It has been established that by 2024, the STEM field remains predominantly male, with women representing only 34% of the workforce in this area. I selected the STEM field to advance my education and career in Forensic Science. While many individuals might perceive this profession merely as a means of financial gain, to me, forensics represents far more. This role embodies not only the memory of victims but also provides support to their families in processing the loss of their loved ones. It involves clarifying the circumstances surrounding the events and addressing any inquiries they may have. A case should always aim to provide clarity rather than leave families with lingering questions, as uncertainty can lead to feelings of neglect rather than understanding. Additionally, I aspire to build a career in Forensic Science to assist grieving families in obtaining the closure they truly need. In this profession, I would have the ability to maintain an individual's innocence or guilt, because the evidence is a reliable source that reveals who was present at the scene, what transpired, and often when the crime occurred. This evidence can aid the family members of victims in beginning their grieving process, which is often a challenging journey. The grieving process is essential for mental healing, enabling individuals to cope with loss while also allowing family members to improve their own well-being in order to support those who depend on them effectively. My aspiration is to contribute positively to this domain by highlighting the reality that for every achievement a man accomplishes, there is often a woman who can surpass it. Women have frequently been led to believe that their underrepresentation in certain professions implies a lack of resilience, ambition, or discipline compared to their male counterparts, but the truth of the matter is that your gender does not influence these characteristics. These traits are developed over time and are determined by your determination to reach specific goals. In middle school when I joined football, many guys stopped being my friends because they believed it wasn’t a female’s place to be in contact sports and their parents instilled the fear in them that if they got beat by a girl they weren’t man enough. I also faced sexism when I joined Mariachi in high school by not only my male peers, but also my male director who was openly sexist. They would often make remarks about my skill to bring me down even though I was better than them. After coming home crying for weeks, my mom told me it's better to face sexism now and learn how to deal with it, then to get into the real world and feel broken when I experience It for the first time, so I turned to God to help me and guide me through this rough journey. After obtaining my Masters Degree or PhD, I plan to enlist in the Marines, God willingly, seeing as it has always been a dream of mine. After all this, I want to work as a Forensic Scientist and Crime Scene Investigator, and eventually work my way up to working in the CIA. All while still playing Mariachi with a professional group.

Growing up in a family deeply rooted in music, I was constantly surrounded by a variety of instruments. At the age of six, my father enrolled my sister and me in violin lessons with a family friend, who introduced us to the basics and more advanced techniques. When I reached middle school, I had the opportunity to join the band, selecting the saxophone, inspired by my father's own experiences with the instrument during his high school years. I participated in the band throughout my three years in middle school; however, upon entering high school, I sought a new direction due to the sexism I faced from the directors, who often showed favoritism towards other students for advanced placements. I discovered that my school had a Mariachi program, which piqued my interest, leading me to join. My father had also played professionally in a Mariachi group, but he played the guitar. Since the saxophone is not typically used in Mariachi, I opted to learn a new instrument: the trumpet. I have been a part of the Mariachi program since my freshman year, and I can confidently say it has been the best choice for me. I have built numerous friendships with people from diverse backgrounds. After suffering an injury from soccer, I turned to music, as it provided a sense of reliability that my sport did not. Eventually, my closest friends became those from Mariachi. We would walk to WingStop every Friday after school and organize group outings on weekends. Additionally, I learned to play the guitar while taking on the role of vocalist for the group. I have also had the privilege of seeing and meeting some of the finest professional Mariachi groups that performed at our competitions. Now in my senior year, I take pride in being the Varsity trumpet and FlugelHorn section leader two years in a row. We are also recognized by the school board for consistently placing 3rd in the State of Texas, getting straight 1’s at UIL state, and having more than half the group earn outstanding performers medal’s. I earned my Letterman in Mariachi, decorated with patches from all the competitions we have participated in. Upon taking on this leadership role, I received an invitation to join my director's Mariachi group outside of school, allowing me to earn money while pursuing my passion for music. Furthermore, I was invited to a private rehearsal of a highly successful all-female Mariachi group from the Rio Grande Valley, where I rehearsed alongside them. Mariachi has played such a huge role in shaping me into the person I am today and I am forever grateful. This is all to say, that music has and will always play an important role in who I am and who I will become.

It has been established that by 2024, the STEM field remains predominantly male, with women representing only 34% of the workforce in this area. I selected the STEM field to advance my education and career in Forensic Science. While many individuals might perceive this profession merely as a means of financial gain, to me, forensics represents far more. This role embodies not only the memory of victims but also provides support to their families in processing the loss of their loved ones. It involves clarifying the circumstances surrounding the events and addressing any inquiries they may have. A case should always aim to provide clarity rather than leave families with lingering questions, as uncertainty can lead to feelings of neglect rather than understanding. Additionally, I aspire to build a career in Forensic Science to assist grieving families in obtaining the closure they truly need. In this profession, I would have the ability to maintain an individual's innocence or guilt, because the evidence is a reliable source that reveals who was present at the scene, what transpired, and often when the crime occurred. This evidence can aid the family members of victims in beginning their grieving process, which is often a challenging journey. The grieving process is essential for mental healing, enabling individuals to cope with loss while also allowing family members to improve their own well-being in order to support those who depend on them effectively. My aspiration is to contribute positively to this domain by highlighting the reality that for every achievement a man accomplishes, there is often a woman who can surpass it. Women have frequently been led to believe that their underrepresentation in certain professions implies a lack of resilience, ambition, or discipline compared to their male counterparts, but the truth of the matter is that your gender does not influence these characteristics. These traits are developed over time and are determined by your determination to reach specific goals. In middle school when I joined football, many guys stopped being my friends because they believed it wasn’t a female’s place to be in contact sports and their parents instilled the fear in them that if they got beat by a girl they weren’t man enough. I also faced sexism when I joined Mariachi in high school by not only my male peers, but also my male director who was openly sexist. They would often make remarks about my skill to bring me down even though I was better than them. After coming home crying for weeks, my mom told me it's better to face sexism now and learn how to deal with it, then to get into the real world and feel broken when I experience It for the first time. This is all to say, everyone has a purpose in life, and I have been led to believe that mine is being in Forensic Science, where I can aid families in their grieving process and just help them in general.