By the time my senior year arrived，I had saved a considerable amount of money.This was encouraging，but I knew that I would also need some help，so began the process of applying for scholarships.Sometimes it was discouraging because I was rejected again and again.Then，my first scholarship offer came in，＄2，000 a year to play tennis.This is only a small dent at a school that costs approximately＄14，000 a year，but it was a start.Severalother academic scholarships also came my way and soon I was up to have＄9，050 in scholarships.Between scholarships and savings，I had enough money for my first year！
Another interesting development emerged.I began testing out of classes.Running anxiously to the mailbox in anticipation of my test scores became part of my daily routine.Excitement mounted as test result saved me approximately＄1，000 in tuition and then enabled me to graduate a year early.This would save room and board expenses as well.
Finally，I was off to college.Because of careful saving，I did not have to work during the school year.Then，summer hit and it was time to work harder than ever.I continued working as a waitress at night，instructed tennis camps several mornings a week and worked as a secretary for a few hours in the afternoons.Being a little overzealous，I decided to also take a class at a community college.This class at the community college saved me＄650，it was an exhausting summer and made me anxious to return to my relatively easy life at college.
During my second and third years of undergraduate schooling，I decided to work about five hours per week in the campus admissions office answering phones.This provided a little spending money and kept me from draining my savings.The overall situation looked hopeful as I approached my senior year as long as I could make as much money as I had the previous summer.That is when I decided to go to Israel to study for 3 weeks.I hesitated in making thisdecision and had just about decided not to go because it would cost me＄1，600 more to get the credits in Israel.
About two weeks later my Mom called to tell me that I had＄1，600 in the bank that I had forgotten about！One of my concerns about this trip was not only the cost，but the loss of time to make money;however，I made as much that summer in the ten weeks that I was home as I had made during the fourteen weeks that I was home the summer before.The way everything worked together to make this trip feasible was one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me.
Finally，my senior year of college was upon me and to keep things interesting，I decided to buy a car.I obviously did not have a lot of money to spend for a car.I searched many newspaper ads and I was ecstatic to find one for only＄4，200.
Then，I also attended an 8-week course on marriage and family in Colorado.This was an incredible experience that taught me a great deal about my worldview and how to develop a healthy family.This experience was also very costly，＄4，000.I was surprised to find that I had graduated with no debt and so many remarkable journeys along the way.
This experience has shaped me in many important ways.The first thing that I learned was the importance of a strong work ethics.Working long hours did a lot to mold my character and helped me learn the value of a dollar.It also made me learn how to craft creative solutions to difficult dilemmas.