Kayla Streit

Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength. Mahatma Gandhi Building your life around dreams will always demand you to use strength to get through the hardships in your life. My dream is to get a Doctorate degree in Alcohol and Substance Abuse counseling and help as many individuals use their strengths to fight emotional, physical, and cognitive hardships. I had a very personal situation that led me to the life I wish to lead in the future. My dream to help individuals with alcohol abuse, substance abuse and other emotional hardships came forth when I witnessed a close friend abusing a variety of substances. I witnessed his struggles, family struggles, and my own struggles. I have found my own strength through this experience and many others throughout my life. I dream and aspire to help as many individuals as I can so they do not have to experience the sadness that I was once shown. I believe that everyone has the ability to overcome all hurdle set forth in their life; life struggles wouldn't be called hurdles if there was no way over or around them. I am currently studying at the State University of New York at Oswego; majoring in Human Development and double minoring in Health Science and Public Justice with a 3.0 GPA. Some studies push me harder than others but I set goals and do not surrender so I may accomplish everything I dream. I have had many opportunities to showcase my caring and helpful personality by going out into the community and helping neighbors with any hurdles that they may have, everything from conversing about struggles to moving fire wood. Some people may think that as a young adult, I do not have enough experience and strength to fight through obstacles in life or to move past into a more demanding career and future. So I tell them, "Everyone starts somewhere and this is just my beginning, just wait until you see my ending."