Faith, family, and friends are the most important things in the author's life. The author discusses overcoming challenges to get accepted to college, including taking an AP biology class and getting their first C grade, but not being accepted to their first choice school, the University of Georgia. The author found themselves attending Georgia College at the last minute. The author hopes to get involved on campus through their sorority and other organizations, and find a church. The author believes challenges will help them grow and prepare for the future.

1. My Purpose
If one were to ask me what the most important things in my life were, I would answer using my three
F’s:Faith, Family and Friends. Faith in God that everything happens for a reason and that every battle
I face is to make me stronger, wiser and better; so that even on my darkest of days I can wear a smile.
Family that keeps me grounded; they give me comfort, direction and have been a tangible
representation that hard work can get you anywhere in life that you want to be. Lastly, I have friends
to keep me laughing, to support me, to be on my side, and to hold me accountable. My name is Jordan
Lowry. I am from a town where mostly every teenager came with a BMW, got paid for their A’s, and
had no idea how to separate lights from darks and throw them in the washing machine.
Success looks different for every person. To some it may be making a sports team, to others an
A on their paper and to some it is as simple as a feeling of accomplishment and pride of a job well
done. I think success truly comes from what you put into a situation. I have always been taught that
one will get out of a situation what one puts into it. That being said, if I put everything I have into
something that I want I should be successful. However, I am not saying that if I work hard I will
receive everything I want… or think that I want. My senior year of high school I had high hopes of
being accepted into the University of Georgia. After being differed in the fall, I tried everything I
could to ensure my acceptance in the spring. One thing on the “to do” list for U.G.A. was to take A.P.
Biology. The spring semester of my senior year during my last period of the day I took this course. I
might add that most of the seniors received “minimum day” and were able to leave after fourth period
while I was lectured for two hours every day on genetics, DNA synthesis and the classification of
animals. I made a C in the class. It was my first C ever, and I got denied from UGA. Some would call
that a sad ending to my story of hard work. Currently I am taking biology again this semester (I
obviously didn’t pass the AP exam) and I know every answer to every question the teacher asks. The
notes feel like a review and I understand everything so clearly. I feel so successful every time I leave
the classroom. So I would say everything worked out. For me, success is a feeling. If I do what I can
with what I have, I will be successful in some form. The results may not be instant, and I may not get
out of it exactly what I expected, but in some form I am always successful.
After a roller coaster of a decision making process, I found myself accepting the invitation to
Georgia College the day before tuition was due. I cannot say Georgia College was my first choice
school. Unfortunately, I cannot say it was my second either. However as I said in the beginning I have
faith that this community is where I need to be for multiple reasons of success. I planned to be an
active member in the chapter of my sorority. This will give me opportunity to give back to the
community through service and outreach, involve myself in other campus organizations, keep up with
my studies, and most importantly have hundreds of girls behind me supporting me the whole way. I
believe every person has a niche, though it may take some time to find. For example, my niche is
definitely nothing related to athletics or intramurals; I learned that my senior year at cheerleading
tryouts. However, I know that I can give support to my community, so fully expect me to be at every

2. game with signs, water and brownies. I hope to find a church that I can call home. This will help me
contribute success in many ways, for it is the foundation of every good thing in me. Most importantly
I want to be involved in a community service organization aside from my sorority. I believe one of
the most beneficial or, “desired outcomes” is helping those less fortunate than you, in any situation.
As much as I will try to bring success to Georgia College through these things, I truly believe Georgia
College will help me be successful. The smalland intimate community is very welcoming and a
perfect environment for me to thrive and finish my time at Georgia College, The University of
Georgia, or anywhere else the future may take me.
Challenges and trials are the building blocks of who I am. I believe that each challenge is sent
to me for a reason; not to test me, but to remind me to have faith and work as hard as I can yet remain
true to myself while doing that. Previously in life, I have overcome many challenges to get where I am
today. They all come in different shapes and sizes. A large one of my challenges as well as many
others’ was finding myself and accepting myself for who I am and what I like. This is a process I
believe one begins around the start of high school, and probably does not finish until later in college.
Another challenge that led me here was letting go of where I wanted to attend schooland accepting
where I needed to be when the two didn’t add up. Currently, I am battling the challenge of being on
my own. My three best friends are each in different states and my mom and dad aren’t conveniently
down the hall for me to snuggle with whenever I had a rough day. Not to mention there is no longer
anyone to nag me about doing the dishes, I just have to be responsible enough to do them on my own.
As for the future, I know I will struggle academically and struggle in managing all of the things I
would like to involve myself in while here. I will miss home, I will stay up into the early morning with
homework, I will cry because my best friend is a plane ride away, I will probably bomb a few tests
here and there and most definitely will come to a point where my savings account reaches double
digits. I do have faith though that I will get through it and these challenges and obstacles I face here
will better prepare me for the future and finish shaping the person I am.