The main adversity I have faced throughout my pursuit for education is inexperience and money. I am the only one in my family who has been able to make it so far in my education so far, thus resulting in challenges by which I have no one to call help upon for. Furthermore, my disabled mother is the only person I truly have in my life to aid in financing my education. However, despite this there is something I can do, and that is study and work harder and harder in order to pursue the best education I can have. I was blessed by God to have been born in this country which values education above all else and as such I am given the ability to fund my education via by working hard to learn more of the world around us. Ever since I was young I have been in love with science and its various applications in the world around us. In a somewhat comedic turn of events, the method whereby I am able to circumvent my economic issues is through the very thing I pursue. This innate love of science I have is what fuels my desire to learn more of this mysterious existence we call life. Additionally, I believe my calling on this Earth is to save and change lives for the better. Initially, when I was a mere child, I was selfish and was simply fascinated, satisfied with only the knowledge of what occurred around me. Now, as I have had some time to mature and grow, I have realized that my thirst for knowledge could be turned into a tool to help the world and those I care about the most. I have always had my doubts about being able to make it to college, yet here I am today. I have persevered through all the chaos and tribulations, and although I am yet to be in college, I am for sure not giving up any time soon. I wish to pursue biochemistry and engineering so that I may be able to save the most people possible. Through biochemistry I plan to look into the development of synthetic nerve cells in hopes of eventually being able to prevent nerve damage by recreating a synthetic nerve cell with the same genetic structure of the original one. Through engineering I plant to create synthetic limbs and organ for people alongside also attempting engineering challenges around the world such as an efficient method of delivering food to those who need it the most. I want to save lives, and in order to do so I must go to college so that I may be able to understand the principles of biochemistry and engineering profoundly enough to ensure that my dreams our accomplished. Getting a college education would mean the world to me. I have come such a long way and being able to finally make it to college provides for me an opportunity to accomplish my dream of saving billions of lives. Furthermore, I strongly believe that by going to college I will be able to eventually repay my mother's kindness to me in the future. A typical day for me outside of school is inside my house. Due to my mom's condition and financial difficulties I am unable to necessarily travel outside of my house. Usually, I do my school work and focus on learning as much as possible about the topic I am currently learning about because I am simply fascinated with all there is to learn about a peculiar topic. I feed my curiosity in a variety of ways. At school I am always asking my teachers questions not necessarily relevant with the lesson at hand but rather the overall subject we are learning within the class. I am the type of person who wants to know both the how and why something works, not simply what it is or what it does. Even at home I am enamored with watching videos about history and the physical world surrounding us.

Dear future me, I hope I am doing well. You know better than I that I am full of doubts and am very fearful of what the future holds for me. However, despite those fears I also know that I will persevere through it all as I have done so before. As of right now we have gone a long way since the parties at grandma Elena, her delicious flan and traditional Cuban roasted pork. Even now I still remember the laughs we had and the music playing as everyone joked with each other. The arroz con leche that she would make every chance she had and how she would always tell me to eat more. Those days may be gone now but even then my Cuban heritage remains strong within me. I trust that this stays true as I continue my way into college to pursue my dream of saving lives through biochemistry and engineering. My one thing that I truly wish to implore to you, my main calling for writing to you now is so that you remember where you came from. Not only of your heritage, but all those that have aided you and all the tribulations you have had that pushed you into becoming the person you are today. For you see, I know that I will make it to college, it is my duty to be the first of my family to do so, but I also know that when the time comes for you to step in the real world, degree and all, that you might forget the rigorous path you had to traverse before hand. I implore you, remember the reason for this journey, the reason that you wish to save lives is that you too needed saving once. Mom is probably still disabled by that point, but I know that I will find a way to save her and many others from suffering too. However, what I do not know is if I will be faithful to myself and those I truly care about. Will I continue to trust in God as I have done so far, will I maintain the bonds I still have today, and will I even be myself 5 years from now? I know what I am capable of, there is no need for reassurance there, what I do not know is what I am capable of becoming. My fear is that I forget who I was, who I am right now 5 years in the past. I hope that I remain as Yaelsee Temes, the son of a Cuban family, who even after all the doubts and fears was able to persevere and become a person who will change both the lives and futures of many. Perhaps this letter simply shows the immense lack of faith I have in myself, but regardless of that fact I know that I want to be me, so please tell me, have I been faithful to myself? Sincerely, Yaelsee Temes