As a schizophrenic, I lived homeless on the streets of Seattle, off and on, for years. Finally, at the age of 25, I could and did apply for financial aid independent of my parents.

I liked rocks (still do), and my oceanography instructor also taught geology, so I found myself majoring in that. Then I took Cell Biology for Majors and fell in love, only I had used up my financial aid. I finished my last required courses, in writing, to complete the requirements for AA graduation, and with my parents' help, took many more writing classes, but I still wanted to study biology.

Then I took Barbara Clinton's Honors 100 Class and found myself applying for all sorts of scholarships - some of them in biology. As a result of my illness, I was eligible to apply for Lilly Pharmaceutical's Reintegration Scholarship. I became a finalist and then a winner . With Lilly's support, I will be in school this year. I am excited to have these opportunities, which I could not have had without the help given to me as a student at Highline.

Here's hoping all of you get to look at futures as bright as mine appears to me!