The field of interest that I've chosen to pursue is Business. Business is extremely versatile due to the vast amount of industries one could work within. The industry I have chosen to pursue is the beauty, fashion, and cosmetic industry. I have always had a strong appreciation for creativity and artistic talent. The boundless number of colors, the artistic freedom, and the endless opportunities are some of the reasons I've fallen in love with this industry throughout my five years as a licensed professional. Likewise, the field of Business has also introduced to me other features I've been fascinated to explore. One of those is leadership. I am naturally a person that possesses a strong amount of independence. Aside from that, I am deliberative, patient, and analytical. I take pleasure in problem-solving, creating solutions, guiding others, and learning new skills. The field of Business is an amazing environment for growth and success, which is why I have dedicated myself academically to specifically studying both Marketing and Human Resources. I would like to create an impact by implementing positive work environments that fosters growth, welcomes creativity and ideas, and values mental health. Often, I hear that many people are unhappy with their jobs, or simply being taken advantage of by their employers. It disappoints and saddens me when extremely talented people are left feeling discouraged and under-appreciated. I desire to motivate others and coach them into being the best version of themselves that they can be, all while working towards a common goal. My personal beliefs and goals have kept me on track to manifest my dreams. I like to dream big, because I believe that if I can dream it, I can do it. I strengthen and maintain a strong positive attitude through daily affirmations, because I conclude that a healthy mindset drives you to completing your goals. A few of my academic goals are to apply for scholarships, become more active in my honors society, and continue to maintain a strong GPA. My personal goals focus on becoming more organized and disciplined. I am striving to better my time-management, my health and diet, to read more, and to be more productive and aligned. To end, I wish to become a strong leader in an industry I know some people have struggled immensely in. I want to ensure that the environment I lead in is welcoming, inclusive, and diverse. I desire to be a leader that is legendary and influential. I want to be someone that embraces change and takes accountability. I strongly trust that the path I am pursuing will lead me to the destination I've been pining for. Thank you for considering me as a potential scholarship candidate.

An often overlooked adversity is the one faced by eldest daughters. Sometimes it is seen within society that the eldest daughter of a family takes on the most responsibilities. She is the second mother to her siblings, and she must be resilient and capable to ensure her family's future. She is a perfectionist, because she cannot afford to fail. Mentally, she is exhausted, but physically she beams. Due to her responsibilities and challenges within her life, it is difficult to build her life and chase her dreams. Being the oldest used to sound very appealing to me. As a child, being first meant you won the race. It made you special. The reality is that it comes with its baggage. As an oldest daughter, my navigation through my academic and professional career has been quite challenging. My younger sister and I are twenty years apart. We do not have a sibling relationship, I am more like her guardian. I'm the one that makes her breakfast and lunch, takes her to school, bathes her, reads to her, and plays with her. I'm the one that finds a sitter when I cannot be there, and I'm the one she refuses to go to bed without. Balancing a child, work, and school is a unique experience. There isn't much physical support because my parents are older, so most of their energy goes towards working. My brother is mentally-ill and overwhelmed easily, he has his plate full with a son of his own. I run my own small business, so my income is not always consistent. I've mastered time management. Children require a lot of time, and so does school. The library has really helped us because it gave me a solid place to study, as well as a setting for her to play and interact with other children. I've learned to be patient. Children will challenge your nerves and stress, it's easy to lose your cool. As the oldest daughter, nobody is patient with you, but Abi has taught me the importance of being patient with yourself. This has been useful in my online classes as I try to navigate a new concept. My experience with my sister has also helped me understand the need for gratitude. I often see other people my age having fun with others, getting married, or a promotion at work. I won't lie, it gets to me. I get a bit jealous and feel like a loser. I have to remind myself that everyone's timeline is different, and that these events do not directly translate to someone being happy or successful. These negative emotions can be heavy, so I've learned to look at where I'm at and simply be grateful for it. There are some areas of my life that I wish were easier or could improve, but as of right now I'm happy that I've been able to get this far. Having this positive attitude has given me the strength to continue my education, despite the hurdles that come along the way. In short, it's been strenuous trying to balance my responsibilities. At times, it feels as though I've poured everything into my family, leaving little for my own aspirations. One thing about the oldest daughters is that no matter how impossible it is, we make it happen. Therefore, whether it takes years or more, I will make my dreams come true. With this scholarship, I aim to continue my education, ensuring a brighter future for both myself and my family.

My parents are from Zacatecas, Mexico. Growing up in poverty, they had to sacrifice their childhoods and work for basic survival. By 1987, my dad was 19, and had left Zacatecas to find work in Los Angeles, where he would begin his journey with only the clothes on his back. In 1994, my parents married and my mom had to cross the border illegally. The passage was long, but mostly terrifying. Her curly hair was filled with sweat from the anxiety that was also fueled by pregnancy hormones. It was difficult to hide from immigration, but she somehow managed. My dad had planned to meet her at, "La Frontera," which is just Spanish for "border." He came dressed in a brand-new black leather jacket. He made sure his hair was freshly cut and styled. His hand gleamed with a golden ring. He was ready to see my mom. Finally, when my dad arrived to receive my mother from the "coyote", it was revealed that his brother had spent the money for the payment. My dad retrieved my mother, but had to leave his fancy new jacket and gold ring behind. I wasn't born in California. My parents had left to Nebraska because of how difficult the job market had become. Our first home was in the basement with some of my parent's friends from Honduras. They were soon able to move into what would be my childhood home some time after I was born. Our oven was filled with roaches, but we could not afford another oven with the move. My mom had no choice but to intensely scrub the oven clean. No roaches for our tiny home in North Omaha. Throughout the majority of my childhood, it was just me and my brother. My parents couldn't stay home with us, they had to work. It was the sacrifice that had to be made in order to move forward. We had a few hiccups along the way, like when my dad went to jail because an officer didn't think his license was real. Or when my mom came home upset from the racist coworkers at her job. Despite the obstacles, my parents got us far. Now we're in a three-bedroom and three bath home, all thanks to the hard work they did. One of the first lessons my parents taught me was hard work. They always cheered me on, saying that I had to, "Echarle ganas." As a result, I have become stubborn and determined to succeed. My parents raised me to be honest, diligent, and ambitious. Without them, I would not be where I am today. They have gifted me a secure foundation where I have the opportunity to become somebody important. I will not take this gift for granted. My dad began his legacy with nothing but his work ethic in 1987. I plan to continue that legacy and further expand our empire into something that reminds them that all the obstruction they overcame was worth it.

As someone who was born in 1998 and is considered a "Zillennial" there are portions of this ode that I agree and also disagree with. I agree that we have been handed a difficult economy with low incomes and higher rates of unemployment. I agree that the older generations are not very understanding of us, the way we function, or the way we behave. That said, I strongly disagree with the rest of this text. The world and environment we now face isn't something that can simply be accepted. It's something we were forced to inherit. We can't just decline it, and if we could have, trust me that would've been done long ago. While we may not show it, we are not excited, and we are resentful. These emotions are more than valid, we are entitled to them. We are upset that the older generation who worked one summer to afford their year of school tuition are telling us to, "just go to college." It is absolutely infuriating when the older generations ask us why we are still living at home or in an apartment when they were able to purchase their homes in 1980 for under $50,000. It is exhausting to have to fight for higher wages, especially when minimum-wage was originally introduced by President Roosevelt who believed that everyone deserved to earn a wage that would allow them to have the minimum standard of living. None of us feel any form of delight when we ignore our health because we don't want to add another bill to our debt. Many of us scream our lungs out of aggravation when wars are being funded while our community is struggling to survive. These feelings are what drives our ambition, not some feeling of duty. It's what fuels our desire for change. Millennials and Gen-Z are not the kind of people who can sit and ignore current issues. We take action and voice our complaints unapologetically and fearlessly. We know we can't choose what world is given to us, but we can at least attempt to change it. We pick up phones, but we don't call. Instead, we are utilizing social media to share news, promote diversity, and advocate for ourselves and others. We are developing new forms of technology that will boost efficiency and reduce time struggles. We are opening up new and innovative businesses that offer employment opportunities and benefits. We are volunteering to assist our community and improve social welfare. We prioritize sustainability and environmental advancements. While many of us are money-driven, we are not greedy. We're sympathetic and aware, not naive. We are driven to change the current circumstances because if we don't, our challenges will only grow. Unlike others from previous generations, we don't exactly believe that extreme suffering is required to obtain success. Some of us have children, and we don't want them to face the same conditions we've had to. Overall, I don't believe that Millennials and Generation-Z will be, "The Greatest Generation 2.0." I believe we can be better. None of us want to be the second coming of someone else. We are all unique individuals, and value originality far too much to settle for that title. One day, our determination will take us to places we couldn't have ever imagined. To me, "The Legendary Generation," suits us much better.

What pushed me to enroll at my local community college and major in business were my siblings. I am the middle of three children. My older brother, who is three years my senior, has bipolar disorder and psychosis. Every few years, he'll experience a mental health crisis. Due to the way his brain works, he's been considered disabled. My younger sister and I are apart by twenty years. She is more like a daughter to me. I also have a four-year-old nephew, whose mother is also bipolar and occasionally experiences mental crises' as well. I am pursuing a career in business so that I can provide for them in the future. For women, it's common for the eldest daughter to become the third parent. We are the child that is given the most responsibilities. Our parents have higher expectations for us too, which in turn, makes them much stricter on us. It can be emotionally challenging being the eldest daughter due to the amount of pressure placed on us. It was life-changing for me when my sister and nephew were born. I originally grew up as the youngest, so I didn't have too much experience being around younger children full-time. Although they are great blessings in my life, they can be quite stressful. My parents both work full-time and even overtime. They don't have as much energy to be around the kids because they're older. My mom had maybe six weeks of maternity leave when my sister was born. Once she returned to work, my sister was spending the majority of time with me. I fed, bathed, played, and slept with her. I also worked on top of that. It was hard, but the real challenge was when my oldest sibling or his girlfriend had mental breakdowns. Trying to juggle two kids that were under two, work, and home life was much different. It was a unique kind of exhausting. With my family spending most of their time at the hospital, tending to the kids also got lonely. I would wake up at six in the morning to start our day, take them to a sitter while at work, pick them up after work, and then make dinner and put them to bed. This shift in life lasted for three or four weeks, but it made me realize that millions of women lived like this every day. It gave me a bit of a glimpse into my future. I knew with the mental conditions of my brother, this would be taking place at certain points in my life. My duty to care for them is unavoidable. The doctors say these kinds of crises' are normal, so these events don't scare me as much as they used to. What I fear more now is not being able to afford it. Mental healthcare is not cheap. While I love my job as an independent hairstylist, I know that I'd struggle to care for my family financially if I were to continue this career. I also want to be happy with what I do. Since I already have first-hand business experience, I decided to join a program and expand my knowledge and skills. I believe that entering the field of business will connect me with a job that will benefit me financially and allow benefits such as family and medical leave. Acquiring my business degree is more than just a goal for me, it's a requirement that I need to achieve so that I can support my family. All in all, achieving this degree will make our future much brighter for us.

I was motivated to pursue a business degree because last year I finally began to operate my own beauty services business. It was a risky move in my career. I only had a small clientele built up and some money saved. It was similar to starting over. I was nervous and a bit scared, but I no longer desired to stay in a work environment where I was uncomfortable and miserable. The experience of starting my own business was awesome. It felt great to be in control, make my own decisions, and operate my business the way I desired. I also worked alongside other independent stylists. Although they were my competition, I was able to learn from them, and they learned a lot from me too. They helped me grow. This positive experience made me realize I have a passion for business and it motivated me to start my academic journey toward a Business degree. I am determined to explore and learn the necessary skills that I need to become a prominent figure in the business world. My next reason for starting my journey in the business world is because of my family situation. My oldest brother is clinically diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, and he also suffers from Psychosis. He is considered disabled because of the episodes that he experiences every few years. He has a son, and the mother of his child is also bipolar. She has episodes too, and has been suicidal. On top of that, I have a four-year-old sister, who I am very close with. I wish to have the ability to be there for my family both financially and emotionally, and I need to set a good example for my little sister. I yearn for a job that I am passionate about and that can benefit me in my personal life. I plan on utilizing my education to help protect my community from unethical and illegal practices within businesses. In my culture, we are constantly taught to appreciate what we have and let our hard work speak for us. While this is a great piece of advice, it can sometimes cause us to be taken advantage of. I've witnessed many people from my community being treated unfairly within their place of work. Many of them don't realize the events that happened are illegal and unethical. They need someone that will alert them of what they were never taught. I plan to become a positive leader who creates an environment where employees feel safe and heard. Our working class is what makes our businesses and economy, which is why I wish to advocate for them. After I master my Human Resources courses, I plan on further educating others on their rights in the workplace. When I obtain a position of leadership with my business degree, I'll be better equipped to eliminate toxic work environments and guide companies to success. Lastly, I can strongly relate to Boyd J. Cameron. His story reminds me of my family situation. I aim to be like him and be able to support my family through anything. Acquiring this business degree is more than just a goal for me. It's a path I need to take to become the person I aspire to be. Thank you for your time and consideration.