Name:  Stephanie

Age:  16

Dream College(s):  My dream colleges are the University of Missouri Kansas City, Park University, University of Nebraska Lincoln, and The University of California Los Angeles.

Future Plans:  My future plans consist of going to college and majoring in something that suits me most. I am undecided on a major.

Do you know what you’d like to major in or have a career in? If so, what is it?

Although I am undecided on what to major in, I have some ideas. They are psychology, criminal justice & criminology, and music.

What is something you are most proud of?

Something I am most proud of is my academic history. I’ve always kept my grades up and I love to go to school and learn new things.

Have you gone through any tough or challenging times and how did you deal with those times?

I’ve had plenty of tough challenging times and even now I’m still going through some but I’ve managed to continue. I usually tend to deal with those challenges by trying to stay positive and fixing problems the best I can. I tend to tell myself that there is always more than one way to get through an obstacle.

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

Being selected as a Girl On The Rise means the world to me. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.

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

I know this program will give me useful connections and opportunities.

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 funding from the 1,000 Dreams Fund will motivate me to get where I want to be. It will allow me to feel as if I’m one step closer to going to college and accomplishing the biggest goal I have set for myself. It will motivate me to keep my grades up throughout high school. It will also allow me to feel as if I have a voice and give me the courage to motivate others like me to chase after any dream they have.

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

The school I would visit with the funding would most likely be UCLA, or UMKC because I would like to get a much closer look at an out of state university like UCLA while also looking at an in town university.