My mom took great care when choosing my name. Daniela, meaning "God is my judge," is a memento to live her life to the expectations of God and to encourage me to do the same. Patience was a reminder to live my life mindfully, to be present moment to moment able to face challenges with a clear mind. The first gift parents give their children is a name. I am grateful for the gift of patience, a virtue that my mom symbolically manifested in our family and has continued to reinforce throughout my life. As an older student, I have been dreaming of attending college for many years. Patience was keeping ahold of that dream, continuing my life how it needed to be at the time but optimistically looking for the opportunity to make a shift. At 35, I became a first-generation college student, but patience does not end because we get where we want to be. Being patient, and taking time to reflect on the world around us, keeps future goals in perspective while assuring time to get the most out of the resources available in the present. My new dream is to graduate, and I find great joy in looking forward to that goal; but now more than ever, I am working on being more patient to ensure I utilize the resources available to their full potential. My experience with higher education has not only benefited me academically, but I have grown personally as well. It's been an experience unlikely to be replicated in my life; while I have this opportunity, it is vital to be patient, enthusiastically absorbing what is available to me now. Time continues to move at the same pace, regardless of how fast we rush through our responsibilities.