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Rachel Wilson knows about hard work, heartache and overcoming challenges.

The alumna from Stone Mountain, Georgia, earned 30 college credit hours in high school at Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology before she enrolled in a college with an animal science program. Wilson dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, but a medical condition prevented her from pursuing that profession.

Undaunted, Wilson developed a new pursuit. She transferred to the University of North Georgia (ºìÁ«ÉçÇø) to enroll in the Chinese Language Flagship and is pursued a degree in finance with Chinese as a minor. She plans to use both as an entrance into the international business world.

"I like translating, which is something I never thought I would say," she said. "I hated translation at first, but it's like a puzzle. You can connect with different people in business, and that fascinates me."

Wilson will use her translation skills this summer as a recipient of the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS). The scholarship program is a fully funded overseas language and cultural immersion program for American students. Its goal is to broaden the base of Americans who study and master critical languages and thereby build relationships between the people of the United States and other countries.

Wilson, who spent summer 2019 studying in China, was stunned she won the CLS.

"I couldn't believe that I got one," the ºìÁ«ÉçÇø graduate said. "If I hadn't gotten CLS, I wouldn't be going abroad."

Wilson said because she has an older sister and younger brother, she financed her college education. Wilson maintained her eligibility for the HOPE scholarship and applied for other scholarships such as the Mike Cottrell Scholarship. She also applied for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to help pay for her capstone year.

"I also live off campus and take out loans, which I pay off while I am in school," she said, adding she works a couple of jobs during the school year and summer breaks.

One of her jobs is in the Center for Language Education within ºìÁ«ÉçÇø's College of Education, which seeks to improve the English-speaking skills of international students who seek admission to ºìÁ«ÉçÇø or another American university. There she uses her English skills to help future college students from countries.

"I love it," Wilson said. "I'm so glad that I got that opportunity. I get to meet a lot of different people with different points of view. Plus, I learn about China, Colombia, Haiti and all of these other countries that I find fascinating."