First things first; Everyone has their own way of doing things, everyone is raised differently, and everyone has specific capabilities they were born with. So I am here talking about my story and people who can relate to me, I am not here to judge those who live a different lifestyle and do things differently. You do you.

Starting from high school I had a job, not because my parents told me, but because I knew I wanted the money to get things, to pay for bills, and to do things with my friends. What I didn't know at the time was that this full-time job, on top of school, taught me some of the main core values that I live by today.

I continue to live on with these values because I've learned they lead me to success. Being true to yourself, it may seem strange to correlate that to work but being yourself can help you make connections and network with your team members. Going above and beyond, by showing you work hard, are dedicated, and committed to the company you will get recognized and receive benefits from working your tail off. Showing respect, as Hannah Montana says-nobody is perfect. People make mistakes and people have bad days. By showing respect to your team members and your customers, you might just end up making their day or who knows, maybe even saving their life by showing you care.

Although I have learned so much and have grown so much from my previous experiences, working full time and going to school full time wasn't a dream. The exhaustion from lack of sleep, smelling like the fast food that I worked with, saying no to friends and no to parties it wasn't fun. Really I wasn't always okay with missing out on things, but knowing I had certain bills to pay and daily essentials I needed, there was no option to say yes and skip work.

Then, I made the decision to attend college full time taking 12 credits or more and still continue working a full-time job. I realized that focusing on myself, my career, my goals, and dreams was the only thing that I needed to do because everything else would fall into place, right where it was meant to be. Friends stayed because they cared enough and understood life, family encouraged and challenged me to push through, and hobbies became important to continue and fit into my calendar.

I worked hard my entire life; I worked hard to achieve good grades and present to the best of my ability, I worked hard to learn as much as I could, I worked hard to prove myself at my job, I worked hard to stay true, be committed, and build my personal relationships, I worked hard to challenge and push myself in my tasks at work. I worked hard and I did it all myself, I paid for it all myself, I got the job myself, I took full responsibility for my mistakes, I did it. I still do it.

Some people are lucky to get by in life because of their parents; they get the job because their dad knows someone, they don't pay for anything besides "wants" because mom's got them covered, they fly by the seat of their pants because they've never had to worry about the consequences before. These people are lucky their families are able to support them to this extent, but not everyone has that luxury.

I am proud of the way I was raised and the circumstances it was all under. I feel this way because of everything I have learned and everything I have done for myself. Because of this life I have an amazing group of best friends, I have a tight knit bond with my family, I have had three internships while still in school-and just recently was offered a full-time position effective this month and I haven't even graduated yet, I have experienced going away to school and commuting, I have lived off ramen noodles and dined eating $20 salmon, I have sung at Carnegie Hall in New York and danced competitively for 17 years, I have been on the Dean's List and have failed a class, I have experienced a sisterhood that changed my life, I have made so many memories from road trips and nights out, I have lived my life and worked hard for everything I have.

Working full time and going to school full time is not for everyone, but for me, it is everything and more.