I became a lab assistant and started paying bills and being an adult. I drove my brother to school and waited hours when I had to take him home. My mom got out of jail when my dad started having kidney failure. He is constantly in and out of the hospital and my mom can’t hold a job. She is fired anytime they find out her past. I was awarded a full-ride at Dixie State. The dean asked me if I needed housing, at the time, I declined because my dad and brother needed me. I only stayed as long as I had to, to make sure my brother would be okay without me there to take care of him. I gave that all up to transfer to SUU. I had an opportunity to get away from it all and just, breath. My last semester at Dixie was more therapeutic than anything, I just took art classes and got a minor in it, because my dad had forced me to miss a couple finals in the previous semester. He had threatened to disown me or something of the sort if I didn’t bail my mom out of jail. I knew at that point that I needed to leave, to leave the abusive environment behind. I came to SUU to finish my bachelor’s degree in Agriculture. When I graduate, I would like to attend graduate school to study natural resources to make the difference many people in my generation will not. I believe sustainability is possible with adequate education. I want to give opportunities to others so they can achieve their dreams and NOT stress about money or debt, or their parent’s reputations. The children of convicts, are not their parents. The are victims of unfortunate circumstances, but they can do great things too. I graduated as a sterling scholar in computer science and technology, I was a state finalist in student congress and public speech, I was the vice president of the senior class. I competed in debate, DECA, and showmanship competitions. No one knew my home life, but I did it and other kids can too, they just need a chance to