Preparing for prime timeAccording to a Century Foundation report, with 11 million students, community colleges house 45 percent of the university population in the United States; in that same report, 81.4 percent of first-time community college students planned to earn a bachelor's degree in the future, but only 11.6 percent achieved that goal. I went to college once and failed; I plan to succeed this time by recognizing potential opportunities, overcoming challenges, listening to advisors, and using effective strategies. As a child, I always wanted to go to college, but due to circumstances beyond my control, I wasn't even able to go. able to complete secondary education. I had to drop out of school and take care of my siblings when my mother abandoned us. It was the biggest injury of my life, but I still dreamed of going back to school. I went to Job Corp, then vocational school and eventually got my GED. Deep down, I always had this dream of going back to school. Going to college will open many new doors and give me opportunities that I wouldn't have had otherwise. My biggest dream was to obtain a degree in education, in order to become a kindergarten teacher. Graduating will not only give me a job but also a career, something I've never had before. I have always worked low-paying jobs with little to no benefits. I did what I had to do to make ends meet as a single parent, but I always swore to myself that one day I would go back to school and graduate. The desire for a college education is still alive today. I came to Thomas Nelson to fulfill a dream, and not only will I receive an education to be... middle of paper... first of all). I will study hard, attend classes every day, complete all assignments, and always do my best. When I feel at my worst, I force myself to do my best. I will always rely on my faith and trust in God, which is not a strategy; It's just my way of life. I believe that in order to succeed in anything, I have to put God first, because when I take Him out of the equation, I tend to screw things up. In conclusion, although college can be a long road, quitting is not an option. I believe that if I stick to what is important, recognizing opportunities, remaining aware of challenges and meeting them head on, heeding the advice of my advisors and always having strategies in place, I I will undoubtedly excel. I intend to work hard and succeed. I belong here and if I have to fake it, I'll fake it until I make it, because it's in me to be great. I will succeed!