Read the excerpt from a personal essay. What is the purpose of the allusion to the story of Cinderella?

As my principal, Mr. Howard, read the names of the scholarship recipients, I held my breath in anticipation. I wanted to hear my name called and the cheers from the audience. However, my name never passed through Mr. Howard's lips. When the last name was read, I felt numb. The hours that I spent writing the scholarship essay felt wasted. I finally had the sinking realization that I would never be Cinderella and that fairy godmothers do not exist. Without that scholarship, accomplishing my dreams would be incredibly difficult.

Question

Read the excerpt from a personal essay. What is the purpose of the allusion to the story of Cinderella?

As my principal, Mr. Howard, read the names of the scholarship recipients, I held my breath in anticipation. I wanted to hear my name called and the cheers from the audience. However, my name never passed through Mr. Howard's lips. When the last name was read, I felt numb. The hours that I spent writing the scholarship essay felt wasted. I finally had the sinking realization that I would never be Cinderella and that fairy godmothers do not exist. Without that scholarship, accomplishing my dreams would be incredibly difficult.