Undergraduate / As a child, hearing the term "the good life" I often thought of being enormous rich [6]

In a concise narrative, describe your notion of 'the good life'. How will your undergraduate experience at the University of Florida prepare you to live 'the good life'?

GOOD LIFE

Growing up in a two bedroom apartment, along with a single parent, three siblings and four cousins I was always depressed. I never had new shoes, new clothes, new toys just to have. Everything I had in my reach I had to share along with my relatives. Going nights without electricity, sometimes no food, or water just so my mother can save up her hard earned checks to get the bills payed became a regular activity. Sometimes having to sleep on our rug just to stay warm. Not only can we not bathe, but we'd have to sear some clothes that doesn't look filthy over and over until electricity start back working. My mom often thought that if we go to the wash house we'll be wasting money that we could use on bills. So after constantly doing the same routines over and over we got adjusted to it, not thinking there was a way out. I begin to think thats how everyone lived. Until my mother was promoted, and all bills were getting paid on time. Ignoring the picking everyone used to do I kept my grades up. Growing up I learned keeping good grades was the best way to get into an awesome college.Later on I realized I was on my way going down the right path. As a child, hearing the term "The Good Life" I often thought of being rich, having an unlimited amount of money. Living in million dollar homes, and driving million dollar cars. Honestly, I thought of everything only a celebrity would be able to afford. Not only wealth, everyone being happy with no worries. More like, people spending money constantly.

Further more, now as I'm maturing in age I think of the Good Life as maintaining. Maintaining as in keeping a roof over your head, food and water, electricity, and an vehicle to get you from point A to B and back to A. I use to think the type of car mattered, but as I've grown I've learned thats just for a publicity stunt.

I know as I become a freshmen in college that would be my first step into preparing for the good life. I would have to do my best at every assignment I'm assigned to complete. I'd have to take advantage of every opportunity they throw at me. Interns, volunteering, etc. During, I'll have to set long term and short term goals, making it my job to reach them. My main focus during this undergraduate stage is to challenge myself. I know it would be for the better. Knowing that I would be living In a dorm I would become more sociable. Also, I would become extremely organized, keeping myself on a specific time schedule, and putting my homework and classwork before outside activity.I know abiding by the rules will discipline me. With all the prerequisites I know ill be if not ready, close enough to being ready to go on my own. The good life for me then would be , getting my degree not only my bachelors degree but my doctorate degree as well. Further more, having a house, being able to keep food, lights, water, having a good job, staying happy, being proud of myself, and congratulating myself for staying on the right track.