I have always had a passion for learning new things, but somehow I can never understand a word. From a really young age I knew I was not like the rest of the kids, while everyone around me seem to understand what they were doing I was lost and mad. I did not understand what made it so difficult to understand two simple words. It could be the fact that I didn't have someone at home to explain it or simply because my life outside of school was too heavy to also carry the weight of books. At the age of 4 my mother started doing drugs, she got lost in them while we got lost in the streets. My grandmother took my three brothers and me into her home, along with other cousins. Those times were the worst and best at the same time. So many injustices happened yet so many good and inocent smiles. I only attended kinder for a couple months due to my grandmother battling cancer. It was difficult for her to walk and said she didnt trust anyone else to take me. As time past my mom got clean, my grandma decided it was best to live with her. Though it was totally not the best, since my mom has been diagnosed for over 25 years with several mental issues. During the time I was living with my mother, my uncle who was a teacher managed to get me into elementary, even though school was just a street away I did not go because my mom would tell me to go back to sleep every day, causing me to lose a year. When my dad brought my two brothers and I to the United States I was seven years old and in first grade, I did not know a single word in english which slowed my learning more. All these years I have held myself up and managed to understand every conflict infront of me on my own. I understood my moms disability in 2021, when my beloved brother passed away. She started consuming drugs again, turning her into a complete angry person. I felt so much anger and disappointment in the moment, but my love was greater, I had to be there for her and walk through the process with her because I was also filled with a strong pain. By the circumstances I was forced to mother my mother, looking for her in the streets, feeding her, holding her in my arms while crying, motivating her to shower, and many more. As time passed peace came but the cost was loosing my family. Recently in December 2023, I lost my disabled nephew born with a disability called encephalic hydrocephalus due to child abuse by his mother and her new couple. Leaving my family with nothing left from my brother, but mostly leaving my mother completely shattered. She has always taken prescribed medication but with these events her dosis has increased, not allowing her to function properly and just sleeping all day. This scholarship will strongly help me to persue a higher education and accomplish my goal. Thriving alone made me a resilient and fearless person, now I know all I need is my two shoulders to be successful. I thank to however is reading for taking your time and consideration.

The birds singing from my window made me realize how alive I am, and how beautiful it is to be. For a long time all I heard was “everything happens for a reason”, sometimes it is best to wonder what those reasons are. When I found myself feeling stuck in my own head and could not seem to find silence, the humming of the birds brought my mind peace. I found it funny how quiet the world can be while our minds are the total opposite. Growing up I was told to not trust strangers; which is ironic because family has always been the worst. Writing this has me reminiscing about those times that will never be and times that are yet to come. I am glad to not be where I was years back, I am glad to not be that six year old begging for love or for food. I am glad I am no longer humiliated by those whom I loved. But mostly, I’m glad I can now go to sleep without worrying about whose hands are touching me, and who I can’t trust anymore. Which is the reason why I want to chase a Social Work degree, so I can help every kid living a bad life After all, my life seemed to be getting better, but better only lasted a little. As I entered my second semester in freshman year, I lost my beloved brother. I found myself grieving my brother the day of his birthday, how crazy can life be right?. I will never be able to put that heartbreaking feeling into words. I don't think there are any words to explain grief, the feeling is so strong you can barely breathe while your heart slowly aches every second. That unexplainable feeling of desperation and impotence because the earth doesn't stop spinning when your world does. It is not only a feeling, it is a way of living , you dedicate the rest of your life grieving, carrying the pain in your heart with love nowhere to go. The air certainly does not feel the same, and the days go by slower, while it feels like such a betrayal continuing with life when their time has ended. Even though I have a bad memory, the cries and mourns from my mother begging me to bring her son back will never leave. I stayed by my mothers side after finding out about her addiction shortly after my brother passed, my love for her was greater than the disappointment. I watched her turn into a completely different person, always yelling and finding a way to be on the streets. People would tell me to let her hit rock bottom but the thought of her crying alone did not let me sleep. After so long I realized she was drowning me with her, I found myself being more of a mom then she ever was. For the first time I sat with my anger to realize it was grief, those feelings that were not expressed and feelings that were being missed. It was time to put myself and my peace first, luckily we both saved each other by distancing ourselves and letting time heal what needed to be healed. My biggest lesson and my biggest love, my brother. Who made me understand how sensitive time is and taught me the final act of love, letting go. With my crushed spirit and heart I came to God , begging for understanding, but instead He gave me something better; a purpose and peace. Leaving me to understand that life is never fair, and if it was fair we would all be on a cross. I no longer feel ashamed of my past, I owe my future to that girl who couldn't get up from her bed in 2021. I will forever try to make it up for myself, because I did not deserve certain things but managed to push through with a smile on my face. I now understand that not everything has a reason but now I understand everything happens, everything you are feeling will eventually happen.

Dear Scholarship Committee, Coming from a Mexican family has pros and cons, but the best thing is we will never deny we are proudly mexican. My dad emigrated my two brothers and I to the United States in 2013, leaving my mother and oldest brother in Mexico. He says to make sure we had a good future, so far I am the only one that took advantage of the education provided to me. I came here not knowing a single word in English, nor anyone to help me do my homework at home and still managed to get good grades. I was forced to understand everything by myself, making me an independent and creative person. I grew up seeing a hardworking man with me by his side in the fields, therefore I have the perfect example of what I should do, work hard. My biggest goal has always been social work, I want to become a Child Protection Services worker. In 2018 my nephew Jose Luis was born with a disability called encephalic hydrocephalus, not being able to walk nor talk. We decided to fight for his custody after we discovered his disability was due to his mother using drugs during the whole pregnancy. She decided to take him far and said the only way we would be able to see him would be through an agreement, which we agreed. Recently in 2023 we began fighting for him again after we saw new signs of abuse, chopped nails, belt marks, bruises, and even skinnier. Our fight was not enough and CPS decided to give his mom another chance , which was also his last chance of living. His autopsy showed severe malnutrition, hypothermia and rope marks around his wrists. Even after the case file was inches thick filled with proof of her neglect and murder of her own two children, she is now free with a new family. Ever since we got to the US we have been renting in a trailer park, we can not afford any other type of housing. My parents have always struggled with money since the only income is my dad. He gets a good payment but all the money goes to bills and rent, while covering my mom’s bills in Mexico as well. My mom has been taking prescribed medication for over 25 years, and doesn't allow her to work properly, most of the time she will just be sleeping. I plan on finding work part time to pay for my education, my dad has said he will help me as much as he can. Any financial help would strongly be helpful to complete my career. I am sure there are others who are more worthy of qualifying than me because my grades aren't the best, but I am a very intelligent and hardworking girl. I would really appreciate the opportunity so I could repay my dad all he has done for me to prove to him his sacrifices did have a recompense. I truly believe that if God let me go through a painful process, He has prepared my path and will not let me fail. I want to be the voice my nephew never had and make sure the system does not fail another kid living a difficult life. Regardless of your decision, thank you for your time and consideration, God bless.