Mia is a freshman a GCU and is one of 69 students in the AFFCF scholarship program this semester. She shares her journey in getting to college and what she hopes to accomplish with a post-secondary education:
Since I was young, I’ve dreamed of the day I’d get to go off to college and decide which path I want to take in life. I worked very hard in high school to earn the scholarships I knew I would need to make college a reality.
A Rough Beginning
High school was a very difficult time for me personally; I struggled a lot with my home life. I always strived to keep it out of my school work so that I was always able to do my best.
My struggles have taught me a lot, however, and made me realize just how important college is to me. Sure, you don’t necessarily need a degree in order to have a career, but it definitely helps propel you in the right direction. I may not know exactly what I want to do with the degree I obtain, but I’ve learned that I want to be able to help others regardless of what field I go into. I know what it’s like to be discouraged with life and I hope that a college degree will help me have a career where I can encourage others and make a difference in their lives.
A Path Forward
I feel as though pursuing a post-secondary education will help me not only grow academically, but also personally. College is a whole different ball game than high school; I’ll be working hard to maintain scholarships that I need. I will be getting involved on campus in a lively community and figuring out who I am as an individual. Most importantly, I will be working toward a degree that will help prepare me to step into the world and make it a better place.
College will give me the opportunity to work toward a goal that only I can accomplish for myself. The world tells you that when you get knocked down it’s best to stay down so you can’t get hurt again. I want to prove the world wrong. It’s because of all the times I’ve been knocked down in life that I want to stand up even taller than before and work harder to be the best I can be for myself and for others.
Make a Winning Investment
When you make a foster care tax credit donation to the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, you are telling young adults like Mia that they can overcome a difficult beginning to accomplish great things. Your donation is also eligible for a dollar-for-dollar credit on your 2020 Arizona state taxes if you donate by April 15, 2020.