Growing up, speaking about my background was all about the taste of my mom’s beans, homemade flour tortillas with a cup of coffee, and rosquillas on the side. However, as I stepped further into the world, I came to realize the stereotype that came with being Latina and shied away from my identity. I was born and raised in Honduras, a country known to house one of the most dangerous cities in the world, but immigrated to the United States at the age of three. A fundamental part of my relationship with my dad stemmed from his advice and guidance. He had dropped out of school in sixth grade, so he made sure that I was surrounded by all the support and motivation I needed to perceive education as an opportunity to reach my goals. My parents had also immigrated from Honduras, and I didn’t understand how difficult it must’ve been for them until I witnessed discrimination against my mom for not speaking English. It was then that I began to truly value my parents’ sacrifice so that I could be set free from the chains of violence and poverty rooted within my country. For many years people like me, whether it be due to my language or my appearance have been associated with drugs and violence which is why it has become a priority for me to change the narrative of the Latinx community. I truly believe education opens up pathways to success, but I’m well aware that opportunities come easier to some more than others. It takes hard work and dedication to overcome barriers society has built for us, but I’m a living testimony that it’s possible. As a Posse scholar and Minds Matter mentee, I have grown to understand the significance of uplifting our communities. They have opened my eyes to the possibilities that await students who dedicate their time to becoming someone they can look up to. A dream will stay a dream unless you take action and fight for what you believe. I remember being young and wanting to take over the world, but how can I make that possible without starting from home? My vision is to become a Pediatrician and form more connections with hospitals within my community that have a higher Hispanic population. I will then combine my interest in the health field and business to start a non-profit dedicated to supporting Hispanic students looking to pursue careers in STEM. I Will Stem is focused on rooting success in young people’s lives through education and helping Hispanic students reach their goals. This will not only help students gain representation within areas of their interest, but it will also contribute to increasing diversity in STEM-related fields.

Growing up in Chelsea I was always surrounded by familiar faces, friends from elementary school, or the family in the corner store which is why building relationships is fundamental in my character. The people in my community embrace what it means to form part of a family, where each and every individual drives each other to follow their dreams, especially the students trying to break chains that put their education in danger. I’m one of those students as being able to stay motivated throughout the struggles has taught me the importance of perseverance and determination. Helping others achieve their goals ignites a sense of pride for uplifting those around me, and my constant offer to make a change in someone else's life. I’ve always been interested in the sciences and business, and I hope I can combine the skills I will learn in college of business management and biology to start a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting high school students with disabilities pursuing careers in STEM. ‘I WILL STEM’ will partner with colleges, hospitals, and organizations to reach out to the greater community. Students will receive one on one support through the mentorship program which pairs them with a 10-year mentor during college and after graduation starting their sophomore year in high school. My goal is to gradually offer inclusive post-secondary opportunities and resources for scholarships, internships, job opportunities, and programs to help as many students as we can. It hurts me to think about other students who have it more difficult than me, who underestimate their potential because they feel different, but anyone can accomplish anything as long as they have the right support system and mentality which I will try to incorporate into the lives of the future students participating in ‘I WILL STEM.’

Growing up in Chelsea I was always surrounded by familiar faces, friends from elementary school, or the family in the corner store which is why building relationships is fundamental in my character. The people in my community embrace what it means to form part of a family, where each and every individual drives each other to follow their dreams, especially the students trying to break chains that put their education in danger. I’m one of those students as being able to stay motivated throughout the struggles has taught me the importance of perseverance and determination. Helping others achieve their goals ignites a sense of pride for uplifting those around me, and my constant offer to make a change in someone else's life. I’ve always been interested in the sciences and business, and I hope I can combine the skills I will learn in college of business management and biology to start a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting high school students with disabilities pursuing careers in STEM. ‘I WILL STEM’ will partner with colleges, hospitals, and organizations to reach out to the greater community. Students will receive one on one support through the mentorship program which pairs them with a 10-year mentor during college and after graduation starting their sophomore year in high school. My goal is to gradually offer inclusive post-secondary opportunities and resources for scholarships, internships, job opportunities, and programs to help as many students as we can. It hurts me to think about other students who have it more difficult than me, who underestimate their potential because they feel different, but anyone can accomplish anything as long as they have the right support system and mentality which I will try to incorporate into the lives of the future students participating in ‘I WILL STEM.’

If there’s anything I’ve learned from my 17 years living on this Earth is that true happiness derives from a home. Like they say, “Home is where the heart is,” and without one we find ourselves lost in the middle of a sea full of worries, doubts, and sadness. Over the years I’ve welcomed many blessings into my life, from scholarships to siblings. Being born in Honduras, I’ve realized the importance of making a home for myself out of a new country and cultivating my values and identity through my family, friends, and my constant involvement within my community. At home, we’ve started a habit of coming together at the end of the day to watch an episode or two of La Reina Del Flow, a Colombian series in Netflix. It helps us relax from the troubles of the day and enjoy something together. It’s the one thing I look forward to throughout the day, and it’s not just about the series, but about my family. When we’re all able to share something with each other it becomes special and sprouts happiness in each of us. It’s the same way with the rest of our family, a trip to the Bahamas would be nice, but so does a talk with a cup of coffee. It’s about the memories we make that are worth gold. I’m also involved in the National Honor Society which has helped me grow as a person and focus my values more on giving back to the community. Realizing that one simple act could put a smile on someone’s face gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Bringing happiness to others means a lot to me and I hope that I can continue doing that as I grow to bring a sense of home to everyone.

What brings us happiness? Is it the memories or the money? I’ve asked myself that question thousands of times, does money really buy happiness? After giving it much thought, I’ve come to a conclusion, money brings us opportunities to make memories. It allows us to live in comfort and travel the world, but money is most definitely not a contributing factor to long life happiness and fulfillment. I think I’ve spent about half of my lifetime dreaming of a better future, of a house with a backyard and a beautiful kitchen to make delicious recipes. I’ve thought about me, about what I can do to reach my goals, but then I realized, I’m building a future for myself, but my parents have built a life for me to explore the world around me. I began to learn the value of gratitude and helping my community reach an overall goal. That’s when I joined the National Honor Society, I worked on various projects like a PenPal Program with a senior center, tutoring middle school students, distributing boxes at my local food pantry, and preparing kits to give to the homeless. My heart grew kinder and it lit up whenever I thought of how my actions were positively affecting people I didn’t even know. I was always a good daughter, I tried giving back to my family, I didn’t ask for something when I didn’t need it. I put my family’s stability before my own wants and needs. I give back because it provides with me a sense of purpose. I know that by sacrificing my own time, I’m making a change in someone’s life, maybe someone out there doesn’t have even a snack to fill their stomach, and I hope I can change that. Dreams do come true, I remind myself.