I am interested in majoring in public health with the given opportunity of attending college. Contributing to others in any shape or form has always been something that fulfills me, and many experiences in life have taught me that everyone deserves a healthy and happy life, and I believe healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. Through this major, I wish to pursue a specialization in pediatrics. Working in pediatrics would allow me to ensure children grow up lively and can thrive mentally, physically, and emotionally. Coming from a place where access to healthcare is limited and scarce, and you would see many kids on the streets, fighting for their lives every day, moving to the U.S. has only reinforced my belief in this cause and commitment to this field. I have come to understand that public health is not just another way of understanding life but also a tool for positive change. Everyone has a dream, and mine is to make my family and country proud. Pediatrics, to me, is like a way of giving back and helping the next generations flourish. With this major, I hope to gain knowledge and skills and transform my dream into reality, as well as others. I moved to the U.S. about five years ago. Initially, I didn’t think much about what this meant. I was embracing new experiences, trying new things, and meeting new people. It struck me when I realized how desperately I wanted to fit in with the other kids. I was once playing truth or dare; I chose truth. Someone asked me what my biggest fear was. It was being kidnapped. My dad was beaten up and kidnapped once, but no one ever told me anything. He could have died, and I wouldn’t have known. I found out years after it happened, but just thinking about it would make me paranoid and sick; it still does. Instead of answering the question, I went blank. I couldn’t just share that with my friends. I felt ashamed of my past and how this was normal where I came from. That’s when I realized the difference in our cultures and how hard it would be if I wanted to fit in. It took me a while, I would say until halfway through high school, to feel remotely normal and understand God didn’t punish me or my family but blessed me with experiences and perspectives that might not be the best, but for sure have given me values and a new way of living. Everything I saw, everything I went through, and everything I learned shaped my mentality and values. Situations like moving out of the country and restarting my life helped me in my academic journey and in embracing all opportunities I got regarding my future since that’s one of the reasons we moved in the first place. While my past in Venezuela is marked with fear and difficult memories, it has enriched me with valuable lessons like determination, empathy, and resilience. It taught me how work ethic and perseverance are the keys to success and how moving here was not just a change in location but a transformation. Fitting in isn’t just about hiding the scars, but embracing them as part of my identity. Having witnessed firsthand living without opportunities or stability, I am committed to making the most out of my college experience. I’ve come to understand how college is not just another chapter, but a privilege that my parents sacrificed for me when leaving everything behind, and I aspire to make the most out of that.

Moving to another country restarted my life. It felt like I had lost my skills, thinking I did not belong. These emotions were even stronger when this new country had considerable language, values, and cultural differences, which was my case. I moved from Venezuela to the U.S. during seventh grade. This experience grew me into the person I am today and taught me many lessons in life. Although it sometimes felt unfamiliar, I realized it was not something terrible but rather an opportunity in life and a new beginning. My educational and social journey proved to be an emotional rollercoaster until I finally grasped the purpose of moving here - which was my future. One life event I could highlight was my high school journey through dual credit classes. I had always been a diligent student but was scared of college, so I never took my time to understand the significance of academic opportunities like these classes. It wasn’t until my junior year that I decided to put my fear aside and inform myself about dual credit. I wanted to try it since it was a jumpstart into college and so I could start preparing, but I still didn’t feel confident enough for these classes, as though they sounded too expensive and challenging for me. I almost gave up after facing multiple setbacks; there were residency requirements, tests I had to pass, and my concerns with the tuition, and those were just the main ones. However, I realized I was making the right decision here through the encouragement of my friends and teachers and discovering classes would be free for me since I had free lunch. The application was long and overwhelming at times, but I passed my tests, and after months of paperwork, I enrolled in dual credit classes. The process of joining dual credit was a turning point in my life. It taught me how to balance my tasks, manage my time, and stay organized, all skills crucial for college. It showed me how success in college requires more than academic ability; it requires taking opportunities and embracing them, being persistent, and staying determined. Now, with college in mind, I’ve applied to some schools and wish to pursue a career in public health and hopefully become a pediatric nurse or something of the sort one day. I am passionate about the subject and desire to help. Contributing to others in any shape or form has always been something that fulfills me, and many experiences in life have taught me that everyone deserves a healthy and happy life and that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. Working in pediatrics would allow me to ensure children grow up in a healthy environment and can thrive mentally, physically, and emotionally. Coming from a place where access to healthcare is limited and scarce, and you would see many kids on the streets, fighting for their lives every day, moving to the U.S. has only reinforced my belief in this cause and commitment to this field. I have come to understand that public health is not just another way of helping out but also a tool for positive change. Everyone has a dream, and mine is to make my family and country proud. Nursing, to me, is a way of giving back and helping the next generation flourish. With this major, I hope to gain knowledge and skills and transform my dream into reality, as well as those of others.

You get used to it — the hunt—the hunt for peace, for liberty, for stability. When you finally achieve these, it feels surreal. You have always felt like a hopeless hunter in a jungle where all animals are hidden from you. But as time passes and days feel longer, you realize it’s too late; your desire for the hunt is gone, and you never actually got anything. This is what living in my country, Venezuela, felt like. You are constantly pursuing happiness and a livable life. When moving to the U.S., I expected a 160-degree turn in my life. I romanticized America and the famous “American Dream” from a young age. I would always hear about it on TV shows and envy them, as well as the lifestyles people had. Everything looked perfect in my eyes and like a life, I would aspire to have. In my mind, the American dream is freedom—being able to do whatever you want, say whatever you want, and think freely, with no one judging, and having plenty of opportunities in life. It is complicated to grasp this meaning since it can be up to interpretation, depending on your background and values. My life experiences and not being from the U.S. have greatly influenced my definition of the American Dream. Upon arriving in the United States, I began appreciating this dream's beauty and complexity. While opportunities are indeed aplenty, they require effort and resilience. I learned that freedom does not mean without challenges but with the ability to face them with hope. One moment that stood out to me was pretty recently. I got my first acceptance letter from Texas State University about two weeks ago. This felt surreal since I felt like I had earned this and finally belonged. At this moment, I finally knew the American Dream wasn't just about material success but about growth and being able to envision something better for myself. My journey from Venezuela to the U.S. proved that the American dream is not just a painted picture but a pursuit of growth and determination. Its true meaning isn’t instant perfection but believing in yourself and a desire to make a better life. I’ve come to realize that although the hunt can be exhausting, it’s worth it whenever you see the fruits of your efforts. With my definition of the American dream, I plan to make it happen, and transform it to my new American reality.

You get used to it — the hunt—the hunt for peace, for liberty, for stability. When you finally achieve these, it feels surreal. You have always felt like a hopeless hunter in a jungle where all animals are hidden from you. But as time passes and days feel longer, you realize it is too late; your desire for the hunt is gone, and you never actually got anything. This is what living undocumented has felt like in the U.S. It is like you are constantly pursuing happiness and reliance that you belong. As a child, too, you would not fully grasp the situation, and your family would try to protect the bubble of innocence you had been living in. It was not until kids would not want to be around the “girl from another country,” or you struggled with your identity, or realized the limited access to the education you had that your little kid bubble burst. It was not until an English I class, when a girl gave a speech about her struggles with anxiety and feeling pressure to meet others' expectations that I felt something shift inside of me. Her openness made me think about my own silence and fear of being different. I realized I had been carrying this weight of uncertainty and pressure of proving myself despite the barrier and could feel myself letting go of it. Seeing how many students related to her speech made me realize I wasn’t alone. This made me comprehend how fitting in isn’t just about hiding the scars but embracing them as part of my identity. I finally understood that God didn’t punish me or my family but blessed us with a testament to resilience. Giving us new experiences and perspectives that helped me shape how I am today. Having experienced living without opportunities or stability, I am committed to fully taking advantage of my college experience. I want to go to college because I’ve come to understand that it is not just another chapter but a privilege that my parents sacrificed for me when leaving everything behind, and I wish to make the most of that. My top choice now is Texas A&M University. I have not decided yet because I would like to visit the campus before deciding, but I have already been accepted, so I hope to go there. Winning this scholarship would help me since my parents cannot afford to cover the costs of my career, no matter how much they support me and want to see me succeed. As an undocumented student, FAFSA or other traditional resources won’t give me any money to rely on for my education. This scholarship wouldn’t just be a financial relief, but it would show my hard work paying off and be the next step in honoring my family's sacrifices and being a chance to prove that my struggles can lead to a brighter future.