Pursuing a higher education was the chapter in my life that had such a positive impact on me. The hard moments of being a first generation college student naturally molded me into a very independent and driven person. Having mentors that believed in me, receiving scholarships that paid for my schooling and building a community kept me motivated and hopeful that I have so much more to offer to this world. For these reasons, I plan on sharing my playbook on how I managed to get through college: 

• Applying to scholarships
• Networking 
• Managing workload 
• Getting involved in school activities

And most importantly, sharing how I pushed through even when I wanted to throw in the towel. Paying this forward to our next generation is something I do with such an open heart.