After graduating from New Rochelle High School in June 2008, I began my fall 2008 semester as an Honors student at Queens College in Flushing, NY. I had an extremely successful freshman year, finishing up with a GPS of 3.83. Now during my sophomore year, I have declared my major as Speech and Communication Disorders (Speech Pathology) with a double minor in Irish Studies and French. I was inducted into the Golden Key International Honor Society, became a Presidential Achiever, and have been on the Dean's List every semester since my freshman year. Currently, my GPA is a 3.88 and I am due to begin my fourth semester at Queens College at the end of January.

My most valuable resource is invariably my laptop; without it, I could not have done much of the research required for many papers I have written and would not have accessed important course materials online. Many privileged students in high school and college alike who have personal computers do not recognize that significant advantage they have over less privileged students. Before I was awarded my laptop from To the Top with Laptops, I had never owned a personal computer. I did not think of it as a disadvantage--I worked just as much, perhaps even harder than some students who enjoy the luxury of their own computer and who are able to work at their own pace and only have to worry about their own paper. They did not have the additional worry of just figuring out how to access a computer or sharing one with others. Now, with my own laptop, I am able to complete projects almost anywhere and am spared the additional worry of trying to find a computer of my own that I don't have to share and therefore limit the amount of time I have to work on school projects. I look forward to the future--with my laptop resting on my knees of course.

Ciara Grogan