I often sit back and ponder on how many different routes my life could have taken. I realize how fortunate I am to have had things fall into place in the ways that they have, but I can’t stop wondering where my life took a turn for the better and most importantly why me? Growing up, there were others with stories and backgrounds similar to mine, the obstacles I have faced over the years are not any that indivuduals growing up in “at-risk” circumstances have had to face. I am the child of a teenage mother who grew up in an extremely low income family. At the age of five, I was faced with tradgey and lost my father. Despite my circumstances, I am forever grateful for my upbringings and believe it has paved the way for me to pursue the career …show more content…
My mother and family members never allowed our circumstances to serve as an excuse for averageness. In my early years, education was an outlet for my curiousity. It gave me an outlet to continue to grow, learn, and make my family proud. As I got older, I came to the realization that an education was a way to change my situation and to make something out of my life. My drive and persistence allowed me to excel in school enough to be afforded a scholarship that would make it possible for me to continue my education at a collegiate level. I recognize that many people with backgrounds similar to mine are not provided with the support and opportunities I have been provided with over the years and this is something I have never taken for …show more content…
I was passionate about people, justice, politics, and in spite of my misfortunes giving back to the less fortunate. I have spent the past four years of my college career trying to figure out what path would allow me to incorporate all of my passions into a meaningful career. When I first got to college, I began volunteering at an afterschool program targeted at at-risk youth. The goal of this program was to provide disadvantaged students with the resources necessary to excel academically, socially, and personally. While I enjoyed working with these students each day, this experience allowed me to gain insight on some of the issues that are so prevalent in our society and affecting our youth. The more I became involved with the program, the more I realized there was more to my calling. Each day with the students made me face the harsh reality that not all of these kids were going to be able to overcome their battles in life and that I was called to do something to to make sure that in the future, people of all backgrounds are afforded the tool-kits necessary to be successful in life. This realization led me to looking more into the role that our government plays in doing just that. I started off interning with a Congressman. Through this internship, I was able to gain insight on various sectors of policy and overall