Since I was a sophomore in high school, I strived to be accepted into UC Berkeley. Back then, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study, but I knew I wanted to be surrounded by people who appreciated education as much as I did. I spent hours reading, studying for the PSAT, and taking all the AP courses I feasibly could. Unfortunately, I did not go to UC Berkeley straight out of high school. Instead, my home life got in the way. I was homeless, living on the couch of my dad’s friend. No matter how much I tried, I simply did not have the same advantages my classmates took advantage of, like a clean, quiet place to study.
Looking back on my situation now, I understand there was not much more I could have done back then. Most people love the “Homeless to Harvard” type of stories, but part of the reason they are so popular is because they are so rare. However, when I turned eighteen, I moved out as soon as possible because I recognized that living with my parents was only stifling me financially and emotionally, and I found a way to live on my own. I signed up for Shasta College, my local community college, and I began working on my goal again. I decided to make money through financial aid in addition to working as a tutor. I have always been dedicated to my education, but in college, earning high grades is more difficult than in high school. I spend hours studying, especially on weekends when I don’t have classes or work. Despite taking more than a full course load of units and working for over 20 hours a week, I have worked arduously to earn a 3.79 GPA. At Shasta College, I developed
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Despite the fact I may not have been able to change my circumstances while I was a minor, I am nevertheless determined to follow through with my