sometimes life gets in the way of your dreams. maybe you fall in love, get pregnant, lose a loved one. maybe your family can’t afford to fund your dreams. maybe it’s just easier to slip into the crowd rather than stand out. regardless of our situation, we shouldn’t let anything stop us from reaching our greatest potential. 

i graduated from college exactly a year ago yet i still feel like i have so much to learn. being a teacher was never my dream. i love it, but it’s not something i would turn into a lifelong profession. it’s time-consuming, and often times burdensome and strenuous. HOWEVER, it’s also one of the most rewarding experiences a person can go through. i’ve fallen in love with my students—students who challenge me, question me, push me to make them better learners. students who make me cry because of their stories, their love for family members, and their appreciation of good people in the world. every student has taught me something new about myself, every student has contributed to my growth as a human being.

i won’t be returning to kagman high school next year, but it is because i have chosen to return back to school. with a law degree, i can return back to the islands and find better ways to assist the community. i want everyone to know that in today’s world, a bachelor’s degree isn’t enough. an associate’s degree isn’t enough. you have to push harder, you have to stay hungry. you are smarter than your parents and if you want a better life than the one you have now, you have to keep fighting for what you want.

so stop makin excuses and start makin plans.