I’ve always been a responsible kid; I work hard, taking care of my grades. I’ve participated in extracurriculars and volunteering throughout my life. Although, I don't think this tells you genuinely about me as a person. I’ve hit rock bottom more times than I’d like to admit, but despite this, I feel that life belongs to those who don’t give up no matter what, and after having lived nineteen years in this world, I can say that I’m one of those. I left most of my family in Cuba in search of a better future; the original plan was to make everything work in Mexico, but that didn't happen, so we came to this new country wanting to take on the world, and that’s what I’ve done so far, but in my way. Still, as you can imagine, starting a life from scratch in a country where you have no family isn’t cheap, which puts us in a bit of a bind when it comes to considering going to college. I’ve currently been accepted into six universities and have received scholarships to all of them. However, the remaining amount to pay is something my parents cannot afford in our wildest dreams. So I’m doing everything I can to achieve that goal without further depleting my parents' worn pockets. Speaking of my future, a subject that terrifies me, but that I’m supposed to decide at nineteen, I'll go to Texas State University to major in psychology to help people fight their demons. I know what it's like to want to fight them and feel like you don't have enough strength. After I graduate and find a job, I'd love to help nonprofit foundations that are dedicated to helping students make their dream of attending college come true. I'd be delighted to help children to make their college journey a smooth experience. Even if my studies will be psychology related, I want to dedicate some of my time to writing my novels, as it's something I'm deeply passionate about. Stories bring people together from everywhere, and that's something I want to encourage. As a seasoned reader, I want to bring my ideal reads to life with my own pen and help people find their safe place between my pages. Throughout my academic journey in Mexico, I participated in a science history acting competition, where we placed second among high schools across the state. That was my first time acting, and I genuinely enjoyed it. Later, I participated in creating a 3D model for another project. Since arriving in the US, I've participated in art competitions like VASE and Rodeo, where I won regional and district finals, respectively. And speaking of giving back to the community, last semester I was working with children at the Galena Park Library. Under the Book Buddies project, I met amazing children who study in the surrounding area and helped them fall in love with reading, something I also enjoyed. In general, Galena Park High School has changed my life. This school gave me back my ambition and my desire to push myself all the way. When I started school, I quickly found my place here, and it became my home, where each teacher earned a place in my heart. I'll be forever grateful to every single member of the staff. I'm applying for this scholarship because I don't want to cause my parents more stress. I just need to get ahead for myself and them. I want to achieve enough financial stability to help them not feel overwhelmed by bills and not live among unpleasant insects anymore.

I’ve always been a responsible kid; I work hard, taking care of my grades. I’ve participated in extracurriculars and volunteering throughout my life. Although, I don't think this tells you genuinely about me as a person. I’ve hit rock bottom more times than I’d like to admit, but despite this, I feel that life belongs to those who don’t give up no matter what, and after having lived nineteen years in this world, I can say that I’m one of those. I left most of my family in Cuba in search of a better future; the original plan was to make everything work in Mexico, but that didn't happen, so we came to this new country wanting to take on the world, and that’s what I’ve done so far, but in my way. Still, as you can imagine, starting a life from scratch in a country where you have no family isn’t cheap, which puts us in a bit of a bind when it comes to considering going to college. I’ve currently been accepted into six universities and have received scholarships to all of them. However, the remaining amount to pay is something my parents cannot afford in our wildest dreams. So I’m doing everything I can to achieve that goal without further depleting my parents' worn pockets. Speaking of my future, a subject that terrifies me, but that I’m supposed to decide at nineteen, I'll go to Texas State University to major in psychology to help people fight their demons. I know what it's like to want to fight them and feel like you don't have enough strength. After I graduate and find a job, I'd love to help nonprofit foundations that are dedicated to helping students make their dream of attending college come true. I'd be delighted to help children to make their college journey a smooth experience. Even if my studies will be psychology related, I want to dedicate some of my time to writing my novels, as it's something I'm deeply passionate about. Stories bring people together from everywhere, and that's something I want to encourage. As a seasoned reader, I want to bring my ideal reads to life with my own pen and help people find their safe place between my pages. Throughout my academic journey in Mexico, I participated in a science history acting competition, where we placed second among high schools across the state. That was my first time acting, and I genuinely enjoyed it. Later, I participated in creating a 3D model for another project. Since arriving in the US, I've participated in art competitions like VASE and Rodeo, where I won regional and district finals, respectively. And speaking of giving back to the community, last semester I was working with children at the Galena Park Library. Under the Book Buddies project, I met amazing children who study in the surrounding area and helped them fall in love with reading, something I also enjoyed. In general, Galena Park High School has changed my life. This school gave me back my ambition and my desire to push myself all the way. When I started school, I quickly found my place here, and it became my home, where each teacher earned a place in my heart. I'll be forever grateful to every single member of the staff. I'm applying for this scholarship because I don't want to cause my parents more stress. I just need to get ahead for myself and them. I want to achieve enough financial stability to help them not feel overwhelmed by bills and not live among unpleasant insects anymore.

My struggle with mental health started when I was quite young—to be exact, five years old. Back then, I was a bright and lively girl who loved singing more than anything in the world. I remember when little me was first asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. That excited girl answered that she wanted to be a singer, and as soon as she said it, her dream began to crumble with a "that's not a career, be something else." After that, I never responded the same way to that question again; I still loved music like nothing else, but it was no longer something to share with anyone but myself. Another difficult moment was when I changed schools in fourth grade; this school did not exactly welcome me with open arms. Here I learned what it was like to suffer from bullying; anything I did or said was looked upon with bad eyes, and people who didn't know me shouted insulting and hurtful names at me that definitely left a scar somewhere in my soul. That was my life for the next five years. The pandemic came, and my life changed a lot. The glimpse of a happy and bright girl was fading with each passing day; anxiety and depression became my new companions. The hole was getting bigger every day, and I didn't know how to get out; crying every day had become my new routine. Then I had to move to another country, and everything went downhill. I had to learn to cry in silence and to repress what I felt. I started school again, and missing my old surroundings was persistent. I thought I had adapted well until the second semester arrived; the exams were drowning me and the research for the science contest was stealing the few free hours I had. I felt empty, and it was then that I suffered my first panic attack. It was one of the scariest moments of my life. A few weeks passed after that, and that March afternoon arrived, where my mind was so exhausted that I didn't see any way out of all the torment that haunted it. I had stopped feeling; I just existed, and that was when it was questioned, while my body remained standing on the edge of the third floor of that ruined house where I lived with my parents, with the sun beating down on my back and my eyes burning with tears that could no longer come out. Jumping would not be a bad idea, I thought. It would be an ironic release from the endless suffering I was going through; just then, I remembered something: I had not yet fulfilled my purpose. I hadn't written a song; I wouldn't leave this world without fulfilling little me's dream; she wouldn't forgive me. That saved my life that afternoon, music—the same thing they tried to take away from me when I was just a child. Today I feel better; I suppose that when time passes, you manage to see all situations differently. I am going to therapy regularly, and I feel that I have improved since then. All those memories still hurt, like the first day. It hurts me to see myself in that situation; it hurts me to have thought and felt the way I did, but it is part of me, and I can live with it. It has not been easy; nothing has been, but the important thing is to try to turn the page so that I can see the sky with clear eyes again.

Mental health is a topic that I am passionate about, and, in one way or another, it has always been a part of my life, even before I even started to investigate the subject. I am someone who loves to listen to others and give them my point of view on the situations they are going through. For some strange reason, most of the best friends I have had throughout my life have always lived in toxic environments. At this point I don't know if I should call it coincidence or what, but it is what it is. Since I am fully aware that when someone's physical integrity is violated without their consent it is physical abuse, and that when it comes to humiliation, blackmail, ridicule, manipulation, and insults, psychological and emotional violence is being used, I have a notion of the subject. Over the years, with the anecdotes that my friends have told me, I have managed to detect some narcissistic and abusive behaviors in most of their parents or relatives, and I have done the best I could to help them deal with cases of self-harm and self-esteem. It has been a challenge, especially because I am very attached to my friends, and knowing that they went through these types of situations broke my soul, but I always made sure that they knew that I was there for them and that with me they would always have a shoulder to lean on. Today, I want to dedicate myself to this. I want to study psychology and now have the necessary tools to be able to help others with their mental health in the best way possible. I am a firm believer that without mental health there is no good health either, so I want to help others deal with the difficult situations that life presents to them and encourage them to overcome the frightening fears and dark traumas of the past that do not let them look to the new dawn of the future.

Talking about my experience with my upbringing coming from an immigrant family is a bit tricky. Coming to a new country where you know nothing and no one ends up turning people into a different version of themselves. In my story, I went through that situation twice, and it wasn't nice. People leave their home countries in search of better opportunities, freedom, prosperity, and economic stability, but what happens when you already had some of those things in your country and now you see yourself starting from scratch again? All the years of hard work seem like they were thrown away. So this leaves you with no other option than success or failure; there is no middle ground in these cases. The expectations implicitly imposed by the family are horrible, because even though they don't say it openly, from time to time they make sure to remind you of everything they went through and what you also went through, but that seems to be in the background. The effort they (your family/parents) put in, because the effort you put in never seems to be enough. I think growing up in a family that has no roots anywhere is not the best for anyone. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents, I value what they've done, and I would never give them worries about things that I can handle on my own. I know that they did all this for my well-being, but I feel like they don't value the other side of the coin. The few hours of sleep because of the endless rounds of exams, the stress of thinking about the possibility that at the end of the day I won't be able to go to college, the discomfort of feeling like your concerns aren't heard, the anxiety of thinking that the money won't be enough to make it to the end of the month, the panic of thinking about the possibility of having to go into debt, and the persistent anguish that doesn't leave my mind for a second just thinking that after so much effort everything will end up like that, something you worked hard for but didn't get in the end. I feel like immigrants' children, including myself, have a lot of expectations to live up to. Going to school, getting good grades, having a lot of adult responsibilities, getting into college, finishing your degree, finding a good job, and working in whatever you study. It may sound simple to many, but when you don't know how you're going to pay for your studies because you don't have anyone to do it for you, that's when the whole perfectly constructed picture starts to fall apart. Anyway, if everything goes well, and I really hope it does, next year I'll be a college student. I want to study psychology to help people fight their demons. I know what it's like to want to fight them and feel like you don't have enough strength, so I feel like the knowledge I'll acquire could be helpful, and after that, sometime in the not-too-distant future, after I graduate and find a job, I'd love to help nonprofit foundations that are dedicated to helping students make their dream of attending college come true. It would be a tremendous relief to think that I will be helping some children not have to worry the way I am when it comes time for them to decide which alma mater they want to attend.

Throughout my life, mental health has been a challenge for me. During the pandemic, I suffered from very intense depression, but I managed to stay afloat; but anyway, after I left my home country and moved to Mexico, my mental health got much worse. The depression became even more intense, anxiety was added to the list, and during my time there, I even suffered a failed suicide attempt. It hasn't been easy, but I guess nothing in life is. I believe I was saved by a small promise to my best friend and music—two things that might seem insignificant, but they were the only thing that saved my life at that very moment. However, I'm currently going to therapy, and, in the words of my psychologist, it's going quite well. Today, my writing shares my story through my characters. They share my most intricate traumas and somehow live with it. I admire them a lot, and I'm proud to have created such strong and brave people. They are the ones in charge of giving visibility to such complicated issues as mental health problems. I always try to add a heartbreaking backstory, because I know that is a good way to connect with the reader. To make them feel that they (the characters) have also gone through life situations that have pushed them to the limit in the worst possible ways and yet they are still standing. I think it is motivating and inspiring to see a character from your favorite book doing something that would terrify you to do. I think it is a good way to gain courage and do what terrifies us so much. I am aware of how important it is to feel supported, something that I often did not feel and thought that I had to open the doors for myself. But, just as I know this, I also know that feeling supported can save your life. Knowing that you have someone there for you who will be there unconditionally, no matter what, is something that gives us emotional release, peace of mind, and security—things that all human beings need. It is essential to raise awareness about these issues, and that is what I try to do with each of my novels—to shed light on the taboos that mental health problems still have. Also, on my journey through university halls, I plan to study and learn the best ways to become that person for my patients, the shoulder that supports them so they can then fly. I want to listen to their concerns and show them the necessary tools so they feel heard, so they realize that they do matter and that, even if the journey is hard, it is important to live it, feel it, and experience it.

I would say I am many things: a diligent student, a daughter who can improve, a friend who always listens, a writer in progress, and even a future psychologist. However, none of these define me; my experiences are what do. Coming out as a bisexual person was not that easy, especially to my family. When I felt brave enough to tell my mother, she looked at me in confusion and said, “I don’t think you are that.” As if being “that” was wrong. I never brought it up with her again because I knew how it would end. With my dad, it was a bit of a different story; I was terrified to even mention anything to him about it because he wasn't a well-known ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, so it took me a couple more years to open up with him. When I did feel brave enough, after tearfully telling my English teacher about the situation at lunch break, she gave me the courage that I so desperately needed, and I finally told him. His reaction was a bit different, and while I didn’t expect the big comforting reaction, a little hug would have been nice. My parents aren't the most modern or open-minded people out there, so I don't put much pressure on them for that. Anyway, after this whole situation was over, I guess I felt a little more liberated. I still won't mention the pink elephant in the room, but at least I told them what I am; whether they believe me or not is up to them. Finding out that I'm part of the community was a complicated and hard process, but today I feel proud of it. This whole topic influenced a lot what I do. I love writing; it's one of my greatest passions; I would do it every day if I had the time, and the first novel I wrote was a girl-love story. It tells the story of three couples of girls, all from different parts of the world, who in one way or another find that person they didn't know they were looking for. It was my official initiation into writing, and I have a very special affection for this story. Since I was twelve or thirteen, I always wanted to write a story, and this was the first one I wrote. When it was complete and I read it for the first time, it was the best feeling ever because I finally fulfilled my dream of writing, and I also gave light to that part of me that no one could see at the time. To this day, I continue to write novels, and I want to go to university to study psychology. I want to help people feel good about themselves; I want to let them know that they don't need to blame themselves for everything that happens to them. Unfortunately, we can't always be in control of every situation we experience, and that's okay. We all go through horrible things every day. My job will be to help people not break down with every unfortunate situation they experience and try to show them the best ways to find a solution to what keeps them up at night.

What do I love about writing? I could not love this question more. If someone told me I was going to love writing as much as I do today, I would call them insane. However, now I am a crazy lover of writing and how it makes it possible to put feelings into words. It is one of my favorite artistic expressions. The ability of how we can paint pieces in the minds of readers through words is simply spectacular. Writing allows me to travel to thousands of alternative universes; it makes it possible for me to live tons of lives and meet hundreds of incredible people that it would certainly be impossible to meet in real life. It makes me forget about my problems, at least momentarily, and gives me the comfort I need. Writing for me is a sensitive escape from the gray, boring, and heartless reality. A portal in which time and space do not exist, only the here and now. Being a writer, part-time, freelance, or professional, is an invaluable work, and I am proud to be part of the world's storytellers. Those of us who take stories to the most intricate places on the planet and connect through words, there are no barriers that a good story cannot break. Just as I know that reading and writing are important, I am also aware that pursuing a college degree is essential. Mental development makes our minds more efficient and creative at the same time. In my case, as a part-time writer, I consider it vitally important to keep my mind as agile as possible, and I intend to obtain a college degree in psychology and a minor in creative writing. Learning how the human brain works, the most complex organ we have, would be an advantage for me, as I feel that it would bring a lot of knowledge to the creation of my stories and at the same time it would give me the opportunity to help people who desperately need relief from their complicated lives and complex emotions. It would be a pleasure for me to give them the necessary tools so that they do not feel tormented. Studying this would be a win-win situation for me because I would be able to do the two things that I enjoy doing the most: helping people and improving my writing skills. Not to mention that at the same time it would allow me to develop professionally in my two greatest passions.

I will have to admit that asking what someone is most passionate about in life is such a great question. In my case, it will be kind of hard to answer with only one thing. I have many passions, many things that make me feel fulfilled in their own way. Some of them are: music, drawing, writing, and dancing. I consider myself a very artistic person, so most artistic expressions are part of me. Anyway, I will talk about the two on that list that I am most passionate about: music and writing. Music has always been my companion, in the good, the bad, and the worst. It is my best friend, my comrade in every adventure and challenge that life has put me through. I have a particularly special connection with music, and since I can remember, it has always been that way. It has been the only one that has unconditionally been there for me, no matter what, and I appreciate the company it has given me in all these years of life. It has made my life more bearable. My other and most recent friend has been writing. It has helped me to let go of my shackles, to bring some light even to my darkest sides, and to share my story with the rest of the people in some way. Stories connect nations, and that is what I hope to do with mine. I will write until my fingers wear out and my mind is dry and wrinkled; until then you will have a lot to read from me. I hope to connect with people through my stories and, if possible, help them heal their broken hearts. However, my professional expectations are not as closely linked to my hobbies as I would like to admit, since psychology stole my heart. My life experiences have made me see that becoming a psychologist is what I most want to be, and although I do not intend to leave my writing aside because it is something that also makes me very fulfilled, studying psychology is what I mainly want to dedicate myself to. Winning this scholarship would help pay for my degree, which would be a total relief for me and my parents. I am an immigrant, and I don't have the possibility to pay for my own education even if I wanted to, and putting a weight of that size on my parents' shoulders is not fair to them. They don't deserve that. I want to make my own way in the world and find my place, and winning this scholarship would make a difference.

Asking me how I have been affected by suicide is, I would say, one, if not the most personal of questions since I am a living failed attempt at it. Being completely honest, in the eyes of others, I have "always" been a happy girl, full of joy and energy, but I am not always like that, even though it is hard for some to believe. We all have our bad moments, some worse than others, but we all have something we want to hide from what is seen on the surface. I had my reasons for thinking about jumping from that third floor that warm afternoon in March—my reasons that nobody knows. My reasons are that if my mother knew what her daughter was hiding, she would be broken into a thousand pieces. Although I would never blame her for my feelings, sometimes we simply cannot control how we feel, and that is what makes us partly human. I think we all have our own secrets, and this is mine. Today I am an active patient, currently going to therapy regularly, and that makes me feel good because I know that I can and want to improve. I want to be able to live with the demons that normally remain dormant in the depths of my mind. I want to know them and find the roots of my traumas. I know it's a journey with no return date. It would be very satisfying to be able to help people fight their struggles and show them the courage they have within themselves. and it can be scary, but I know it is the best thing for me. Answering the question of why I want to study a career in the mental health field, I would say it is because I know what it feels like to need someone to listen to you and not have that person. So, I want to be that person for others. I do not want to be a hero or anything like that; I just want to be that person who cares about others. I did not have that person when I needed it the most, when I felt like I was drowning, so I will be the "lifeguard" for my future patients. It would be very rewarding to be able to help people fight their struggles and show them the courage they have inside of them.

Choosing my field of interest has been nothing short of a challenge for me. Finding my passion and my place in the world has been complicated, but I still discovered what genuinely fulfills me: writing and psychology. I chose these fields because each one completes me in its own particular way. Writing is my escape from reality—my way of connecting with myself in the most intimate and real way. Psychology is what will help me help people connect with themselves. I think I am someone who genuinely cares about people; it makes me happy to be there for others and help them with whatever is in my power; this has always been a part of me. I want to listen to the tormented ones and fight their demons with them—maybe it will sound idealistic, but it is what makes me complete. Also, I firmly believe that through writing, stories are shared that help heal broken hearts. Universes are created that make us connect with the "heroes" who face the problems we have every day, and this can give us the courage to do what terrifies us so much. Both careers are nothing more than wonderful in their own ways, and I have an extraordinary connection with both. With writing, I brought to light my darkest fears and experiences—those that just thinking about them fills my eyes with tears—and with psychology, I have been able to understand moments in my life that have been traumatic for me. Both have helped me discover and get to know myself in both the most complex and the simplest ways, and that is why I want to keep them in my life and share the passion I feel for both with others.

I started reading books for pleasure when I was fourteen, and it all began because of a recommendation a friend made me. Nowaday, I read very often, almost every day. My favorite gender is romance, it could have all the subgenres it want, but as soon as it has romance, I will read it. I do not remember exactly when I became part of the BookTok comminuty, but it is a very nice, and comforting place to be. My ideal bookshelf inspired by #BookTok recommendations it would be full of romantasy, contemporary romance, heart-breacking romance, and every good story that has romance on it. I love reading a good romance story, it could be sugary or exciting, I do not really might. I live for a good romance book that make my heart beat fast and make me smile. The contents of the shelves would be "Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros, all the Percy Jackson serie, and the full "Harry Potter" saga by J. K. Rowling. Twisted Love, Twisted Games, Twisted Hate, Twisted Lies, and all the books that Ana Huang has written. "The Fault in our Star" by John Green made me cry as a little kid, so it has to be there too. All the volumes of "Heartstopper" by Alice Oseman, that soft, sweet and cute romance made my soul feels amazing. I think I will like to have "It ends with us" by Collen Hoover, that book broke my heart completly. Also, for be complete it I will need some Wattpad titles too, and why not, some volumes of my favorites Mangas, like "Daytime Star", it is highly recommended. I think that books inspire people, no matter how sweet or sad, wonderful or scary the story is, what it's really important is the message that this books want to express. It could be "love is in everywhere", "sometimes you should take a risk if you want a good change in your live", "there is something that makes you unique", "we can all find someone special". The message that a book delivers is what makes the book special. Reading it has become a very important part of my life. Living hundreds of lifes by turning pages it is the must amazing feeling I have ever experience. I really recommended to everyone to find their place in the booktok comminuty and open their mind to the beautiful world of reading. Thanks me latter, and enjoy your next book.

My experience with mental health shaped my goals, relationships, and understanding of the world by making me realized I want to study psychology, helping me to understand a little bit more about how my relationships works, and also, by making it easier for me to understand other people thoughts. Find what I want it to study was a challenge. I was so confused and insecure about what my plans after high school will be. I was asking myself what I want to do with my life, and for a long period of time, I thought that maybe I should not go to college. However, and after thinking very deeply about this I comprehend how important is mental health for me, and how much I will love to help people, so I think that psychology is must probably the major for me. Understanding my mental situation helps me with my relationships, both family and love. It has given me greater awareness regarding what others feels like, and how our actions can have a negative impact if we are not careful and treat others with respect and kindness. A good way to do these is by putting yourself in the shoes of those that you love, and see if they deserve how you are treating them. Being aware of my mental health and how my mind works helps me understand how the minds of the people around me work too. It makes it easier for me to analyze more efficiently and understand what people may be going through. In conclusion, I think that my experiences with mental health has modeling the way I see the world, the way I treat people, and the way I treat myself too, which lead to how I have shaped my goals. I think everyone have been through this at some point, it is hard to talk about what we feel and how we feel it, but is fundamental to do it because the way we think is what change the way the world see us.

After having lived eighteen years on this earthly plane that we call life, I can say that I have lived through many things. Bullying, psychological abuse, toxic relationships, and even a failed suicide attempt, these traumatic events have been part of my reality at some point. Although, today I am going to therapy to try to turn the page and improve as much as I can as a person, it is still difficult to look back and be aware of all the things I have been through. My life has been a roller coaster of emotions, ups and downs, drastic mood swings; but nowadays I feel that, mentally talking, I have made a lot of improvements. I am no longer the girl who cried inconsolably when she was insulted at school for her weight, even though she was smart, even though she was always kind with everyone, those things were no longer important in the eyes of others when they addressed her with insulting nicknames. In these cases, family is a fundamental pillar for each person, yes, but it can also be a double-edged sword, especially when that family does not help you get out of the hole you are in, but instead makes the problems bigger and plays with your mind so that in the end you feel guilty for the things they do to you. It is difficult, living is difficult. One challenge after another without rest, without restraint. Sometimes I felt like I couldn't breathe, that the air was escaping from my lungs and no matter how hard I tried to inhale, the oxygen did not get in. In moments like this, the idea of ​​disappearing sounded tempting. It was a way out of the intense suffering I was going through, a hope of ironic salvation. However, my present is not as dark as it used to be. I guess growing up makes you see things with different eyes. After all this years I have learned that mental health is invaluable. Being at peace with yourself is a priceless gift. Is important to know that without mental health, there is no actual health, and that is just a fact. We all live in a world where the only ones we lives for are ourselves. The today's people does not care about what the other person feels. We have become selfish individuals, but we must remember that all feelings, no matter how small or tenuous it is, is valid and do matter. Do not try to make people's emotions feels little or underestimated, do not call them dramatic or exaggerated. Everyone deserves to be heard no matter what. These are all reasons why it would be rewarding for me to become a psychologist. I really want to listen to those who are not heard, to advise those who cannot find a solution, to help those who suffer from torment to find peace with themselves and to show them that the sky is not always obscured by dark clouds.