Growing up, I have always viewed America as the land of endless opportunities and prosperity. Reading books like "The Great Gatsby" and learning about the several waves of mass immigration to America solidified my love for my country. Unfortunately, I never truly understood the hard work and sacrifices families had to make to reach the ultimate dream, which in fact was a large part of both my mother and father's lives. As a child my mother immigrated to America from Italy with her family because of the economic opportunities her parents sought out for their growing family. My father immigrated from Macedonia by himself at twenty-two years old, leaving his home behind in search of both work and educational opportunities. Both of my parents immigrated at a relatively young age and they had to work twice as hard not only to find their way in an entirely new world, but also to gain access to the same opportunities as everyone else, which was especially difficult without a college degree. Thanks to my family's background and prior experiences coming to the United States, I have learned the importance of academic success and prioritizing my grades. Although the pressure of achieving and maintaining good grades was stressful at times, I am incredibly grateful for the perseverance and work ethic it has granted me. I believe this is the true meaning of being a first-generation student; working hard to take advantage of the opportunities your family has provided for you through their own hard work and sacrifices. Though my academic career has been demanding and difficult at times, I have been gifted personal motivation to help fuel my academic success. My love for animals began when I was still a child and has only grown stronger throughout high school. This passion made me fall in love with wildlife conservation and veterinary medicine. To improve the current status of the environment, I became active in my school's Environmental Club. In my sophomore year, I acted as the club's Garden and Event Coordinator and was voted president in my junior and senior. Maintaining these positions was difficult while learning virtually, and there was a steep learning curve when it came to figuring out how to lead a group without meeting in person. Still, it improved my perseverance since I had to take club matters into my own hands and initiate different events to keep members involved. While in high school, I have also explored my passion for the French language by serving as secretary under the French Honors Society and the French Club. Though participating has taught me so much more about the French language, it has been very beneficial in improving my communication and leadership skills. I often apply these skills working as a veterinary assistant while communicating with my co-workers about what tests need to be run, the status of a current patient, and even training new team members. While being a first-generation student is a huge responsibility, I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunities it has granted me, especially the ability to participate in extracurriculars, which have developed my leadership and communication skills. Though I have had to navigate the college process alone, I appreciate the support and sacrifices my family made to give me the opportunity for a higher education.