In high school, during my sophomore year, I was hit by a car. This took a toll on me, not just physivally but mentally I had been lying to my mom for a while and going to the store with a boy that i liked after school eneded talking to hispanic parents about things is always hard in the latino community the feeling of feeling shamed and the fear of talking just freezes you making it feel like you are forced to lie. after the car hit me my relatioship with my mom took a toll she lost trust in me this made me turn to my faith in God and pour time into myself find what I loved and learn to break the chains that were installed on me from generations of Latinos who were taught to be "strong" and that crying and speaking out is for the "weak" I worked on myself becuase i realised io derved time to heal and throught that i relaized how much i wanted o help other famiies with the same views of the hispainc commuity by not seeing therapy as something tabo but rather something neccary something like how you need physical health both are important both help with the shaping of our world we need confident, accountable, and compassionate to help shape our society I hope to bridge the gap between generations, honoring the resilience of the past while teaching ways to process, express, and understand feelings. If I can show just one person that it's okay to be vulnerable, to speak up, and allow themselves time to heal. That's the kind of change I want to create, not just for individuals, but for communities. Healing, listening, and leading with empathy are not just personal goals for me; they are my calling. This is a legacy I hope to leave behind, a culture where emotions are valued, where leaders are compassionate and accountable, where being open about struggles is celebrated, not hidden. Scholarships like these allow me to follow my calling while not having to worry my mom with college-related things regarding me, as I wait for my social security number to fill out a FAFSA form. I've been blessed with a mom who supports me to do what I love. I am ready to face the challenges ahead of me and turn them into opportunities to make a long-lasting impact on my community.