Minority Women in STEM Scholarship

My dream of becoming a veterinarian has been persistent since I was a child, a product of my early exposure to pets. I've grown accustomed to a household filled with cats, guinea pigs, birds, and the care needed for each of them. I have vivid memories of fostering kittens needing special medical care, and when my own childhood cat needed surgery for a benign mass, I was exposed to the inner workings of animal medicinal care. Leading up to my cat's surgery, I attended all the appointments required to understand the procedure, giving me my first experience of proper clinical care. I found myself translating and explaining the meaning of the procedure and his condition to my family, and it felt instinctual for me to want to understand each necessary step of the operation. Not just from a place of concern, but immense curiosity about the procedure. These frequent visits to clinics solidified a dream for a career in animal medical care, and I expanded on my knowledge by engaging in courses that would fulfill my curiosity. My junior year I took Marine Biology as I was considering specializing in aquatic care, and this year I am taking Honors Anatomy and Physiology along with a dual enrollment Kinesiology course through Cal State East Bay. While my school doesn’t offer animal specific courses aside from Marine Bio, I focused on depending my understanding of biology on the human level due to the overlap in topics. I was even given the chance to dissect various animals, such as a cat in my Anatomy course. I've expanded on my passion through hands-on work with animal shelters, helping care for and rehabilitate animals who had been abandoned, abused, or life long strays. Despite the hour-long commute, nothing beat the hands on work and joy each animal brought me. Each one I helped gave me new insight into a future my younger self always envisioned. I knew I had to pursue this dream not just for my medical fascination, but the empathy and patience it required. Now as I plan to pursue my major of Animal Science at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, my dreams feel closer than ever, yet I can’t ignore the financial circumstance my family and I are in. At the beginning of the school year my family was hit with the sudden unemployment of my mom, our household's sole provider. Due to this sudden change I have had to pick up a part time job to cover my personal school expenses such as AP testing, college applications, graduation gown and photos ,while also providing as much support as I can to my mom in paying bills. While we were already low income prior to her job loss, earning around 38,000 a year, this had made us even more vulnerable, adding immense pressure and stress to us. Despite these financial struggles, my desire in pursuing higher education remains strong and it’s for this reason that I am taking the time to share and relive such personal experiences. It's more than a want for financial support, it's a need. I need as much assistance that I can acquire, and with every penny I get I will not just be grateful or appreciative. I will make an impact. I especially understand the impact support can have on a person, which is why I now feel comfortable asking for it. I now have a future for myself, one I desire to be in control of. Any financial support will help guarantee not just control, but success.

I was accepted to the University of Nevada, Reno, an opportunity I worked hard to achieve and one that brings me closer to my goal of earning a degree in computer science. However, just as I prepared to begin this journey, my family faced an unexpected hardship. My father lost his job, and with that loss, our ability to support the cost of my out-of-state education became uncertain. My family is doing everything possible to stay afloat. We are relying on savings to cover basic necessities like food and utilities, but those resources are limited. My mother works for minimum wage, and while she has considered taking out loans, the only options available to us come with extremely high interest rates that could place our family in long-term debt. I cannot allow my education to become a burden that jeopardizes my family’s financial stability. Without financial assistance, I may have to delay my education or take on full-time work to support my household. This would put me behind in achieving my academic and career goals. I have always been committed to my education, maintaining high academic standards and striving to go directly to college after high school. I want to continue that momentum, not lose it due to circumstances beyond my control. As a Hispanic female pursuing a degree in computer science, I am determined to succeed in a field where diversity is still growing. I am passionate about technology and motivated by the opportunity to contribute to innovations that can strengthen and protect my community, my state, and my country. I know that with the right support, I can excel academically and maintain a strong GPA while fully dedicating myself to my studies. More importantly, I hope to become the first college graduate in my family. This achievement would not only change my future, but also ease the financial and emotional burden my family has carried in supporting me. They have always believed in my potential, and I want to honor their sacrifices by succeeding. I am actively applying to scholarships and seeking every available resource to fund my education. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to focus on my studies without the constant worry of my family’s financial situation. It would give me the stability I need to stay on track and achieve my goals. This has been a challenging time for my family, but it has also strengthened my determination. I am committed to my education, to my future career, and to making a meaningful impact. With your support, I will be able to continue my journey and turn this opportunity into a reality.