, where she’ll pursue a double major in political science and economics.
Lim said she hopes to attend law school after that and aspires to eventually run for public office.
She said her biggest encouragement to students in the community is to not feel held back by their socioeconomic circumstances and seek out resources to help them pursue whatever it is they want after school.
“The worst thing that can happen is that they say, ‘No,’” she said. “And at least then you can say that you put your best foot out there, and if you don’t get it, then that’s OK. You can just try for another one.”