I recently found a letter that was addressed to my future self and dated with the year 2010. There were specific instructions that this letter must not be opened until after graduating from high school. However, this letter spent years in a box, untouched until unpacking boxes at the age of 26. Within the aforementioned letter, were aspirations and dreams written by my younger, more naive self at the tender age of 13. I had several questions about my current life, including what college I was planning to attend, if I was dating my elementary school crush, and if I was pursuing a career in marine biology. In the present, I cannot help but feel some sadness for this younger version of me. She has several years of difficult choices and sacrifices to make. She never would have believed we would become a mother at only 19 years of age. She would also never believe that it was the best thing that would ever happen to us. It is true that becoming a mother at any age completely turns your world upside down. Having a child young, however, changes your life in an even more significant way. Some might say that this is scary, and while it is terrifying to know you are responsible for the life of another human; it also has the ability to light a fire inside of you. The once anxiety-ridden, timid young woman that I was, became a ghost of the past. After having my baby, I knew there was nothing I would not do, no fear I would not overcome to improve his life. My son's father and I married young. He soon joined the United States military to support our family. We were then stationed on a military base in rural Louisiana, away from our comfort zone and our support system. While there, I utilized every resource the military offered, including a grant for military spouses. The lack of family to support us soon became evident when my educational career began, but I was able to complete an associate degree in health information technology with a 4.0 GPA, while simultaneously caring for a toddler. To say this was difficult is an understatement. However, my child and his future made the hard work worth it. I wanted him to see his mother as an example of strength and resiliency while walking down the aisle at graduation. I still want to make him proud. While working in my current field, I have discovered my passion for healthcare. I want to work not only on the administrative side but closely with patients. With my husband retiring from the US Army and becoming acclimated to civilian life, I am now the breadwinner of our family. My dream is to receive a bachelor's degree in medical imaging. This scholarship would benefit my family and me immensely by helping me to afford the out-of-pocket costs I will surely need to pay to make this dream a reality.