I would convince my peer to attend college by first sharing the story how I did not want to go to college when I was an junior in highschool. What changed my mind about college was going on a tour to a local university in Tampa Florida during a two week summer program. Thoughout the tour I wasn't interested in anything the tour guide was speaking about until we toured the gym. Reminding you I was overweight and had just given birth to a baby boy about two months before this tour, and I had never been motivated to work out. But, this particular day I was sold. The gym had flat screen monitors attached to the equipment where the internet, Netflix, Facebook etc. could be accessed. From that day, I convinced myself that I was going to college, I did not know what degree I was going for but I was going to figure it out. Although when I did finally enroll into a local community college, I never made my way to the gym but I met some amazing people, and had the best experience of my life. So I would convince my peer that although you may not see attending college in your future, just take a tour of an college in town, because it may change your mind about not going.

Life has prepared me for success by showcasing the struggles of my parents and my older sister. Throughout my life my family experience multiple hardships from evictions to car repositions, and multiple divorces. That experience gave me a drive to do whatever it takes to become successful and financially stable so I would not have to depend on anyone. My definition of success is being the odds of life. No matter what obstacles I may face, I still make it a priority to chase after my goals. In the next 20 years, I see myself as an lead dental hygienist at my job, getting closer to God, spending lots of time with my son and showing him the ropes of life, lastly just living life and enjoying everything that life has to offer.

One hardship that I overcame was moving out of state with a gentleman that I was dating in order to build a new life with him while also attending school full time working towards a A.S degree for Dental Hygiene. My relationship with the gentleman took a turn for the worst as he became verbally and physically abusive. If was difficult for me to sleep at night, along with trying to study and prepare for my next school day. I managed to get away from the relationship after friends and family helped me financially to move into my own place in student housing. Although it has been tough paying for housing and attending school full time, I have been able to maintain my grades and earn a spot on the Deans list at my college. College is important to me because it gives me an opportunity to not only be the first one in my family to obtain a college degree and become successful, but to help others in my community by providing dental care and preventive measures to contribute to their overall health. My dental hygiene degree will also benefit my family because I will be able to help financially with their everyday needs, also giving my son a better life in the near future, leading by an example of a single mom that made it through college on her own and being financially stable.