Choosing a career in sales or marketing is more than just a professional decision for me; it's a culmination of experiences and passions that have shaped my aspirations and goals. My journey began with my involvement in DECA during all four years of high school, where I not only participated but excelled enough to reach the national level in 2022. This experience was pivotal in igniting my interest in business and marketing, as it allowed me to apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios, particularly through my research management project focused on the New Mexico Department of Transportation. Working on this project taught me the importance of strategic thinking, research skills, and effective communication skills that are crucial in both sales and marketing roles. It showed me how understanding market needs and effectively communicating solutions can drive success in business ventures. Beyond DECA, my passion for sales and marketing led me to work with various sports teams, culminating in a remarkable opportunity to contribute to the organization of the 2023 Super Bowl with a hospitality service. This experience exposed me to the dynamic and fast-paced environment of the business side of sports, where marketing and sales are integral to engaging fans, securing sponsorships, and ensuring the success of major events. The excitement and energy of the Super Bowl further fueled my desire to pursue a career that blends my passion for sports with my skills in business and marketing. Additionally,I have spent time in hospitality, particularly at the historic Los Poblanos ranch in New Mexico, that provided me with firsthand experience in marketing unique properties and experiences as a reservationist. I learned how to identify and highlight distinctive features that appeal to potential guests, making compelling sales pitches and enhancing customer satisfaction. This role underscored the importance of storytelling and creating memorable experiences an aspect that resonates deeply with my approach to marketing and my experience working in a sales position. Ultimately, my journey from DECA competitions to sports events and hospitality has equipped me with a diverse skill set and a deep understanding of the strategic importance of sales and marketing. I am driven by the opportunity to leverage my creativity, analytical skills, and passion for engaging with people to contribute meaningfully to businesses, particularly in the dynamic fields of sports and hospitality. In conclusion, my decision to pursue a career in sales and marketing stems from a blend of experiences that have shaped my professional aspirations. From academic achievements in DECA to hands-on experiences at major sports events and in hospitality, each step has strengthened my conviction and passion for a career where I can drive business growth, connect with diverse audiences, and create impactful marketing strategies that resonate. I am excited about the challenges and opportunities ahead, eager to apply my skills and continue learning in a field that aligns perfectly with my interests and goals.

1989 by Taylor Swift is a classic coming-of-age story as after all, it is Taylor's birth year. The whole album is symbolic, telling the experiences of growing up, going through heartbreaks, emotions, and just living life, which wasn’t exactly relatable yet listening at the age of 11 but is something I had grown up loving as I looked up to Taylor since even before I was a pre-teen. Now being older and more "grown" up I still love the album but can appreciate the meaning of it a little bit more, as I am able to relate better. It has allowed me to realize, and discover my image of who I am, and to appreciate and believe in myself, but It’s even more inspiring knowing that when Taylor Swift was just 11 as well, she was out trying to pursue her dreams and get her name out there by taking demo tapes to Nashville. This album tells her story of growing up and relatable experiences, helping other young ones when they enter these stages of their life too to not feel so alone in what they go through but also inspire them to pursue their dreams and be themselves no matter what stands in the way because we can make it if we put our minds to it. New Romantics is my favorite song on this album for this exact reason. We are all young and dumb at some point in our lives, afraid of making mistakes, and what other people are going to think, but this song showcases that it’s all just something we will go through and learn from. The line "Honey life is just a classroom" is one of my favorites because it makes me think of the free and wild spirit we all have and how it’s okay to let that run free and discover the new things around us because our whole lives are just a learning experience and its everyone's first time here as well, so we are bound to mess up. Through thick and thin no matter what, Taylor tells us in this song that it is important to not back down because bricks can be built into castles, and by getting up and dancing we cannot be knocked off our feet. It is important to love others and love the things around you, to truly appreciate life and what we are all given and blessed with. Sometimes romanticizing the little things, even mistakes and successes, makes life that much better, and you overall happier. The people that stick around in life and support you should also be appreciated because no matter what or who tries to bring you down, you will find your inner happiness with these little things and from the people that you love as you won’t have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn’t believe in you or change yourself for something that is not genuine just to fit in, because as she sings "the best people in life are free"!

Teen drivers, yes one of society’s more wild populations I would say, who doesn’t love a teen driver. I mean, I do I am one, who’s to judge and say i’m the best driver we’ll that’s for another time but who doesn’t want some fancy sports car, or expensive vehicle to show off your newly founded driving skills. My parents didn’t want me to. When I first started driving I remember seeing a lot of kids I knew driving the newest models of a Dodge Challenger or even driving Corvettes but I know that high school student income couldn’t afford all of that. So when I asked my parents to help me buy my first car, I was a little bummed when they wanted to go a cheaper route. With my little Nissan I was happy but wished I had a cooler car. Being a new driver isn’t easy and I learned that the hard way, I’ve had my fair share of curb hitting or actually a minor accident in which I damaged my whole front bumper. Insurance is expensive especially when you are careless and I paid the consequences and the costs. I understood why I couldn’t get some expensive car as my first car and started seeing others around me wish they hadn’t as well. This is the first time I truly learned and understood personal finance. Now 4 years later paying for my insurance and saving for a new car I am careful with my driving and understand the consequences of my actions and how it affects my personal finance. As I am getting ready to go to college I will keep working, saving, and planning for the future and what it will bring instead of buying the first fancy thing I see.

When thinking about nature I always remember this one story of a grandma passing while tending to her garden. What a weird way to die my friends would question, but in that same weird way I found it to be peaceful. Nature was something she loved and she passed doing literally what she loved and if I were to go I’d hope it’d be in a way meaningful to me. Now I don’t really have a garden at my house, but I do a few things for the peacefulness of nature as well. All throughout school since I was in elementary, I struggled with anxiety and bullying which turned into depression as I got older. To keep my mind off the heaviness of school and society I spent a lot of time outside just enjoying the things I couldn’t control because it gave me freedom. I would join little clubs where I could spend my free time, that participated in community service and planting flowers around the school. One time we even went to the Jemez mountains to plant baby trees after some wildfires, and to this day that has been one of my most monumental memories of nature. Just being in nature and enjoying the bright colors, warm feeling, and freeness of life big or small, I have found peace with the little things in the world. Nature has helped me overcome mental struggles throughout my life and the joy of helping out nature is an overwhelming feeling I can’t compare. Being in nature makes me happy and by taking care of our Earth and cleaning our communities makes me feel so proud knowing I’m doing something good for the more peaceful side of the world and the wildlife beyond our eyes.

Being genuine and honest is an important trait I strive to live by. You are never given a set of instructions in life and it is never easy for anyone. As young adults navigating through life we all undergo our own personal struggles but using those experiences to become a better, and true version of yourself is what really matters, not what you’ve been through. In middle school I suffered a lot with insincerity about myself and especially my appearance. I was always the short and skinny girl with glasses, made fun of for being nerdy. and still looking like a little kid, and I hated that about myself. I would act out in my family and isolate myself from making too many friends, this caused a lot of prejudice and judgment I started to make about other girls my age. When I was 13 I found out I had an acute case of scoliosis and would need surgery. I felt even worse for myself but realized this was my story to tell. I was embarrassed first of my condition but, getting the surgery so quickly was because I was still growing and had a long way to go which made me excited. It sparked my interest in living and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Going through hardships in my life helped me to understand everyone is going through something. I am honest and vulnerable in expressing myself now. I never make myself out less than I am because I now know I can overcome anything I put my mind to. I encourage everyone I can to stay true to themselves because they are stronger and brighter than what anyone says or what they believe. I am authentically me and nothing can change that, smart, beautiful and true to me.