I have always known that I was going to attend college. For my 10th birthday, my parents took me to tour a college because it was all I wanted to do. We visited UCLA because it was a huge public university nearby. After that tour I knew I needed to work hard so that I could attend a college that I loved. I pushed myself to do everything I could with all honors or AP classes, sports, clubs, and officer positions. Although I was often stressed, I loved challenging myself academically and being proud when I received a good grade in a hard class.

All four years of high school I was a member of our cheer team and was captain my senior year. Leading my team made all of the hard practices, games and competitions worth it. But being a member of our Associated Student Body was my favorite part of high school. I was class president in my freshman, sophomore and junior years, and ASB executive president as a senior. Staying late to decorate the gym for rallies, leading class meetings, volunteering for community events such as the Redlands Bicycle Classic, and just learning about changes we could make on campus to improve our school and culture made it exciting to go to school every day.

All of these things made me much more prepared for college. I am now a freshman at Boise State University and member of Tri-Delta sorority, where I am the director of risk management and wellness. That position requires me to plan guest speakers and call venues we work with to ensure a safe environment.

College has been great. My favorite part has been meeting so many wonderful people and, of course, the independence of living on my own. While my classes are challenging, for the most part, they are interesting and enjoyable. My classmates and faculty are willing to help and collaborate to make it a successful experience. If I could give any advice to high school seniors it would be to go to college with an open mind and make the effort to meet new people and get involved. It can be scary at times to meet new people, but it is well worth the effort. Building a support network makes college life easier and more enjoyable. Be ready to try new things because those will be some of your best memories. 

During my senior year of high school, I was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. This scholarship has been extremely helpful in paying for part of my tuition each semester. It has allowed me the freedom to focus more on my academics rather than worry about finances. Even more important is the knowledge that there are extremely generous people in my community who value the success of younger generations and are willing to help.

To the donors who make this happen I can only say you have my deepest gratitude. Your generosity has not only given me financial assistance, but also a love and respect for my community that is willing to help students live their dreams.  I hope one day I can do the same.