Prompt #1: A meaningful act of kindness I have offered someone came through my involvement in both school and community service, especially through food-related volunteer work and my own baking business, Castro’s Bake Shop. One moment that stands out was when I baked extra banana bread for a customer who mentioned they were going through a difficult time financially and emotionally. Instead of simply completing the order, I decided to include an extra loaf with a handwritten note wishing them well. I didn’t expect much in return, but later they reached out to tell me how much that small gesture meant to them. They said it made them feel seen and cared for during a stressful time. That moment was important to me because it showed me that kindness does not have to be something large or expensive to make an impact. Something as simple as food and a few thoughtful words can bring comfort to someone who really needs it. It also reinforced why I started baking in the first place. Inspired by my grandma and my experiences in the kitchen growing up, I learned that food carries emotion, memory, and connection. Beyond my business, I also try to show kindness through my volunteer work in food drives, blood drives, and community organizations like Feed My Starving Children. Whether I am packing meals or helping distribute donations, I understand that many people depend on small acts of support from others. These experiences have taught me to be more aware of what others may be going through and to always look for ways to help. That moment with my customer reminded me that kindness in action is about empathy, attention, and care. It is about noticing people and choosing to do something, even something small, that can improve their day. Prompt #3: I have helped bring people together and create a sense of belonging through my involvement in school, my community, and my passion for food. One of the most meaningful ways I do this is through baking and sharing food with others. Food has always been a powerful connector in my life, especially because of my Peruvian and Mexican heritage. Some of my earliest memories are in the kitchen with my grandma, where cooking brought my family together. That experience shaped how I view community today. Through my small business, Castro’s Bake Shop, I have been able to extend that sense of connection to others. When I sell baked goods, I am not just delivering food; I am creating moments where people can share something comforting with their families and friends. I take pride in knowing that something I made can bring people together at their table, even in a small way. I also create connections through my involvement with the Logan Square Chamber of Commerce, where I help work at the farmers' market. Since 8th grade, I have supported vendors and interacted with community members every season. This experience has shown me how important small businesses are in bringing neighborhoods together and creating a shared space where people feel welcome. At school, I continue building connections through extracurricular activities, academics, sports, and leadership roles. Being selected as one of 12 student leaders for a senior retreat out of 47 applicants allowed me to help guide my peers and create an environment of trust and reflection. That experience taught me how important it is to help others feel included and supported. Overall, I try to use every opportunity I have to bring people together, whether through food, leadership, or service, and create spaces where everyone feels like they belong.

I still remember the first time my grandma made ají de gallina. The white garlic rice, the creamy, slightly spicy yellow sauce, and the shredded chicken left a lasting impression on me. More than the taste, it was the feeling it gave me comfort, joy, and connection. In that moment, I realized I wanted to give others that same feeling through food. That experience, along with my Peruvian and Mexican heritage and strong sense of family, inspired my dream of becoming an entrepreneur and opening my own restaurant. I plan to give back to my community through entrepreneurship by creating a space that brings people together and supports those around me. My future restaurant will not just be a place to eat, but a place where people feel welcomed and valued. I want to create job opportunities for people in my community, especially young individuals who are looking for their first work experience, just like I once was. I also hope to mentor others who are interested in cooking or starting their own businesses, showing them that their goals are possible with hard work and dedication. In addition, I want to give back by hosting community events, supporting local organizations, and providing meals to families in need. I have already started giving back to my community in many ways. I have volunteered through food drives, toy drives, and blood drives, and I have worked with organizations like Feed My Starving Children to help fight hunger. I also work at the Logan Square farmers market, where I support local businesses and help create a strong sense of community. Through these experiences, I have learned the importance of service and the impact that even small actions can have on others. My academic and career goals are centered around becoming a successful entrepreneur in the food industry. I plan to study business and entrepreneurship after high school so I can gain the knowledge and skills needed to build a sustainable business. I have seen family members and friends open restaurants that were not able to last, and those experiences have motivated me to learn how to manage finances, operations, and long-term growth effectively. In January 2025, I began working at Stefani’s Bottega, where I gained firsthand experience in the restaurant industry. This opportunity showed me what it takes to create a welcoming environment and reinforced my passion for hospitality. I have also taken the initiative by starting my own small business, Castro’s Bake Shop, where I manage everything from baking to customer service. This experience has taught me responsibility, time management, and the importance of consistency. I am determined to turn my passion into something meaningful that not only supports my family but also gives back to my community. Through my future business, I hope to create opportunities, bring people together, and make a lasting positive impact.

I envision using my passion for hospitality to create spaces where people feel welcomed, valued, and connected. For me, hospitality is more than serving food; it's about creating an experience that brings comfort, joy, and a sense of belonging to others. This passion began in my grandma’s kitchen. I still remember the first time she made me ají de gallina and the times we made rice pudding and flan together. The smells filled the room, and when I took my first bite of something I helped create, I felt warmth, culture, and connection. That moment stayed with me and inspired me to want to give others that same feeling through food. Baking and cooking have become my way of doing that. I enjoy every part of the process, from measuring ingredients to watching something simple turn into something meaningful. My favorite thing to bake is banana bread because it represents everything I love about hospitality. It is comforting, consistent, and something that brings people together. Whether I am baking for my family or for customers, I know it is something that can make people feel at home. Through baking, I have learned that even small acts, like sharing food, can have a powerful impact on someone’s day. This mindset led me to start my own business, Castro’s Bake Shop. Running my business has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. I handle everything myself, including baking, packaging, promoting, and communicating with customers. This experience has taught me that hospitality is built on trust, responsibility, and attention to detail. People rely on me to deliver quality products, and I take pride in making sure every order meets their expectations. Even when I face challenges, like balancing school and work or fixing mistakes, I stay committed to improving. These moments have helped me grow and understand that true hospitality means putting others first and always striving to do better. In the future, I hope to expand this impact by opening my own bakery or restaurant. I want it to be more than just a place to eat. I want it to be a space where people feel comfortable, welcomed, and connected. I imagine a warm environment filled with culture, where families gather, conversations happen, and everyone feels like they belong. I also want to use my business to give back by creating job opportunities, mentoring young people, and supporting my community. Ultimately, I want to use hospitality to bring people together and make a positive impact on their lives. My goal is to create experiences that people remember not just for the food, but for how it made them feel.

In school, I challenge myself academically and have maintained High Honor Roll throughout high school, earning High Honor Roll with Distinction this year. Outside the classroom, I stay actively involved in extracurricular activities. I played volleyball for three years and football for two, where I developed teamwork, discipline, and leadership skills. I am also involved in music, participating in the jazz band for three years and the pep band for two, which has strengthened my ability to collaborate and perform under pressure. Additionally, I was selected as one of 12 student leaders for my school’s Kairos retreat out of 47 applicants, an experience that allowed me to guide and support my peers in a meaningful way. Beyond school, I am deeply involved in my community. I have volunteered through blood drives, toy drives, food drives, and organizations like Feed My Starving Children. I also work at the Logan Square Chamber of Commerce, where I help run the farmers market, supporting local businesses and engaging with the community. These experiences have taught me the importance of service, responsibility, and giving back. I have a love for cooking and baking. Ever since I was a young kid, I was always in the kitchen with my grandparents, trying to taste everything. I remember the first time my grandma made me aji de gallina. The white garlic rice, the creamy, slightly spicy yellow sauce, and the shredded chicken left an imprint on my heart that will never go away. My passion for food led me to start my own small business, Castro’s Bake Shop. I manage everything myself, from baking and packaging to marketing and customer service. Balancing school, work, and my business has not been easy, but it has taught me discipline, time management, and accountability. Through this experience, I’ve learned that success comes from consistency, hard work, and the willingness to improve after setbacks. After high school, I plan to study business and entrepreneurship so I can turn my passion into a long-term career. My goal is to open my own bakery or restaurant, where I can combine my love for food with my desire to create a welcoming space for others. I want to build something that not only reflects my culture but also brings people together and creates lasting memories. If I could start my own charity, it would focus on fighting food insecurity while building community. My mission would be to provide fresh, culturally meaningful meals to families in need, while also creating opportunities for young people to learn cooking and baking skills. I would serve low-income communities, especially those with limited access to fresh and nutritious food. Volunteers would help prepare and distribute meals, organize food drives, and mentor younger participants by teaching them basic cooking skills. I would also want the charity to create a welcoming environment where people feel valued and connected, not just supported. Everything I do is driven by my passion, my culture, and my desire to give back. Whether through cooking, community service, or my future goals, I want to make a meaningful impact and create something that brings people together.

The thing that inspires me to bake is the feeling that it can create for yourself and others. You can build a sense of comfort, connection, and joy while baking and enjoying the final product. Because of my grandma, I love to cook and bake. Some of my earliest memories are in the kitchen with her. I especially remember the first time she made me ají de gallina. Or the first time we made rice pudding and flan together. The smells filled the room, and when I took my first bite of something that I helped create, I felt more than just satisfaction. I felt warmth, culture, and a sense of belonging. That moment stayed with me, and it inspired me to want to give others that same feeling through baking and cooking. Baking became my stress reliever. Unlike cooking, baking requires patience, precision, and attention to detail. I enjoy the process just as much as the final product. The measuring of ingredients, mixing everything, and watching something simple turn into something special is something I truly love. My favorite thing to bake is banana bread. It may seem simple, but to me it represents everything I love about baking. It’s comforting, consistent, and something that brings people together. Whether I’m baking for my family or for customers, banana bread is something I know will make people feel at home. My passion for baking led me to start my own business, Castro’s Bake Shop. Running this business has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. I manage everything on my own, from baking and packaging to promoting my products and communicating with customers. At first, it was difficult to balance school, work, and my business, but I quickly realized that I needed strong discipline and time management to succeed. I created a system to organize my schedule so I could meet deadlines and maintain high standards for every order. Through this experience, I’ve learned that baking is not just about making delicious cakes and treats; it’s about consistency, responsibility, and trust. Customers rely on me to deliver quality products, and I take pride in making sure every order meets their expectations. There have been challenges along the way, like staying up late to finish orders or dealing with mistakes when something didn’t turn out right. Instead of getting discouraged, I used those moments to improve and grow. Each setback taught me something new and pushed me to become better. Looking to the future, I hope to achieve much more with baking. My ultimate goal is to combine my passion for food with my interest in business by opening my own bakery or restaurant. I want to create a space where people don’t just come to eat, but to experience something meaningful. A place where families gather, where culture is celebrated, and where every customer feels welcome. I also hope to inspire others, especially young people from backgrounds like mine, to pursue their passions and believe that they can turn their ideas into reality. Baking has already taught me so much about hard work, creativity, and perseverance. More importantly, it has shown me that something as simple as a slice of banana bread can make someone’s day better. That is what continues to inspire me, and that is what I hope to carry with me into the future.

I still remember the first time my grandma made me ají de gallina. The smell filled the kitchen before I even saw the plate, and when I finally took a bite, I was amazed. The creamy, slightly spicy yellow sauce over shredded chicken and white garlic rice was unlike anything I had ever tasted. In that moment, I felt more than just full, I felt comfort, culture, and connection. That experience shaped who I am today and inspired my passion for cooking and my future goals. I come from a proud Peruvian and Mexican background where family and food are deeply connected. Cooking has become my way of expressing love and bringing people together. Whether I am helping at family cookouts, preparing food for parties, or giving my mom a break after a long day at work, I am always in the kitchen. These experiences have helped me realize that my personal identity is rooted in hard work, family values, and passion. Professionally, my goal is to open my own restaurant, one that creates meaningful experiences for others just like my grandma did for me. In January 2025, I began working at Stefani’s Bottega, a small Italian restaurant near my home. This experience allowed me to see what it takes to run a successful restaurant and confirmed my desire to pursue a career in the culinary field. Being in that environment reminded me of my childhood and strengthened my motivation to build something of my own. I do not just want to cook, I want to create a space where people feel welcomed, valued, and connected through food. However, I understand that passion alone is not enough to achieve my goals. I have seen family members open restaurants that were successful at first but eventually closed due to challenges on the business side. Because of this, I plan to study business and entrepreneurship to gain the knowledge and skills needed to build a strong, sustainable restaurant. My goal is to combine my love for cooking with a solid understanding of how to manage and grow a business. This scholarship will play an important role in helping me achieve these goals. It will ease the financial burden of pursuing my education, allowing me to focus on my studies and gain the skills necessary for success. With this support, I will be able to take full advantage of educational opportunities that will prepare me to turn my dream into reality. I am a hardworking and determined student who is committed to building a better future for myself and my family. My parents and my younger sister have always supported me, and I want to make them proud by achieving my goals. I am driven by my passion, my culture, and my desire to succeed. My name is Lucas Castro, and I am ready to turn my dream into a reality that brings people together, just like that first meal my grandma made for me.