MexiDreams Scholarship

My grandparents served as my earliest inspiration, with their tireless work as physicians improving the lives of many communities in Mexico. Inspired by their impact, my passion for helping others evolved into an aspiration for a career in healthcare. I plan to double major in Public Health and Public Policy on the Pre-Med track, allowing me to help individuals as a physician while also driving large-scale change, as I strive to ameliorate the underrepresentation of minorities in STEM by creating a truly equitable healthcare system. Upon taking a community college course, I learned that the Human Genome Project predominantly utilized data from individuals belonging to non-marginalized groups, with 70% of the data reflecting Caucasian individuals, and the rest primarily from those of European ancestry. This exclusion of minority data set a precedent, leading to unequal healthcare advances that disproportionately affect underserved communities. Whether in research or general access to healthcare, inequities demand systemic change. Studying Public Health and Public Policy will allow me to bridge the gap between medical research advances and healthcare access for underrepresented individuals. With this knowledge, I aim to design and implement equitable healthcare systems regardless of socioeconomic status. Through a deeper understanding of Health Policy and Management, I aim to continue my journey toward becoming a doctor while also shaping a healthcare system that ensures everyone benefits from medical innovation. While I distributed sun-protective equipment to recently unhoused individuals, most expressed immense gratitude through teary-eyed smiles—except for one elderly woman, her eyes downcast, burdened. Upon approaching, I discovered she did not speak English. When I spoke to her in Spanish, I witnessed an immediate transformation as a sense of relief washed over her face as she finally found a source of connection amidst disorientation. In a team of hundreds, I was the only one who could communicate with Spanish-speaking families, offering them the understanding that every human being deserves. Through our interaction she affirmed the power of my Mexican identity, strengthening my mission to amplify long-silenced voices while addressing minority underrepresentation in healthcare. As the oldest of three, I hoped to inspire my brothers by earning admission to a top-tier academic institution. I achieved this goal by gaining acceptance into Duke University, where I will join the Class of 2029 this fall. This scholarship will ease the financial burden of my education, ensuring that my brothers can also pursue their dreams.

Ever since I can remember, my desire to learn has led me to grow and make a difference in my community. I truly believe education and being inspired to learn is power, it can open doors to a better future. I am a proud Mexican-American, and my heritage has shaped who I am today in many meaningful ways. Celebrating traditions like Dia de los Muertos and Quinceañeras has taught me the significance of honoring my roots and staying connected to my culture. Growing up in an immigrant family has taught me the importance of determination and community. In my senior year, I am passionate about pursuing a career in Aviation. I aim to continue attending the TCC Professional Pilot Program and then transfer to a university. I am committed to being a future pilot. I took and passed pilot-required courses last year and am continuing college courses while attending high school. I successfully passed my written private pilot test, in the previous semester of ground school, and have logged over 25 hours of flight training. As I progress through the TCC Professional Pilot Program, I will continue to grow and be successful. I plan to focus my studies on key areas such as airport operations, air traffic control, and weather forecasting while accruing between 250-300 hours of flight time, which is necessary for becoming a commercial airline pilot. However, I would like the scholarship committee to consider the cost of flight training, paying the instructor, fuel for the plane, and the plane itself. Along with the cost, I do have two other siblings who attended and currently attend college, they both have debt from their education. My Dad is an immigrant, he came to the U.S. for more and better opportunities for his family. Including me, all of his kids are first-generation college students, we bravely faced challenges to accomplish this and we did not let our Dad's efforts go to waste. This scholarship represents more than financial aid; it reflects an opportunity to reinforce my strong work ethic as I pursue my career. In conclusion, I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and the potential to make a meaningful impact in aviation. Thank you for considering my application for the Scholarship. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to my community with the support of your scholarship.

Through my education, I hope to create meaningful change by advocating for marginalized communities and reforming the systems that keep families trapped in cycles of poverty. I plan to study international relations, political science, and economics to contribute to policy reform, diplomacy, and global security. My goal is to ensure that economic opportunity is not limited by immigration status or financial hardship, and that communities like mine are given the resources they need to thrive. Growing up in a Mexican immigrant household, I saw firsthand the sacrifices my family made in search of a better life. My father’s struggles with alcoholism and his refusal to accept my younger sister’s disability created instability in our home. When my parents separated, my mother, who had been a stay-at-home mom for most of her life, was suddenly forced to find work without legal status. She cleaned houses to make ends meet, all while receiving no child support. With no financial stability, I stepped up. At 14 years old, I started working to help support my family, and by 15, I became a collection manager. At the same time, I was my younger sister’s primary caregiver. She had cerebral palsy and was blind, and for over two years, I took care of her as if she were my own daughter. Balancing my job, school, and caregiving was an enormous responsibility, but I carried it because I had no choice. When she passed away in June 2023, I not only lost my sister, I lost someone I had cared for every single day. These experiences have shaped me into someone who is resilient, disciplined, and deeply committed to advocating for others. My Mexican heritage has instilled in me a sense of responsibility, not just to my family, but to my community. I refuse to let economic and legal barriers define anyone’s future, and through my education, I will work to ensure that they don’t.

I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, but my life has been a series of travels between Acapulco and Texas. My biological family speaks spanish at home and everything we do, from what we cook to what we purchase is influenced by my Mexican heritage. My maternal grandparents are both from Mexico, and my paternal grandparents still reside in Mexico. My Mexican heritage is in every fiber of my being. Living in South Texas, the Mexican heritage is evident all around and is embraced and incorporated into our daily lives. My goal is to earn a college degree and then to join the military and use my training and education to transition to a government organization like the FBI or CIA to combat human trafficking in our country and around the world. This dream came to be as a result of my experiences as a child. As someone who was trafficked by their own mother, I cannot imagine allowing this to happen to another soul. I am aware of the sheer numbers of children and adults who are trafficked each year, not only for sex, but also as slaves, and for organ harvesting. It is appalling that this is a practice that exists worldwide and that some cultures even promote it. Having lived this first hand, I will dedicate my life to ending this horror to the greatest extent that I am able. I believe in my heart that God spared me several times when I should have died so that I could adopt this mission with my whole heart. Following the discovery of the abuse by CPS, my mother committed suicide. I was left in the custody of my grandmother until it was discovered that she knew of more of the abuse than she admitted to, then I was placed in the custody of the state for a brief period of time prior to my eighteenth birthday. I currently reside with a former teacher and her family who have provided me a home helped me to obtain a scholarship to attend CCS so that I could continue at the school I have been at since 7th grade. While they have generously stepped in to be my "parents" and family, I have no expectation that they are able to provide a college education for me. Going to college will only be possible through scholarships and grants.

Being Mexican-American has shaped me in ways that go beyond just culture-it has defined my work ethic, my resilience, and my dreams. My parents came to this country with nothing but the hope of giving their children a better life. They didn't have the chance to go to college, but they worked tirelessly to make sure my siblings and I never went without food, clothes, or a roof over our heads. Watching them struggle yet never complain taught me that success isn't just about talent-it's about perseverance, sacrifice, and taking pride in your work. That lesson has stuck with me, and it's why I push myself every day to become the best version of myself. I chose to pursue automotive technology because I love cars, but more than that, I want to be part of something bigger. My goal is to work for Porsche's motorsport team, where I can be at the forefront of high-performance engineering. This dream isn't just about me-it's about proving that someone from a first-generation, low-income background can make it in an industry where few people look like me. Through my education at UTI and the BMW FastTrack program, I'm taking the steps necessary to build the skills and connections that will get me there. However, pursuing this path comes with financial challenges. My family of six lives on a limited income, and while my parents support my dreams, they cant afford to pay for my education. I've worked hard to earn my place in trade school, but without scholarships, the cost of tuition, tools, and living expenses would be overwhelming. This scholarship would ease that burden, allowing me to focus on my training without constantly worrying about how to make ends meet. My heritage has taught me that hard work and determination can open doors. I'm ready to walk through those doors-I just need the opportunity to do so. This scholarship would bring me one step closer to achieving my goals, not just for myself but for my family and for the younger generation who will see that anything is possible with dedication and perseverance.

My story is unique to me but resonates to many others in similar situations. My parents moved to California when my mom was 23 and pregnant with my older brother, while my dad was only 17 years old. Neither of my parents had the chance to finish their education- my mom didn’t complete high school, and my dad didn’t even get the opportunity to finish elementary. My dad had a difficult upbringing with no father figure in the house and a mom whose love language was the belt snapping on her kids back. Diana Baumrind, a clinical psychologist,developed a theory that states that children's behavior can be attributed to the specific parenting style they experience in their homes. Of course, this theory proved to be true once me and my siblings felt a belt snapping on our backs as well. Due to lack of education my parents could never secure high paying jobs that could provide the “American Dream” lifestyle. My dad spent his life working in construction hanging drywall, while my mom worked in various factories for all her life as well. As a result, we've been kicked out of three apartments and had to live with two different uncles for the span of more than a year all due to financial struggle. I don’t want Baumrind's theory to become a reality in my life. Instead, I'd rather follow Murray Bowens’s theory of family systems. Bowen emphasized that children usually respond to their parents behavior in one of two ways: they might repeat the patterns of their parents or work to differentiate themselves from their parents. In many aspects of my life, I would like to repeat my parents' examples-hard working, caring, loving, selfless, disciplined, and family oriented. But there are also some patterns I would like to change such as hitting, alcoholism, drugs, and most importantly, the value of a higher education. I want to seize the opportunity to become someone I know my parents would’ve aspired to be but sadly couldn’t, simply because higher education wasn’t something they could’ve grasped. I understand they wish they could support my education financially, but that’s just not a reality for them. This scholarship would make a huge difference in helping me become someone my parents weren’t able to. This scholarship is a crucial way to not only help me financially, but to help fulfill my parents dreams for their kid.