As a first generation college student it is really easy to slip into the cracks of apathy, oh what a dangerous place to be. Personally my own excitement for my future pushes me past what I believe are my limits, and keeps me going through each late night study session, bad day, and difficult class. I know the WHY behind my college degree, and that keeps me pushing through no matter what may come my way. Regardless of my excitement when the challenges do come my way I am thankful for two types of examples I have in my life, the good, and the bad. Even in my short almost 19 years of living I have been blessed to see the outcome of hard work, and the outcome of people who don't believe that they have the ability to make an impact. From these examples I have learned that even if you don't believe in yourself, tell yourself that you do until you believe in yourself, because sometimes all you can do it work harder. For me, my why is a dream that is becoming reality, working at summer camps over the summer has brought me more self discipline, growth, persistence, and joy than anything I have ever experienced. The combination of the outdoors, human relationships, and the specific camp aspect of horses I believe has the power to change lives and perspectives, I know it changed mine. I see not only the impact that a life connected to nature and people, but disconnected from the distractions on life such as technology, has had on me, but my friends, peers, and co workers as well. A career goal of mine is to open and manage a camp where kids, adults, and families have the ability to come vacation and disconnect from the distractions of the world and experience true rest in connection with nature and one another. This is what a college education means to me, the ability to move away from the pattern of my past and create a future for myself that brings goodness and joy into my life and the lives of others. As a first generation college student I know that cycles can be broken, you do not have to become the people you came from, there are opportunities, but you must take advantage of them. Nothing worth having is easy, but it doesn't have to be easy, only possible. A college education is opening doors to my future and allowing me to make an impact in a way that I otherwise could not have, I am fighting for my future and for my future family by becoming a first generation college student.