When it comes to the conversation of overcoming adversity, it is one of the biggest topics that has no correct answer. The discussion of one's triumphs is different for everyone. This process for me comes with the helpfulness of my support group. Finding my people and those who want to see me succeed helps guide me to overcome my struggles and who let me know I am never alone. Being a first-generation student puts the path of future generations of my family in my hands. The hard work and support of my family makes my decision to continue my education very easy, but the financial burden is what stresses one's decision. My degree in sports/media broadcasting and journalism changes the path of my life and the lives of future generations of my family because no one in my family has graduated from a four-year college yet let alone gone to school on a campus to dorm. My career path is one that will benefit me, but also my school choice will, as it gives me an opportunity for more experiences and a better success rate on that campus. This decision and the college decision process impact the struggle to overcome adversity as it creates the thoughts of job failure and financial hardship. The feelings of leading to stress, fear, and frustration are created, but with the guidance of my family's support, it also promotes resilience, growth, and a learning opportunity for me. I hope this gives others hope to follow what they love and are passionate about what to do with their life. My family's support to continue my dream career is all the motivation I need to put my dedication into being successful during my college career. This is a new path and a better opportunity to open doors for future generations in my family. I see this opportunity as one that will encourage my family and fellow students who are in the same shoes as me to follow their dreams no matter what it may be. My parents never got to continue their education, let alone finish their schooling at a young age, but did everything they could to give me the skills and tools I have today to continue mine. This choice will better my future overall, but gives me so much reason to continue to reach my dreams when people have once said they were far out of reach. I am passionate about overcoming adversities to embark on a path that allows me to use my degree to bring awareness and entertainment to one, and allow one who has that same dream to see that I made that dream possible. To pursue my passion, I have taken the challenge to overcome these struggles to allow me the opportunity to use my voice and express a different narrative for first-generation college students. This opportunity grants me a chance to follow my passion, but allows to give a new perspective on future first-generation students in my community and beyond to reach for their out-of-reach dreams and overcome adversity in their life.

When it comes to telling my story, It involves more than just me. I am very fortunate to have an abundant amount of support from my family, who are so important to me. While amid my senior year, I spent it visiting my grandfather in hospice, where he battled a 7-month-long journey of liver cancer. He would always have an interest in knowing what my plans were for my future. He always encouraged me that my first priority was education. This choice to pursue a higher education holds a significant place in my heart because although my grandfather wasn't able to have an education, he always supported his grandchildren to follow their dreams, however big or small. He kept me grounded and taught me to live my life to the fullest.He is truly one of my inspirations in my life. He has always been there for all my achievements, and to have started this journey of my college career and ending my high school career and for him not being able to see it pan out, is the hardest thing I've ever had to face. But having my family always encouraging my dreams to be followed and continuing my education gives me all the motivation I'll need to complete this goal for all of us. I know that as a first-generation student, following my dreams is all of our dreams. Without words needing to be exchanged, I know following up on our plans like my grandfather and I always talked about was the one thing he wanted for me, even if his part in my story came to an end. Being a first-generation student isn't easy, and going to school for my dream career of making it big in the sports broadcasting world and connecting to future generations like I connected to my grandfather and family with sports is all I ever wanted. But I can see the challenges I face as it isn't something I've seen many do, especially those who are in my shoes or look like me. My parents and grandparents never got the opportunity to finish school, as they came to this country for a better future for me and my siblings to follow our heart desire. Our dreams being achieved has always been the thing encouraged in my life, but with every achieving goal involves overcoming obstacles and working towards them, making the challenge one I am ready to tackle on. No matter how scary or big a dream is, as long as it's the path that I want to walk, it's worth taking a chance on it. All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. I am fortunate to have support behind me. I want that same inspiration and support for the future generation of first-generation students as it can be possible. I am attending a four-year university. I will make connections outside my bubble to follow my dream. I will put the work into what it takes to make it happen because that's what being a first generation is about. I will become more than a statistic for first-generation college students.

When it comes to the process of college, it is one of the biggest decisions in one's senior year. The discussion of one's future career is always a conversation of passion and dedication. This process isn't just one decision that impacts me but also my family. Being a first generation student puts the path of future generations of my family in my hands. The hard work and support of my family makes my decision to continue my education very easy, but the financial burden is what stresses on the decision. My degree in sports/media broadcasting and journalism changes the path of my life and the lives of future generations of my family because no one in my family has graduated from a four year college yet let alone go to school on a campus to dorm. My career path is one that will benefit me but also my school choice will too as it gives me an opportunity for more experiences and better success rate on that campus. This decision impacts my community as it gives other hope to follow what they love and are passionate about what to do with their life, but it was a scary one as well as a first generation student as this a journey and career choice no one in my family or inner circle knows of. It seems like a risky choice as it is an unfamiliar choice but my family support to continue my dream career is all the motaviaftion I need to put my dedication into being successful during my college career. My college degree would mean to me personally as a new path and a better opportunity to open doors for future generations in my family, but fellow students who are in the same shoes as me. I see this opportunity as one that will encourage my family to follow their dreams no matter what it may be. My parents never got to continue their education, let alone finish their schooling at a young age but did everything they could to give me the skills and tools I have today to continue mine. This degree will give me a way to provide back to my family and a way to support their dreams as well. This choice will better my future overall, but gives me so much reason to continue to reach my dreams when people have once said they were far out of reach. I am passionate about telling a story that pulls at one's heart and using my voice to express excitement about a story. I speak two languages, and I want to embark on a path that allows me to use that gift to bring awareness and entertainment to one and allow one who has that same dream to see that I made that dream possible. To pursue my passion, I have taken the challenge to learn a new language of Portuguese for the past two years to be able to connect more with the culture, but also allows me the opportunity to use my voice to share stories and express a different narrative of things like news and sports in their language. I wanted to allow myself to connect to others and what their culture has to offer. This opportunity grants me a chance to follow my passion, but allows to give a new perspective on future first-generation students in my community and beyond to reach for their out-of-reach dreams.

In this world, I am very fortunate to have a generous amount of support from my family, who are so important to me, but if I had to share a moment of mine, i would have picked someone special to me, it would be my grandpa. The moment I hold so close to my heart is of this past year, while in the midst of my senior year, any moment I had to would spend it visiting my grandfather in hospice, where he battled a 7-month-long journey of liver cancer. when I would visit him no matter what pain or bad news he got that day, he would always to know what my plans for my future were. If I were going to prom, graduation, how my meetings with my counselors went, and what my top choices for school were. He always encouraged me that my first priority was education. This memory holds a significant place in my heart because although he wasn't able to have an education, if always supported his grandchildren to follow their dreams, however big or small. He was kept me grounded and taught me that this life can be gone in a flash, so why not live your life to the fullest capability. He always wanted the best for me and always seemed to make my problems not so big. He is truly one of my inspirations in my life. He has impacted me by always being there for me for all my accomplishments, achievements and to have started this journey of my college career and ending my high school career and him not being able to see it, is the hardest things I've ever had to face. But him always encouraging my dreams to be followed and continuing school gives me all the motivation i need to continue and to complete this goal for the both of us. He has been like a father figure to me from taking care of me when I was little and being able to be there for him in his last months i knew following my dreams was his dream too, without words needing to be exchanged. I would hold his hand and read him my acceptance letters and gave him my word that I would be a good human, finish high school strong, and follow my dream to go to college like we always talked about. Being a first-generation student isn't easy and going to school for my dream career of making it big in the sport broadcasting world and connecting to future generations like I connected to my grandfather with sports is all i ever wanted but i can see the challenges i face as it isn't something i seen many do especially those who are in my shoes or look like me. My parents and grandparents never got the opportunity to finish school, as they came to this country for a better future for me and my siblings and school and following our hearts has always been the thing encouraged in my life, making the challenge one I am ready to tackle on. No matter how scary or big a dream is, as long as it's the path that I want to walk it's worth taking a chance on it. I am fortunate to have support behind me. I want that same inspiration and support for future generation first-gen students as it can be possible. I am attending a four-year university, will make connections following my dream, while putting the work into it, making it happen because that's what being a first generation is about.

When it comes to the journey of college, the question of where to apply, financially, and how to apply comes up. It is one of the biggest decisions in one's senior year. The discussion of one's future career is always a conversation of passion and dedication. This process impacts me, but also my family. My educational goals is the go to the university of new haven to major in the media/sports broadcasting and communications and journalism to get my four years bachelor degree and to open doors with companies with ESPN to connect to a world I've always admired. Being a first generation student puts the path of future generations of my family in my hands. The hard work and support of my family makes my decision to continue my education very easy, but the financial burden is what stresses on the decision. My degree in sports/media broadcasting and journalism changes the path of my life and the lives of future generations of my family because no one in my family has graduated from a four year college yet let alone go to school on a campus. My career path is one that will benefit me but also my school choice will too as it gives me an opportunity for more experiences and better success rate on that campus. This decision was easy in the sense of this career brings me a love and passion of what I plan to do with my life, but it was a scary one as well as a first generation student as this a journey and career choice no one in my family or inner circle knows of. It seems like a risky choice as it is an unfamiliar choice but my family support to continue my dream career is all the motivation I need to put my dedication into being successful during my college career. My college degree would mean a new path and better opportunity to open doors for future generations in my family, but fellow students who are in the same shoes as me. This opportunity as one that will encourage my family to follow their dreams no matter what it may be. My parents never got to continue their education let alone finish their schooling at a young age but did everything they could to give me the skills and tools I have today to continue mine. I'm passionate about telling a story. I speak two languages and I want to embark on a path that allows me to use that gift to bring awareness and entertainment to one and allow one who has that same dream to see that I made that dream possible. To pursue my passion, I have taken the challenge to learn a new language of Portuguese for the past two years to be able to connect more with the culture, but also allows me the opportunity to use my voice to share stories and express a different narrative of things like news and sports in their language. I wanted to allow myself to connect to others and what their culture has to offer. This opportunity to receive this scholarship grants me a chance to follow my passion and be able to door opens for a better life I've always dreamt of. This isn't just an opportunity and success for me but also is one for my entire family as they have given me the tools to continue my education. I'm hoping that this allows to give a new perspective on future first-generation students and their out of reached dreams being reached.

When it comes to the process of college, it is one of the biggest decisions in one's senior year. The discussion of one's future career is always a conversation of passion and dedication. This process isn't just one decision that impacts me but also my family. Being a first generation student puts the path of future generations of my family in my hands. The hard work and support of my family makes my decision to continue my education very easy, but the financial burden is what stresses on the decision. My degree in sports/media broadcasting and journalism changes the path of my life and the lives of future generations of my family because no one in my family has graduated from a four year college yet let alone go to school on a campus to dorm. My career path is one that will benefit me but also my school choice will too as it gives me an opportunity for more experiences and better success rate on that campus. This decision was easy in the sense of this career brings me a love and passion of what I plan to do with my life, but it was a scary one as well as a first generation student as this a journey and career choice no one in my family or inner circle knows of. It seems like a risky choice as it is an unfamiliar choice but my family support to continue my dream career is all the motaviaftion I need to put my dedication into being successful during my college career. My college degree would mean to me personally as a new path and a better opportunity to open doors for future generations in my family, but fellow students who are in the same shoes as me. I see this opportunity as one that will encourage my family to follow their dreams no matter what it may be. My parents never got to continue their education let alone finish their schooling at a young age but did everything they could to give me the skills and tools I have today to continue mine. This degree will give me a way to provide back to my family and a way to support their dreams as well. This choice will better my future overall but gives me so much reason to continue to reach my dreams when people have once said they were far out of reach. I am passionate about telling a story that pulls a one's heart and using my voice to express excitement on a story. I speak two languages and I want to embark on a path that allows me to use that gift to bring awareness and entertainment to one and allow one who has that same dream to see that I made that dream possible. To pursue my passion, I have taken the challenge to learn a new language of Portuguese for the past two years to be able to connect more with the culture, but also allows me the opportunity to use my voice to share stories and express a different narrative of things like news and sports in their language. I wanted to allow myself to connect to others and what their culture has to offer. This opportunity grants me a chance to follow my passion, but allows to give a new perspective on future first generation students and their out of reached dreams.