Clink! Clank! Clink! Clank! I felt the pressure of a thousand elephants release from my chest. I could feel the air gradually return to my lungs. Everyday I am a slave. I am a slave to my own fear. A fear that today was going to be the last day I would lay eyes upon my father. My lungs are against me. They take a paralyzed state, and they don't release until the sound of my dad's keys touch my ear. Daily, my father wakes up and choses to risk his life to protect the citizens within our country. I personally would rather him choose a profession that isn't so demanding or dangerous, but he takes pride in knowing he’s keeping us safe. Ideally, when the phrase “First Responder” is mentioned, we as a society only envision the three main professions ( Firefighters, Medical Professionals, and Police Officers), but there are so many other occupations that still have yet to be recognized by our community. My dad started his journey in helping others as a member of The United States Marine Corps. He later transitioned into The United States Border Patrol after his tour in Iraq. Unfortunately, being a Border Patrol Agent isn't a celebrated profession in the United States. Instead of being praised, they are looked down upon because they are streamlined as the government’s messengers who strip immigrants of their dreams. The media doesn’t advertise the triumphs these brave Men and Women have accomplished. The stigma against The U.S Customs and Border Protection Agency needs to change. My Dad and his colleagues have gone through great lengths and have taken extraordinary risks to make our country safer. He has repeatedly seized narcotics and stimulants that range anywhere from Fentanyl and Cocaine to Marijana. Statistically Border Patrol Agents seize approximately 2.2 million pounds of Marijana and 5,900 pounds of Cocaine along the Southwest border annually. In addition to getting drugs off the streets, my dad also tries to mitigate the amount of human and sex traffickers that pass along the Southern border. I admire the amount of commitment my dad has towards his job because he truly does get to save lives both inadvertently and consciously. Moreover, though I know my dad enjoys his job, I know he is always posed with an underlying sense of instability which stems from his lack of a college degree. Because I’ve seen his worry first hand, I plan to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science from Texas A & M’s School of Engineering. I believe being awarded this scholarship will help bridge the financial gap that is currently making it difficult to focus solely on my studies. Presently, I work part time to financially support myself, but having a supplemental source of income will make the world of a difference. I’d be able to comfortably lessen the amount of hours I worked, which in turn would result in better academic performances. Earning my degree will not only give me the opportunity to support my siblings financially during their college education process, but It will also free me from the lingering thought of instability.