I was born in El Salvador in a place called Sonsonate where my house was built out of trees and the roof was made of metal sheets, where the floor was not a rug but dirt and some rocks, this house taught me so much. It taught me to appreciate and be grateful for everything. I have become more resilient because I have overcome so many barriers in my life. I have a piece of knowledge about life now that makes me have such good stories that make my heart rumble. I came here 5 years ago and I was able to learn English within two years. I was bullied when I went to middle school for the first time and that made me realize that I have to work for myself because “I don’t speak the language” is not an excuse. In June 2023, I graduated from high school, and right after high school, I took summer classes that showed me the way into college. I had the courage to take 17 units, in my first semester of college. I noticed that it was tough and exhausting but I refused to give up. I have learned that I have my PUENTE cohort that supports me. I struggle with my academics and I’m not the best but I do my best in everything. In fact, I have learned to achieve awards and diplomas by working hard and never giving up. While I have managed to pass my classes, it has been extremely challenging to pursue a college degree without the support of my family and dealing with impostor syndrome. I’m a first-generation college student and it is terrifying; it has taught me a sea of emotions and adding-on that has given me impostor syndrome that makes me doubt myself, but despite that, I keep going. I’m a Psychology major, and my goal is to get a master’s in psychology. I want to become a counselor who would come back and help the community. My motivation comes from the mentors, counselors, and professors who have helped me. They motivate me because they are strong and amazing Latinos who have shown me that I don’t have to give up and to keep going no matter what and that if I want something in life I have to go for it because I can do it! They are the reason that I never give up because I look forward to becoming successful and someone who helps their community. I want to help people and become a source of motivation for them as well as the mentor that I have right now. After LBCC, I will transfer to a four-year University. I want to get a job in my field as a counselor, because like I said I want to help people overcome their fears and gain confidence. Winning this scholarship would help to pay for my books/school supplies and electronics that I may need. Earning this scholarship would be amazing support because I can focus on school and my career more since I don’t have the support financial support from my family and this would help me focus on what I truly want for my life career. I've embraced resilience and determination, overcoming language barriers and familial challenges on my journey to pursue a psychology degree. Motivated by inspiring mentors, my goal is to give back to my community as a counselor. Winning this scholarship is not just financial aid; it's a lifetime opportunity, allowing me to focus on my studies and turn my dreams into meaningful impacts for the community.

I was born in El Salvador in a place called Sonsonate where my house was built out of trees and the roof was made of metal sheets, where the floor was not a rug but dirt and some rocks, this house taught me so much. It taught me to appreciate and be grateful for everything. I have become more resilient because I have overcome so many barriers in my life. I have a piece of knowledge about life now that makes me have such good stories that make my heart rumble. I came here 5 years ago and I was able to learn English within two years. I was bullied when I went to middle school for the first time and that made me realize that I have to work for myself because “I don’t speak the language” is not an excuse. In June 2023, I graduated from high school, and right after high school, I took summer classes that showed me the way into college. It was challenging, but I gained a lot of knowledge from my class. I had the courage to take 17 units, in my first semester of college. I noticed that it was tough and exhausting but I refused to give up. I have learned that I have my PUENTE cohort that supports me. I struggle with my academics and I’m not the best but I do my best in everything. In fact, I have learned to achieve awards and diplomas by working hard and never giving up. While I have managed to pass my classes, it has been extremely challenging to pursue a college degree without the support of my family and dealing with impostor syndrome. My family does not show up for important events or show that they care and support me. They are the type of family that if I don’t have the resources, for example, money, I won’t continue my career because they won’t support me. I’m a first-generation college student and it is terrifying; it has taught me a sea of emotions and adding-on that has given me impostor syndrome that makes me doubt myself, but despite that, I keep going. I’m a Psychology major, and my goal is to get a master’s in psychology. I want to become a counselor who would come back and help the community. My motivation comes from the mentors, counselors, and professors who have helped me. They motivate me because they are strong and amazing Latinos who have shown me that I don’t have to give up and to keep going no matter what and that if I want something in life I have to go for it because I can do it! They are the reason that I never give up because I look forward to becoming successful and someone who helps their community. Winning this scholarship would help to pay for my books/school supplies and electronics that I may need. Earning this scholarship would greatly help me because I come from a low-income family. It would be amazing support because I can focus on school and my career more since I don’t have the support financial support from my family and this would help me focus on what I truly want for my life career. In the face of adversity, I've embraced resilience and determination, overcoming language barriers and familial challenges on my journey to pursue a psychology degree. Winning this scholarship is not just financial aid; is allowing me to focus on my studies and turn my dreams into meaningful impacts for the community.