Life is filled with too many uncertainties. With this in mind, it's important to give your 100 percent as often as possible; as well as create connections. I believe I fulfill this by becoming a student-athlete. Despite being in an ever-changing program with different coaching, my effort and passion has not wavered. I value effort, commitment, and connections. I earned my varsity letters over time and maintained my grades. This is demonstrated through my scholar athlete awards, participation awards, and team captain recognition. Being the best player in the world is not my biggest priority, but becoming the best I can be to support others and turn into a reliable player as well as person too. The classroom is another place I tend to thrive in. My reliability is demonstrated in my grades and the effort I place in any assignment, test, or project whether it is done in groups or independently. I may not have a lot of AP classes, but I do the best I can to become a maternity or neonatal-related nurse. I signed up for a medical program called HEART Academy which helps gives me hands-on knowledge and experiences in the medical field. Furthermore, I signed up for Dual Enrollment classes to receive college as well as high school credit to try to get ahead on my general education studies so the financial load of pursuing my education as a nurse is lessened. However, this is all not just for me; it lightens the load my widowed mom experiences as she tries to help provide for my siblings and I. Even if I am a middle child, I will be relied on more by my mom and little sister, which is natural as my older siblings work to achieve a future they desire. As I also pursue a career in nursing, I aspire to join a CNA program to gain experience and work as I apply for colleges then receive a BSN and soon after, a Masters degree in nursing. While my life has shifted through changes, these ultimate goals I have will not shake for my passion of helping, guiding, and helping other heals.

Since I was a little girl, I grew up wanting to do something. I always wanted to go to college and start a career. That dream is still cemented within me today. I want to go to a university and be a to graduate with a BSN and a master's degree. I want to be a neonatal nurse because it is my dream to care for these babies. It has always been my belief that every person should have a chance at having a life. I believe I can do that by becoming a nurse. I would use the money to be able to afford to go to a university. As a low-income, first-generation, Mexican in high school, I am trying everything I can to loosen the financial burden on my parents. I want to lessen the burden because it is also important for me that my three siblings also get an opportunity to pursue the career they want. My brother and sisters are my inspiration. They are the reason why I am here today wanting to help others. I am currently in a medical program in my high school called HEART Academy. I am in this program because it will help me expand my knowledge and educate me about the medical field. Students in the program also have the chance to earn three college credits per semester as long as they maintain a grade of B or higher. This helps the expenses because I would be completing the medical terminology section that is required for me to become a nurse. These classes aren't the only way I try to be a driven student. I study every week and review any notes taken in my classes. I am dedicated to becoming a nurse. As a nurse, you need to be prepared, accountable, and driven to help out patients. I am trying my best to embody the kind of person I want to be and am learning new things along the way. Helping others such as neonates would not only benefit me but also the community of people who may need help. If I were to receive this scholarship, the only purpose I would use the money for would be to pay for tuition at a college or university. The money would not only help me personally create a better life, but it would also loosen the burdens that my family has.

There are many difficulties that I went through as a first-generation minority. I grew up learning that I was too Mexican to be American and too American to be Mexican. Finding my identity and walking through the maze of "the American dream" is difficult to go through. I went through different issues growing up. They ranged from bullying to learning an entirely new language. However, these adversities have turned me into the person that I am today. Learning a new language and having to deal with bullies from a young age was certainly an experience. I never spoke English until I was signed up for preschool. I had difficulty learning and differentiating Spanish from English. I had to adapt to a new age to a different language. However, I tried to overcome this by reading bilingual books and being placed in an English Language Learners program. I was slowly able to improve my English skills. This practice eventually led me to leave the English language learners program. Another issue I had growing up was how to be more mature and deal with bullies. I also grew up being bullied throughout time. I have always been made fun of for the accent I still have and other physical characteristics that I have grown up with. For example, I was also made fun of for my hairy arms since I was little and it was such an "abnormal" thing to have. I used to go home crying in the shower since I was embarrassed about crying over something I just had naturally. I started telling my parents about the bullying until fourth or fifth grade. They began reporting this to my teachers and some of the kids got in trouble and didn't make fun of me for a while until I reached sixth grade. In sixth grade, I was opening up my locker to get changed for P.E. when I noticed a note in my locker. That note had a death threat targeted towards me and I immediately chose to discuss this issue with my counselor. Unfortunately, the culprit was never discovered, but I did learn that bullying should never be ignored or be taken as "just a joke". Now, I always try to help a person and try my best to be empathetic and sympathetic because you never know what a person is going through. Bullying and mistreating others is not a joke because it harms people. Fortunately, I have learned from these experiences. Bullying can derive from experiences as a child or even go as far back as being a toddler. A person should always be treated with kindness no matter the age. This is why I want to major in nursing. I want to become a neonatal nurse to help other newborns and help assure other families whether or not they are immigrants or first-generation parents in the United States.

'Wildest Dreams' is my favorite song on Taylor Swift's '1989' album. Taylor Swift has expressed her feelings through her writing. It is especially shown in the effort she has demonstrated by creating her version of the song. 'Wildest Dreams' has many verses that specifically relate to me as well. Furthermore, the progression of a relationship that would never work out. What also makes this song so great for me is that all of these aspects of the song make it perfect to listen to whenever, wherever. This is also demonstrated through the progression in the intensity of the instruments within the song. The lyrics within 'Wildest Dreams' are relatable to me on a certain level. This song shares many details about a relationship that was always doomed. However, I relate to some of these lyrics on a platonic level. An example of my interpretation is when Taylor sings "...when you leave me I bet these memories Follow you around...". Just like the main person expresses, they still wonder about their past relationship with that person. However, for me, I still wonder how some of my old friends that I have been distanced from are. Even if my friendship with that person was not perfect, I still wonder if they still remember me or what I believe were great or bad memories of our relationship. While the lyrics help create the story, the musicality of the song helps tie it together. The melody in the song also progresses throughout the story. The song begins slowly and it progresses as the story is told. As the story unfolds, so does a faster melody within the song. Despite the rush the song brings, the song continues in this dreamy, euphoric atmosphere. This is clever because the title of the song itself is 'Wildest Dreams'. However, this also aligns with the story about a doomed relationship that a person still has not completely gotten over. The transitions this song has throughout the story create a vibe that can be listened to at any part of the day. The overall meaning and melody of the song have captured my attention. Over time, it has taken a special place in my heart. My interpretation of the lyrics along with its musicality has made it my favorite song. The progression of the story and melody working together has made a great song for me to listen to at any time. Out of all of the '1989' album songs by Taylor Swift, 'Wildest Dreams' is my favorite song.