At a young age, my family and I moved quite a bit. Coming from a low class home taught me that I had to adapt as necessary to prosper. Money was an issue and because of that we relocated to Arizona. My parents acquired reasonable paying jobs and my older brother and I were enrolled in a new school. This school was enormous. It held students from kindergarten to seniors in high-school and classes were year round. English is my second language and it was challenging for a five year old to catch up in the middle of the school year what all the other students had already learned. I was at the bottom of my class and things were not getting any better. Shortly after moving there, my mother was expecting with my younger sister. On account of her pregnancy, and not having family around for moral support, she chose to go back to California; my brother and I were thrilled by the news. At last, decent weather to live in and we were going to once again see our grandparents. We fast-forward to first grade in California; I was exceling in class and my teacher suggested testing me to be placed in the G.A.T.E program. I had no understanding of what was going on; nonetheless I went along with it. I passed the test and was accepted in the program. Suddenly, I'm an average student surrounded by students like me. By fifth grade all the talk of my intellect caught up to me. My pretentious attitude was reflected in my school work. Personally, at this point I think a bit of discipline might have set me straight, but I never got it and the rebellious attitude commenced. Perhaps the problems at home were affecting me and I was simply lashing out. Losing my second-grade best friend and my closest cousins within a year, might have been too much for a young child to process. Nevertheless, the attitude stuck and I learned to slack off and pass my curriculum's. In high-school it slightly started to change. I had discovered something to inspire me to acquire respectable grades and attend school for once. Given, it was my senior year, yet I managed to graduate. In all honesty, I had no faith I would thrive. 

          Currently I am on disability and because of the situation I have decided to pursue my academic career. I am too young to be on disability, and due to an ongoing case I won’t talk about this online, but believe me when I say that I have never been in so much persistent pain in my entire life. All this has made me reflect on what I had accomplished thus far in my lifetime. I was working a blue collar job, working hard on a daily basis, living paycheck to paycheck, and all on my own. I looked around me; people I attended grade school with had already received their bachelor's degrees. I knew it was time for a change and as a result I started my long academic journey. I got off my crippled butt and went in to speak to a counselor. After a year away from school, everything appeared so different. I had to redo a lot of the enrollment process, it was nerve-racking, and it seemed to all played out against me. Nonetheless, I stuck to it and I am now a full-time student. I am aware that it won’t be easy, I don't expect it to be, but I am now willing to put in the work to achieve my goal.

  In the future I plan to attend law school, pass the BAR exam, practice law, and fulfill a promise I made to my grandfather. First is first, I aim to transfer to CSUN and acquire my bachelor’s in business administration. Not to certain yet as to what law school I would prefer to attend, however in due time after some research I will decide. Working in a prestigious law firm is my ultimate objective, but if that intervenes with the time spent with my children, I shall settle for a minor practice. I intend on getting married. If possible, after I am finished with my academics. Having children is a no brainier to me; I want them to carry on my legacy. I believe two will be just fine; after all I won’t be giving birth to them. Gender is no issue to me. I simply see it as a gift from god. In my latter days, I would like to enjoy the comforts that the country has to offer, and if possible travel the world. I see no better way to spend your last days than by the side of your companion and enjoying what this life has to offer.