The University of Central Florida has a reputation of excellence, inclusion, and accessibility. Throughout my young life, my parents told me I could go to any college I dreamed of. Of course, then, I was under the assumption that I was going to have a lot more financial aid from my family than I actually will. Over the course of the past few years, I've come to find out many turbulent facts about myself and my home life which have influenced me to choose UCF before any other school in the country.

Since I was in the seventh grade, I was beyond fascinated with theatre. Joining my school's program was a fluke since I only took the class to avoid more reprehensible electives. I was ecstatic when I discovered the world of backstage, and pushed myself to learn everything there is to know about being a stagehand, makeup artist, actor, costumer, and stage manager. Since the seventh grade, stage managing has been my passion. And what school is close by that I can see myself learning more about stage managing from? The University of Central Florida. I would be thrilled by the opportunity to attend UCF, be involved in the school's theatrical productions, and help out with UCF Celebrates the Arts and other events.

My family has always been a rocky situation to cope with and explain to people. My father and mother were never together, yet I was born out of wedlock. Years of court and $350,000 in lawyer fees later, my parents exhausted the judicial system and eradicated all hopes of me having a savings fund for college. I only found out how terrible my family was at finance in recent years, as my mother doesn't save a penny of her paychecks, and my father's boss is incapable of paying him in a timely manner. Truly, the circumstance is one for the ages. UCF's program for tuition and the Tenth Percentile Initiative is what I see as my only hope of getting a quality education.

June 9th, 2015, I came out as gay. This had mixed, but mostly positive reactions from my family, except my mother and grandmother. The price of me being who I am has shown itself to be the love of my family. These two influential women in my life have shunned me out of their lives, and this has taken its psychological toll on me. The pride UCF has for, well, pride is what I long to be a part of.

UCF is a perfect fit for me. I will be able to self-finance my education for a superior stage management program, all the while being able to throw my shell aside and be who I am to the world.