Passion lives inside everyone, but do we have the courage to pursue it? Only by the fire fueled with hope and determination can you give life to courage which rewards you with success. This combination of traits has allowed me to continue my pursuit of education and on a career path in accounting. Education has allowed me to break the bond that once held my family. I did not come from a family that pursued higher education by any means. The majority of the mother’s family never stepped foot into high school, ending their academic achievements at the junior high level. I understand the importance of and have witnessed the difference education can make. Education, when one obtains it, is not limited to that person who graduates. Education has a ripple effect on those who surround the graduate. I am an example of this ripple effect. Since I can remember, I always had a passion for numbers ranging from simple algebraic expression to trigonometry, and now accounting. My educational pursuits have benefited my family so much. For instance, my mother once equated credit cards to “more debt” that she did not need, and refused to establish or keep credit cards. Today, with my help she understands the importance of credit and has improved her credit score tremendously. Financial literacy is necessary to support life goals such as managing credit, debt, planning for retirement, and much more. Education has impacted my life in ways that I did not think possible. Education has opened up doors I did not know existed. Regardless, if someone decides to pursue a finance major or something else having an education will provide the holder with opportunities that may not have been present. Even though my trajectory was not linear I was able to succeed. I got my associate’s degree and started working full-time in the healthcare field. From there I then went on to get my bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting at Worcester State University. Currently, I work as an auditor and I am continuing my education at Babson College for my master’s degree. I've also gone on to achieve other goals such as writing and self-publishing my first children's book, and I will be publishing a second book soon. I am also thrilled to say that I serve on a Finance Committee. Through my college journey, I was able to grow and learn as a person. A good education enables one to grow and develop. Obtaining my master's at Babson College will assist me in the pursuit to become a well-rounded accountant which will enable me to provide financial literacy tools such as books for children to my community. Financial literacy is a passion of mine and armed with hope, determination, and resilience I am eager to make this a success.