Kimberly, a senior at Fullerton Union High School, may live in California. But, she also has her sights on leaving the sunny state for the University of Washington. It is one of her dream schools to round out her list of top picks that also includes UC Davis and UCI. She wants to become a doctor and work in a hospital one day, where her go-getter personality will no doubt serve her well.

What is something you are most proud of?

I’m most proud of the fact that I’m resilient! I never let obstacles get in my way or stop me from reaching my goals.

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

Yes, I have been met with many challenges in my life; however, I have always persevered. I dealt with them by reminding myself that there will always be a light at the end of this seemingly long tunnel. I keep myself motivated and remind myself why I’m doing what I’m doing. There will always be challenges for everything, so I know I just have to push through!

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

It means so much to me! I’m super excited that I’ll be able to visit my dream colleges. This is the first scholarship I’ve won, so it’s really encouraging me to apply for more.

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

I was inspired because I felt like I had so many colleges to choose from but no way to figure out which one I wanted to go to. Now, I’ll have the funds to find out which university is right for me.

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?

This opportunity is super-important to my journey because the college I choose is where I’ll spend the next four years and where I’ll receive a good chunk of my education for my future career that I’ll have for the rest of my life.

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

I’m hoping to use the money to visit University of Washington and UC Davis. Those two universities are my top colleges and they’re quite far away from me so the money will give me the opportunity to check the schools out!