In the immediate future, Brianna A. is focused on continuing to work hard to succeed in her classes before taking the ACT again. While the junior at St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, Illinois, isn’t quite sure what she wants to major in yet, this Girl on the Rise does know that she’s interested in a career as a neonatal physician. So her dream schools include those with great pre-med programs like Tufts, Rice, and Northwestern!

What is something you are most proud of?

Something I am most proud of is getting to the position I am currently at right now. Without the help of my teachers and parents, attending St. Ignatius would not have been possible.

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

Before starting high school, my mom had been hospitalized and left semi-paralyzed from the waist down after giving birth to my little sister. Through this difficult situation, I had the support of not only my family but also my school community. I dealt with it by looking ahead and trying my best to be optimistic.

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

Being selected as a Girl on the Rise is something I find to be a great opportunity. Without the aid of this program, I would not be able to plan or look forward to the college visits I’ll be taking in the future.

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

I was inspired to become involved with the program because it gives recognition to girls for their hard work and their potential to go beyond their limits. 1DF inspires women to succeed and gain higher-level education, which is something that has not always been supported by everyone.

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?

The opportunity to visit my prospective colleges is important to my journey because I am a first-generation student who wants to succeed and have something more for herself. Learning firsthand about different schools is a success in and of itself because I’m one step closer to finding my right-fit college and fulfilling my career goal.

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

I hope to use the funding to visit Tufts, Clemson, Rice, and more. As of now, I’m still researching and narrowing down my options, but these are three colleges that are high on my list. Last year, I applied and gained admission to the Mini Med-School program at Tufts, but due to financial limitations, my family was not able to afford it. I did further research into the pre-med track they offer and enjoyed the environment. As for Rice and Clemson, they are located in two states where some of my family resides. I’d also further like to look into colleges that are either in big cities or have well-known college towns, while offering great pre-med and medical programs.