When you have a parent who is constantly struggling to get by, you begin to wonder why. Where did it all start? For my dad, it was when he dropped out of high school. He set an example and showed me what not to do. Since my dad had no education, his career opportunities were limited. This caused significant financial hardship for our family as a result. It also created conflict with my mom on numerous occasions, so he had a hard time with maintaining relationships and providing for his children which has left him even now with recurring debt. He wasn’t the only example though. My mother, on the other hand, was well off compared to him with a two year degree. For instance, my mother was able to finish high school and college while taking care of me. I have always respected her for that. She now has a career as a maternity nurse manager at Danbury Hospital which gives her insurance and benefits, a definite advantage. These are the specifics that have inspired me to achieve more. I have seen with my own eyes which is a better route to go down, and I know that it is where college resides. Getting a four year college decree means I can surpass my parents and go beyond where they once stopped. Starting in the fall, I plan to continue on and attend a SUNY school to major in math education. I enjoy learning math; knowing there is always a solution to every problem fills me with a fanatic desire to decipher the answer. Therefore, math does not feel so much like an obligation than it does a puzzle compared to the work in other classes. Continuing to study for a higher degree in college will lessen the burden and the workload if the majority of classes are math because I see math as a game or fun activity. I hope to inspire and educate high schoolers in such a way that enables them to view math in a similar light. It is a goal of mine to become a mathematics teacher who can get students to understand math better than what most currently do now. I will become a guide for others by addressing others’ fears and needs by holding study sessions or becoming a tutor since I know that many students struggle with the concept of math problems.