I enjoyed my time at DC because when you are here, you are accepted by everyone and never on your own. This is the place where goals are achieved and hope is driven to success. Being the recipient for the Doris and Gordon Willey Founder’s Cup for Excellence Award really means a lot to me. As a First Generation student, this is a huge accomplishment not only for myself but for those who have helped me get to where I am today. To them, their support may seem little but personally, this has strongly encouraged me to value the true meaning of “Excellence through Perseverance”. Looking back at when I first registered at Durham College and being able to witness the four pillars of the college’s values throughout my three years: Integrity and Transparency, Respect, Equal Access and Diversity and Personal and team accountability; I am proud to say that these pillars have successfully incorporated within my personal life and for that I will always be grateful. Being faced with and conquering many challenges through determination and perseverance, having the support of the many faculty and staff at DC and Roméo Dallaire Public School, the DC Crew, my fellow classmates, all the organizations I have volunteered for, and my loving family; this is what has truly motivated me to apply for this award. Upon receiving this award, I immediately realized that success is not a destination. It is a journey just waiting for you to go out and make it happen.