The experiences I've had have forced me to view the world differently than many others. Although I never had to translate, my family faced a time when we were at risk of being deported. Now, we are licensed and registered citizens of the United States. On my dad’s side, my brother and I are the first generation born in the U.S. I feel a sense of pride, but also a responsibility to seize all the opportunities my family in Mexico never had. I hope to meet all branches of my family tree one day in Mexico, Guatemala, Texas, and California. I know I’m blessed and have no intention of wasting this chance. My name is David De La Garza, and I’m a high school freshman at John Marshall High School with big dreams. Despite receiving invitations and opportunities from private schools that could offer a better education, I am attending John Marshall due to finances. I’m participating in the early start program with Oklahoma City Community College and plan to balance both high school and college as early as possible. My dad feels a mix of pride and fear about this. My mother was also a first-generation American. She has been patronized at work multiple times but continues to push through, having worked several jobs when my brother and I were young. My parents are divorced, which adds another layer of complexity to our lives. My brother recently graduated from OCCC and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree shortly. Having a father who was born abroad has taught me many valuable lessons, especially about patience. When people make fun of my culture or express hateful comments, I’ve learned to control my emotions instead of reacting. I understand that any misstep could jeopardize the opportunities my family worked so hard to provide for me. My father taught me life lessons differently than other kids in the U.S. I had to adapt as a child who looked the same but had a different mindset. Up to this point in my life having a father born abroad has affected the way I view and take opportunities concerning education. My future academic and career goals are something no one can prevent me from achieving. I have too much to prove, too much to save, too many people to help, and too many expectations to ignore. Securing scholarships is essential for me, as I don't have the funds to attend top STEM schools. My dream career is in nuclear engineering, so I plan to apply for as many scholarships as possible to pursue this path at Michigan State University, which has an excellent nuclear engineering program. Alternatively, I aspire to become a biochemical engineer and study at MIT, which is considered the best STEM school in the world. I have backup plans upon backup plans due to my anxious mother, who prepares for the worst. This is a trait I aspire to develop as I mature. Thanks to my parents, I have many opportunities. As I pursue every chance throughout my school career, all that's left to do is, as my dad says, “Shoot for the moon and take nothing less.”