As an autistic Mexican-American woman, I never would have thought it would have been possible to be given the opportunity to attend college, considering that a majority of my family members have never furthered their education and that autistic individuals such as myself are seen as incapable in finding prosperity in a world benefitting neurotypicals, or people who are considered “normal.” In this regard, having this tremendous opportunity has helped me feel proud and ecstatic, knowing that it will serve as a foundation to help me develop my plans for the future. Putting this into perspective, my plans for the future consist of learning graphic design in order to be able to branch off from the traditional art mediums I typically stick to (like drawing and painting) so that I can keep up with the world as it is becoming more digitized. Not only would graphic design help me in this way, but it would even be of immense service in providing me with the tools to effectively communicate the messages I want to share in my designs through the utilization of various digital resources that are not the same as traditional ones. On another note, the messages I intend to express within my compositions would be those that empower women of all backgrounds and the Mexican community so they could feel as if someone has their back when times get tough. In my opinion, this is something I believe should be done because who else would take on this role in this ostensibly divided nation (and world)? To effectively have my future plans come to fruition, I feel this scholarship is the key to making this tangible since it would prevent me from worrying over the need to be dependent on student loans to attend university. Having some source of financial aid would be monumental as it can open the way for me to immediately apply for my dream career without having to be overwhelmed by student loans to such an extreme that I have no choice but to put it to the side in favor of another job that covers the debt brought about by the loans. Not only can this aid benefit me as I go about my academic journey to get to my desired goal in this manner, but it can even be conducive to my parents because my father was laid off recently and has been in desperate search of a job. With my father not working, it has resulted in my mother being the main contributor to the family when, in fact, her salary alone is not enough for me to comfortably enroll in university with little to no stress about my family’s dire financial situation.

Regardless of the fact there are many talented artists waiting to be put on the highest pedestal for all to see or are already there, I am an aspiring Mexican-American female artist who hopes to one day be recognized like the other greats. Before being set on this path toward the art world, I had dreams of excelling in other fields, such as culinary arts and science, but this all changed once I enrolled in my first art class at my local community center at eight years old. With this particular class, it helped me to ignite my passion for art as it went over the fundamentals of drawing step-by-step, which in turn has resulted in me preferably making art with a pencil, eraser, and paper because they were the first tools that contributed to me wanting to obtain a career in fine art. Also, I feel that taking up this interest allows me to express myself in ways that I am incapable of doing with words through the use of colors, lines, perspective, and the like since I am an unassuming individual who finds it nearly impossible to partake in an exchange of pleasantries. In this sense, composing works of art provides me an outlet to voice my opinions about the world around me, along with giving me the determination to keep making great strides in learning new techniques to communicate my thoughts and ideas better (rather than be limited to knowing a few techniques as art is something habitually changing). Furthermore, whenever I am engaging in a project, especially one that causes me to express doubt, I find myself seeking counsel from my family. It would be true to say that asking for others’ input assumes the guise of me being insecure about my capabilities, but in reality, it can be more than accommodating because it enables me to look at my work from different perspectives after my eyes have been glued to it for an extended amount of time (therefore resulting in me to make the necessary adjustments, even if it simply means leaving it be). Putting this very scholarship into the spotlight, I firmly believe that being endowed with it would be nothing but astonishing, not only for the sake of gaining money but also to help with my dream to attain a career in fine arts becoming substantive. The reason for this being so is due to how I would utilize the funds toward obtaining supplies for my courses to successfully get a clear understanding of the concepts presented so that I can employ them in my creations outside of school. Another reason for the scholarship being of great use to me is because it would alleviate my family from having to rely on loans for me to attend university, considering that my father recently got laid off from his job after being there for over twenty years (which in turn has led to my family struggling financially). Hence, being bestowed with some monetary assistance would pave the way for me to obtain a career in fine arts without having to worry about whether or not I would have the proper resources to make it a reality (especially since money is a significant factor in one’s ability to pursue higher education).

The loss of a loved one should not be experienced by someone, regardless if they are unjust or not, for it is something that contributes to them feeling alone and vulnerable, especially in a world favoring those who go with the flow of change more so than those who are unable to do so. Sadly, there are those who are under the impression that people can bounce right back from this emotionally charged event after several weeks, but little do they realize it is easier said than done when they are the ones who come across this themselves. Taking this into perspective, it has been two years since I have found myself struggling incessantly with the passing of my maternal grandfather, for he has been the foundation behind my family’s happiness. He managed to fulfill this role by constantly making witty remarks, cooking delicious food, offering advice, and enjoying time with family and friends. With his passing, life felt extremely dismal as I knew there was no one who could replace all he had to offer and more, considering that death is irreversible and is an event that eventually happens to everyone. Despite the hardship of having to accept my grandfather’s death, I believe it has helped me come to terms with knowing who I truly am in a world so vast that one can quickly lose sight of being themselves after a significant shift in their life. Without a doubt, I can firmly say that I am the oldest of my siblings in my Mexican-American family who is willing to face obstacles head-on without allowing my shyness to get in the way, along with being an individual who loves to be immersed in the world of art by producing drawings and learning about new techniques. I am also a first-generation college student on my father’s side of the family who is not ashamed to admit anxiousness for having to serve as an example to my younger siblings that they too can pursue a college education, which in turn is making me more determined than ever to prove to the masses that I am capable in striving for success. This determination even stems from my struggles with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) because I want to help prove to the public that people like myself who fall under this disability group can obtain a college education to be able to pursue a successful future instead of being looked down upon for being different than others without ASD. In this sense, if I did not enroll in college or were to give up midway through, I firmly hold the notion it would serve as proof to society that their impression of people with disabilities is correct in regard to the group being more likely to not enroll in college or to be the ones to drop out. On another note, the concept of loss can be so traumatic that it gives off the impression that time has stopped when, in fact, it is going quite quickly, but that does not mean future plans should be on the back burner. For instance, I intend to become a graphic designer in the hopes of being able to make a positive impact on the world around me. My plan to make this possible involves composing designs invoking positive messages that the public can find relatable and beautiful. Going forth with this can pave the way for life to be worth living instead of being one of constant tribulation (as a result of negativity from things such as polarizing political views, racism, and the like).

Despite the very act of positively impacting the world seeming near impossible, that does not mean it cannot be done now or in the future, regardless of there being people who make a full-on effort to bring someone down when they are only trying to help improve things for the better. In order to better the world, I see myself becoming an artist, where I would compose works of art that invoke the grandeur of Hispanic culture so that my community could see that they should not be ashamed of who they are but rather embrace their identity. Coming to terms with their identity would pave the way for them to have the drive to uncover more information about their culture and pass on that newfound knowledge to future generations. Not only would my art pieces bring about this benefit, but they would even highlight the notion that anybody (no matter their background) can find success in the world instead of being incapable of doing so to the point that they are looked down upon. Showcasing this capability can get people to know that anything is within their grasp as long as they invest time and dedication to make their desires turn into a reality rather than remain as dreams.

While it is uncertain to know what the future will hold as life is infamously acknowledged to be very unpredictable, I firmly believe the dream version of my future self to be an independent woman of color who is not afraid to use my art skills to continue making life burst with vivid colors and designs for all to see, along with showing other people of color through my artwork that they too can make a positive impact on the world no matter what they aspire to do in life since everyone is destined for greatness regardless of their background.

Over the course of humankind, there have been numerous books published to get the public to expand their mindsets in order to become aware of what is going on around the globe or to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, even if it is for a brief moment in time. While people should be given the opportunity to encounter whatever publications they desire without anyone or anything forcing them to read what they do not want to read, there is one book that I strongly believe the masses should come across at least once in their lives. The book in question that makes me feel this way, in particular, is Reyna Grande’s "The Distance Between Us," which is a magnificent piece of literature that has to do with the author recalling the challenges she was subjected to endure as a Mexican immigrant in the United States. Although this story seems to be a quite common one, Grande’s novel stands above the rest due to how she uses her story to help the public become more aware of the notion that the world is not all peachy keen since there are others like her (regardless of them being Mexican or not) who are struggling to get through daily life. In this respect, her story goes into depth with this notion by mentioning the amount of work she had to put in to find success while coming from a low-income family and dysfunctional parents in a country that is supposedly equal to all when, in fact, are willing to prey on one’s downfall when they are not born and raised there. With this in mind, "The Distance Between Us" should be the one book for all to read because it sheds light on the idea of hard work being something that eventually pays off no matter the situation one is in, even though it may seem like it would be insignificant in the present moment. Also, the novel helps to establish the foundation for people to know not to let anyone or anything get in the way of achieving their dreams, considering that it would only cause them to satisfy society’s negative stereotypes when their aspirations are unattained more so than proving the stereotypes wrong by breaking the mold.

With arts education, it has had a significant impact on my life growing up since it helped me (and continues to help me) see that art surrounds society on a daily basis to such an extent that it allows the public to appreciate the beauty of the world while being able to immerse themselves into it, whether it be them living in their homes, looking at art in museums/galleries, riding rides at an amusement park, and so much more. In essence, coming to terms with this realization has paved the way for me to become more aware of the fact that art can take on many forms that range from being noticeable to the naked eye to clearly recognizable, thereby resulting in the definition of art being vast and ever-expanding. Becoming aware of these things stemmed from my enrollment in my first art class at my local community center when I was eight years old because that was where I not only learned how to make art but also started to pick up on the concept of art being something that anyone can do (considering it has various interpretations that are either right or wrong). As a result, this allowed me to not be too hard on myself with my work and instead take pride in it and look at others’ work as inspiration rather than intimidation. Doing this has helped me be more open-minded about how I make pieces and not be afraid to make improvements. On another note, an individual who has inspired me the most and pushed me to keep on pursuing my craft is my grandmother on my father’s side of the family. The reason for this being so is because in the event I drew sketches I knew were just practice or were not very good to me, she still put them on a pedestal as if they were prestigious works of art by giving me many compliments about the subject matter and the way I drew them out. Furthermore, she would tell me to keep on going when I felt insecure about my work and even offer some assistance and advice whenever I found myself stumped, which in turn led to me mustering up the courage to make an Instagram account to post my art not only for my benefit but to put a smile on the faces of those who come across it.