After moving to the United States from Mexico, my childhood was filled with struggles. Moving to a new country was not easy. All the battles we went through helped me change my perspective on life. My parents worked hard to give me and my siblings everything we needed. Growing up in a family with limited money taught me important lessons and shaped who I am today. Despite facing challenges, my childhood journey has had big impacts on the path my life has taken. Throughout every hardship that we have lived through, I have gained motivation to do everything to make my parents proud and somehow pay them for everything they have done for us. Throughout these experiences there have been a lot of moments where my parents would stress about not knowing if we were going to have enough money to buy our next meal or keep up with our house bills due to us being economically disadvantaged for a while. My parents taught me that stretching a small budget would not be easy, especially in this economy, but they made me understand the importance of having priorities. Each challenge was like a lesson that helped me grow. These hard times made a different version of myself. It also changed my perspective on how I saw things from a young age. In my opinion, it made me more mature and responsible while growing up. It taught me to be creative and practical. I learned to find smart solutions for everyday problems, not just about money but in all aspects of life. I was far more thankful to everyone who did stuff for me and ever since I started helping other people because I learned that you never know what anyone is going through and sometimes, I wished we got help when we needed it, which is why I enjoy helping people now. There had been times where my parents weren’t good economically which made me think more about what they do for me and my siblings and how they have worked to give us what we need. Going to college and getting a degree is the least I can do to show my parents that all of their hard work was worth every struggle because they'll get to see their little girl who lived through it all, graduate on that stage with their last name. My dream school has been the University of Houston, where I want to get a Bachelors of Science in Public Health while minoring in Pre-Nursing. My parents have a lot going on with my sibblings, the house, and bills, which is why I'm applying to all of these little scholarships that are available to me. Winning this scholarship would not only help me but my parents as well, since it would be five hundred dollars less that they would have to pay from their pocket to pay for my tuition.

Being involved in the medical field has always been a dream of mine. Ever since I was a little girl I admired all the technology that doctors and nurses would use around me. Especially those who would check up on pregnant women and their babies. This passion, combined with my interest in healthcare, has inspired me to pursue a career as a registered nurse. I aspire to pursue my dream career and play a critical role in monitoring the health and development of my patients. I find it incredibly rewarding to help families witness these precious moments and to offer insights that can guide their healthcare decisions. I believe I have strong attention to detail and deep empathy, which are important qualities for this role. Understanding that life is not always filled with happy moments and that it can be overwhelming, I am committed to creating a warm and supportive environment for my patients, making sure they feel informed throughout their illnesses. To be able to achieve this I plan on completing my prerequisites in the University of Houston, where I'm planning to get my Bachelors of Sciene. After completing this, I have applied to a diagnostic medical sonography program in the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where I have been accepted for the fall term of 2026. With my research I figured this career is a little pricey, so I have been applying to the little scholarships I have available to me since I'm undocumented. Not being a citizen from the United States has been a difficult journey when it comes to financial aid. In most cases, the only scholarships available to me are small and micro, while the big ones like Terry and others are not. Working with what I can I try my best to attain as many as I can to help myself and my parents financially. My parents are on a tight budget since they're paying for mortgage, my three little sibblings, and other things as well. My goal is to help out my parents as much as I can to avoid any financial burden on them. As well as working hard for my dream career that I plan to achieve with a lot of determination and resilience. Finally, set both short and long term career goals to guide my progression in the field. With every hardship that comes in my way I know it will help me become a motivated person which has helped me want to be successful and work hard to pay back my parents for everything they gave me with their hard work. It’s like a lasting gift that helps me face challenges with a determined and resilient attitude.

After moving to the United States from Mexico, my childhood was filled with struggles. Moving to a new country was not easy. All the battles we went through helped me change my perspective on life. My parents worked hard to give me and my siblings everything we needed. Growing up in a family with limited money taught me important lessons and shaped who I am today. Despite facing challenges, my childhood journey has had big impacts on the path my life has taken. Throughout every hardship that we have lived through, I have gained motivation to do everything to make my parents proud and somehow pay them for everything they have done for us. Throughout these experiences there have been a lot of moments where my parents would stress about not knowing if we were going to have enough money to buy our next meal or keep up with our house bills due to us being economically disadvantaged for a while. My parents taught me that stretching a small budget would not be easy, especially in this economy, but they made me understand the importance of having priorities. Each challenge was like a lesson that helped me grow. These hard times made a different version of myself. It also changed my perspective on how I saw things from a young age. In my opinion, it made me more mature and responsible while growing up. It taught me to be creative and practical. I learned to find smart solutions for everyday problems, not just about money but in all aspects of life. I was far more thankful to everyone who did stuff for me and ever since I started helping other people because I learned that you never know what anyone is going through and sometimes, I wished we got help when we needed it, which is why I enjoy helping people now. There had been times where my parents weren’t good economically which made me think more about what they do for me and my siblings and how they have worked to give us what we need. Going to college and getting a degree is the least I can do to show my parents that all of their hard work was worth every struggle because they'll get to see their little girl who lived through it all, graduate on that stage with their last name. My dream school has been the University of Houston, where I want to get a Bachelors of Science in Public Health while minoring in Pre-Nursing. My parents have a lot going on with my sibblings, the house, and bills, which is why I'm applying to all of these little scholarships that are available to me. Winning this scholarship would not only help me but my parents as well, since it would be five hundred dollars less that they would have to pay from their pocket to pay for my tuition.

When my family and I arrived in Houston, Texas, with just a few belongings and big dreams, I did not imagine that our cramped two-room house, shared with ten people, would become the foundation of my American Dream. Many people come into the United States in search for the American Dream, often seen as the pursuit of prosperity and success through challenging work; however, for my family, it meant navigating the challenges of a new country and starting over with almost nothing. Yet, despite these challenges, my parents were determined to make this new country our home, driven by the hope that one day, my siblings and I would have opportunities they never had. For a while, living here was about survival and adaptation. My father, who was a skilled laborer in Mexico, would struggle to keep a stable job here in Houston since he worked in construction outside, where the weather was often unfavorable. Sometimes he would work 2-3 days a week while earning minimum wage, which was just enough to cover necessities. I always looked up to him because, despite coming home from work exhausted, he never complained. His perseverance continually taught me the true meaning of resilience. Starting elementary school was an additional burden for my parents to provide everything I needed. As one can imagine, we were struggling financially during this time. At just four years old, I was put into an environment where I did not speak the language or understand the culture. My dad, who knew truly little English, spent his evenings after work helping me with homework despite his limited English skills. I could see the worry in their eyes as they learned to juggle their responsibilities, but I also saw their unwavering commitment to giving me the best possible start in life. From an early age I was always aware of what was going on, so I knew from the beginning how hard they worked and how much they struggled to have everything they have now. Seeing them work hard inspired me to do the same to show them everything would pay off by being successful in my academics. Every little thing I have gone through has shaped my understanding and has evolved my definition of the American Dream. To me, the American Dream is not just about personal success or financial stability, it is about honoring the sacrifices of those who came before us. I will forever be grateful for my parents and their hard work, which is why I have always been determined to fulfill the American Dream; a dream I hope to accomplish where I finish my dream career of becoming an ultrasound technician and return all the challenging work my parents had to go through to give my siblings and me a good education and satisfy our necessities. Through this career, I hope to repay their hard work and provide them with the security and comfort they worked so tirelessly to achieve.