Danielle Faulkner

My name is Danielle Faulkner and I am planning on attending University of North Texas in the Fall of 2016. I am transferring as a sophomore from Richland College in Dallas, which I paid for all myself last year. Although it was hard, I knew I could accomplish it on my own. I paid for books, tuition, food and other supplies while working 30 hours a week at two jobs. I finished my first semester at Richland College with a 4.0, but as soon as I got a second job in my second semester, I finished my first year of college with a 3.89 GPA. My parents are not capable of helping me pay for UNT in August because they are currently in debt. I don't make enough at my jobs, however whatever I make this summer I will put toward groceries and gas to drive back to Dallas for work. I have already taken out a small loan, the only one that has been offered by UNT, but it won't cover my student apartment expenses.

I was born in Russia and was adopted at the age of 11. I moved to Dallas to a new home and a new unfamiliar environment. I didn't speak any English when I moved here, so my mom helped me learn it just by flashcards and labeling everything around our house with English and Russian words. I attended private middle and high school all my life; first Saint Patrick Catholic School and then Ursuline Academy in Dallas, a private all girls college preparatory catholic high school, and I believe that by having the opportunity to attend such prestigious schools I learned English pretty quickly. English is my favorite class and I enjoy working hard and achieving my goals.