I am proud to say that I will be the first in my family to attend a large university, an achievement that carries deep meaning for both me and my loved ones. Coming from a financially unstable background, my family has always worked hard just to make ends meet. I’ve watched my parents put aside their own needs so that my brothers and I could have opportunities they never had. And now, they are willing to put everything on the line to help me pursue the college of my dreams. But the responsibility doesn’t fall on them alone. I plan to balance a job alongside my coursework to help pay for my rent and tuition, because I don’t want my parents to shoulder the full financial burden, especially with two younger brothers at home who also deserve just as much attention and support. Being the oldest child has shaped me into who I am today. I had no one to show me what high school was like, no older sibling to lean on for advice or guidance. I had to figure it out step by step, making mistakes, learning from them, and setting new goals. At first, my aim was simple: earn all A’s. But once I achieved that, I realized I could push myself further. That’s when I began to go above and beyond, not just in the classroom, but in every area of my life. I became a student-athlete, committing to soccer and volleyball throughout high school. Soccer quickly became my passion, and even as a freshman, I played varsity, became the team’s top scorer, earned District MVP, and was selected for First Team All-District. Volleyball wasn’t my strongest sport, but I refused to quit. I worked hard, improved my skills, and by junior year, I earned a spot on varsity. Sports taught me discipline, teamwork, and perseverance. They also showed me that success requires sacrifice, late nights of homework after practice, early mornings of workouts, and countless times when I had to choose responsibility over fun. Outside of sports, I pushed myself even further. I worked three jobs during high school while participating in Student Council and being inducted into the National Honor Society. Balancing work, athletics, and academics wasn’t easy. There were nights when I felt overwhelmed, days when I thought I couldn’t handle it all, and moments when I questioned whether the effort was worth it. But every time I thought about giving up, I reminded myself why I started. I wanted to show my younger brothers that no matter where you come from, you can rise above your circumstances. There were ups and downs, failures and victories, but in the end, I stayed true to my commitment. I graduated in the top 10% of my class. I was accepted into every college I applied to. And now, I stand on the edge of a new chapter, ready to embrace challenges, ready to work harder than ever, and ready to create a better future not just for myself, but for my family. This journey has shaped me into someone who is disciplined, determined, and passionate about growth. My ultimate goal is to create a strong and stable path for myself so that one day, I can repay my family for the countless sacrifices they’ve made for me. I may be the first in my family to attend a large university, but I will not be the last. If my journey has taught me anything, it’s this: sometimes life gets harder before it gets better, but if you keep pushing forward, better days will always come.

How did I go above and beyond? I went above and beyond by pushing myself to do better and by maintaining a strong image of who I wanted to be. In other words, I am a student-athlete who managed to maintain all A’s throughout high school while also participating in extracurricular activities such as soccer and volleyball. In addition, I held three jobs and still attended school clubs like Student Council and the National Honor Society. Despite what others say is impossible, I managed to make the impossible possible. “How did I do it?” they ask. Well, I managed my time, stayed organized, and kept my priorities straight. Don’t get me wrong—it definitely wasn’t easy. But hey, it was worth it. Did I know what to expect when I started high school? No. I am the oldest daughter and have two younger brothers. I had no one to show me the way, so I had to take it step by step. When I entered my freshman year, my only goal was to get all A’s. That’s all I knew. Fun fact: when I started, I thought freshmen were called “sophomores.” That just shows how little I knew! Furthermore, as I mentioned, I was involved in sports like soccer and volleyball. I was a student-athlete throughout all four years. Did I really know what I was getting into? At first, I thought I did—but in reality, I didn’t. I thought I would just play sports, bond with teammates, and compete. That wasn’t the case. There were time sacrifices, missed school days, mental challenges, and a whole lot of hard work. There were levels to it. Levels to help make our school successful and known. It wasn’t just for fun—it was for a purpose. I had to stay organized, do extra work on the side to stay caught up, and always stay on my toes. I was dedicated to never falling behind. Most importantly, I wanted to be a role model to my younger brothers—to show them that you can do it all, as long as you’re willing to put in the extra work. For example, I played varsity soccer my freshman year. I was the top scorer, named District MVP, received Honorable Mention, and was selected for First Team All-District. Volleyball was a bit harder for me since it wasn’t my main sport, but I still made the JV A team and eventually made varsity by my junior year. On top of that, I participated in Student Council and attended meetings after practice. I was also nominated for the National Honor Society at the end of junior year. At that moment, I realized—I can do it. I can do it all. I ended up in the top 10% of my class. And the best part? I got into every college I applied to. In conclusion, the impossible is possible—I made it possible. I started out knowing nothing, and that’s okay. There were many ups and downs, many learning moments, and many obstacles to overcome. Life comes with risks and sacrifices. Sometimes things get harder before they get better. But I managed. And I’m still not done, because life keeps going.