To tell the truth, I did not know what was going to happen at my interview for a scholarship to Tech Trek, a summer science and math camp created by California’s American Association of University Women. What will the interviewers ask me? I had questioned myself. What will they think of me? When I was given permission to walk into my science classroom, where the interview took place, I silently reviewed typical interview questions: Why do you want to go to Tech Trek? What are your favorite subjects in school? I would follow through and silently answer: I want to go to Tech Trek because I would like to learn deeper into science and math, two of my favorite subjects.

So when I sat down on the hard plastic chair, and the three interviewers’ questions were completely different from what I expected, I was surprised. They asked me about my hobbies, and what I was interested in, implying that they already knew how I did in school, and just wanted to get to know me better. Even then, I was uptight. I still wanted to impress them by showing them that I could do other things skillfully, too. Trying to concentrate, I attempted not to get distracted by the enticing coffee smell wafting into my nose from where my science teacher was typing away on her laptop across the room. Noise from the kids laughing and screaming outside traveled down the hallway outside the door as I babbled on about what I liked to do during my free time. I admit I got a little tongue-twisted, and I tried not to look into any of the three women’s impassive but piercing stares.

In fact, I tried not to see at all. I withdrew into myself as I concentrated on hearing the interviewers’ questions and thinking quickly on what would be the best answers, then sticking them into coherent sentences. When they asked me a question, I rallied an answer back, and they would bounce back another question. I told them about my trip to the state capital and how I talked with the senator, which they seemed impressed about. I also told them about my participation in my school’s Mock Legislature, and in this club called Math Counts. In return, they asked what sort of things I talked about with the senator, and if I learned anything from Mock Legislature and Math Counts. They also asked me about my essay that I submitted to them by mail earlier, and told me what they agreed with and what they didn’t agree with.

It went like that for some time, until the interview finally ended and the three women interviewers seemed satisfied from what they wheedled out of me. I was relieved that it was over and couldn’t help feeling hopeful that I might win the scholarship. I was very happy when my science teacher hugged me the next day, saying that the interviewers were impressed and that I would probably win the scholarship. It turned out my teacher guessed correctly, and two weeks later I received a letter from the Tech Trek camp at Mills College that congratulated me on getting in. Overwhelmingly excited was the closest to describing how I felt; it was my first scholarship ever, and I will remember the scholarship—and the interview—forever.