We can learn a lot from the stories of our past – if we tell them in a way that allows us to hear what they really have to say. This is true for me and my life. To put it simply, the life I have lived so far has been nothing short of a beautiful (and bumpy) roller coaster ride! As I grew up, there were many factors that pushed me to take on or do certain things. These things, along with some of my individual choices, contributed to what made me who I am today. And with that, I'm happy to say that for this moment, I'm happy with the person I am and the path I'm taking. Growing up as a little girl, my life was constantly changing. Although I don't have many memories from my childhood, I do remember wanting to be a little bit of everything. At first, I wanted to be a singer. I dreamed of being as cool and famous as Britney Spears. Not to mention I was a bit narcissistic and thought I had the best voice. In reality, I looked like nails on a chalkboard. After a while and after I was no longer deaf, I dreamed of becoming a teacher. It was probably because I had started school and loved learning. I was also obsessed with stationery and thought grading would be the best thing ever! For the longest time, I truly believed, with every fiber of my being, that one day I was going to be an Early Childhood Education major. I wanted nothing more than to teach first grade. Unexpectedly, this dream ended in 2007 when something inside me changed; when someone I loved dearly ended up in the hands of nurses and doctors. That special someone was my grandmother after she fell and broke her hip. Although she would recover and return to her life for a short time, this experience sparked such... middle of paper ...... and future nurse. I've learned that if I don't use all the resources available to me, I simply let the good things fall by the wayside. Tutors, Libraries, and Success Centers were created to help students like me achieve their best. Finally, and most importantly for me, is to remember why I am doing this. To be successful in my desired career field, I have to accept that college won't always be fun. I always realized that the road would be bumpy from time to time. Even that being said, reminding myself why I embarked on this seemingly difficult life journey is worth it. In the end, that's the most important thing. If you can't look back as a student and appreciate what got you to where you are, then nothing was worth it. It is with this notion that I will continue my studies and succeed as a nurse!