Kaila Morris My Road to U The pursuit of attending my dream school was a challenge I took head on. I never allowed anyone to influence me or to deter me from my goal in any way. I was ready to forge my own path. Being that I was planning a part of my adult life, it was important that I made each decision strictly based on what I thought would be best for me. At least if I were to be in debt and out of a job at the end of the next four years, I might as well have gotten everything I wanted out of them. So, I planned out every step and held myself to it. Though some parts of the process were tiring, like working everyday or filling out the dreaded FAFSA, I forced myself to push through it all to get what I wanted. I've always been a very independent person, and it was important to me that I use that to my advantage to get me through the college process. My wants and needs were, consistently, my number one priority. Early on, I determined exactly what I wanted out of a college. It had to be in a city, have a diverse student body, plenty of study abroad opportunities, and a campus full of kind people. I made the conscious decision that I would not allow anyone to deter me from a choice that didn't fit every one of my criteria. My own stubbornness didn't make this a difficult commitment. I remained steadfast and committed to getting what I wanted. The summer before senior year, I got a small, lined journal. This became my, “college rules book.” I know I can become distracted, so I needed a way to stay on task. I created my own deadlines for essays, meetings, and application updates. Staying on top of my duties gave me the opportunity to take charge of my process. My organization made me push myself by staying goal-orientated. Every day after classes, I would go to the Lower School and work in the afterschool program. No matter how tired I was, or how much I just wanted to take a nap, I knew my work was going directly towards making what I want happen. I worked for three hours, five days a week. Every two weeks I put half of my paycheck into my savings account. Of course things would come up and I would have to use some of my savings, but with each paycheck my savings grew. After some months, I was able to save $200 to pay my own enrollment deposit. For many students, the process of finding a college which they like, applying to those schools, choosing which one they want to attend, then making it happen is daunting. It is much easier to have someone else take on the responsibility. I didn't want that for myself. Neither did I want the sum total of my hard work over the years to go to waste. I wanted nothing more than to make meaningful decisions for my future. I let my own desires guide me to the school I would enjoy the most. I stayed on top of the tasks asked of me, then worked hard to enroll at the school of my dreams. Overall, I feel proud of what I was able to do on my own and make my dreams come to fruition. I am fortunate to be able to enroll in the college of my dreams- Temple University in order to study Journalism. I am passionate about giving a voice to the marginalized, and representing those who find themselves on the peripheral of society's focus. Because of this passion, I want to share the stories which come from the far reaches of this globe. The hands-on experience I will engage in at Temple University impassions me. I know that studying journalism there will prepare me best for my future which is why I so relentlessly pursued that goal. Getting a good education, making connections, and pursuing my dreams will put me in a good position to help those around me