Being a first generation college student, I plan to go above and beyond my limits and expectations. I faced many obstacles growing up and even though many people, even some of my own family members thought I couldn't overcome them, I did. My hardships have only given me the drive to remain focus on my ultimate goal: achieving a higher education and becoming a forensic scientist. Since money issues, weariness, and doubt became a serious issue, I myself felt that I was going to make my family and mother proud of me. I began to think about the society we live in today and what’s going on around us. Many problems in this society caused my mother and others to rethink my decision of going to college, but I said, “I am going to make my mother proud of me no matter what.” My mother has thought about our financial problems and began to also think otherwise about college for me. My mother’s struggle has been my inspiration for me. My mother only received a high school diploma and had a hard time as a child. As a single mother, she tries to ensure that I go beyond her level of education and achieve the many goals I have set. My mother struggles to find work, but she would do anything for her children, and that shows how strong and responsible she is no matter the situation. This life lesson that I am seeing my mother go through is showing me a first-hand look at what a difficult life is like. So I took it another step, and joined Upward Bound (USC). I became a more dedicated person when trying to become something in life, many people think I can’t become. The staff at Upward Bound knows what I am going through, so they are helping me and guiding me on a straight path to success. My mother and I have a better understanding of how the college system works or should work and know that there are many financial opportunities out there for me. So I chose Claflin University as a best fit for what I am looking for in a school. The school is