My name is Agustina Muela. I am a Uruguayan first-generation student, and I'm attending Collin Community College to pursue a degree in Psychology and Medicine, focusing on Child Development. I’ve always questioned why the major I chose to pursue resonated so deeply with me, why I perceived the world as I did, and why I felt an urgent need to gain the knowledge I required to provide the best care for children. It wasn’t until I witnessed my parents diligently face adversity to provide me with the best life they could, that I truly understood the impact of my background on my worldview. I watched as they worked tirelessly through sleepless nights to write emails and respond to work demands, struggling with putting their thoughts into English. I saw them save empty bottles and containers that would have otherwise been discarded, fearing that my siblings and I would grow up wondering if there was enough money in their wallets for our daily needs. I witnessed them endure public discrimination with patience and humility, coming home with the ache of feeling like they didn’t belong here. Despite long days, they've always prepared homemade meals, because we eat together as a family, no matter the circumstances. I saw my mother braiding my sister’s hair at four in the morning and my father cooking meals for my brother late at night to ensure he had a proper lunch at school. Growing up, they were taught to never give up on what they love. My journey to discovering my career path began by volunteering at my church preschool. Though I had a passion for psychology, I wasn’t sure where it stemmed from. Interacting with a diverse group of children, I began to draw connections between their behaviors and the stages of mental development I had learned in my AP Psychology class. I observed how other volunteers responded to children with behavioral differences, whether they were loud and uncontrollable or quiet and isolated. As a high school student with a budding interest in child psychology, I too faced challenges in learning how to comfort a toddler. But over time, I found myself patiently trying to understand each child’s communication style, even if it took considerable time, to ensure they felt heard despite the social barrier. I met children who only spoke Spanish and watched their confidence flourish as they realized they could speak to me and be heard just like the others. I built block towers and searched for extra toys in other classrooms, even after hours of activity and stress. I dressed the little girls in princess dresses and accessories so they could admire themselves in the mirror, watching their eyes light up as they saw their favorite princess in the reflection. I sat with children who were left to play alone, engaging them in one-on-one activities and conversations to give them a sense of purpose in the classroom, despite their differences. Because my biggest fear is that they’ll grow up wondering if they are enough. I eventually realized that my teaching style was a radiant mirror image of how my parents have always cared for me. As I chase my passion for Psychology, I aim to carry forward the endurance and care for others that my Hispanic background has ingrained in me. It is the resilience and compassion I’ve learned from my Hispanic community that has kept me determined to excel in my education and career. Although doubted whether investing in my education would be worth the financial cost, my parents have shown me that when you love something, you never give up.