When I was nine, my parents told me we were moving to the United States. I didn’t speak English. I didn’t know what Texas was, much less what AP classes, class rank, or college scholarships would eventually mean for me.
By high school, I was curious and driven, but I still had questions I didn’t know how to ask. I pieced things together through videos, late-night searches, conversations, and trial and error. TRIO also helped me find support I would not have found on my own.
Working hard was only part of it.
I began to understand that knowing where to put my effort mattered, too. You can spend years being busy and still reach application season unsure how to explain what you’ve done or how you’ll pay for college.
That experience is why I wrote this guide. I wanted to help students understand the choices in front of them: which classes to take, what interests to spend time on, when to prepare for tests, and where to look for scholarships.
You can start where you are.
If you’re starting junior year and feel behind, you still have time to make the next semester count. Your experiences already matter, including jobs, family responsibilities, and the things you do for other people that never make it onto a school activity list.
My experience is one person’s experience. I’m sharing what helped me so you can ask better questions, find support, and build a path that fits your life.
Start with the first chapter