Walking to a court room at the age of 7 was very frightening. I knew I did not do anything wrong. I was getting adopted, but I did not have a say in anything. I was told that the lady sitting next to me was going to be my mother and I could not say no. The problem I had was that I did not want to live with this lady. She was not my mom and did not act like she was unless we were in front of other adults. I grew up unlike all the other kids in my class year after year. I only heard about birthday parties; I never got to go them or have them. I was not allowed to go to the mall with my friends or be a part of after school activities. I was told that I was worthless and ugly and that no one would ever love me. I was told that I will be alone forever and no man will ever love me all I had was her because she was the only one that would feel sorry for me.  At times I do believe it because when you are told something so many times you start to think it is true. I know now that I should never have believed her. Not even one word that comes out of that lady’s mouth. The thing is that I always come back whenever she needs me because after all the things she has made me go though I will still die for that lady. She is 80 years old and very cold. I do not want anyone to feel sorry for me because I am strong and can stand back up after a fall even if I only have one leg. Time after time I have gotten back. Pity I do not need, understanding that I have to prove to them that I am able to achieve my dream.

When I told her I wanted to go to college she laughed in my face. She asked me how I can think about college when I have no body that will pay for it. I told her I will find a way and I will. I am going to go to college to become a social worker to help other children and make sure that they do not end up in a horrible home like I did.  She says that I am not going to make it because she will not help me since she is not my mom. That is when I realized I have not needed to go to her for anything in my life and I can make it without her to college now. I am strong after all the things have been through, and I still am able to go to school and smile at the simple things of life. Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough. I want to go to college and graduate and help change other people for the good. I am going to prove everyone who told me I cannot wrong.

She did not make it easy for me at all. I can’t to any homework at home because then I get yells and take my work. She has taken so much of my homework I just stop even trying to take it home. I do it all in the morning before school starts. I get here at 7:00am and school doesn’t start to 7:45, most of the time I am able to get the work done. I try and get any reports I have due on time but sometimes there is just no way will I get them done. I still do the work and whenever there is a chance to do extra credit I do it. I know that my GPA is low but I know that when I am on my own in college that will change. I will not have to worry about all the things I have on my mind now.  I will be able to sit down and study for that test and do all of my work that needs to be done. The things that I believe hurt me the most are tests. I know that what I need to fix that is to study more. I try and most of my tests are B’s or C’s but when it’s time for finals I don’t do so well on them. That is what I think hurts my grade the most. I wake up at 4:00am to study but sometimes that doesn’t work. I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is not trying. I try very hard and I know God has me here for a reason and I’m not going to stop trying any time soon.

I would be a great candidate for Mount Mary College because I am very determined to succeed. I will let nothing stop me. I promise my grades will be better in college. I love what I have seen and heard about Mount Mary which is way I applied. I think I will be a great addition to Mount Mary and I hope and pray to God that you believe that too.