My story begins in Modesto California, and for almost my entire life I've known nothing but hardship, borderline financial poverty, an intense work ethic. I grew up in the lesser part of Modesto, or "the wrong side of the track" as most people would define it, judged by my looks and struggles people thought I was nothing but trouble. In school teachers would assume I'm not going anywhere in life, I wasn't exactly academically smart at the time and teachers would see that as me being lazy or not paying attention, and the students weren't any better people would stare at those who weren't up to date in new fashion trends or those who didn't have fancy technology, and I happened to fall into that category. But that was the least of my problems In high school we've had issues with fights break out, to drug problems, to even bomb threats, and everyone in my family had to deal with these distractions from my oldest brother to my youngest sister I grew up in a family of 9 and had the so called "honor" of being the middle child. My mom had a drug problem and left when I was 5 leaving me to wonder what a mothers love is truly like, and it damaged us not growing up with a motherly figure, However, my family is my own and we've all had some pretty rough times, but through everything we always pulled through, my dad was the only parent I had and supported us the best he could with the one job he had at the time. As i grew up I was called to start contributing at the age of 7 helping in anyway a 7 year old can so my childhood was never really used. I spent most of my childhood working with my family, struggling to support our large family in a not so friendly neighborhood, we've had break-ins, vandalism, things you'd probably read in the newspaper and think "that sucks" but never really think twice about, and that was normal to us and it darkened our hearts. Living in a bad neighborhood can shape the way we are today, but for the people in west side Modesto, there's no third door; kids will either make it out and go on to do bigger and better things or they will end up in the streets, selling drugs, stealing, or committing crimes just to survive. Fortunately i had my family to help keep me off the streets but living this way for so long crippled My family's dreams allowing them to be content with living on the wrong side of a small and overpopulated city, but the thing is I never really felt like I belonged like I was destined to travel to experience all the world has to offer the good and the bad to expand my horizon and see what others are not willing to notice like poverty in third world countries. Which leads up to present day, my dad remarried my older brother has a family of his own, my oldest sister is in a committed relationship, and my older brother which I had connected with the most moved out, leaving me as the oldest sibling, and I have no idea what to do with my life all I've ever known was how to work to help support my family. We never traveled far because of our family size, and we never did much. However my dreams to travel the world have remained, and I'm ready to leave my small town for a bigger world, with the support of my newly financially stabled family, I've been given the motivation to start living my life, I've always put my family first and now they've provided me with the permission, I never needed, to leave my hometown and see the world; but although we are financially stable we still can't afford to travel very far, so I ask that anyone willing to give this kid from the wrong side of the tracks the time of day and financial support to do what I've always dreamed of and traveling. To anyone who donates I dont know how I'll ever repay you for your kindness, I can only hope that my happiness, will reimburse and/or provide you with joy and satisfaction. Thank you.