College Essay

Education has always been important to me, especially since no one in my family has ever graduated from college. I have faced several obstacles growing up and even though many people, even some of my own family members, thought I couldn't surpass them. My hardships have given me the drive to remain focused on my ultimate goal: achieving higher education.
My mother's struggle and her experience have been an inspiration for me. My mother had a difficult childhood and only received a portion of her elementary education. She basically had other responsibilities that were thrown upon her unfairly. My grandmother was a single mother in a poverty-stricken area of Philippines, and since she had to work to provide the basic necessities for her children, my mother, as the oldest, had many responsibilities. She sacrificed her own education because she had to ensure that her brothers and sisters were clothed, fed, bathed, and put to bed. As a result, my mother learned hard life lessons, lessons that were never taught in the classrooms her brothers and sisters attended, lessons that made her a strong and responsible woman. As an adult she too, became a single mother to take care of me in Japan. She did the best she could in learning how to sew in order to earn a living for me. The story of the matriarchs in my family has given me a first-hand look at what a difficult life is like. I do not and will not have this for myself.
My grandmother and my mother both had a life where they were overwhelmed with paying bills, providing an adequate shelter, and life where their children had the basics for survival. Without the proper education, both of them had to work in jobs with low-paying wages and long hours. Because of this, both sacrificed quality time with their children. My mother always encourages me to purse a higher education. However, witnessing her struggle influenced me more than her advice.
Receiving a college degree and high school diploma would benefit my future in an abundant of ways. Not only will I have the option of choosing my desired career path, but I will be able to lead my family into a more promising future. One creates their own reality and I have been working toward achieving my goal of receiving a high school diploma and college education throughout my school years. One quality I have acquired throughout my