I didn't really know how to start this essay, so here's a bit about myself: I'm a 17-year-old graduating senior with nine siblings, and I have been the captain of my high school dance team twice. I like to bake, and don't like washing dishes. I'm a Virgo sun and have five other Virgo placements in my birth chart, but I don't that's the least bit relevant. I'm argumentative and stubborn, but I can be kind and understanding. And I have high expectations of myself. There is a lot I hope to achieve by the time I turn 22. I will be attending the University of Houston in the Fall to major in political science. For the spring semester, I want to reapply to my dream school, St. Edward's University in Austin, TX, in the spring. I've already been accepted and received a great deal of financial aid, but I still had a large gap; I can't attend in the Fall because of insufficient funds. I want to join the Honors program at St. Ed and major in Political Science there as well. While going to St. Ed, I hope to participate in work studies or internships and join the Black Student Alliance. After I graduate with my bachelor's, I plan on applying to a graduate school in the Washington D.C. area. Attending college in D.C. will make it easier for me to join the CIA Graduate Program. The internship is paid and allows interns to analyze information from multiple sources and then provide assessments to key policymakers in the USA. Being a "spy" is something I have always had my heart set on, and this internship is a perfect way to achieve it. One time I overcame an adversary was when I started middle school. My family and I got evicted. I had to live with my dad for three years. It was in no way the easiest of situations. I had never lived away from my mom for more than a few days, and here I am living with my dad and four other people. I struggled a lot, both in and out of school. I was coming into my teenage years without my mom, and it was very hard. A counselor of mines thought I had depression, and I can't say I disagreed with him. But, I talked with my mom when I started 7th grade. It was about high school and what I wanted to be. I could tell she wanted to laugh when I said spy, but she told me to do the very best I could in school nonetheless. And so I did. Now here I am, #29 in a graduating class of 346, on the Dance Team, and well on my way to graduating college early. I know my aspirations are big. But why not? I am working hard at bettering myself so that my goals are obtainable. I need to work hard at my work ethic and procrastination problem. I plan to gain more experience in fields that are both relevant and irrelevant to my career journey. I need to work harder at my public speaking and presentation skills. And I want to increase my writing and research skills. It may seem like a bit much, but I plan to take it one step at a time.

I want to study political science and international relations in college. I've always had an interest in politics, even back when I thought I wanted to major in Psychology. I settled on political science after becoming interested in an internship. Hopefully, I won't be breaking any rules by disclosing this even though I haven't applied. I want to become an intern (and hopefully an employee) for the CIA or NSA. I'd like to be an intelligence analyst: someone who analyzes and make assessments on foreign governments and policy, who then briefs high profile organizations and people i.e., President, National Security Council, e.t.c. For a while, I wanted to be a politician like run for local/state government but I think I'd serve better behind the scenes. Paying for everything won't be easy seeing as I come from a low-income family (below $37,000 with 2 other siblings.), and I will have to eventually relocate to the Washington D.C. area if I don't already go to school there. I want to grow up to be able to give back to my community but let's be real: you have to have money to make money. Any contribution to my tuition or just overall college fund would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your consideration!