Advocating for yourself can be intimidating for people of any age. Perhaps that's what makes recently submitted essays from teenagers applying for the opportunity to receive a free computer so interesting. The youthful determination in these pieces, written by participants in the Able Trust's High School High Tech program, leaves no room for timidness as the students confidently explain how they would use a computer to become better students, do research and pursue careers. Each month we'll share a new essay from a teenager who got a laptop through the FAAST and Able Trust partnership. Here's one of our favorites.

The goals I have set for myself thus far are to graduate from Bayside High with at least a 3.0 GPA and would like to have the core classes be honors due to the fact that I like to challenge myself. After high school I plan to attend a four year college like the University of Florida, University of Central Florida, or University of West Virginia. Then later I plan to join a military branch of service like the National Guard or United States Marine Corps.

Having a laptop during my high school career will allow me to develop better study habits and to, in turn, use later when going through my college career. The laptop computer would give me better organizational skills to help with my high school classes' homework and to set my priorities. [In doing this I can move into the college phase of my life.] These classes require a lot of study time including writing papers, and having a computer with a speech typing program, for example, would help me in writing these papers.

During my college career I wish to major in an engineering field. I'm still trying to narrow it down from civil, architectural, and mechanical. These majors require lots of study time and having a computer would help me organize my day thus keeping me straight while writing papers and keeping up with my homework. After this phase I intend to enter the military.

During my military career I want to obtain a MOS [Military Occupational Specialty] of an engineer. Being a mechanical engineer, I believe the computer would help me keep an inventory of all my tools and equipment that I use. I would also enjoy being a recruiter in the National Guard and the computer would help me keep all of my recruits in order and accounted for.