For as long as I can remember, science has been a passion of mine. As a child I wondered about the natural curiosities of the world, and I often found myself fascinated by the beauty one finds in the environment. This passion of mine led me to choose to pursue a degree in environmental engineering, in the hopes that I may contribute to the preservation of the earth’s natural beauty and resources. As I began my college search, I stumbled upon a small,  prestigious, and woefully expensive public research university in Golden, Colorado- Colorado School of Mines. I quickly fell in love with the institution, but was very aware of the financial obstacles I faced in attending as an out-of-state student. The Harvey Scholars Program has given me the opportunity to not only attend my dream university, but it’s also allowed me to create positive relationships with some of the most positive and encouraging people I’ve ever met. I never could have imagined that I would be given so many opportunities to pursue my passions, and I’m eternally grateful to the institution and to the Harveys for all they’ve done for me and my fellow scholars. I’m very excited to reach for my future, and to pay it forward as I go.