Pursuing higher education has been one of the most important steps in my life, but it has also come with significant financial and personal challenges. As someone who grew up in a low-income household and was raised by a single mother, I have always understood the importance of hard work and perseverance. My childhood, although filled with love, was also marked by instability and even periods of abuse, but leaving that environment gave me the chance to build a better future. While I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to pursue my education, the journey has not been easy. Balancing the demands of school with financial responsibilities has created challenges that I am constantly working to overcome. Currently, I am enrolled in 17 credits while working two jobs. This schedule often leaves me little to no time for rest or relaxation, and while I am proud of my work ethic, the pressure can feel overwhelming. Juggling multiple jobs is not simply a matter of choice; it is a need to help cover my finances. On top of that, I know once I graduate the looming reality of student loan payments is not far behind. I often find myself thinking about the debt I will carry after graduation, and it worries me because I know I will have to take on more for graduate school. Sometimes I think I should drop out so I can work full-time for a while and save up, but even then I would have to work for a while to cover everything and then I’d be behind. All of these pressures sometimes make it difficult to fully enjoy the privilege of being a college student. My biggest dream is to reach a point of financial stability where I can finally breathe comfortably. Growing up, I watched my mother stretch every dollar to keep our household running, and I knew early on that I wanted a different future for myself. Education represents a pathway to that future, but it requires sacrifices that can take a toll on my mental and physical health. By working so many hours alongside my coursework, I am constantly pushing myself to exhaustion. No matter what, I am very grateful to be where I am today. Compared to the environment I grew up in, my current challenges are ones that I see as investments in my future. I know I can do big things and I owe it to myself and to other black little girls to push forward. I want to succeed not just for myself, but also to honor the sacrifices my mother made and to inspire others who may be facing similar obstacles. Financial support would make an incredible difference in my life. It would allow me to dedicate more time and energy toward my education. As well as give me the space to experience college more fully, not just as a means to an end, but as a chapter of growth, learning, and discovery. In the end, my goal is not only to graduate but to do so in a way that sets me on a path toward stability and fulfillment. I want to build a life where I no longer have to constantly worry about money, where I can focus on my career and personal well-being. Higher education is my bridge to that reality, and while the journey is difficult, I am committed to persevering. With support, I can move one step closer to turning my dream of financial stability into a reality

As a current college student, I face a variety of challenges. Most of my college experience has been maintaining the delicate balance of my mental health and my STEM related coursework with the slight influence of societal pressures. Growing up the college experience was often romanticized as an opportunity of intellectual growth, self-discovery, and many new opportunities. However, all those movies forgot to mention the suffocating stress that correlates with college as you deal with 18 million problems at once. I am a first generation student so through my journey for academic and personal achievement, the importance of my mental health often takes a backseat. I have a family to make proud and people to prove wrong so, why stop now? The stigma surrounding mental health makes it hard to seek help or to find healthy coping mechanisms. Oddly enough, declining mental health has been so normalized throughout college that I don't feel I have the right to seek help, because everyone else is struggling too. However the people that dont have it often look down upon those that do. The academic demands of college life are substantial, were to be expected as I’ve come in as a STEM major on the pre-med track. Juggling coursework, extracurricular commitments, and the pursuit of internships and work study jobs, creates a constant tornado of emotion. Moreover, the societal expectations associated with college life add an additional layer of stress. Navigating through these expectations while staying true to myself has proven to be more difficult than originally expected. Not only have a I come to terms with my mental health and personal and social growth, I’ve had the challenge of navigating my life as a bi-racial women in today's society. It's never really been something I've thought about a lot but coming to college has allowed me to find who I truly am and what I want to be. Although these challenges are typically common with college students they are unique to me. I’ve never had to really deal with these types of problems until now. I have to learn to prioritize myself and the well being of my mind so they can reflect on my grades. I thought ignoring my mental health would allow me to focus on school, but in the end it only made it worse. This past semester I struggled with depression and anxiety, instead of seeking help and healthy coping mechanisms I let it swallow me whole. Because of this my grades suffered. I never want that to happen to me again, although this was an all time low for me I know there's only one way to go from here, and that's up. Although my time at college has been challenging I am appreciative of what it has taught me, I can use these experiences to better my college journey and help those around me.