My dream is to be a diagnostic technician. I knew college would be a challenge, being the first to graduate in 3 generations in my family. Because of their constant encouragement and my unyielding determination I was able to persevere to receive a 3.2 gpa to continue to my sophomore year. I praise God that during my freshman year in college that God was truly with me, The very subject that has always been difficult I was blessed to get a B. Yes it was difficult, yes it took a lot of work my first year, but I’m a witness this can be done. I was also so overwhelmed for my two best friends who went on to graduate. One a nurse the other a school teacher, letting me know that it is so important of your circle of friends, people who do care and are striving for the same goals. I think one of the most important things that keeps me determined is one of my high school teachers who told my family that Elysia can make it if she stays focused. These are the things that I consider, that not only is this degree for me but for the people I’ve learned to trust, respect and love. Yes this is big for me! When I think about the American Dream, many think about a big house, family, and a name for themselves, I think about having the opportunity to be able to make a difference in someone’s life. I want to be apart of that. I want to learn as much as I can and be as good as I can. And when I reach that, I want to be able to pass down what I’ve learned to someone else. Everything has to be passed down and everyone has to make it better than before . I feel that’s what makes it so great. And yes ,of course, when I have children I want them to know they too can make it. Look at me your mom, and I’m here to help you every step of the way! I thank God for my parents as well as my grandparents. I thank God for my faith in Jesus Christ. This is what has made the difference in my life. I don’t believe my path would have been the same. Well this is my story, and even if I don’t receive this grant ( but I hope I do🤗) someone knows how I truly feel.

Since my High School Graduation I feel I have grown in many ways first recognizing if I truly feel they’re needs to be a change in diversity in the field I want to go in, I first have to be apart of what I truly believe in. I’ve now enrolled in my freshman year of college and I’m striving to become a radiologist and ultrasound tech. I am very compassionate about this desiring to be a first generation college graduate in my family. After receiving my degree I hope to help and share my college and work experience of working with people and doctors on how I might be the best I can be in understanding and be apart of helping diagnose patients. I truly would love to work with babies, recognizing how helpless they are and the love for being able to help children. Also I want to always be able to look back and grab someone else up by the boot straps and to encourage them by my life that they too can have the same dream I have! They don’t have to settle for reading about others or wishing they could of had an opportunity but to make then know they can be so much apart of this world in a positive way and only to believe in themselves! What has not changed about me, is the dreams and great aspirations that my great grandmother and my grandmother instilled in me . Know they never had a college degree, but they realized the importance of having one , and their dreams of having a better life became my dreams. A dream that I will not let go of. They’re strong belief in knowing God, that any pitfalls I may experience that God would always be there to see me through. And I believe that. I am so grateful for my anatomy teacher in high school who believed in me and her words were to my grandparents was Elysia will make it if she stays focus! In a world around me of distractions and chaos my primary concern is to do just that stay focus. One thing I’ve learned in my self discovery is, if you are to make it, you have to first want to make it, and to be resolved in doing just that! One of the many things I learned from my grandparents I don’t look for anyone to give me my dreams but I do want the opportunity that I may grasp hold of them!

My adversity was quite dramatic for me when entering High School. I didn’t realize the problems to expect in how to deal with lesbians. Because of my conviction of belief of what God says about it, I had to be more than a hearer of the word but I had to fight both mentally and spiritually. Because I knew “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” For this cause I couldn’t afford to miss any bible classes and I had to engage my granny to go In prayer with me. But thanks be to God I got the victory!!!

I truly hope to be a graduate of a Echocardiography School. I want to be there to make a difference in people’s lives, to offer what I have been taught and to be the best at it to significantly aid the doctors. I am very blessed to have lived to know my great grandmother and to appreciate being their in her health struggles. My biggest challenge is having to be raised in a home of divorce parents and having all my life make grown up decisions for my sister and I. I love both of my parents but sometimes having to make choices between them have left me exhausted. But I am very blessed to have known Christ since the age of 10, and he has made a difference in my life! This here has shaped my life by making me a stronger individual and believer.