As a first-generation American and student, I have big dreams of becoming a physician. I am currently enrolled in an invasive cardiovascular technology program, and it became extremely apparent to me that the hardest thing about studying healthcare wasn't the material; it was the financial burden and the intense amount of stress that comes with it. I live with my mother and two brothers. We are not rich by any means. This is exactly why financial peace is a key component that I would value a million times over. Regardless of this, I would not change a thing about my goals. Financial peace would allow me to focus on what is important in school, the learning. It would also help me not burden my family with such a load of debt. Monetary stressors are a main factor for students to shy away from attending undergraduate schools and or graduate schools. The debt that comes with schooling is a sure way to make someone rethink their lifelong dream. It really makes them test whether they really want to achieve their goals and certifications. For my current life, I would still finish up my 2-year invasive CVT program for the experience, take my RCIS exam, and become licensed without having to worry about paying for the test. If I had no financial stressors in the future, I would still go to an undergraduate school and apply to medical school. I would be thrilled to attend the University of South Carolina, Columbia, for my bachelor's in either Biology, Biochemistry, or Public Health, and hopefully a medical school close to home here in South Carolina. Although I am aware of the immense cost of both schools, it does not change the fire and ambition that I have to become a physician. You never know until you try. For me, I have always loved the medical field and all the different kinds of modalities and specialties. Having to work with patients, helping them, and improving their quality of life makes it all worth it. I have experienced that feeling firsthand while I'm at my clinical site in the Catheterization lab. I am currently learning and working with the Cardiovascular system, which has lit more of an interest in me. I truly have a fascination and a true interest in becoming a physician to the point where the thought of those financial stressors is an easy hurdle for me to get by. I know it won't be easy financially or work-wise, but I know if I have a lot of ambition, I can overcome it. This scholarship would help me immensely with the financial burden I would have to take on as a first-generation student who is looking to get into undergraduate and graduate school. It would allow me to clear my head of money problems and focus on the curriculum I need to achieve my dreams. Although I am sacrificing my financial freedom and peace, I wouldn't change it because this is what I want to do.

I am self-conscious whenever my ethnic name appears on a piece of paper; it feels as if I am immediately deemed unqualified to step into a STEM-related classroom. As a young Hispanic woman, I face challenges shaped not only by gender norms but also by my cultural background. I am also a first-generation American and college student, which greatly impacts me in terms of finances, academic support, and community. I am no stranger to people mispronouncing my name, misidentifying my ethnicity, or undermining my education and skill set. Truth be told, being Hispanic right now is not an advantage, especially living in a small Southern town. There have been countless times when I have been discriminated against in public. Locals call our town "Little Mexico" to mock the Hispanic community. Growing up, I have always seen and experienced discrimination and just plain bigotry. I want to change the way people perceive me academically, and not just for the color of my skin or background. I graduated from high school with a 4.4/5 GPA, and I am currently in an invasive Cardiovascular Technology program with a 3.3/4 GPA. Hispanic women in STEM make up a minuscule fraction of 2%, which reveals how abysmal the Hispanic community is when it comes to higher education, which then leads to little to no support for Hispanic women who want to pursue higher education. This is, unfortunately, due to the disadvantages of the first-generation Americans, the misconception that women of color aren't capable, as well as cultural beliefs that women should take on smaller household roles. This lamentably creates an environment where imposter syndrome is rampant in the POC community. I am someone who still often struggles with it; more often than not, I feel like I am not prepared or qualified enough to even think about broadening my education. I am the only Hispanic person in my clinical rotation and entire cohort, and whenever I make a trivial mistake, it feels as if I am proving the stereotype and statistic right. Almost as if "That there is the reason why there is a small percentage of Hispanic women in STEM". I know that small mistakes don't define me as a person; in fact, they help me grow more, but since I am a young, Hispanic woman, it becomes a rumination. This lack of diversity and underrepresentation of colored female doctors, scientists, engineers, and specialists in reality fuels that misconception, which, in all honesty, affects aspiring and new incoming STEM students and workers. The biggest challenges for me would be having very few connections and little to no resources since I am a first-generation American and student. STEM majors are known for having significant requirements, such as researching opportunities and internships that allow students to have that hands-on experience and deepen their skillset, which doesn't come cheaply. Those luxuries are harder for students like me to easily acquire compared to other students who do have those connections and resources. This scholarship would help me pursue a higher education, which I dream of being a part of. I plan on applying to a bridge program and aspire to earn an undergraduate bachelor's degree in Biology, Public Health, or Biochemistry at the University of South Carolina, Columbia. In time, I hope to attend medical school here in South Carolina after completing my bachelor's degree. It would greatly assist me in the financial burden that I will have to take on as an undergraduate student. I want to change how the world sees and perceives not just me, but my people, and bring out the diversity in STEM.