I had the privilege to graduate in the class of 2012 and what has transpired since my first summer in Carbondale, Colorado has been nothing short of an enriching and transformative journey. As a high school student, I was aware of the adversity I was facing being female, Latina, the oldest of five children in a single-mother household, and on the path to becoming a first-generation college student. [HS]2 served to be more than an academically stimulating program. It allowed me to meet and befriend students who experienced similar challenges and I continue to foster those friendships to this day. Through this program, I was able to experience dorm life, rigorous classes, team projects, and unique elective classes which proved to be incredibly helpful by the time I stepped foot on Trinity University’s campus my freshman year. Since then, I have graduated with a degree in Finance and International business and started a job at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics while pursuing my Master’s in Manufacturing Systems Management Engineering at Southern Methodist University. From high school to graduate school, I have strongly believed in the importance of continuous learning, and [HS]2 was of paramount significance in my journey through higher education.