My First Generation College Student

Since the most fundamental years of our journey towards independence, our first years in school, we are taught we can achieve anything. Our teachers, parents, family, and more all inspire us to be whoever we want, do whatever we love, and most importantly find our passion. Little girls aspire to become models, actresses, even doctors searching for a cure to cancer. Little boys want to become firefighters, builders, or anything they set their mind to. Children are told they could do anything, many strive to become olympians or even the president of the United States. Just like every child, I was told I could achieve success, as long as I followed my dreams. However, as we grow older, the advice we are given changes, we are told to make safe

Adults have always told me if you want to be successful, become a doctor or a lawyer. Do something that makes money, then you will be happy. This advice steered me away from my dream, and I lost sight of my goals. Being a first generation college student, my parents have always feared for me and encouraged my career choice to be one of job safety, something they never had. They told me to do something easy, and high-paying; they figured I’d always be happy that way. Before I knew it, I was signing up for programs I was unfamiliar with. I never wanted to become a physician 's assistant or a lab technician, and I began working so hard towards a goal that had no meaning to me. I sat at my desk for hours with no ambition, determine to finish my college essay on biomedical engineering, something that has never had any meaning or value to me. My future became an empty promise, and I lost myself to the college admissions

However, that is not who I am. Some people need a defined path towards success, but I value risk. I’m a natural leader; creative, extroverted, and hard-working; all qualities my career should reflect. For me, happiness comes from risk and reward. Although the fashion industry is one of the toughest and most cut-throat places to build a career, I have no doubt I can make it because it is where my passion lies. The epicenter of the human spirit comes from having dreams, pushing limits, and achieving goals. What pushes us forward and makes progress are our aspirations. When I realized this, my future was clear to me once again. The fashion industry is where I belong, and I have so much to contribute. I choose to challenge the ideas society has thrown at me, follow my own dream, and forge my own path; because I’ll never know how far I can go unless I take a