TAMIU GEAR UP IV 2015 Essay Contest

I believe that my self-discipline was a major factor in my success. Other important values that I possessed came as a result of reading Stephen R. Covey's best seller book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. Habits such as 'Begin with the End in Mind', 'Put First Things First', and 'Synergizing' taught me how to properly prepare to solve difficult circumstances. Learning to depend on myself and believing I was capable of achieving anything that I desire played a key role in my life. Needless to say, Gear Up IV has played an important role in my life. This supportive program has allowed students, such as me, to dream big and believe that college is attainable to any student regardless of their race, sex, or socioeconomic status. The colleges Gear Up has arranged for my class to visit have been amazing experiences where I as a student have become more knowlegeable. I have certainly learned more about the rigorous yet feasible path to college and the benefits of doing so. I personally, am extremely grateful for Gear Up and would like to mention that I am currently typing this essay with the iPads Gear Up issued out to my class. Today, as a sophomore, I am delighted to be ranked second in my class and at the same time participate in numerous activities: National Honor Society, National Hispanic Institute, DECA, UIL, the Silver Stars drill team, Dance Academy, High School Advisory Pack, and Crime Stoppers. Despite my academic investments and extracurricular involvement, I always stay informed about ways in which I can benefit from the Gear Up program in my school. Being a migrant student proved to be a difficult journey, but it was one that taught me to appreciate the obstacles in life because the lessons learned from them contribute to the people who we eventually become. My mom once told me a Mexican proverb that has remained with me ever since, the translation to English amounts to this, "A good rooster crows in any chicken coop." This signifies that a person who can do well somewhere will perform just as good anywhere else. Therefore, as an ambitious individual, I believe any unfavorable event can be overcome if one chooses to trust in their capabilities. Never allow anyone to instill the word "can't" in your mind, because as Nelson Mandela once expressed, "it always seems impossible until it's done." - Melanie Gomez