“Kimia, you will need to pay for college all on your own”. The dinner table went silent; Faces went blank; The pungent yet delicious smell of ghormeh sabzi became louder than the room itself. My dreams of being a first-generation college student in my family felt crushed at this moment. Feelings of hopelessness drowned my once-present self-esteem. I always believed that education opened up a new path leading toward upward mobility. For this reason, attending a university has always been part of my plans. I knew I could make this dream a reality, I just had to figure out how to overcome this new obstacle. As immigrants from Iran, my parents had unique paths of education. While my mother never attended college, my father completed some community college classes after immigrating to the US. My parents moved to America with hopes that my sisters and I would receive the best education opportunities which would further promise successful futures. Though the news that my parents would not pay for my college left me discouraged. However, I knew that it would not stop me from achieving my dream, a dream shared with my parents- attending a university. My mother is one of the biggest motivators in my life. Realizing the sacrifices she has made for me to be able to pursue and live my dreams is one of the greatest reasons I work as hard as I can. She continues to push me to take big risks since that's the only way one can truly grow as a person. Through my career of being an attorney, I intend on dedicating a lot of my time to use my knowledge to help other families who did the same things my own parents did. I know little girls and families personally in Iran who are struggling to successfully immigrate to a country where they can be able to be given the same opportunities I've been blessed with. To pave the way for success I understand that hard work and extreme discipline are necessary. It became prominent how much more time and effort I would have to invest in my future when I noticed how many of my classmates have it easier than I did. As a goal-oriented person, I never let obstacles like a lack of financial support divert my hopes and dreams. Going above and beyond in this situation to set myself up for success characterizes any future achievements on which I will embark.

“Kimia, you will need to pay for college all on your own”. The dinner table went silent; Faces went blank; The pungent yet delicious smell of ghormeh sabzi became louder than the room itself. My dreams of being a first-generation college student in my family felt crushed at this moment. Feelings of hopelessness drowned my once-present self-esteem. I always believed that education opened up a new path leading toward upward mobility. For this reason, attending a university has always been part of my plans. I knew I could make this dream a reality, I just had to figure out how to overcome this new obstacle. As immigrants from Iran, my parents had unique paths of education. While my mother never attended college, my father completed some community college classes after immigrating to the US. My parents moved to America with hopes that my sisters and I would receive the best education opportunities which would further promise successful futures. Though the news that my parents would not pay for my college left me discouraged. However, I had faith and knew that it would not stop me from achieving my dream of attending a university. I began researching everything that might help me improve my situation, finally stumbling upon a dual enrollment program with my local community college. This program allowed me to get a head start on my college classes whilst simultaneously saving money. In addition to these evident benefits, I would also get the chance to challenge myself in college classes, further preparing me for my future in higher education. Being completely asynchronous, the classes would also help me strengthen my self-disciple, time management skills, and overall balance in life. While the program may be difficult and time-consuming, it benefits my future as a student. The decision I had to make was apparent - I would participate in the program. To pave the way for success I understand that hard work and extreme discipline are necessary. It became prominent how much more time and effort I would have to invest in my future when I noticed how many of my classmates have it easier than I did. As a goal-oriented and faithful person, I knew how blessed I was to stumble upon such an opportunity. I would never let obstacles like a lack of financial support divert my hopes and dreams. Going above and beyond in this situation to set myself up for success characterizes any future achievements on which I will embark. When covid initially hit, my father was part of those whose career was heavily impacted. As the owner of a small business, and being the only parent who worked, we were put in a vulnerable and scary position when the economy began to decline as a response to Covid-19. My father as the owner of his business had to let go of his employees since he couldn’t afford to pay them. I began to come in most days before school, after school any free time I had to help him with paperwork and other tasks. I began sacrificing the time I spent with friends, and the sports I played to be there for my family and provide support. I was balancing working for my dad alongside my lifeguarding and babysitting jobs, as well as my community college courses in addition to my high school classes. Everyday I pray to find the strength to continue pushing myself and working to ensure my dreams come true. This scholarship would allow me to make my dreams, and my family's dreams as a first-generation student to go to a university.

As a future political science major, I knew being an attorney would always be my future career path. “Kimia, you will need to pay for college all on your own”. The dinner table went silent; Faces went blank; The pungent yet delicious smell of ghormeh sabzi became louder than the room itself. My dreams of being a first-generation college student in my family felt crushed at this moment. Feelings of hopelessness drowned my once-present self-esteem. I always believed that education opened up a new path leading toward upward mobility. For this reason, attending a university has always been part of my plans. I knew I could make this dream a reality, I just had to figure out how to overcome this new obstacle. As immigrants from Iran, my parents had unique paths of education. While my mother never attended college, my father completed some community college classes after immigrating to the US. My parents moved to America with hopes that my sisters and I would receive the best education opportunities which would further promise successful futures. Though the news that my parents would not pay for my college left me discouraged. I began researching everything and anything that might help me improve my situation, finally stumbling upon a dual enrollment program with my local community college. This program allowed me to get a head start on my college classes whilst simultaneously saving money. In addition to these evident benefits, I would also get the chance to challenge myself in college classes, further preparing me for my future in higher education. Being completely asynchronous, the classes would also help me strengthen my self-disciple, time management skills, and overall balance in life. While the program may be difficult and time-consuming, it benefits my future as a student. The decision I had to make was apparent - I would participate in the program. To pave the way for success I understand that hard work and extreme discipline are necessary. It became prominent how much more time and effort I would have to invest in my future when I noticed how many of my classmates have it easier than I did. As an extremely goal-oriented person, I would never let obstacles like a lack of financial support divert my hopes and dreams. Becoming an immigration attorney would allow me to be the voice for immigrants like my own parents once needed.

At the start of September, I became familiarized with the non-profit organization Hope’s Corner. This program was created by those seeking to provide resources to the homeless community in my area. After doing some research into the program, I learned about how much they truly do for the homeless community, and I became adamant about helping out myself. There were two shifts during the weekends either volunteering to serve breakfast or lunch. I signed up for a shift for the following Sunday breakfast. During my time on the shift, I had the opportunity to interact with many people with so many various backgrounds and histories. I had always had a negative set view on those who are homeless, however, after the first shift I was overwhelmed by how many were voluntarily homeless, and how many had experienced traumatizing lives and childhoods that resulted in their lives being the way they are now. Not only was I able to help my community through this program, but I also learned so much more about the impact of having an open mindset when meeting others, because their stories can mean so much more than how they come off to be. This past summer I was lucky enough to be selected to participate in an internship with the California Innocence Project. This internship allowed me to receive hands-on experience in the law field. The project works with criminal defense lawyers to seek justice for the undeserving of being locked up. Being able to see only glimpses of how much lawyers can help to change people’s lives, opened my eyes to what mattered to me most- being of service to others. After learning about how vast the law field truly was, I realized that I could be part of the solution to the problem I had been seeking to solve. I look forward to all the difficulties I will overcome and the newfound knowledge I will gain as a pre-law student and later on as a law student. My great ambition to change people’s lives would not be suppressed by any obstacle I may face in the future; my purpose is known. When covid initially hit, my father was part of those whose career was heavily impacted. As the owner of a small business, and being the only parent who worked, we were put in a vulnerable and scary position when the economy began to decline as a response to Covid-19. My father as the owner of his business had to let go of his few employees since he couldn’t afford to pay them. I began to come in most days before school, after school any free time I had to help him with paperwork and other tasks. I began sacrificing the time I spent with friends, and the sports I played to be there for my family and provide support. I was balancing working for my dad alongside my lifeguarding and babysitting jobs, as well as my community college courses in addition to my high school classes. After covid began to die away, business began to slowly go back to normal, however normal still isn’t enough for my parents to put my two younger sisters along with me to college with no help. This scholarship would allow me to make my dreams, and my family's dreams as a first-generation student to go to a university.

My parents sacrificed everything moving from Iran to ensure a better life for my family. The bravery they possessed as immigrants has always been a motivating factor for me, pushing me to seize every presented opportunity to secure a successful future. I have been inspired by them to ensure success in my future. As the only members of my family able to attain their Visas, I know my parents were part of the lucky few who were given a chance to move to America for a better life. After my father received his visa, he was forced to leave my mother behind. They spent almost 5 years apart, and my father had to work with little to nothing to his name in an unfamiliar country. After my parents were reunited, my father's small business began to grow successful. My parents’ story causes me to wonder how many other families have their lives on pause in hopes they might receive that call. The legal issues behind immigration have always been of interest to me because of how close it hits home. Hence, law has always been my desired career path. This past summer I was lucky enough to be selected to participate in an internship with the California Innocence Project. This internship allowed me to receive hands-on experience in the law field. The project works with criminal defense lawyers to seek justice for those undeserving of being locked up. Being able to see only glimpses of how much lawyers can help to change people’s lives, opened my eyes to what mattered to me most- being of service to others. After learning about how vast the law field truly was, I realized that I could be part of the solution to the problem I had been seeking to solve. I look forward to all the difficulties I will overcome and the newfound knowledge I will gain as a pre-law student and later on as a law student. I plan on using my attained knowledge to help other families in the immigration process have as much support as they need to be successful in the US. My great ambition to change people’s lives would not be suppressed by any obstacle I may face in the future; my purpose is known. When covid initially hit, my father was part of those whose career was heavily impacted. As the owner of a small business, and being the only parent who worked, we were put in a vulnerable and scary position when the economy began to decline as a response to Covid-19. My father as the owner of his business had to let go of his few employees since he couldn’t afford to pay them. I began to come in most days before school, after school any free time I had to help him with paperwork and other tasks. I began sacrificing the time I spent with friends, and the sports I played to be there for my family and provide support. I was balancing working for my dad alongside my lifeguarding and babysitting jobs, as well as my community college courses in addition to my high school classes. After covid began to die away, business began to slowly go back to normal, however normal still isn’t enough for my parents to put my two younger sisters along with me to college with no help. This scholarship would allow me to make my dreams, and my family's dreams as a first-generation student to go to a university.

“Kimia, you will need to pay for college all on your own”. The dinner table went silent; Faces went blank; The pungent yet delicious smell of ghormeh sabzi became louder than the room itself. My dreams of being a first-generation college student in my family felt crushed at this moment. Feelings of hopelessness drowned my once-present self-esteem. I always believed that education opened up a new path leading toward upward mobility. For this reason, attending a university has always been part of my plans. I knew I could make this dream a reality, I just had to figure out how to overcome this new obstacle. As immigrants from Iran, my parents had unique paths of education. While my mother never attended college, my father completed some community college classes after immigrating to the US. My parents moved to America with hopes that my sisters and I would receive the best education opportunities which would further promise successful futures. Though the news that my parents would not pay for my college left me discouraged. However, I knew that it would not stop me from achieving my dream, a dream shared with my parents- attending a university. I began researching everything and anything that might help me improve my situation, finally stumbling upon a dual enrollment program with my local community college. This program would allow me to get a head start on my college classes whilst simultaneously saving money. In addition to these evident benefits, I would also get the chance to challenge myself in college classes, further preparing me for my future in higher education. Being completely asynchronous, the classes would also help me strengthen my self-disciple, time management skills, and overall balance in life. While the program may be difficult and time-consuming, it benefits my future as a student. The decision I had to make was apparent - I would participate in the program. To pave the way for success I understand that hard work and extreme discipline are necessary. It became prominent how much more time and effort I would have to invest in my future when I noticed how many of my classmates have it easier than I did. As a goal-oriented person, I never let obstacles like a lack of financial support divert my hopes and dreams. Going above and beyond in this situation to set myself up for success characterizes any future achievements on which I will embark. When covid hit, my father was part of those whose career was heavily impacted. As the owner of a small business, and being the only parent who worked, we were put in a vulnerable and scary position when the economy began to decline as a response to Covid-19. My father as the owner of his business had to let go of his employees since he couldn’t afford to pay them. I began to come in most days before school, after school any free time I had to help him with paperwork and other tasks. I began sacrificing the time I spent with friends, and the sports I played to be there for my family and provide support. I was balancing working for my dad alongside my lifeguarding and babysitting jobs, as well as my community college courses in addition to my high school classes. I acquired the knowledge of how much my future decisions would impact my future and success. The sacrifices my family has made for me push me to take any opportunity to achieve more in my life, with fear that their sacrifices were for nothing.

“Kimia, you will need to pay for college all on your own”. The dinner table went silent; Faces went blank; The pungent yet delicious smell of ghormeh sabzi became louder than the room itself. My dreams of being a first-generation college student in my family felt crushed at this moment. Feelings of hopelessness drowned my once-present self-esteem. I always believed that education opened up a new path leading toward upward mobility. For this reason, attending a university has always been part of my plans. I knew I could make this dream a reality, I just had to figure out how to overcome this new obstacle. As immigrants from Iran, my parents had unique paths of education. While my mother never attended college, my father completed some community college classes after immigrating to the US. My parents moved to America with hopes that my sisters and I would receive the best education opportunities which would further promise successful futures. Though the news that my parents would not pay for my college left me discouraged. However, I knew that it would not stop me from achieving my dream, a dream shared with my parents- attending a university. I began researching everything and anything that might help me improve my situation, finally stumbling upon a dual enrollment program with my local community college. This program would allow me to get a head start on my college classes whilst simultaneously saving money. In addition to these evident benefits, I would also get the chance to challenge myself in college classes, further preparing me for my future in higher education. Being completely asynchronous, the classes would also help me strengthen my self-disciple, time management skills, and overall balance in life. While the program may be difficult and time-consuming, it benefits my future as a student. The decision I had to make was apparent - I would participate in the program. To pave the way for success I understand that hard work and extreme discipline are necessary. It became prominent how much more time and effort I would have to invest in my future when I noticed how many of my classmates have it easier than I did. As a goal-oriented person, I never let obstacles like a lack of financial support divert my hopes and dreams. Going above and beyond in this situation to set myself up for success characterizes any future achievements on which I will embark. When covid hit, my father was part of those whose career was heavily impacted. As the owner of a small business, and being the only parent who worked, we were put in a vulnerable and scary position when the economy began to decline as a response to Covid-19. My father as the owner of his business had to let go of his employees since he couldn’t afford to pay them. I began to come in most days before school, after school any free time I had to help him with paperwork and other tasks. I began sacrificing the time I spent with friends, and the sports I played to be there for my family and provide support. I was balancing working for my dad alongside my lifeguarding and babysitting jobs, as well as my community college courses in addition to my high school classes. I acquired the knowledge of how much my future decisions would impact my future and success. The sacrifices my family has made for me push me to take any opportunity to achieve more in my life, with fear that their sacrifices were for nothing.

“Kimia, you will need to pay for college all on your own”. The dinner table went silent; Faces went blank; The pungent yet delicious smell of ghormeh sabzi became louder than the room itself. My dreams of being a first-generation college student in my family felt crushed at this moment. Feelings of hopelessness drowned my once-present self-esteem. I always believed that education opened up a new path leading toward upward mobility. For this reason, attending a university has always been part of my plans. I knew I could make this dream a reality, I just had to figure out how to overcome this new obstacle. As immigrants from Iran, my parents had unique paths of education. While my mother never attended college, my father completed some community college classes after immigrating to the US. My parents moved to America with hopes that my sisters and I would receive the best education opportunities which would further promise successful futures. Though the news that my parents would not pay for my college left me discouraged. However, I knew that it would not stop me from achieving my dream, a dream shared with my parents- attending a university. I began researching everything and anything that might help me improve my situation, finally stumbling upon a dual enrollment program with my local community college. This program would allow me to get a head start on my college classes whilst simultaneously saving money. In addition to these evident benefits, I would also get the chance to challenge myself in college classes, further preparing me for my future in higher education. Being completely asynchronous, the classes would also help me strengthen my self-disciple, time management skills, and overall balance in life. While the program may be difficult and time-consuming, it benefits my future as a student. The decision I had to make was apparent - I would participate in the program. To pave the way for success I understand that hard work and extreme discipline are necessary. It became prominent how much more time and effort I would have to invest in my future when I noticed how many of my classmates have it easier than I did. As a goal-oriented person, I never let obstacles like a lack of financial support divert my hopes and dreams. Going above and beyond in this situation to set myself up for success characterizes any future achievements on which I will embark. When covid hit, my father was part of those whose career was heavily impacted. As the owner of a small business, and being the only parent who worked, we were put in a vulnerable and scary position when the economy began to decline as a response to Covid-19. My father as the owner of his business had to let go of his employees since he couldn’t afford to pay them. I began to come in most days before school, after school any free time I had to help him with paperwork and other tasks. I began sacrificing the time I spent with friends, and the sports I played to be there for my family and provide support. I was balancing working for my dad alongside my lifeguarding and babysitting jobs, as well as my community college courses in addition to my high school classes. I acquired the knowledge of how much my future decisions would impact my future and success. The sacrifices my family has made for me push me to take any opportunity to achieve more in my life, with fear that their sacrifices were for nothing.

“Kimia, you will need to pay for college all on your own”. The dinner table went silent; Faces went blank; The pungent yet delicious smell of ghormeh sabzi became louder than the room itself. My dreams of being a first-generation college student in my family felt crushed at this moment. Feelings of hopelessness drowned my once-present self-esteem. I always believed that education opened up a new path leading toward upward mobility. For this reason, attending a university has always been part of my plans. I knew I could make this dream a reality, I just had to figure out how to overcome this new obstacle. As immigrants from Iran, my parents had unique paths of education. While my mother never attended college, my father completed some community college classes after immigrating to the US. My parents moved to America with hopes that my sisters and I would receive the best education opportunities which would further promise successful futures. Though the news that my parents would not pay for my college left me discouraged. However, I knew that it would not stop me from achieving my dream, a dream shared with my parents- attending a university. I began researching everything and anything that might help me improve my situation, finally stumbling upon a dual enrollment program with my local community college. This program would allow me to get a head start on my college classes whilst simultaneously saving money. In addition to these evident benefits, I would also get the chance to challenge myself in college classes, further preparing me for my future in higher education. Being completely asynchronous, the classes would also help me strengthen my self-disciple, time management skills, and overall balance in life. While the program may be difficult and time-consuming, it benefits my future as a student. To pave the way for success I understand that hard work and extreme discipline are necessary. It became prominent how much more time and effort I would have to invest in my future when I noticed how many of my classmates have it easier than I did. As a goal-oriented person, I never let obstacles like a lack of financial support divert my hopes and dreams. Going above and beyond in this situation to set myself up for success characterizes any future achievements on which I will embark. When covid hit, my father was part of those whose career was heavily impacted. As the owner of a small business, and being the only parent who worked, we were put in a vulnerable and scary position when the economy began to decline as a response to Covid-19. My father as the owner of his business had to let go of his employees since he couldn’t afford to pay them. I began to come in most days before school, after school any free time I had to help him with paperwork and other tasks. I began sacrificing the time I spent with friends, and the sports I played to be there for my family and provide support. I was balancing working for my dad alongside my lifeguarding and babysitting jobs, as well as my community college courses in addition to my high school classes. I acquired the knowledge of how much my future decisions would impact my future and success. Through dealing with adversity, many of my friendships were lost, however, relationships with those who supported me strengthened. Especially the relationship with my family. I learned how to stay true to who I am and who I wish to become.

“Kimia, you will need to pay for college all on your own”. The dinner table went silent; Faces went blank; The pungent yet delicious smell of ghormeh sabzi became louder than the room itself. My dreams of being a first-generation college student in my family felt crushed at this moment. Feelings of hopelessness drowned my once-present self-esteem. I always believed that education opened up a new path leading toward upward mobility. For this reason, attending a university has always been part of my plans. I knew I could make this dream a reality, I just had to figure out how to overcome this new obstacle. As immigrants from Iran, my parents had unique paths of education. While my mother never attended college, my father completed some community college classes after immigrating to the US. My parents moved to America with hopes that my sisters and I would receive the best education opportunities which would further promise successful futures. Though the news that my parents would not pay for my college left me discouraged. However, I knew that it would not stop me from achieving my dream, a dream shared with my parents- attending a university. I began researching everything and anything that might help me improve my situation, finally stumbling upon a dual enrollment program with my local community college. This program would allow me to get a head start on my college classes whilst simultaneously saving money. In addition to these evident benefits, I would also get the chance to challenge myself in college classes, further preparing me for my future in higher education. Being completely asynchronous, the classes would also help me strengthen my self-disciple, time management skills, and overall balance in life. While the program may be difficult and time-consuming, it benefits my future as a student. The decision I had to make was apparent - I would participate in the program. To pave the way for success I understand that hard work and extreme discipline are necessary. It became prominent how much more time and effort I would have to invest in my future when I noticed how many of my classmates have it easier than I did. As a goal-oriented person, I never let obstacles like a lack of financial support divert my hopes and dreams. Going above and beyond in this situation to set myself up for success characterizes any future achievements on which I will embark. When covid hit, my father was part of those whose career was heavily impacted. As the owner of a small business, and being the only parent who worked, we were put in a vulnerable and scary position when the economy began to decline as a response to Covid-19. My father as the owner of his business had to let go of his employees since he couldn’t afford to pay them. I began to come in most days before school, after school any free time I had to help him with paperwork and other tasks. I began sacrificing the time I spent with friends, and the sports I played to be there for my family and provide support. I was balancing working for my dad alongside my lifeguarding and babysitting jobs, as well as my community college courses in addition to my high school classes. I acquired the knowledge of how much my future decisions would impact my future and success. The sacrifices my family has made for me push me to take any opportunity to achieve more in my life, with fear that their sacrifices were for nothing.

As a future political science major, I knew being an attorney would always be my future career path. “Kimia, you will need to pay for college all on your own”. The dinner table went silent; Faces went blank; The pungent yet delicious smell of ghormeh sabzi became louder than the room itself. My dreams of being a first-generation college student in my family felt crushed at this moment. Feelings of hopelessness drowned my once-present self-esteem. I always believed that education opened up a new path leading toward upward mobility. For this reason, attending a university has always been part of my plans. I knew I could make this dream a reality, I just had to figure out how to overcome this new obstacle. As immigrants from Iran, my parents had unique paths of education. While my mother never attended college, my father completed some community college classes after immigrating to the US. My parents moved to America with hopes that my sisters and I would receive the best education opportunities which would further promise successful futures. Though the news that my parents would not pay for my college left me discouraged. However, I knew that it would not stop me from achieving my dream, a dream shared with my parents- attending a university. I began researching everything and anything that might help me improve my situation, finally stumbling upon a dual enrollment program with my local community college. This program would allow me to get a head start on my college classes whilst simultaneously saving money. In addition to these evident benefits, I would also get the chance to challenge myself in college classes, further preparing me for my future in higher education. Being completely asynchronous, the classes would also help me strengthen my self-disciple, time management skills, and overall balance in life. While the program may be difficult and time-consuming, it benefits my future as a student. The decision I had to make was apparent - I would participate in the program. To pave the way for success I understand that hard work and extreme discipline are necessary. It became prominent how much more time and effort I would have to invest in my future when I noticed how many of my classmates have it easier than I did. As an extremely goal-oriented person, I would never let obstacles like a lack of financial support divert my hopes and dreams. Going above and beyond in this situation to set myself up for success characterizes any future achievements on which I will embark. When covid initially hit, my father was part of those whose career was heavily impacted. As the owner of a small business, and being the only parent who worked, we were put in a vulnerable and scary position when the economy began to decline as a response to Covid-19. My father as the owner of his business had to let go of his employees since he couldn’t afford to pay them. I began to come in most days before school, after school any free time I had to help him with paperwork and other tasks. I began sacrificing the time I spent with friends, and the sports I played to be there for my family and provide support. I was balancing working for my dad alongside my lifeguarding and babysitting jobs, as well as my community college courses in addition to my high school classes. I acquired the knowledge of how much my future decisions would impact my future and success.

“Kimia, you will need to pay for college all on your own”. The dinner table went silent; Faces went blank; The pungent yet delicious smell of ghormeh sabzi became louder than the room itself. My dreams of being a first-generation college student in my family felt crushed at this moment. Feelings of hopelessness drowned my once-present self-esteem. I always believed that education opened up a new path leading toward upward mobility. For this reason, attending a university has always been part of my plans. I knew I could make this dream a reality, I just had to figure out how to overcome this new obstacle. As immigrants from Iran, my parents had unique paths of education. While my mother never attended college, my father completed some community college classes after immigrating to the US. My parents moved to America with hopes that my sisters and I would receive the best education opportunities which would further promise successful futures. Though the news that my parents would not pay for my college left me discouraged. However, I knew that it would not stop me from achieving my dream of attending a university. I began researching everything that might help me improve my situation, finally stumbling upon a dual enrollment program with my local community college. This program allows me to get a head start on my college classes whilst simultaneously saving money. In addition to these evident benefits, I would also get the chance to challenge myself in college classes, further preparing me for my future in higher education. Being completely asynchronous, the classes would also help me strengthen my self-disciple, time management skills, and overall balance in life. While the program may be difficult and time-consuming, it benefits my future as a student. The decision I had to make was apparent - I would participate in the program. To pave the way for success I understand that hard work and extreme discipline are necessary. It became prominent how much more time and effort I would have to invest in my future when I noticed how many of my classmates have it easier than I did. As a goal-oriented person, I would never let obstacles like a lack of financial support divert my hopes and dreams. Going above and beyond in this situation to set myself up for success characterizes any future achievements on which I will embark. When covid initially hit, my father was part of those whose career was heavily impacted. As the owner of a small business, and being the only parent who worked, we were put in a vulnerable and scary position when the economy began to decline as a response to Covid-19. My father as the owner of his business had to let go of his employees since he couldn’t afford to pay them. I began to come in most days before school, after school any free time I had to help him with paperwork and other tasks. I began sacrificing the time I spent with friends, and the sports I played to be there for my family and provide support. I was balancing working for my dad alongside my lifeguarding and babysitting jobs, as well as my community college courses in addition to my high school classes. After covid began to die away, business began to slowly go back to normal, however normal still isn’t enough for my parents to put my two younger sisters along with me to college with no help. This scholarship would allow me to make my dreams, and my family's dreams as a first-generation student to go to a university.

The first period in school is always the most dreaded. Waking up only an hour before class, the tasks which follow feel almost robotic. Half awake, I brush my teeth when realization hits and I realize what class awaits me first. AP Gov is the class that I truly feel excited about. Since I was younger in elementary and middle school, I was always drawn to the subject of history. My interest in history stems from my father. When I was younger, I would anticipate his arrival home from work, and often watch documentaries with him. If we weren't watching documentaries, I was telling him all about what I learned in history that day. As I got older, it became clear that I would pursue a career related to the topic of history and government. I was intrigued by how events in the past had played a role in altering how we live our lives today. Whether they were big or small events, those outcomes impacted countless amounts of people in some way, and they still continue to. I often wonder how life would differ if events like WW2 or the Civil War never occurred. The lessons which we learned from wars, successes, deaths, and new-found knowledge all shape how we live today. As the daughter of two immigrants, my parents sacrificed everything moving from Iran to ensure a better life for my family’s well-being. It was after I heard of how much my parents endured during the immigration process, that I became interested in the legal issues behind immigration. My father attained his visa before my mother and moved to the US, which was an unknown country all by himself. My parents were separated for five years, while my mother was still waiting for her visa in Iran. My father was forced to work numerous part-time jobs to make a living for himself and my mother. Their lives were put on pause for years. I think about all of the other families like mine who have the same dream as my parents but are still waiting for that call. It frustrates me how since my parents were from the Middle East, it was more difficult for them to receive their visas. I was curious if there was a legal or political path I could take to help make a change for those in hopes of immigrating. Historically we have learned how much of America is built by immigrants, and that our nation would not be what it is today without the diversity of ideas and cultures we possess in our country. I think it is unjust that people from other countries have more of an opportunity to change their lives by moving here than people from the Middle East do. I want to be a part of a change that seeks equality in the US immigration system to change the lives of everyone around the world with the same American dream my parents once had.