As an adult learner, I have had to learn and adjust to balancing a full-time student workload along with finding a way to keep my bills paid. In order to excel in the way I have academically I had to step away from working full-time to barely part-time. It has not been an easy road, but I have found ways to make it work. I may not eat three meals a day but I'm not going hungry, I'm safe, and have a roof over my head. Along with financial obstacles, the obstacle of new surroundings and people I learned to overcome. Moving 10 hours away from everyone I know and everything I know with no support of any kind was taxing on me in every way, but I was and am determined to complete this degree and continue on to even higher education. The dream is a doctorate degree that I hope will put me in a position to really help make changes and advance us as people. I will use my education to give back to the community entirely. I'm a wildlife and conservation major and with this degree, I hope to help in our world's environmental issues and wildlife perseverance. I also hope to get the word out about this degree to more children. When I attended highschool back in 2008 I was never made aware that this was an option for a major, had I been I would've pursued this when I was 18 and not at 33 but no matter what my age is I will work hard to keep pushing forward in this. I am also minoring in history, specifically ancient history. There is much about the past that can be lost without people who are willing to continue to tell the stories of what was and with the knowledge I am learning from this that is exactly what I hope to do. Keeping the stories of those before us, very much alive. I thank you for giving me this time and for taking the time to read this and consider me. Thank you.

It is important to understand the nature of our universe because it is ours. It’s mysteries and secrets go beyond the norm, and what we can and continue to learn from it is inspiring. Be there only one or many more universes this is the one we have right now. I believe one of the best pathways to understanding our universe is by looking at nature. Nature is a mystery in itself with its patterns but yet lack of predictability. Nature grows and can give life, and can, within an instance destroy it all. Wind and water can create and provide energy. Fire can destroy, but also bring in new life. While the earth can provide shelter, but also destroy it. What is nature if not it’s own universe, the universe we live in now.

A challenge doesn’t frighten me. In a world that seems to change everyday challenges and obstacles come and go and in my life there has been no exception. When it comes to my current and future student loan debt, I am working now towards those payments, versus when I am done pursuing my education. It is hard juggling saving up for those payments on top of normal life bills and expenses, but for me it is worth it. Pursuing a career in wildlife and conservation biology is something I’ve been aspiring to do since I was a young child, and that inner child within me has been so excited and proud ever since I started working towards that goal. I will do whatever it takes to get things done.