The Fight For A Wildlife Degree by adriana

The Fight For A Wildlife Degree by adriana - June 2013 Scholarship Essay

For my readers to truly understand how important receiving a higher education is for me, I will take you back to the beginning. As is the story of many immigrant families living in the United States, my parents found themselves in a desperate search for a better future, one my home country could not offer. They hoped leaving Mexico and starting a new life in the United States would give their children the opportunity to obtain a better education than they did. We moved when I was five years old.
Since I was so young when we moved, I had no idea what being undocumented was or meant, or how it would impact my future. Until I attended high school, I realized something. I did not have the opportunities my parents always mentioned. My lack of legal status prevented me from participating in many activities natives can, such as obtaining a driver’s license, traveling outside of the country, or even becoming employed. Some individuals even said people like me could not attend college or earn a degree. This was all extremely frustrating. I was restricted in more ways than one and could not be independent. But what could I do? Certainly not give up. Instead, these limitations further ignited my desire to be someone and accomplish what many thought I could not.
The last year of my high school career marked the great turnover of my life. Fully aware of my situation, I talked to the school’s counselor, Elizabeth Berry, a woman dedicated to helping young Latinos succeed. I talked to her about my dream of studying at the University of Minnesota and obtaining a degree in wildlife biology. She was very supportive and guided me through the application process. Unfortunately, I was not accepted. I knew their requirements were strict and my chances poor, but I wanted to attend as a Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) student that year. Nevertheless, I decided I needed to have a more competitive background and attended Riverland Community College instead. The following year I applied to the University of Minnesota with a 4.0 GPA and 44 college credits. This time I was accepted.
Receiving the acceptance letter from the University of Minnesota was an incredible accomplishment. At first, I was unsure how my family and I would afford my studies, being that I was still undocumented. My only option was to apply for scholarships. For the most part, scholarships covered my tuition, but I remember at times not knowing whether I would be able to return the following semester. Luckily, with the help and support of my family members I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife last December! Being the first in my family to obtain a degree was a very proud moment for us.
So, just how much does attending college mean to me? … More than I could explain. Being a university alumnus not only helps me further my knowledge and skills in a field I am truly interested in, but allows me to show others facing a similar situation as myself, that going to college is possible. It proves those who do not believe in us wrong and it strengthens the community of talented individuals who are lost by obstacles that can be overcome. As new opportunities arise, and my passion and concern for endangered wildlife continues to grow, I will be fighting for my education. This past week I was accepted into the Master’s Program at the University of Antioch-New England for the Conservation Biology Concentration under the Environmental Studies Department. I plan to attend, obtain my Master’s Degree, and one day become a great leader in my field.