I want to start by saying thank you for the opportunity and for creating a place to talk about serious topics. I don't understand why at the age of 17-18 years old, I need to have everything figured out. I don't understand why I am being put thousands of dollars in debt just to spend the rest of my life paying it off. I don't understand why we are told that the ONLY way you can be successful is if you go to school and get a degree. Of course, not everyone thinks this way especially as the years go on, but going to college is an unspoken rule that we have created for high school students to follow. We send so many students who couldn't even handle the stresses of high school to college as if to set them up to fail at life before they have even begun. Most of the time, those students will end up dropping out and stuck in debt with no real direction in their life. Some kids are rushed into college without even knowing what they truly want to pursue. It's so common for college students to change their majors at least twice because we don't give them the exposure they need to finalize that decision. If you haven't finalized what you want to do by your junior year, It's harder to change your major because of required course classes which could cause you to be paying more money or staying in school longer. These big decisions can also detour people from changing majors for that reason. College is an important turning point in your future that should not be taken as lightly as it is. I hope in the future there is more education available for students when making life decisions.

I want to first start off by saying thank you for the opportunity to submit for this scholarship! When I first began my college search, I had zero guidance on the whole college thing let alone what I wanted to go to school for. There is this stigma on college that whatever you go to college for you have to be 100% certain and commit to your degree for the next 4 years and beyond college. The thought of this held such a burden over me when looking for schools that I impulsively choose to study Psychology at Illinois State University because it's what others told me would be the best option for me in the long run. The summer before college, I spent the entire month of July in Florida on set for commercials, movies, and actor competitions. The week after I got home, which was also the week before classes started, I told my counselor that I wanted to change my major to pursue a degree in Film! Seeing as I had only a week before classes, I wasn't truly able to look into their Film program enough to determine if that was truly the place I wanted to continue my education but I really had no choice. After about a month in the Film program, I realized it wasn't right for me and began to look at other colleges that could accommodate for the type of education I was yearning for. That is when I found my dream school, Columbia College Chicago! I was finally excited for my education and felt secure in my decisions when it came to my education. Although it took me some time to figure out college, I ran into quite a few problems that I had to resolve on my own. Now I feel more confident in how college works and can help others who are First Gen AND Transfer students! Since I have begun my Undergrad degree, I learn many valuable colleges lessons, but the biggest one is that college is NOT a race!! It's okay to take time a find out what you are passionate about and you may not get it right the first time. It's YOUR life and you get to decide what you want to do with it. Thank you again for the opportunity and for taking your time to read about my college experience thus far!

First, Thank you for the opportunity for this scholarship as well as making this a fun experience to reflect on college! I present to you "20 min walk to the quad" by Ryles Definkle (its an inside joke that ended up becoming a funny nickname that my friends and teachers called me!) KISEKAE - Kyary Pamyu Pamyu I started off with this song for no other purpose other than it was the only song that kept me sain during finals week... It's just so cute and fun and brought a smile to my face whenever I heard it! I know it might not be a song for everyone, but it got me out of my moods when I wasn't feeling the best. Chun Swae (feat. Swae Lee) - Nicki Minaj As a barb, I felt it was only right to add this song to the mix. During my 20 minute walk to the quad, I would blast this song to give me the strength to continue my walk even when I wasn't feeling like it. Of course, Nicki has some very iconic verses, but this one always kept me going while I was running off with credit cards!! (No I did not actually run off with credit cards. It's just a line from the song I swear!!) The City's Yours - Jamie Foxx, Quvenzhané Wallis When I went into school, I started as a Psychology major. About a week before school, I followed my heart and changed to pursue a degree in Film. This song just reminds me that I am still young and I don't need to have everything figured out but that the world is there for the taking and I can do anything I put my mind to. Juice - iyla Not to get all sappy, but I found my current boyfriend in college when I wasn't even searching for him. He fell "right out the sky and into my lap", as the song says! I had never met someone that I was able to click with so fast which was a new experience for me. I don't know what the future holds for us, but I do know that I am extremely happy with where I am and who I have found. one way to tokyo - HONNE Sorry to end on such a sad note, but this song was so hard for me to listen to when I told my friends I was transferring to a different college. It was after I had told my roommate(or soulmate I should say) that I wanted to transfer, we were listening to music in our room and this song came on. She said that that's exactly how she felt about me leaving. She told me that no matter what she wish only good things for me and told me that no matter what she will still be here no matter what. Even though transferring isn't like getting on a plane to leave for Tokyo, this song holds a more special place for me after she told me that. I love that girl. I hope you enjoyed the rollercoaster that was a "20 min walk to the quad". Thank you again for the opportunity and for reading all about my college experience!