Growing up, I always dreamed of continuing my education after high school. I wanted to go to college, complete graduate school, and even possibly obtain an additional master's or doctorate degree. Currently, my dream remains the same. I still hold myself to a high standard as I did years ago in elementary and middle school. One factor that restrains me from pursuing and achieving this goal is finances. The financial burden I would leave my family and myself prompts me to hesitate and question whether or not my dreams are worth obtaining. I am constantly worried about money and tuition. I feel that no one with similar goals should have to encounter this barrier. As a high school student, I continue to pursue this goal and demonstrate my aspiration to achieve higher education. In fact, I began to take community college courses after the summer of my freshman year to challenge myself, broaden my interests, and familiarize myself with the college curriculum. I thoroughly enjoyed taking these college courses so much, that I continued to complete courses every chance that I received. I am currently a junior in high school and in the past couple of years, I was able to acquire over sixty credits to graduate with an Associate of Arts Degree in Sociology. I am expected to receive my Associate's Degree before I graduate with my high school diploma. Fortunately, as I am still in high school, these community college courses are relatively cheap and cost close to nothing. While I am grateful to have access to these classes and receive an AA degree at the age of seventeen, I still would love to obtain more with my education. This scholarship would support me tremendously in achieving that goal. It will not only provide me peace of mind but open the doors to ample opportunities. I would utilize this money to pursue my dreams and continue with my academic achievements in the social science field. One day, I hope to share my knowledge with others by becoming a physician associate or occupational therapist.