Hello! I’m Samantha Lopez, a high school senior seeking financial aid to cover college expenses. As a first-generation college student, I have personally seen how a lack of education has prevented my relatives from achieveing their full potential. I learned about the importance (and costs) of education during my time volunteering for Dream Big Project, an organization that aids students in pursuing their education through scholarships and giveaways. My experiences with this organization sparked my enthusiasm in receiving higher education, and engendered my concerns for those that face limitations in receiving theirs. I look forward to utilizing what I’ve learned and will continue to learn towards confronting the many environmentally-damaging practices in this country through a degree in civil engineering, and I seek to inspire younger generations to recognize their own potential and overcome their own limitations.