I am currently a full-time student at the University of Iowa, I recently transferred from Indian Hills Community College which is located in my hometown Ottumwa, Iowa. I graduated from Hills earlier this year with my associate's degree in business, and I plan to graduate with a bachelor's in Accounting here at the University of Iowa. Listing these achievements and goals is much easier than going through them, as a first-generation student this journey has not been easy. From the very start of my educational journey having to learn a new language to today, having to learn what might be basic information of the college journey. Growing up in the household I did, my parents have taught my siblings and me how important and valuable education is as well as the opportunities that come to us. My parents both born in Mexico did not have the chance at an education, due to their then state of living they were working instead of attending school. Their story has always driven me to be grateful for my education and to always work hard towards it. Not only has this driven me but also being the eldest daughter, I hope to be a great role model to my younger siblings and be able to show them that dreams do come true as long as you work hard for them. When I was in high school I was not sure what I wanted to be, this scared me. Not knowing what I wanted to work towards made me feel anxious and unprepared. I explored many things and was fortunate enough to be able to take college courses throughout high school, this gave me a taste of what would be coming. It also helped me choose the direction that I would head, I took an accounting class and instantly knew that I wanted to do that for a living. I started taking other business classes that included different concepts such as finance and marketing but I knew that accounting was what I wanted to do. I know that I will continue to face struggles with being a woman in business, but also being a first-generation. I won't say that I will be ready or that it will be easy but I will say that I hope to overcome future struggles just as I have already. I want to thank anyone who reads this for their time. -Maria Gomez-Andrade

I am currently a full-time student at the University of Iowa, I recently transferred from Indian Hills Community College which is located in my hometown Ottumwa, Iowa. I graduated from Hills earlier this year with my associate's degree in business, and I plan to graduate with a bachelor's in Accounting here at the University of Iowa. Listing these achievements and goals is much easier than going through them, as a first-generation student this journey has not been easy. From the very start of my educational journey having to learn a new language to today, having to learn what might be basic information of the college journey. Growing up in the household I did, my parents have taught my siblings and me how important and valuable education is as well as the opportunities that come to us. My parents both born in Mexico did not have the chance at an education, due to their then state of living they were working instead of attending school. Their story has always driven me to be grateful for my education and to always work hard towards it. Not only has this driven me but also being the eldest daughter, I hope to be a great role model to my younger siblings and be able to show them that dreams do come true as long as you work hard for them. When I was in high school I was not sure what I wanted to be, this scared me. Not knowing what I wanted to work towards made me feel anxious and unprepared. I explored many things and was fortunate enough to be able to take college courses throughout high school, this gave me a taste of what would be coming. It also helped me choose the direction that I would head, I took an accounting class and instantly knew that I wanted to do that for a living. I started taking other business classes that included different concepts such as finance and marketing but I knew that accounting was what I wanted to do. I know that I will continue to face struggles with being a woman in business, but also being a first-generation. I won't say that I will be ready or that it will be easy but I will say that I hope to overcome future struggles just as I have already. I want to thank anyone who reads this for their time. -Maria Gomez-Andrade