In school I have often excelled academically. I learned early on that if I tried hard, I could succeed; if I wanted something badly enough, I possessed the ability to strive to achieve it. I had attended seminars that informed students about the financial challenges that lay ahead and was motivated to get through college without having to rely too heavily on student loans.

I knew that hard work was going to be necessary to maintain my scholarships and I also began to follow-up on any job ...