Annissa D. wants to be a microbiologist in the U.S. Navy or in a medical setting. The first step for this Girl on the Rise is getting her biology degree at one of her top-pick schools like Arizona State University.

What is something you are most proud of?

I’m proud of finding a love for my academic success and wanting to pursue a great education.

Have you gone through any tough or challenging times? If yes, how did you deal with those challenges?

Throughout high school, I have suffered with depression which made me develop a deep dislike for my education and school life. Through that time, I dedicated myself to therapy three times a week for over a year and have regained my love for learning and goals for the future.

What does it mean to you to be selected as a Girl on the Rise?

It means someone cares about my education — and that there are people in this world who want me to be able to achieve my dreams for the future. It makes me feel a little less alone in this new world I’ll be entering next year as a college student.

What inspired you to want to be involved with Girls on the Rise?

What inspired me was the dedication and care of the staff at Big Brothers Big Sisters who selected me as a candidate for this program.

How will funding from the 1,000 Dreams Fund help you reach your goals? In other words: Why is the opportunity to visit your prospective colleges important to your journey?

It will give me the opportunity to keep my options open and look at multiple colleges to make a fair decision on where I would like to go.

What schools will you use the funding to visit, and why?

We take a three- to four-day trip visiting colleges up and along San Diego, which costs about $250. So, I first intend to use the money for that. As the year goes on, I will take a trip to Arizona to visit colleges to make my final decisions on which college i would like to attend.