I have asked myself if going to college was something that my parents would have enjoyed given the opportunity to attend. The answer is a resounding, yes. My Father especially. Unfortunately, due to his father's death, he had the responsibility of taking care of his entire family when he was 17 years old. He had to leave high school and begin working. He worked long days and not only supported his mom, sisters and brother, he saved what little he had and made the trip to the United States when he was 20 to seek more opportunities. He soon landed a job, got an apartment with a friend and began his life in the USA. He still worked hard sending money home and saving enough to buy his own business. He married my mom and together they work together in our family's restaurant. When Covid hit, our family struggled and he was forced to take another full time job delivering food for Uber. All of this, so I could concentrate on school and not feel the impact of the financial loss. Throughout my life he has always pushed me to do well in school, play sports, appreciate the arts and go to college. I have done all of these not only at his urging but also due to my own ambitions. I have worked since the age of 13 in our family's business, played soccer for my high school varsity team and club team, and have been an actor for my talent agency for 11 years. Pursuing a college degree would give me the benefit of being able to acquire a good job and help my dad. He has worked hard for my family while also spending what little time he has available with his children and my mom. He's never too tired to go outside and kick the soccer ball with me or help with schoolwork. At times, I've seen him resting on the couch before his second shift and I've wished he could enjoy his nap a little longer, but he always gets right up and heads out the door to work. I know that me being a first generation college student means the world to him, and also to my mom, who has to work and care for my special needs older sister. Both of my parents are truly remarkable and attending college is just one of the ways I can pay it back.

My Name is Lilyanna Salman and I live in Raleigh, North Carolina. I am a first generation college student with Middle Eastern, Colombian and Italian Ancestry. My Mom was born in Bogota, Colombia and my Father was born in Israel to a Palestinian Father and a Roman Italian Mother. I am deeply rooted in being a strong minded, motivated human being with an insatiable drive to succeed. I am excited about pursuing a college degree and becoming a first generation college graduate. I know that this is something my ancestors would have pursued having been given the opportunity. I was raised to value family, friends and commitments to education and volunteer work. I am one of three children. I have an older brother and an older sister with special needs. She requires assistance in all things due to her needs being severe. I was raised to help take care of her and it is something that I am most proud of. There is no tangible award for caring for her, instead it's a sense you have on the inside. I feel good about myself knowing that I can be someone she and my parents can rely on. I am also a strong advocate for the rights of the disabled. I am hopeful that within the near future I can be a guardian for adults who need a supporter who will fight for their rights. I was also raised to value commitments and work hard to obtain success. I have been committed to the performing arts since the age of eight when I was signed to my agency for acting in tv/film. I was eager to take acting classes and soon found myself loving to perform in front of the camera. I attended hundreds of auditions, spent time learning all I could from acting coaches, and even booked a few projects. Although, I have had to endure countless amounts of rejection, I am still pursuing my goal to be successful in performance. In college, I want to proceed with earning a BFA in Acting for Film, or in Film Production. Aside from acting, I love all sports, martial arts and soccer being my two greatest joys. I started Shotokan Karate at age six. Karate has taught me so much besides the art of defense. Martial arts is a deeply rooted form of self motivation, understanding and acceptance. It is definitely one of the reasons I have maintained and continued pursuing an art with so much rejection attached to it. Martial arts is an individual sport, but it really teaches you to become successful with all people, and to learn patience and acceptance while living in a world with varying belief systems and ways of life. Along with Karate, soccer has been a saving grace for me. Being a part of a team(s) has awarded me with some of the best friends I could have ever hoped for while also teaching me how working together to achieve a goal is beneficial to a successful outcome. This is a life lesson I think is essential to learn. Along with learning how to navigate a team sport, having friendships I can carry with me as I enter into my new stage of life is something I value tremendously. In college all of these aspects of my life will come together and help me be the best student I can be. The hours spent in classes, on the field and at home have made me the person I am today. I am proud to be a first generation college student.