Name: Francis Morales

Age: 20

Originally from: Managua, Nicaragua

Yesterday, I went to look for some international students who I could interview at the Harding University's library. I found Francis on the second floor. She was studying really hard for a test, but agreed to give me a few minutes of candid conversation.

I had the chance to find out very interesting things about Francis that I did not know. Although she is a Walton Scholar, she does not see her opportunity of being a Harding student as a surprise that came out of a sudden, but as a goal she had pursued with an objective in mind.

This is what she told me about herself, when we started to talk about her personal mission statement:

“I have two reasons for being at Harding. First, I had always had the dream to do my college studies in a foreign country. Second, I had always wanted to help my mom. She has raised me and my sister by herself, and I wanted to lift a little bit of weight from her shoulders.”

“I found out about the Walton Scholarship when I was 16 years old. I really wanted to get this scholarship. I applied for the program while I was still at high school and I was called for the interview in November of 2006. After that, I had a second interview. Finally, I got news from the Walton organization until January of the next year.”

“Now, I am double-majoring in management and international business. But my plan before coming to Harding was to study medicine, because I wanted to be a pediatrician. However, I have family members who are doctors and I realized that they do not spend much time with their families. The time-consuming consequence of studying medicine made me change my mind. I decided to study business because I am good at it.”

“The truth is that when you are successful, you have a better chance to help others. Even if you have no specific objective, you will react to other person’s need. But I do want to help children. I know that if I push myself enough, I think I might get a nice job, with better chances of helping them.”

“My mission statement would be: to help others to understand God better and to help people in material need as well. If I pictured myself in five years, I want to be working and beginning a family. Also, I want to travel, to know other cultures and places.”