From a dedicated and resilient student attempting to recenter my path after a family financial catastrophe. My name is Austin Otier, and I am a determined person with a deep commitment to achieving my academic and career goals despite severe economic setbacks. After starting my college journey enthusiastically, I was forced to put my education on hold due to an unexpected financial catastrophe that impacted my family's stability and my ability to pay for school. With the many family-related, economic, and mental health setbacks before, it became very tough. Having to file a stop-out on a whim, I have been working out of debt for the past 6 months to afford re-enrollment. Scholarships are needed to assist my efforts. During this time, I have demonstrated to myself that I have the resilience and drive to succeed. My educational goals are to return to college to finish my degrees in Business and Design to set myself apart from others within my field. My dream is to be an Art Director while also owning my own creative company for small businesses. I strive to use my skill set to provide affordable yet professional design services for growing businesses and low-income clients. An avenue for scholarships symbolizes my lifeline to be able to move on with my life after the disarray. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to apply for these lifelines.