My Dad is a man of integrity, God, and pure grit. When he was my age, he dreamt of being an Athletic Trainer, assisting world-class athletes on and off the field. Yet he could not follow his dreams because he did not receive a college degree, and now he works as banker who has to work at least thrice as hard as everyone with a college degree to move up. My Mom grew up in poverty, having to choose between paying the water bill to shower or the electricity bill to see. She worked hard from a young age to support her family, buying her little sister whatever she needed and helping pay the bills at home while still excelling at school. Against all odds, she worked hard enough to get accepted to Harvard. However, there was no possible way for her to go. My parents have made it abundantly clear to me that college was not an option my entire life because they didn't want me to have to climb the same path they had to in order to achieve a comfortable life. I want to be an Astrophysicist, who helps pioneer the next stage of space exploration and discover the natural laws of the cosmos. I can not do that without higher education. I need my degree to get my foot in the door of prestigious organizations working to innovate, research, and profit from space-related ventures. I am fascinated by energy, the mechanisms of the universe, and how we can use the laws of the universe to our advantage once they are understood. I have spent many nights contemplating these things, but contemplation will not get me anywhere. My education is essentially the ticket to the future I dream of and work for. The technologies and research I will work on will not only further the goal of making humanity a multi-planetary species but will make life better on Earth. NASA's efforts to create better material for parachutes ended up improving tires for everyone, and their efforts to make nutritional food for astronauts contributed to better baby food. Personally, I want to work on energy and transportation, as in improving batteries, power sources, and rockets. Any innovations that come from that work will not stay beyond the atmosphere but will be adapted and used in everyday life. I want to donate to charities, and if I make enough, make my own charity for students like me and those in need. I want to put my money in places where it will actually make a difference, not just in my bank account. I think of my mom, and how far a little money could've gone in her situation. I think of my Dad, and how he might have succeeded in his dreams with some more support. Thanks to my parents, I have a chance to one day reinvest what they invested into me into society, and make it easier for others like me, my Mom, or my Dad to follow their dreams and succeed through higher education. Thank you for your consideration.