The career that I am pursuing is a male-dominated field. I was more than aware of this fact and have acknowledged that there are not many women in the police industry. Because of that, I decided that it was best to start preparing for my future early. No matter what, women will be perceived as less than men, especially in a male-dominated field. This just means that I have to work harder to achieve my goals. I was in a Program labeled the Young Marines. This was also male-dominated, yet I was one of the highest-ranking in the program. My sister and I have natural leadership skills and strived in this unit. We took control and led while teaching along the way. We have led many young minds to great success through discipline, teamwork and community service. During this program, I started a job at a local fruit market. The owner mainly hired young, attractive teenage girls. I was one of those he hired. He told me often to stand there and look pretty. Throughout the years of working there, I built my work ethic. I matured well past how much I should have at my age and built relationships with the customers. The staff and customers began to grow fond of me. A little less than a year of working there, I had asked for a raise that I did not receive. I did not deserve the raise, I realized, for I wasn't working up to my potential. I picked up the slack and worked harder than ever before. Once in the rhythm of it, it became easy. Eventually work became my escape from reality since I just got lost in it once I began. Eventually, I went seeking more and I moved around to different departments of the store to the point where I was working around the whole store. Sometimes I even helped in every department on the same night, circling back to each one. I usually ended up working about 40+ hours a week, even after school. My boss was so impressed that he pulled me aside to ask how much I was making and I stated that I was making a minimum wage of $14.25 at the time. He told me that he was going to give me a raise. When I got my next paycheck I realized he gave me a 3 dollar raise. Throughout the year he would slip me $50 or even $100 out of his pocket to reward me. I eventually got a large bonus for my hard work. He continues to praise me for my work years later and constantly shows his appreciation. While my boss still comments on my appearance quite often, I have proved him wrong. Women who may be more attractive than others can work just as hard, if not even harder than men. I have earned my place in this family-owned business. I am proud that they consider me to be a part of their family.

I will be an independent woman who can support herself and her family through confidence and hard work.

At the beginning of my freshman year, I got my first and current job in a local family-owned business down my street. I went from not caring about it after getting hired on the spot to working towards building my work ethic. Some family-related problems throughout that year and the next led me to mature quickly. I became invested in my work to have an escape, besides the money didn't hurt. I started to save my money and with some help searching, I bought my dream car. I paid for the car fully and was proud to have earned it. My sister didn't save her money so she was short when looking for her dream car. One day we decided to surprise her with her dream car, a Corvette, which I paid for originally until she came up with the money. I grew up knowing that nothing you get in life is free, but it is earned. I have always had a hard time letting other people pay for me because it made me feel as though I couldn't provide for myself, but as I work more and more and become better at my job, I see that no matter how much money I have, that will never change. I have been working at the same place for 3 years saving to pay for college. I know that my nana is going to try to pay for it for me, even if it means she has to take a second mortgage on our house. I am doing everything in my power to pay for it fully through my earned savings and scholarships. Every scholarship helps put me towards college to make sure I will always be able to provide for my family just like they did for me.