My name is Aaliyah and I am Dominican, as well as a first-generation college student. At the age of twelve, I reached puberty which led to problems with my self-confidence and soon after I became anxious and isolated myself from the people around me. I was aware of the shift in my personality and was conflicted about who I was, so I did some soul-searching. Soul-searching is complex and is something I continue to do, but this new beginning led me to discover mental health and psychology, two words I never knew existed, and is the reason why my major is Neuroscience. My way of soul searching was through Ted talks, spoken poetry, and reading articles from websites like VeryWell Mind. Through these sources, I entered a new world of people being open about their mental health and realized the wide spectrum within it. Finally, I felt seen and was able to improve the methods by which I took care of myself by going outside, writing down my thoughts, and talking with people. Remembering those days of awakening I am constantly reminded of the people who aren’t aware of what mental health is and feel dragged down by the weight of their negative emotions and environment, conflicted about what they can do. I see this daily with family members and strangers who I converse with. I know the importance of awareness and understanding the complexity of our brain and how our body works, which strangely enough we aren’t taught. We are told we are “too young” to know our own bodies, which implements bad habits. I want to change this and not only educate myself on the brain but educate others and help spread awareness globally and throughout my city, where immigrants reside who are too busy adjusting to take care of themselves. My interest in STEM truly sparked during high school as I took Robotics, Computer Science, and Digital and Natural Worlds. Through these classes, I became aware of what artificial intelligence (AI) is, and the science behind artificial neural networks, and got to discuss the current state of society regarding technology policies and new AI inventions that have brought about controversies (like most STEM topics do). Hearing varied opinions on AI motivates me to determine my own view on what would be a great trajectory that is inclusive. This stems from discussions from people like Joy Buolamwini who advocate for awareness of racial bias that leads to imprecise profiling of criminals by a general facial recognition software that law enforcement has been implementing. Growing up with technology I have easily accepted its presence, not questioning how it functions and the ways it is used in public. I have now realized the passive role I played and now take the time to look at all perspectives of technology and how it influences our society. The complexity of STEM and the hidden impact that it has on our lives makes me excited to dissect it all. To share with others and raise discussions. The greatest challenge I faced was the pandemic. The pandemic created a time of isolation where despair accompanied me everywhere I went. For a whole year, I was chained to my room feeling no motivation to do anything. The fear of this unknown virus caused my family to not step one foot outside, which is insane to think about now. My brain had ingrained the action of waking up, classes, watching videos, sleeping and repeat. My methods of self-care flew out of the window as I became suffocated by my new life. I was stuck for a long time, but slowly the want of something new that was outside of my small house crept forward. This feeling is the reason why I applied to YouthWorks, a youth employment program. I was accepted and was only given four options. Three of them were online, right away I knew I didn’t want that for me, so I took the in-person summer job, being a muralist. The new environment filled me with excitement. I willingly put myself in the leadership position advocating for my views and helping intertwine the YouthWorks requirements for job training with our jobs as muralists. That summer I gained back my communication skills and felt like myself again. This experience taught me a lot about myself and my mental health, as well as the importance of work experiences and programs to help enlighten and improve crucial work and life skills: creativity, responsibility, critical thinking, and teamwork.

Taking care of children and helping with their development is a big part of my life. A big problem in our society is in the way we raise our children. With the increase of technology leading to unhealthy screen time, safety issues in schools, lack of mental care, and lack of close attention to the various learning skills, there is a lot to do to help the next generations. These are some of the many reasons why I spend time helping children. I have always loved children. Their silly stories, laughter, and energy always put me in a happy mood and this is why I never say no to helping take care of them. From middle school to now I spend a lot of time helping with my mother’s friends day care. The kids range from five months to five years old. My time there can either be peaceful or chaotic, but most times a mix of both. I help prepare meals and lead activities like dancing, coloring, and joining their imagination games. When it's time to go outside and play I like to help the shy kids feel comfortable branching out and doing something that makes them happy. Taking care of kids there are always clashes due to possession issues, energy levels, and sudden mood shifts. I have had my fair share of kids running around and saying no to me when I say it's bedtime. There have also been hits when two kids want the same thing and some days they’re more agitated than usual. During this the solution can be difficult, most times there isn’t one, because a big part of it is getting adjusted to sharing items with others. All of these are similar events I experience within various childcare facilities, that help form healthy communication skills within young children. This experience with kids made it easier for me to volunteer at the Youth Center in Cheshire. Similar to that experience I supervised the children during recess playing tag and helping them down the slide, while also leading classes on alphabet and numbers. Attention issues were a big thing that I could help with by making the activity more interactive and focusing on certain children by calling their names. This experience inspired me to take the internship at the Pediatric Development Center where I play games with children so I can help with their language skills and pay close attention to their motor skills and social skills. Helping children grow and learn is a long process that has many bumps, but is worthwhile. It is a way to help children start in a place where they can openly express themselves and can discover what they like and don’t. In each childcare center, I have had the opportunity to see a child develop in front of my eyes, to slowly branch out and not be afraid to ask questions, voice concerns, and make the first step to communicating with fellow children. Being a witness to this continuously fulfills me with joy and a sense of accomplishment. I will continue to learn from kids and also apply what I have learned to better support the education of other children that I have the opportunity to take care of because it is something that I am passionate about and I want to help influence children to become great communicators that express themselves and care for others.

Taking care of children and helping them develop is a big part of my life. A big problem in our society is in the way we raise our children. With the increase of technology leading to unhealthy screen time, safety issues in schools, lack of mental care, and lack of close attention to the various learning skills, there is a lot to do to help the next generations. This is one of the many reasons why I spend time helping children with their development skills. I have always loved children. Their silly stories, laughter, and energy always put me in a happy mood and that is why I never say no to helping take care of them. From middle school to now I spend a lot of time helping at my mother's friend's daycare. The kids range from five months to five years old. My time there can either be peaceful or chaotic, but most times a mix of both. I help prepare meals and lead activities like dancing, coloring, and joining their imagination games. When it's time to go outside and play I like to help the shy kids feel comfortable branching out and doing something that makes them happy. Taking care of kids there are always clashes due to possession issues, energy levels, and sudden mood shifts. I have had my fair share of kids running around and saying no to me when I say it's bedtime. There have also been hits when two kids want the same thing and some days it's easy for them to get upset. During this the solution can be difficult, most times there isn’t one, because a big part of it is getting adjusted to sharing items with others. All of these are similar events I experience with every child. This experience with kids made it easier for me to volunteer at the Youth Center in Cheshire. Similar to that experience I supervised the children during recess playing tag and helping them down the slide, while also leading classes on alphabet and numbers. Attention issues were a big thing that I could fix at times by making the activity more interactive. This experience inspired me to take the internship at the Pediatric Development Center where I play games with children and help with their language skills and pay close attention to their motor skills and social skills. Helping children grow and learn is a long process that has many bumps, each one educating and preparing you for future experiences. I will continue to learn from kids and also use the things I learn to better support the education of other children that I have the opportunity to take care of.

At family events, I embrace my relatives with a kiss on the cheek or a hug. I enjoy the women chatting and laughing aloud as they sip coffee, their faces bright with affection. Their Spanish is smooth, sharp, and filled with love, especially the loud and joyful Dominican accent. Although I admire the language, I have never been able to master Spanish myself. Despite growing up surrounded by Spanish speakers and even taking classes since the second grade, I didn’t fully realize the extent of my language barrier and the effect this would have until I was 12 years old. I was too afraid to improve, my ignorance had formed an unconquerable gap between me and my culture. This gap became increasingly evident during boarding school where I had to actively bring my culture to a new community, due to the lack of Hispanics. People would continuously ask me questions about my accent (that I didn’t know I had) and ethnicity, forcing me to confront aspects of myself I had never deeply considered before. I realized that I had never taken the time to think about what my culture meant to me. Ii had grown up surrounded by Dominican food, music, and TV shows, but I had never questioned or explored these aspects of my life. It wasn’t until ninth grade that I decided to immerse myself in my culture and learn Spanish. Growing up in a predominantly Hispanic city, I felt like an outlier at times when speaking to people who only spoke Spanish. Now I want to change this, I wanted to enrich myself with the Dominican culture, something that surprisingly I never was well educated on. To achieve this, I started small by listening to Spanish artists and educating myself on current events in the Dominican Republic through articles and documentaries. I hope to be well informed when I visit the Dominican Republic in the future. My main focus is on learning Spanish. Instead of learning the typical Spanish curriculum that focuses on the Spain approach, I focused on Dominican resources, such as podcasts like Dosis Diaria Roka and Cuentale Al Podcast. These resources are both educational and entertaining, and they allow me to fully immerse myself in the Dominican language. By repeating their words and practicing my pronunciation, I have been able to make progress in my language-learning journey. My daily life now includes multiple connections to my culture, which made it easier for me to get a job at a Spanish-speaking non-profit organization last summer. Although I was nervous about communicating with clients in Spanish, I challenged myself to provide resources and communicate effectively. This experience helped me realize the importance of initiating connections, no matter how small they may seem, and learning from mistakes. Despite the challenges I face in feeling fully Dominican, I cherish my culture and language. It has taught me to confront my shortcomings and to overcome my fears.

Ever since my sixth birthday, I have become accustomed to spending it all. A habit I am gradually breaking out of. Growing up I felt excited each time my birthday came near, a time of celebration and an increase of money. With this new abundance of money I plan a day out to the mall or look through Amazon deciding on what I can buy. By the end of the day I have nothing left. I grew up never understanding the concept of saving and investing, since my mother also didn’t understand the terms as well. The times when I did end up “saving” I was still left in the end with no money, one reason for this being that I did not have an income, but I understand now the bad habits of splurging were growing within me. As I got older I came to realize the lack of financial literacy taught to me and people around the same age that were within my community. With my family consisting of immigrants, everyone lacked a deep understanding of the financial system. I want to change this. I started small just by downloading the app Zogo. It was clear and straight to the point, giving me the definitions behind insurance, emergency fund, taxes, savings, credit cards, and budgeting (I now know the 50/30/20 method and can stop myself from my unhealthy splurging habits). The quizzes at the end of each chapter helped reiterate the importance of these topics and ingrain it within me. From this I was able to see how complex finance is and the limitless subparts within this topic. I also keep these written to remind myself what I have to do to reach financial security. Seeing the struggles of my mother with daily expenses and my tuition, has built the determination within me to be able to have financial security and go beyond that so I can provide for her and help her with my new learned skills. Zogo was helpful, but it was only the basics and didn’t delve deeper into ways I could start implementing these skills as a minor. This brought me to Coursera and websites looking specifically for information specific to young adults. I plan to dedicate the summer to preparing myself, since I also will be taking a summer job and be able to implement the skills I learn. There is still a lot to educate myself on, but now I understand the importance of financial literacy. I wish my mother had known the importance of this and could have taught this to my brother and I. I am still grateful for my mother and this experience has given me a stronger motive to be able to pass my wealth to my future children.

Being sick is universally despised. Despite fleeting wishes of falling ill to avoid school, the reality of being bedridden and unmotivated leads to regret. However, one sick day at home led to a fond memory of discovering a love for the Barbie franchise through Barbie and the Diamond Castle. The soothing melodies of the movie embraced my body, rejuvenating me and teaching me foundational skills on how to fully enjoy life. I was still in elementary school when I woke up at four am to empty my stomach. It was a disgusting feeling that left me hugging myself tightly and calling for my mom. She offered me medicine and went to her job, leaving me on the living room couch, going through stages of sleep, pain, and boredom. Scavenging through the television, I stumbled upon Barbie and the Diamond Castle. The movie cover contained my favorite colors, pink and purple, and beautiful dresses. All the images captivated me and sent a pleasant feeling of warmth and an irking curiosity, as it screamed: “Magical!” Enticed, I clicked on the movie and got comfortable, not knowing what to expect, but feeling a sense of zen. Right away, music blared from the speakers, weaving through the air with the strums of a guitar. Its melody cast a spell upon me as I sunk deeper into the couch, my eyes widening in delight. Barbie and Teresa appeared on screen, singing, “So rare to find a friend like you” Their voices were interrupted by a little girl who is having friendship problems. Barbie and Teresa decide to share insight by telling a story about two girls, Liana and Alexa, who have little but enjoy life as they have each other and their love for music. The movie is about their journey as two kind and loyal women who help a girl named Melody trapped within a mirror by Lydia, who plans to destroy the diamond castle to get rid of music. The movie was a musical masterpiece that gave me chills upon hearing the melodies, making me dance and sing along. It introduced me to musicals and the various genres of music, changing my life. Music allows me to explore new cultures, learn new instruments (right now the electric guitar as my love for rock music increases), and find peace within myself and my current situation in life. Barbie and the Diamond Castle motivated me despite my sick condition, allowing me to remember that I am more than my body. Just like how the music moved me while watching, It brought me along a musical journey of putting on music, feeling the shivers down my spine, as I groove along with the beat. A time to let off steam, which I do every time I walk to class and on my morning walks. The soundtrack was life-changing, but the theme of friendship and loyalty also plays a big role in why I remember the movie as the key turning point of my life. Liana and Alexa’s empathy and kindness inspired me to hold deep relationships with the people I care for, always being there for them and mindful of my behavior. This movie also introduced me to the other amazing Barbie movies that hold themes of forgiveness, kindness, loyalty, and determination. Barbie and the Diamond Castle has not only impacted my life but also gives me a wonderful nostalgic feeling, reminding me of my growth as a person and inspires me to always stay true to myself and what I know is right.

Growing up, mental health was not something that was discussed in my household. It wasn’t until I reached seventh grade that I realized something had changed in my personality. I became more anxious and isolated myself, despite previously enjoying the presence of others. I knew something was wrong, but I couldn’t pinpoint it. To understand what was happening to me, I started reading about mental health on websites like Psychology Today and Verywell Mind, they taught me self-care, anxiety, and more. Learning about mental health led me to acceptance and a new love for psychology as well as awareness. It was able to pinpoint my mother slowly falling into depression, as she tried to manage the weight of being the primary supporter (physically and emotionally). I saw my aunt’s cluelessness towards her mental disorder, schizophrenia, which impacted her health and my family. Both were prescribed medication but were unaware of its impact. A part of their struggles stems from a lack of awareness about mental illnesses and disorders, resulting in symptom concealment and incorrect treatment. This mental health struggle within my family has inspired me to become a psychiatrist that works closely in spreading resources within communities. To achieve this I will attend Simmons University with a major in neuroscience and a minor in health management with a pre-health track. Although I have no firsthand experience with individuals diagnosed with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), I have had questions regarding medication, drugs, and alcohol. Like the process by which medication alters brain chemistry, and what makes drugs and alcohol addictive and attractive to minors. Many minors around me express eagerness to drink and smoke, some boasting about it. These minors are the same ones that use junkie to describe people who struggle with SUD. Their lack of education and stigma is evident. Interested in this topic I began to educate myself about SUDs and the various stigmas. With this new view, I knew that I wanted to expand my knowledge of SUDs and eradicate the stigma, medical information, and the ways the brain is affected, to the community. To do this I plan on joining multiple non-profit organizations as a volunteer and intern to help spread awareness. Last summer I worked as a program assistant at Greater Lawrence Community Action Council (GLCAC). During this time, I helped spread resources on mental health and housing resources in my community. This experience exposed me to the value of non-profit organizations and inspired me to seek out similar opportunities. Attending Simmons University in Boston has provided me access to multiple medical resources, including non-profits like Victory Programs, which supports people with SUDs and offers volunteer and intern opportunities that I will partake in, some of the tasks includes building harm reduction kits and serving meals. As I pursue my neuroscience major, I am committed to expanding my knowledge to make a positive impact on those affected by SUDs. I believe that education and combating harmful stigmas within communities are critical in helping individuals recover. Thus, I plan to share my research through campus events, community gatherings, and resource fairs. I aspire to create spaces for communities where disorders and illnesses are treated with respect, compassion, and understment.

At the age of ten, I went to the Walmart book aisle(a habit that began when I was five), but this time I got Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, a poetry collection that introduced me to feminism. The book ends with poems that convey how women are more than their outward appearance, how they are intelligent, brave, resilient, and striking. Reading this I felt empowered, at the time I was going through the stages of puberty and experiencing my period for the first time, feeling disconnected from my body I also felt disconnected from my gender. While the definition of feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights that allow them equal opportunities as men, the complex history and the trail of empowerment make feminism way more than a movement. Growing up I was unaware of feminism. For whatever reason, the discussion of women in history and the sexist roots of society were topics that people avoided teaching younger children, even though many children assimilate sexist views. Reading biographies and realistic fiction on women was my source of education at the time and like Kaur’s effect on me I was able to reflect and learn how to care for my mental being by not allowing sexist views to influence me and learning about the ways to speak up in expressing my opinions. From this, I was motivated to attend an all-girls high school. Attending an all-girls high school I was introduced to the history of the women’s movement and am surrounded by amazing women who continue to advocate for equality of voice, opportunity and expression. In this space, I further connected with feminism and took time to attend discussions and watch videos from channels like Jubilee, Vice, and Tedx Talks. Listening to these conversations I came across the various negative associations that people interchange with feminism. Hearing about the belief that feminism is against men and is focused more on women over everyone else, made me reflect on the believed definition of feminism of various people. I wanted to help spread the true definition of feminism and the awareness that people will always form their ideologies and spread them despite them being against the equality that feminism stands for. There are many aspects of the feminist movement that have been forgotten and wrongfully representative of feminism. The lack of discussion on intersectionality towards people of color and the continuous fight for equal opportunities continue to be an issue due to the strong influence of women being subjected to only their bodies and the role race plays in history. With the knowledge of the views and effects of feminism, I know it is my responsibility as a feminist, someone who believes in fighting for women to have equal opportunities, to spread awareness of the importance of feminism. Through the spread of voice in the discussion, presenting awareness of feminism to my community, and helping spread the importance to adults so they can share with children. All things I will continue and expand on.