After nineteen years of living in a small town named Wasco, known by most for its prison, I moved to Long Beach. I grew up in a strict religion that discouraged questioning and required extreme dedication to servitude to God. Attending college was discouraged by my parents and the Church because it took away from time spent serving God. Living in Wasco was my own prison. Moving to Long Beach meant freedom for me where I was finally able to stretch my constrained and clipped wings. As a result, the simplest questions, for some, like “What do I want to be?” » and “Who am I?” tormented my mind. These should be easy to answer and yet I didn't know the answers. I found myself in the most diverse cities and my head filled with questions that would elicit the most intriguing answers. I learned that I have a passion and thirst for helping others, choosing a specialization that allowed me to use the skills of love, caring and patience, as well as an aspiration to achieve my educational goals despite financial difficulties. Many people I spoke with. hunger for wealth, status, fame and even beauty. Imagine the awkward, twisted looks I received when talking about the feeling of hunger stemming from a compelling need to help others. For eight years I worked as a waitress. Many of my coworkers hated their jobs and stayed in the service industry for one or two years at most. I loved my job as a waitress, not because it was easy work, or had great managers, or because my coworkers were easy to get along with, but because of all the people I was able to help during my shift. Working as a waitress helped me realize that my zeal came from helping people. The thirst to help others is strong and great. My experiences working middle of paper......loan payments add to our monthly expenses. I am reminded of my wants and desires every day when I go to work and hear the death knell of dissatisfaction. My educational journey will be long, but I am prepared and extremely motivated for the path that awaits me. My financial difficulties keep me in an unsatisfying and pointless job; however, I am grateful for the fuel it provides to my passion in achieving my educational goals. I learned a lot about myself when I moved to Long Beach. I moved to Long Beach with a head full of questions. I learned that who I am encompasses a passion and thirst for helping others. I learned that I needed to choose a major that allowed me to use the skills of love, care, and patience that are an integral part of who I am. Despite the financial difficulties that my family and I encounter on a daily basis, I continue my aspirations to achieve my educational goals..