I have always been someone who tries to plan every detail of my life. For years, that plan was simple: become a dentist and major in biochemistry. That goal shaped nearly every academic decision I made. I pushed myself early, took dual‑enrollment courses throughout high school, and earned my AA degree before graduation. I believed that if I worked hard enough and followed that plan perfectly, everything would fall into place. But as I grew physically, mentally, and spiritually, I learned two important lessons: no matter how carefully you plan, life may unfold differently, and sometimes the best opportunities appear when you stop trying to control everything. As a Christian, I was taught to trust God’s plan over my own, but it wasn’t until about a year ago that I truly began to understand what that meant. Over the past year, a series of unexpected events shifted my perspective and became the turning point in my story. I started my first year of college confident that biochemistry was the right major for my future in dentistry. But as I took classes and explored new fields, I felt a gentle pull toward chemical engineering, one that grew stronger with time. The rigor, the problem‑solving, and the intellectual challenge excited me in a way biochemistry never had. A family friend that studied chemical engineering, played a meaningful role in this shift. Listening to him speak with genuine passion about the field made me curious, and that curiosity stayed with me. His example showed me what it looks like to truly love what you study, and it inspired me to pursue a path that would challenge me and help me grow. My first university did not offer engineering majors, so I attempted to double major in Biochemistry and Engineering Science to gain some exposure. Even then, I knew I needed a program that fully aligned with the calling I felt. Chemical engineering requires a stronger foundation in mathematics, and I did not yet have the prerequisites to transfer directly into the major. To complete them, I took a year off from my university and enrolled at a community college. Because I already held an AA degree and Palm Beach State does not offer a chemical engineering track, I was placed in a major that made me ineligible for Bright Futures. My family had to cover the full cost of that year. It was a difficult season, but it taught me resilience, patience, and how to advocate for my education. It reminded me that the path to a dream is rarely straightforward, and that growth often comes from the challenges we never expected. These experiences have shaped my commitment to my education and my future. They taught me to trust God’s timing, to embrace opportunities even when they disrupt my plans, and to pursue the path that inspires me. Chemical engineering will strengthen the analytical thinking, precision, and problem‑solving skills I need to pursue a career in the dental field. More importantly, it will help me become the kind of person I aspire to be disciplined, resilient, and grounded in purpose. What made me is my faith. What moves me is the desire to serve others. Where I’m headed is toward a future in dentistry, built on a foundation stronger and more intentional than anything I could have planned on my own.