Bright early mornings, the sun smiling back at me while I await for my teacher, Ms.Chandler to come to pick up our class from the cafeteria. Excited to start the new day learning and also having fun while doing it. “Class of 2027”, called Ms.Chandler. “We are college bound!”, we shouted eagerly. Ever since elementary school, I was encouraged to go to college and graduate. When I was younger, it never occurred to me how expensive college is. It's lollipops and rainbows when you are younger. Growing up and maturing you see the actual struggles your parents always hid. Seeing the extra shifts they pick up just so you and your sister can have what you need. My parents are one of my motives to become successful in life in anything I decide to do. Being a first-generation high school graduate is something I am very eager to say. Not only being the first one in my family but graduating in the top 10% of my class is something I'm prominent in. College has always been something I've been encouraged and determined to attend. I wouldn't be able to pursue my career in Athletic Training if I don't graduate college. Therefore, it is very important to me to make something of myself. My parents didn't work their tails off just for me not to take advantage of it. My mom came from El Salvador at a young age and had to learn a new language while my father came from Mexico. I see my parents struggle and they always remind me, “Mija go to college and get a good education so you do not have to work so hard like me and your father.” They are my number one reminder to take my education seriously. These scholarships require a leader that shows leadership. What does it mean to show leadership? I think a leader is someone who shows others how to do things, leads them in the right direction, and just wants to guide others instead of being rude and discouraging. As a senior, and also the friends I have now have shown me to not be shy. To be outgoing and try my best to speak up and show others what a leader is. I am a leader to my elementary kids every day, for example, something as little as opening a carton of milk. They give me some much energy to keep going. Service in the community is very important to me. Keeping the community alive and helping others in need or those who just need a little bit of help to get ahead is something we should be concerned about. I serve my community every day by tutoring kindergarten. It has been a great learning experience so far seeing those kids' faces when they get/do something right. Some days it can be rough but the good always weighs out the bad. I have grown so much patience with everyone. The goodbye hugs I get always make my morning a hundred times better. I learned that Texas determines how many prison beds they need by how many children are not on grade level by the third grade. For me to think of that is disappointing and unfair to those kids. No matter how old you are, there's always room to learn. It shows me to take advantage of my learnings and to become someone.