My name is Andrea Guzman and I am a current senior at Solorio Academy High School. At school, I am the Co-President of the Solorio DREAM Team where we advocate for undocumented immigrants. I was also the NHS Vice President of Operations and currently the NHS Vice President of Finance. At home, I am the youngest of four siblings to our Mexican immigrant parents. After I graduate, I will be attending Northwestern University as a chemistry major. One of my motivations to study chemistry is because of my indirect experience with cancer in my family. Growing up I never saw my grandma often as she lived in Mexico and me in the United States. In truth, I only saw her three times with each time being two weeks long. Her name was Rita and she was my mom’s mother. She passed away on January 1st, 2015. I remember waking up that day to my mom crying. We knew this day was coming for a while now as she was getting weaker, but the impact it had on my family was great and in many ways, it was not positive. She had suffered from breast cancer for years prior to her death. My mom said the last time she saw her, she noticed that her mother was going blind and was losing her hearing, spending most of her day sleeping and barely eating. I do remember that the few times I did see Ma Rita (this is how I call her) the whole family on my mom’s side would be there. I especially have this memory of my first and only Christmas in Mexico. We were eating pozole at the table and laughing. I was young, so I didn’t understand the jokes or the discussion, but I laughed nonetheless. However, when Ma Rita died, so did a lot of the relationships in my family. I saw sibling bonds break and father and daughter bonds loosen as well. As a result of that, I have lost contact with some of my aunts. Ma Rita was truly the glue in mom’s family. Now I live with the fear that this might happen to my family as well in the future. It really is interesting how cancer can easily take away one person and as a consequence, everything falls apart. If I could go back in time, knowing what I know now, I would’ve appreciated the times we were all together so much more. I wish Ma Rita had lived for longer. I don’t if that would have changed anything, but at least it would have given us some more good moments. But that won’t happen, so we must continue. My goal now is to study chemistry to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Then I wish to go to graduate school to further study biochemistry. My professional goal would then be to conduct scientific research to help others understand how the body works better in hopes of providing insight and information that might be helpful in other research areas. More specifically, I aim to become knowledgeable about a variety of disabilities and health issues. With that knowledge, I would use it to communicate with other researchers, engineers, and innovators to improve current medicines and orthotics or create new ones. Maybe, just maybe, it will allow families to have more time with their loved ones.

Being part of the disability community has made me view the world in a way where it is important to accept yourself. Because without that, where is the happiness? I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy with dysplasia. Ever since I was little, my walking and mobility, in general, have been different. As a matter of fact, compared to most children, I learned to walk later in age. I would not depict my childhood to be a bed of roses as it consisted of annual doctor appointments, physical therapy, and the daily usage of my AFO orthotic braces. Since I can recall, I’ve endured the feeling of never truly fitting in with my peers. At school, students and staff have always been nice and accommodating which I am grateful for as I’m aware that many have not had the same experience as me. That did not, however, stop me from feeling different and being treated differently. There are still those people who act as if I need to be protected at all times, who think I am made out of glass. It's as if I could break and fall at any minute. The fact that I’m limited in what I can do physically does not help with that perception; it’s made me feel poorly and scared to try new things or do things that “normal” people would do. Especially after my surgery in August of 2017. My recovery consisted of the first three weeks being bedridden. The next three were in a bed/wheelchair, and the last three were spent receiving daily therapy as an inpatient at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. Those nine weeks were difficult for me because I had to be constantly dependent on others. It took its toll on me as I became physically and mentally drained from all the pain and therapy. Even now, therapy continues to be emotionally stressful for me considering I must engage muscles that I did not use before; it makes me feel like I cannot do some things correctly or at all and as a result, it has made me feel self-conscious so I avoided doing them. When it comes to my mental health, I’ve dealt with low self-esteem for years which is something I don’t normally say out loud. Therefore, writing this is challenging as I have never truly spoken about my feelings. However, with time this experience has also changed my perspective on life and myself. I have grown to accept myself more because I have made improvements and I know there are people who are there for me. I used to refuse to wear my AFO braces when I was ever out of the house, especially at school, but now I prefer to wear them. It took me a long time to accept that part of my life. While I am still working on fully embracing this difference, I am glad of how far I have come. If I learned one thing from my continuous journey is to try to live with this perspective: be proud and continue forward! I aim to become knowledgeable in a variety of disabilities and health issues. With that knowledge, I shall utilize it to communicate with other researchers, engineers, and innovators to improve current medicines, and orthotics or create new ones. I want to help others live their lives to the fullest. I hope to provide everyone with the help and resources needed, especially to those who otherwise would not have the finances and opportunity to receive the healthcare they need. I want them to feel comfortable and proud of who they are.

My academic goal is to obtain my bachelor's degree in chemistry and then continue in biochemistry at Northwestern University. Why chemistry? Well, I enjoy investigating and observing life’s laws. Knowing the what and the why behind life processes has made me understand and enjoy life and nature better. It is also very fascinating to learn about how our bodies react to different situations. From my academic studies at college come my personal goals. I hope to take advantage of the opportunities offered at college. I will be striving to create a network among other chemistry majors, science majors, and professors/mentors. I want to experience working with others and build on the connections and communication. This can come in handy in the future because, in job hunting, you’ll have to be able to market yourself and build even more connections. In the case of the professors, I do hope to have the chance to work with them on a research project. What the research project will be, I won’t know until I get there. However, I do know that it will be beneficial to get hands-on experience. During this process, I wish to not only expand my knowledge as a learner but also want to grow as a person. As for my professional goal, I dream of being a scientific researcher. More specifically, I aim to become knowledgeable in a variety of disabilities or health issues. This is because I have cerebral palsy. With that knowledge, I would utilize it to then communicate with other researchers, engineers, and innovators to improve current medicines and orthotics or create new ones. I want to help others live their lives to the fullest. I aim to provide everyone with the help and resources needed, especially to those who otherwise would not have the finances and opportunity to receive the healthcare they need. In the process of all that I will try to bring awareness to the issue of many not believing in those with disabilities. The truth is that three percent of the total workforce identifies as having one or more disabilities. When it comes to terms of the STEM field, twenty-one percent of workers claim to have at least one disability. Because of this, I hope to talk about my journey and inspire those who are like me. I wish to highlight we can do just as great things as others. I know that along the way, it will take time and effort to get attention on the issue, but I know that others are willing to share their support. Along the way, my goal is to be a role model for those who choose me to be their role model. As of now, I have taken AP Biology, AP Calculus, Honors Chemistry, and Honors Physics so that I can start grasping different concepts. These classes specifically have been beneficial because they all seem to interconnect with each other in some way. I have additionally begun a project with Northwestern student engineers. Due to my disability, it is difficult to get on and off a bike, and with the help of the NU students, they will be creating a prototype that will assist in keeping the bike stable and make it easier for me to get on and off. This is an example of what I want to do in the future. I want to research how one’s disability affects one ability to do different things. I would then provide the engineers with that research. The way the NU students are helping me is the way I wish to help others.

My name is Andrea Guzman and I am a current senior at Solorio Academy High School. I plan to make a positive impact on the world through my different goals; all interconnecting with each other. My academic goal is to obtain my bachelor's degree in chemistry and then continue in biochemistry at Northwestern University. Why chemistry? Well, I enjoy investigating and observing life’s laws. Knowing the what and the why behind life processes has made me understand and enjoy life and nature better. It is also very fascinating to learn about how our bodies react to different situations. From my academic studies at college come my personal goals. I hope to take advantage of the opportunities offered at college. I will be striving to create a network among other chemistry majors, science majors, and professors/mentors. I want to experience working with others and build on the connections and communication. This can come in handy in the future because, in job hunting, you’ll have to be able to market yourself and build even more connections. In the case of the professors, I do hope to have the chance to work with them on a research project. What the research project will be, I won’t know until I get there. However, I do know that it will be beneficial to get hands-on experience. During this process, I wish to not only expand my knowledge as a learner but also want to grow as a person. When it comes to my professional goal, I dream of being a scientific researcher. More specifically, I aim to become knowledgeable in a variety of disabilities or health issues. With that knowledge, I would utilize it to then communicate with other researchers, engineers, and innovators to improve current medicines and orthotics or create new ones. I want to help others live their lives to the fullest. I aim to provide everyone with the help and resources needed, especially to those who otherwise would not have the finances and opportunity to receive the healthcare they need. With time I also hope to bring exposure to the fact that having a disability does not make you inferior. I want to help increase the number of workers in the STEM field who have a disability. According to a report by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, 3% of the total workforce identifies as having one or more disabilities. In terms of the STEM field, 21% of workers claim to have at least one disability. This is due to various reasons like those with a disability are less likely to get hired for fear of not performing as well. I want to make this change because I want to be a scientific researcher who has cerebral palsy. I know the feeling of having someone look at you with pity and think you can’t perform as well as others. Making this change will not be easy. I know that there will be people who still doubt us or believe that this is not really an issue. My plan is to bring awareness to the issue by having others and myself speak on our personal journeys. My dream is to inspire others to go fight for their dreams as well regardless of what others may think of you. Unfortunately, the truth is that along the way, it will take time and effort to get attention on the issue. It will be frustrating, but I know that there are others who are willing to share their support.

My name is Andrea Guzman and I am a current senior at Solorio Academy High School. My academic goal is to obtain my bachelor's degree in chemistry and then continue in biochemistry at Northwestern University. I enjoy investigating and observing life’s laws. Knowing the what and the why behind life processes has made me understand life and nature better. It is also very fascinating to learn about how our bodies react to different situations. As for my personal goals, I hope to take advantage of the opportunities offered at college. I will strive to create a network among other students and staff. I want to experience working with others and build on the connections and communication. In the case of the professors, I do hope to have the chance to work with them on a research project as I know that it will be beneficial to get hands-on experience. During this process, I wish to not only expand my knowledge as a learner but also want to grow as a person. When it comes to my professional goal, I dream of being a scientific researcher. More specifically, I aim to become knowledgeable in a variety of disabilities or health issues. With that knowledge, I would utilize it to then communicate with other researchers, engineers, and innovators to improve current medicines and orthotics or create new ones. I want to help others live their lives to the fullest. I want them to have the chance to feel amazing about themselves. Why? I was born with cerebral palsy. Since I can recall, I have endured the feeling of never truly fitting in with my peers. At school, students and staff have always been nice and accommodating which I am grateful for as I am aware that many have not had the same experience as me. That did not, however, stop me from feeling different and being treated differently. There are still those people who act as if I need to be protected at all times, who think I am made out of glass. It's as if I could break and fall at any minute. The fact that I am limited in what I can do physically does not help with that perception; it’s made me feel poorly and scared to try new things or do things that “normal” people would do. When it came to my mental health, I have dealt with low self-esteem for years which is something I don’t say out loud. However, with time this experience has also changed my perspective on life and myself. I have grown to accept myself more because I have made improvements and I know there are people who care about me and are there for me. While I am still working on embracing this difference, I am glad of how far I have come. I will no longer be embarrassed to go out with my braces and will be more willing to discuss my disability. That is why I think I deserve this scholarship because I learned to keep going no matter the obstacles and that every single one of those obstacles just makes me stronger. I now try to live with this perspective: be proud and continue forward!

My curiosity in STEM began in high school. During my sophomore year in high school, I took honors chemistry and I loved it. My favorite units included chemical reactions, stoichiometry, and properties of matter. Then when my junior year came around, I took AP/Dual Credit Biology which I also loved. I enjoyed learning about our body’s cells and genes. Both classes involved the investigation and observation of life’s laws and properties. Knowing the what and the why behind life processes has made me understand life and nature better. I am especially curious about the processes and reactions that keep our bodies working and how different substances affect us. My academic goal is to study chemistry to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Then I wish to go to graduate school to further study biochemistry. I enjoy investigating and observing life’s laws. Knowing the what and the why behind life processes has made me understand life and nature better. I hope to have an opportunity where I can participate in conducting research with a Professor. I want to conduct scientific research to help others understand how the body works better in hopes of providing insight and information that might be helpful in other research areas. As for my career goal, it is important to know the reason behind it. I have cerebral palsy with dysplasia. As a result, I have trouble with my mobility and am required to wear orthotic AFO braces. For my career, I wish to research a variety of disabilities. I would then communicate with engineers and innovators to improve current medicines and orthotics or create new ones. While these goals did not come from books, they did come from my own experience and admiration for my STEM teachers who have guided me and provided me with curiosity and want to make a difference. During my STEM career, I wish to be a role model for others. An impact I aspire to make is to bring exposure to the fact that having a disability does not make you inferior. I want to help increase the number of workers in the STEM field who have a disability. According to a report by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, 3% of the total workforce identifies as having one or more disabilities. In terms of the STEM field, 21% of workers claim to have at least one disability. This is due to various reasons like those with a disability are less likely to get hired in fear of not performing as well as those without a disability. Making this change will not be easy. I plan to talk about my journey and have others talk about their own in hopes of inspiring future generations. It will take time and effort to get attention to the issue, but I know that there are others who are willing to share their support. If awarded the Scholarship, it would be greatly helpful. Some circumstances that affect my need for financial assistance are firstly, the fact that my sister is currently in college. She is in her junior year of college at the moment. This means that in the 2024-2025 school year, there would be two people attending college. We are both dependents of my parents, so they would have to pay even more money out of pocket than in previous years on top of the other necessities that need to be paid. Secondly, the school that I intend to attend, Northwestern University, tends to be more expensive than other schools. Being provided with this scholarship would allow me to pay the $90,000 tuition, board fees, book fees, and other supplies that I will be required to buy for my classes. I know that we are all aware of how pricey they can get. Additionally, I do not work at the moment for a couple of reasons. Some are that I am busy with school and because of my disability, I have therapy appointments and doctor appointments. Unfortunately, a lot of jobs nearby require you to be on your feet for hours and my endurance is not the best. This scholarship would allow for some of the financial burden to be lifted.

Final Chapter: Be Proud and Continue Forward! My senior year ends a journey that I have been on. This chapter title summarizes what I have learned. I was born with cerebral palsy with dysplasia. Ever since I was little, my walking has been different. Compared to most children, I learned to walk later in age. My childhood consisted of yearly physical therapy, doctor appointments, and usage of my AFO orthotic braces. Since I can recall, I have endured the feeling of never truly fitting in with my peers. At school, the community has always been nice and accommodating which I am grateful for as I know that many don't have the same experience. That did not, however, stop me from feeling and being treated differently. There are still those people who think I am made out of glass. It's as if I could break and fall at any minute. The fact that I am limited in what I can do physically does not help with that perception; it’s made me feel poorly and scared to try new things or do things that “normal” people would do. I had surgery in August 2017. The first three weeks of my recovery were spent bedridden, the next three in a bed/wheelchair, and the last three were spent as an inpatient at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. Those weeks were difficult because I had to be heavily dependent on others. It took its toll on me as I became physically and mentally drained from all the pain and therapy. Therapy continues to be emotionally exhausting because I now engage muscles that I didn't use before; it makes me feel like I cannot do some things correctly or at all. When it came to my mental health, I have dealt with low self-esteem for years. Writing this has been challenging as I have never truly spoken about how I feel. However, with time this experience has also changed my perspective on life and myself. I have grown to accept myself more because I know there are people who care for me. While I am still working on embracing this difference, I am glad of how far I have come. I shall no longer be embarrassed to go out with my braces and will be more willing to discuss my disability. The most important I learned is to live with this perspective: be proud and continue forward!

If I had to choose one character from “The Office” that I resonate with the most, it would most likely be Mr. Jim Halpert. I would characterize Jim as someone who is fun but knows when to be serious. That is one of the things that I think is great about his character. Jim likes to fool around, pull pranks, and have fun getting under people’s skin. More specifically, he loves to push Dwight’s buttons, but he never means serious harm. That aspect of Jim does resonate with me in that when I am with friends and family, I love to joke around. I admit I can be annoying as I have a tendency to trick people but I don’t mean harm. My friends and family know that I am playing around. Although he loves to joke around, he also has serious goals and responsibilities. When Jim became regional co-manager compared to Michael, he was more about getting things done. He was more responsible than Michael. Jim is also very serious about his relationship with Pam. He adores her and would do anything for her. His love for her goes deep and anyone can see that. These are things that I also feel resonate with the person I am because when it comes to my goals and responsibilities, I am on top of it. I will take the leadership if I need to and make sure things get done. When it comes to the people of love, I would do anything for them. I hold my family close to me. They are the ones that motivate me in life. Because of that my love and protection for them also goes deep. The show has shaped my perspective on workplace dynamics in which after watching the show, I now think it is important for there to be a great balance between having a fun environment, but also knowing your responsibilities. In order for the workplace to work properly, things need to be getting done. However, having a fun environment will motivate people to come to work and feel welcomed. It can help create bonds and friendships that can be everlasting.

The adversity I overcame was not being able to accept myself. I was born with cerebral palsy with dysplasia. Ever since I was little, my walking has been different. Compared to most children, I learned to walk later in age. I would not depict my childhood as a bed of roses: it consisted of yearly physical therapy, doctor appointments, and the usage of my AFO orthotic braces daily. Since I can recall, I have endured the feeling of never truly fitting in with my peers. At school, students and staff have always been nice and accommodating which I am grateful for as I am aware that many have not had the same experience as me. That did not, however, stop me from feeling different and being treated differently. There are still those people who act as if I need to be protected at all times, who think I am made out of glass. It's as if I could break and fall at any minute. The fact that I am limited in what I can do physically does not help with that perception; it’s made me feel poorly and scared to try new things or do things that “normal” people would do. I had surgery in August 2017. The first three weeks of my recovery were spent bedridden, the next three in a bed/wheelchair, and the last three were spent receiving daily therapy as an inpatient at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. Those nine weeks were difficult because I had to be constantly dependent on others. It took its toll on me as I became physically and mentally drained from all the pain and therapy. Even now, therapy continues to be emotionally stressful for me considering I must engage muscles that I did not use before; it makes me feel like I cannot do some things correctly or at all. When it came to my mental health, I have dealt with low self-esteem for years which is something I don’t say out loud. Therefore, writing this is challenging as I have never truly spoken about how I feel. However, with time this experience has also changed my perspective on life and myself. I have grown to accept myself more because I’ve made improvements and I know there are people who care for me. While I am still working on embracing this difference, I am glad of how far I have come. I shall no longer be embarrassed to go out with my braces and will be more willing to discuss my disability. The most important I learned is to live with this perspective: be proud and continue forward! Continuing forward is what most inspired me about Mr. Terry. He overcame a lot of hardships, ones that can affect you greatly physically, but also mentally. Even though he had seen and experienced things that no one should ever go through, he found the light and continued with his life. He became a father and grandfather which is beautiful. I love the way he used his story to inspire others. That is something I plan to do as well. I will speak of my life in hopes of providing others with the motivation and knowledge that anything is possible, especially to those who are similar to me. Because of my life, I wish to become a researcher. I will be studying chemistry. I aim to become knowledgeable in a variety of disabilities or health issues. With that knowledge, I would utilize it to then communicate with other researchers, engineers, and innovators to improve current medicines and orthotics or create new ones.