As I repeat "Hello ma'am/ sir, how is your day going? Would you like a bag?" for the hundredth time, I remember my calculus homework; I need to brush up on my derivatives. I then remember my dirty laundry; 3 hours at the laundromat will set me behind schedule. I also remember my English project that I need to continue. That's just the tip of the iceberg. When I get home from work, it's time to tackle all of the problems mentioned above, and many, many more. My room is filled with to-do lists and schedules --- things organized in order of importance and due dates. Sometimes, when I go to school with large bags under my eyes and have to drink 2 energy drinks to stay awake for my math test, I wish I didn't have to work. I don't dislike my job, and the money definitely helps, but the hours are long. New York state says I can't work more than 28 hours a week. Sometimes I cut it too close. I want to be able to balance my school and job because I need both of them. Scholarships would help to ensure I have some money to fall back on for school and future education, while ensuring I can cut down on my hours and not be so worn out. I would love to spend more time doing the extracurriculars I enjoy and being able to hang out with my friends guilt-free. I can't quit my job because, as a daughter of a single mom with an older sister in college, I'm expected to pay for my own education. My sister and I both know that our mom can't afford it, and federal grants don't cover all costs associated with continued education, so we have our jobs to try and save money to pursue our desired careers. We know our mom is trying her best, and we have to work hard to make her and ourselves proud of all our efforts. I want to go to college without worries of financial instability so that I can get my master's in aerospace engineering. I would love to help engineer spacecraft and, hopefully, get a job at NASA. At the moment, I am in 2 after-school programs that help me learn more about careers and education in STEM, and even more clubs that have helped me narrow down what I want to do after high school.

As I repeat "Hello ma'am/ sir, how is your day going? Would you like a bag?" for the hundredth time, I remember my calculus homework; I need to brush up on my derivatives. I then remember my dirty laundry; 3 hours at the laundromat will set me behind schedule. I also remember my English project that I need to continue. That's just the tip of the iceberg. When I get home from work, it's time to tackle all of the problems mentioned above, and many, many more. My room is filled with to-do lists and schedules --- things organized in order of importance and due dates. Sometimes, when I go to school with large bags under my eyes and have to drink 2 energy drinks to stay awake for my math test, I wish I didn't have to work. I don't dislike my job, and the money definitely helps, but the hours are long. New York state says I can't work more than 28 hours a week. Sometimes I cut it too close. I want to be able to balance my school and job because I need both of them. Scholarships would help to ensure I have some money to fall back on for school and future education, while ensuring I can cut down on my hours and not be so worn out. I would love to spend more time doing the extracurriculars I enjoy and being able to hang out with my friends guilt-free. I can't quit my job because, as a daughter of a single mom with an older sister in college, I'm expected to pay for my own education. My sister and I both know that our mom can't afford it, and federal grants don't cover all costs associated with continued education, so we have our jobs to try and save money to pursue our desired careers. We know our mom is trying her best, and we have to work hard to make her and ourselves proud of all our efforts.

The United Nations reports that approximately 251 million children were not enrolled in school in 2024. That's 251 million missed opportunities to find a cure for cancer. 251 million missed opportunities to develop new renewable energy resources. 251 million missed opportunities to make our world a better place. My mom always told me that money doesn't buy happiness. I think she's right. She wouldn't be right, however, if she said money doesn't buy opportunity. A kid can be smart. They can be gifted. They can even be a genius, but if they can't afford school, or don't happen to be extremely lucky and fall under better financial circumstances than most, they'll miss out on the possibilities for their future. I'm not a genius, nor am I gifted, but I'm disciplined. I have opportunities, such as scholarships and grants, that aren't presented to other kids. If I could afford to go to school, I would have a fighting chance to make a positive change in the world. I'm not talking about doing the bare minimum; passing classes and getting my degree. I mean, treating my continued education as the holy grail that it is. Thanks to my single mom, I don't have to be one of those 251 million missed opportunities. But a university is not a public high school. We all know how hard it is on parents to pay for tuition and education fees, but can you imagine knowing your parents can't help? My mom told us very early on that she wouldn't pay for our college tuition. It's not that she doesn't want to;1 her biggest hope for us is to continue our education, but she barely earns enough to pay our rent and bills. Me and my older sister each have jobs. My sister is paying for her own degree. I am expected to do the same. That's why I write essays like this one at 11:41 p.m., after I get back from work, after doing homework, after school. So that I can continue my education, continue "the grind" so that I don't become a missed opportunity.

How much is it? That was the question we asked whenever we bought anything. We weren’t poor, but we weren’t too comfortable either. As the years passed I learned to appreciate very thing we had, but that didn’t stop my inner child from dreaming to have the nice toys I saw on YouTube. Or the luxury cars we would pass on the highway. I'm only 14, but to quote MLKJ “I have a dream”. I want to go to college. I want to graduate high school and get into a good college, right here in America. My mom fought so hard to bring me and my sister here and I will ensure that I do whatever I can to make OUR dream come true. While getting into college may be a bit challenging, I know I can do it if I try. Which I will. Whilst I have thought deep into the future, I have thought deeper into the present. Right now I am doing everything I can to make sure that I get a good job that I enjoy. A job that I could only dream of getting in Honduras. I will break down any, and every obstacle I have to. I will study till the crack of dawn if it mean I can achieve my dream. My mom works harder than anyone I know. She comes form work, runs some errands, makes cleans, makes dinner, washes the dishes, and still has time to listen to OUR problems. I love my mom more than anything. She wishes nothing but the best for us, and I want to show her that we will get it. I want her to know that all that she has suffered is worth it. My mom deserves to be happy, and I know I can do that for her. I can make her even happier when I get into the college of my dreams. I will never stop trying. I will ALWAYS be grateful for every single sacrifice my mom has made to bring us to a country with a great education system. And I will take the most advantage of this education system that I can. I will breakthrough anything to get my mom and my family the happiness and satisfaction we deserve. I will NEVER give up.