Where are you going to college? A question that was asked too often and always left you feeling insecure and scared. You were good at hiding your fear; every day you would wake up telling the world about all your hopes and dreams. Of course, you were going to college, or at least that’s what you’d say to everyone. You had the will and desire to go to college. That’s why you made sure you had good grades. You lived day by day daydreaming about the day you would be able to call yourself successful. You worked hard – you skipped out on all those parties, you buried yourself in textbooks, you worked at the local grocery on your spare time. You kept yourself busy and it was all to avoid the fear and uncertainty that comes with wanting to go to college.

Are you going to college? Yes. You wanted to but you had no idea how you were going to get there. Every night you would lay down and try to be brave because you weren’t sure how you were going to make those dreams come true. There is no greater fear than the fear of feeling uncertain due to all of the unknowns. You worked hard and studied all the time, but college is expensive and you just had no idea how you were going to make it. Every time you brought the subject up, your family would automatically say it was too expensive. Who was going to pay for that? Why not just go and get married? Why not focus on family instead? All you wanted was a little bit of hope but instead, you would end up getting shut down.

Four years later, look at you now. It was not easy and you sacrificed a lot, but look at you now. You had so many people telling you that you were not going to make it. Others told you marriage was a better option. Some even went as far as saying you were being selfish. But you stayed strong and persevered. You were brave and went where no one else had been before. Look at you now. You are on your way to become the first person in your family to graduate from college. You are the clear example of what the American dream is. You are successful, independent and fierce. You let go of all your fears and found a way to make your dreams come true. Your hard work paid off and got you a full ride scholarship. Every day new doors open up and bring new opportunities. You did not give up.

Are you going to college? Yes, as a matter of fact, you currently are. You are paving your own path towards success. Whoever said you were not going to make it was wrong. Whoever said you were being selfish was just scared you would see your true potential. You broke free from the chains that were holding you back. You broke free, and you spread your wings and learned how to fly. You’re no longer that girl who was afraid and kept on asking herself, “How am I going to college?” Now you are the girl who is helping take that fear away from others. You are a mentor, a role model and a leader. So keep on flying and keep on dreaming.