"A Second Mother's Journey: Shaping My Identity" As I was growing up, I became the default second mother to my siblings and my grandparents. My mother, bless her heart, worked tirelessly to put food on the table. In turn, I unwittingly took on the role of primary caregiver, making sure that the household runs smoothly and that everybody is gets their needs met. My experience as a second mother has helped mold me into the resilient and compassionate individual that I am today. I can no longer remember what year I took on the role of a caregiver. All I know is that I did what I felt was right and I did everything I could to help out. I oversaw my siblings’ daily routines, I helped with their homework, I cooked their meals, and I cleaned the house. Aside from that, I took care of my grandparents, who were respectively suffering from depression and Alzheimer’s. I took on these responsibilities and I also pushed hard to excel at school. I taught myself how to manage my time properly, making sure that I get to finish my homework, study, and do my extracurricular activities, aside from my caregiving duties. On the other hand, this journey is not without its sacrifices. I had to forego social activities and personal interests. It also pains me to admit it, but I was not able to take care of my emotional well-being and physical health. I also felt abandoned by my mother’s 24/7 work schedule. However, I chose to see things in a different light. I watched as my mother tirelessly made her own sacrifices to ensure that we always had what we needed. She is the inspiration for my work ethic and my determination. But what else did I do to help out in my own way? I knew for a fact that my mother deserved to take a break. I wanted her to reap the fruits of her labor as well. I took the initiative to take on babysitting jobs to contribute financially to the household. I also secured a job at Synergy Freight Inc., which allowed me to work from home and at the same time, fulfill my duties as a caregiver. While our family is still a long way from living a life of luxury, I can honestly say that we have survived many storms together. For that, we emerged as a stronger and better family, well-equipped to fight through battles and support each other. Through this journey, I learned the importance of family, support, hard work, and persevering against all odds. My role as a second mother also developed my compassion and nurturing nature, taught me how to be resilient and adaptable, and has prepared me for challenges in the future. Despite everything, I never saw my family as a burden, for they are my inspiration. They are the reason why I am writing this essay, determined to make a good life for them. I love to volunteer in food drives and animal shelters helping the community. I also clean all the trash all over my community. I will do community meetings to here about the problems in my city and do something about it. i'll create a program where we donate hygine productes, etc to help out anyone in the community. I will help out all the single parents to, by proving caregiving services or ways to have their kids get taken care of withought having to affect one of their children like it did to me. I will make a change in

"A Second Mother's Journey: Shaping My Identity" As I was growing up, I became the default second mother to my siblings and my grandparents. My mother, bless her heart, worked tirelessly to put food on the table. In turn, I unwittingly took on the role of primary caregiver, making sure that the household runs smoothly and that everybody is gets their needs met. My experience as a second mother has helped mold me into the resilient and compassionate individual that I am today. I can no longer remember what year I took on the role of a caregiver. All I know is that I did what I felt was right and I did everything I could to help out. I oversaw my siblings’ daily routines, I helped with their homework, I cooked their meals, and I cleaned the house. Aside from that, I took care of my grandparents, who were respectively suffering from depression and Alzheimer’s. I took on these responsibilities and I also pushed hard to excel at school. I taught myself how to manage my time properly, making sure that I get to finish my homework, study, and do my extracurricular activities, aside from my caregiving duties. On the other hand, this journey is not without its sacrifices. I had to forego social activities and personal interests. It also pains me to admit it, but I was not able to take care of my emotional well-being and physical health. I also felt abandoned by my mother’s 24/7 work schedule. However, I chose to see things in a different light. I watched as my mother tirelessly made her own sacrifices to ensure that we always had what we needed. She is the inspiration for my work ethic and my determination. But what else did I do to help out in my own way? I knew for a fact that my mother deserved to take a break. I wanted her to reap the fruits of her labor as well. I took the initiative to take on babysitting jobs to contribute financially to the household. I also secured a job at Synergy Freight Inc., which allowed me to work from home and at the same time, fulfill my duties as a caregiver. While our family is still a long way from living a life of luxury, I can honestly say that we have survived many storms together. For that, we emerged as a stronger and better family, well-equipped to fight through battles and support each other. Through this journey, I learned the importance of family, support, hard work, and persevering against all odds. My role as a second mother also developed my compassion and nurturing nature, taught me how to be resilient and adaptable, and has prepared me for challenges in the future. Despite everything, I never saw my family as a burden, for they are my inspiration. They are the reason why I am writing this essay, determined to make a good life for them. I am confident that this experience has made me strong enough to help me navigate through life without breaking a sweat. I have undergone a lot of self-discovery along the way. I am definitely confident that all of the qualities I got will continue to be useful in the next chapter of my life as a college student.

As I prepare to attend the University of Texas, I'm reminded of the harsh realities of gender disparity in our state. The catcalls, whistles, and degrading comments from men who think they can get away with it are a constant reminder that we still have a long way to go in achieving true equality. My personal experiences with gender disparity have been a driving force in my determination to create change. I've been belittled, mocked, and sexualized by men who thought they could assert their power over me. But one incident that still resonates with me was when a guy made fun of my appearance in front of my peers. It was a moment that could have broken me, but instead, it fueled my determination to fight back. I remember feeling helpless and violated, like I was just another victim of a society that doesn't value women. But as I looked around, I saw that I wasn't alone. I saw women who had been through similar experiences, women who had been marginalized, objectified, and silenced. And I knew that I had to do something. That's why I'm committed to studying Law Studies at UT. I want to use my education to amplify the voices of women across Texas, to create a society where we're valued and respected, not objectified and marginalized. I want to be part of a movement that challenges the status quo, that demands change, and that empowers women to speak out against gender disparity. Through volunteer work with organizations like the Texas Women's Foundation and paid internships with feminist advocacy groups, I'm able to make a difference and have a voice. When I arrive at UT, I plan to continue this work. I want to create a movement that empowers women to speak out against gender disparity. I want to create safe spaces for women to share their experiences, to support one another, and to demand change. I want to show men that their actions have consequences, that their words have power, and that we won't be silenced or sexualized anymore. In the end, it's not just about me or my experiences; it's about creating a Texas where women can thrive, free from gender-based discrimination and violence. It's about showing men that we're not objects, but agents of change. And it starts now. I envision a future where women are valued and respected, where we're not judged by our appearance or our gender. I envision a future where women can walk across campus without fear of harassment or assault. And I know that with determination, hard work, and a commitment to change, we can create that future