My goals are to graduate in the Summer of 2012 with an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts. I highly depend on financial aid, and going into college I was afraid of how I was going to pay for it. When I entered LaGuardia Community College and was accepted into the Accelerated Studies in Associate Programs (ASAP), college became a reality. My biggest barrier is support. Being the first one in my family to go to college is difficult. My family expects a lot from me and they do not know how the college path in the United States works. If there were no barriers I would complete my Associates Degree at LaGuardia Community College and without a doubt attend Middlebury College. There I would experience life on campus. I would pursue a Bachelors degree in Latin American Studies and Literature & Romance Languages: Spanish and Portuguese. I would spend an academic year abroad in Brazil and learn about the language, culture, literature, and arts. Studying abroad is something I have been looking forward to and living abroad before I know how rewarding it can be.

I would like to pursue a Masters degree at The CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, and work as a correspondent in Latin America or as a US diplomat. Why do I aspire to fulfill these goals? I am a renaissance man. I have the passion and willingness to learn about the arts and sciences, and through them learn about my role in society and give back to my community. I am a storyteller and I love listening to others stories. I want to share the experiences of my community with those who know little about  Latinos identity, culture, as well as why we immigrate to the United States.