I am deeply engaged in the realm of preschool education which sparked my liking to helping families in my community. I've been in my teaching occupation for the last three years and want to further challenge myself as a speech language pathologist in grad school. I found myself truly astounded by the prevalence of speech-related issues among many of the children. Given my role as an educator, I took it upon myself to advocate for these children to receive the necessary support for their speech challenges. Engaging with them individually has granted me a completely fresh outlook on their experiences and viewpoints. Among the children I interacted with, it was evident that a sense of displacement arose in those who grappled with challenges in conveying their thoughts comparably to their peers. I was obligated to make a change despite my limited expertise in the matter. Collaborating with the speech therapist who would visit to assess and aid these children, I could perceive the profound satisfaction derived from their efforts when engaging with the children. While I believed I was effecting a positive shift in the child's life, I couldn't shake off the sensation of helplessness in addressing their speech-related struggles from my end. While my academic focus predominantly lies within psychology, I believed I could embrace the endeavor of immersing myself into the realm of communication disorders. I have a lot of experience fostering connections with families from different backgrounds and acknowledge these differences. I have a very strong deep understanding of children’s developmental milestones. I have a genuine desire to accommodate and provide a positive impact for individuals. Speech pathology has a versatile perspective. It has an interdisciplinary outlook, touching on various areas of subjects within educational, psychological, and anatomical viewpoints. Its combination of various fields makes the subject even more intriguing and challenging in order to allow me to test my abilities. Every day ushers in a fresh array of learning experiences motivating me to seize this opportunity and foster my scholarly development, not solely for my personal advancement, but also for the betterment of my community. I am the first in my nuclear family who will take on the challenge of attending a graduate program, so it is an honor that I do so for my family, and my Latino community. As a first generation student, I am honored to provide this change for not only myself, but my family and community as a whole.

At 23 years old, I've always found it a bit embarrassing to admit that I had never attended any major concerts in my life. That all changed recently when I broke the pattern by going to La Onda Festival in Napa, California. The festival showcased a plethora of Latino artists, which resonated deeply with me. Growing up immersed in my Hispanic culture, I developed a profound love for the music that came along with it. Music has an incredible power to bring people together, and within the Latino community, it's amazing to witness the diverse array of styles and creativity that artists bring to the table. Since this was my first time attending a festival—and essentially a concert—I wanted to share the experience with someone special. I decided to bring my mom along to enjoy the moment with me. My mother never had the luxury of buying herself concert tickets or indulging in such special events, so I thought, "What the heck, let’s do it!" Seeing her favorite older artists, whom she had listened to since I was a child, made the experience even more meaningful. The most memorable aspect of the concert was undoubtedly seeing my mom's face light up with joy. I could tell she was over the moon and thrilled to be there, and I was ecstatic to share this special day with her. In today’s world, concerts and festivals come with a whole array of exciting traditions. For example, there’s often a theme for attire. For La Onda Festival, we dressed in our "vaquero" outfits, complete with pointed boots and hats. But it wasn't just about one specific theme; I was blown away by how people expressed themselves through their attire, showcasing their creativity and uniqueness. I was super stoked to be there! Although we didn’t get front-row seats and were packed like sardines in the crowd, seeing artists perform live was an unparalleled experience. The energy, the music, and the atmosphere were electrifying. My feet were on fire by the end of the night, and my mom and I were practically hauling each other to the Uber in pain, but we both agreed we’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. This was definitely core memory for my mom and I. Music is so empowering, and truly does its magic when it comes to connecting humans together, and even recounting older memories from the past.

In a perfect world, each and every individual would have access to affordable healthcare in order to promote the wellbeing of our community. But unfortunately that is not the case. I think in order to fully provide these necessities and accessibilities, we first must be aware of our diverse communities and maintain empathy and compassion when tackling societal dilemmas or stereotypes such as mental health and affordable health care. Our health is a universal human right and seeks to address health disparities, promote equity, and improve health outcomes on a global scale. In order to set a standard and work on change, we as community members must encourage cooperation among healthcare professionals, organizations, and governments. This would involve sharing ideas, expertise, and resources to address global health challenges. While it is important share insightful knowledge, it is also vital to maintain cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. As community members, and professionals, we must recognizes and respect cultural diversity in healthcare practices. Effective mental health support involves understanding and incorporating cultural practices into healthcare delivery to ensure that interventions are culturally sensitive and inclusive.

Spider-Man was introduced to me when I was a very young girl, and since then, I have grown up watching all the Marvel Spider-Man movies, enjoying the variety of new and different characters. Each actor brings their unique personality to the role, making the experience on the big screen all the more enjoyable. However, if I had to choose my favorite actor, it would be Tobey Maguire. I grew up loving Tobey Maguire, and he will always be the original Spider-Man in my eyes. He truly set the standard for all the actors who followed. This doesn't diminish the hard work and talent of the other actors, as I still appreciate their performances, but Tobey will always hold a special place in my heart. Perhaps it's due to my childhood obsession with him or the fact that he looked like my sophomore English teacher. To me, Tobey is an icon, and his impact is evident in the numerous Spider-Man memes and audio clips that continue to circulate, which I find hilarious. Tobey has also taken on more serious roles, proving his versatility as an actor. I was thrilled to see him return to the Spider-Man role in the multiverse movie, stepping back into his iconic character with ease. His portrayal continues to resonate with me and many others, cementing his status as the quintessential Spider-Man.

During my time as a preschool teacher, I have had the privilege of working with diverse groups and families, an experience that has deeply enriched my professional and personal life. Our program wholeheartedly embraces inclusivity and acceptance, values that I strive to instill in my students every day. It is an honor to mentor children who may feel out of place in the world or believe their voices are unheard. As their teacher, I expose them to a wide array of differences, encouraging them to embrace and educate themselves on the diverse qualities we, as humans, often possess. Doing so, we provide activities and story telling that is catered to gravitate the attention of the children. It is a play ful way of educating, yet it allows for lifelong lessons that the children will carry around and hopefully share with their friends and families! Being part of the disabled community myself, I have developed a profound sense of gratitude for life. The children, despite any setbacks, consistently approach each day with positivity and resilience, often arriving with a smile that lights up the room. I make it a point to remind them of their resilient spirits and encourage them never to lose touch with that mindset. Through this journey, I have seen firsthand that despite any limitations, we all share a common goal: to thrive in life. I want these children to feel accepted everywhere they go. This fall, I am excited to start a graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology, with the aspiration of working with even more diverse children and families. My aim is to continue learning from these incredible individuals, building upon their strengths, and applying my background and expertise to provide comprehensive support and services. By doing so, I hope to make a meaningful impact and offer deeper, more tailored support to those in need. I am still learning along the way and hope to further expose and challenge myself on this educational journey. I wish to instill confidence and simply a safe and nurturing environment for this kids, as they learn to overcome their fears. I hope to create a positive impact on all the families I encounter and create a trusting relationship with not only my clients, but the parents. During my time as a teacher, building rapport and creating transparency on a professional and respectable level is key to proving the best needs and resources for the child.

This is a topic I'm quite passionate about and is something my clinical psychology class truly emphasizes when getting into the mental health field. As the population begins to expand, so does our diverse population. Many individuals come from various backgrounds and often have their very own belief systems, values, and biases. As healthcare workers, we are there to support individuals despite their personal beliefs! From a psychological perspective, there has been so much research done that advocates for psychological treatment that tailors specifically to a wide variety of backgrounds. Collaboration in this case is crucial. One must be certain to gain competence of their patient's background or simply learn along the way to formulate that connection for both parties to work well together. In order to advance in the medical field, integrity is an important quality to have. Our actions will not always align with a patient's values. Healthcare workers can create a culturally inclusive setting by discussing the importance of cultural identities or experiences in aiding both patients and workers to develop a more complex understanding of the issues that bring the client to their current state. When my parents went through their divorce when I was younger, my mother was very reluctant in seeking therapy for me and my siblings. The majority of the therapists in my area were all white women, and my mother felt that it would be "hard" for them to understand our situation, coming from a completely different background and ethnicity. My therapist at the time was truly wonderful and she really changed the way my mother viewed seeking help when it came to mental health. Many Hispanics find this topic to be quite taboo, yet it's very essential and transformative. My therapist was fully aware that we are all dissimilar, which makes it a lot more interesting and meaningful when building our therapeutic relationship. She expressed her commitment to understanding where we come from and validating our perspectives, making this such a culturally meaningful experience overall. After gaining my personal experience and learning about the experience of others in my clinical psychology class, it's not surprising why we see that strong disparity of minorities seeking medical or psychological help. We are still in the making of having mental health become a safe space and an important aspect to prioritize in our everyday lives. As healthcare workers, putting ourselves in other people's shoes and simply taking the time to educate oneself will be transformative!

I used to envision myself as the antagonist of my story. I could never earn my role as the main character since I believed I lacked the abilities of self growth. I’ve been so preoccupied with the thought of failing, that I began to lose touch with my strengths. I’ve absorbed several transformative experiences, and as a result, I’ve learned to navigate through my misfortunes and mental health. At a young age, I have never been satisfied with myself nor my decisions. I found myself flipping through, page by page trying to pinpoint the missing chapters of my life, resulting in feeling stuck in a never ending chapter of my uncertainty. The chapter being the witness of my mother and father falling out of love through the influence of manipulation and unfiltered criticism. I began to question what the true meaning of “love” meant in a world of pure detachment. My emotions were taking a toll on my mental state causing me to question if I take fault in the way my life was shifting. I witnessed my mothers sleepless body as she was now a single mother, my brother who was undergoing depression, and my father who struggled to stand on his own two feet as he was slowly becoming a stranger to his own family. My exposure to these events lead me to become uncertain with my contentment in life and I’ve become conditioned to become unfamiliar with my feelings and ambitions. These defiant blemishes in my life are what I had presumed would be my “happy” ending. However, I began to question myself, “aren't I the composer of my own story?”. I began to create distractions for myself, the biggest being school. A place where my mind is set free from my personal life, and set on striving to reach my aspirations. I was at fault in depriving myself with my own self-deception, losing touch with what is most important; the present and the person in which I have become today. I brought it upon myself to seek change. Doing so, I planned ahead and knew that higher education was the path for me. Integrating the aspects of my life that made me who I am today, I knew that I wanted to work in a field where I can relate and tie many learning experiences to my very own history. As a child, I’ve always found myself deliberating how and why certain events take place, and why relationships deteriorate or change over time. Many questions were left unsolved, leaving me with the curiosity for exploration. I started my journey early in high school by taking my first psychology class. I aced this course which furthered my confidence in continuing this study in college. I’ve taken several sociology and psychology classes and I’m continuing my study in this topic. So far I’ve excelled in all my psychology courses, allowing me to further my investigation. I see these courses as an interest rather than a task. I’ve learned to connect certain topics to my everyday life, allowing me to navigate my decisions or attributes in understanding individuals on an authentic and deeper level. I’ve integrated myself into community opportunities where I work with all age groups who undergo difficult circumstances in their lives whether it’d be financial struggles or social connections. I've gained such great insights in my upper division courses and plan to attend graduate school in the next couple years to further challenge myself!

We as individuals have the opportunity every single day to leave an impact on others. I’ve always questioned what type of difference I would make not only within my family, but in my community. I have grown to admire the small-scaled aspects of my life as I was not born into a privileged livelihood. I make an effort into doing what I have the capacity to put out for others which is through dedicating my time into organizations with the right motives. I recently took on a teaching position at North Bay Children’s Center. This program really spoke to me as many children come from low economic backgrounds, and are mainly minority families. I was willing to advocate for these children and present myself as a role model or mentor! I took on the role as a teacher, not only to provide guidance, but to fully expose myself to the psychological workings of a young child and families. My position as a teacher and mentor has allowed me to express healthier habits to parents and children. Allowing children to express themselves freely and communicate is a liberating tool, not only for their own mental health, but a way for their parents to truly garner their trust and nurture! As a teacher, I appreciate children and their creativity. I model what it’s like to foster certain connections and encourage peer sociability in play. Doing so, I pay attention to gross and fine motor skills as a specific criteria for the children's development. Modeling certain behavior to the young children, allows them to gain a sense of emotional understanding and take action in peer acceptance. Some of the children tend to have antisocial behaviors which result in temperament issues, while others flourish in their social skills. My ability to integrate myself in the early stages of children's psyche is truly transformative, and I’m prepared to take on more academic challenges as a way to further my knowledge. I plan on educating and allowing my community to see individuals with empathetic and open arms. I am extremely passionate about mental health as a whole. Working alongside so many families coming from different backgrounds, I was lucky enough to build that rapport and alliance with them in order to see what is best for their children. Allowing them to cultivate healthy family dynamics and practices at home that help their child's socialization is truly impeccable. I am passionate about putting the mental well-being of a child as a top priority, as they too will raise the next generation of children. It's important to pass on and lead with good integrity and empathetic skills. Mentorship is such a vital support. In my case, the trajectory of my future was completely transformed on behalf of my mentors. Many generations will find it essential to come across a mentor or teacher who will guide them through their journey of life. Mentors don’t have a clear definition. They are simply individuals who provide a positive outlook on yourself and your future. We are all worthy and capable of providing such generosity. The question is, how will you take on that role to influence and achieve!

Financial responsibility teaches one how to advocate for money and future endeavors. As a first-generation college student coming from a low-income background, financial responsibility is an important aspect to consider when planning ahead for college or any future plans. Many students find themselves entering a stage in their lives where independence and growth require responsibilities and awareness. Being self-aware of your goals requires the prices it may take to achieve them. Budgeting your money and creating a form of saving is a crucial tool many students should feel comfortable with. Students such as myself, who plan to succeed in higher education understand that it's not as simple as it is. Besides the ability to present ourselves as academically equipped, Universities allow us to demonstrate ourselves as critical thinkers. The majority of students who attend college are either full-time or part-time workers. College is a very expensive responsibility and an opportunity for growth! Not just taking your education as a consideration, but bills, rent, plans for traveling, and so much more. Considering one's income and coming to terms with their budget is a great place to start. Taking the time to reflect or review finances and spending can allow one to see what systems work best in regard to saving or spending. Many of these topics are not typically talked about in school which makes it quite bewildering. As individuals, advocacy and growth is an important trait. Taking the time to educate oneself on behalf of investing your money such as how to use and set up a credit card are valuable resources. There's so much to learn about including taxes, real estate, and emergency funding. Adulting becomes quite daunting, but having these valuable resources and recognition will lead to a successful and flexible lifestyle. As a student, first and foremost, it’s important to garner valuable information from credible sources. This doesn't always mean one's parents and friends, but school resources such as academic or financial advisors. I was lucky enough to have academic advisors who were willing to guide me through the process of completing my FAFSA and mapping out how to budget my money for college. By doing so, students can see how much help they’d receive from family, the government, and any outside scholarships to aid in tuition, rent, books, and other monthly expenses. Building a spreadsheet is a great tool to see the overall costs and comparisons for spending. Especially if students are considering different schools with a variety of locations, making a spreadsheet will allow you to see firsthand which school lies within their budget. Creating a savings account is key when planning ahead. This prepares one for higher bills in the future. I suggest saving all scholarships or grant refunds into a savings account and using that money wisely. Making adjustments such as limiting to buying expensive materials and using your money carefully will lead to a more comfortable setting. Writing your goals along with expenses gives one a visual representation. Of course, each person strategizes differently, so it is up to the student to find out what plans work best for them. Students should definitely take advantage of the resources and advisors that are there to teach and help navigate! You’d be surprised what valuable and new resources you’d get out of a one-on-one meeting. It is your future, so the accountability and responsibility strictly lies within your hands! It’s comforting to know you are never alone, and there are millions of students on the same boat who are simply trying to figure things out.

I was very blessed to be given the opportunity to serve in my community throughout my educational background. This movement not only cultivated what inspired me to pursue furthering my educational journey, but allowed me to appreciate my own life, along with the rewarding feeling of giving back. I've always found myself getting involved with the minority population of my community. These are individuals who often find themselves struggling to provide food for themselves or their families. I felt that I could really resonate with these individuals, as I witnessed my own mother participate in food drives or low-income programs. A lot of these families truly reminded me of my history, and I was eager to give back! One major theme I have gathered when working with minority families, such as Hispanic families, was the mental health disparity in my very own community. I was aware of this myself growing up as a child. Many of our parents didn't grow up with mental health and emotional understanding as significant to their development. This trickled down to our own generation. Mental health is now being widely seen and advocated, especially for our youth. Many of our parents lacked the knowledge and resources to face mental health or promote healthier habits when cultivating relationships with their own family dynamics. When considering these prominent dilemmas, children may be more vulnerable to adverse childhood experiences, which play a major role in their development. I was truly struck by these discrepancies and wanted to work at the root of these developing factors. I am currently working as a childcare teacher for low-income families in my old elementary school. While I am gaining more knowledge about the important factors that deliver healthy influences and growth for a child, I am also building trust and rapport with the families. In doing so, we provide informative resources that integrate aspects of nutrition, emotional well-being, and ways to build healthy family dynamics in the home. Children are able to adapt and truly captivate what goes on in their surroundings. Having parents and other adult figures put their emotional well-being as a top priority will truly make a difference for each child! It's critical for the first developing years to consist of understanding and empathy with your child. As I take on the role as a teacher, I am well aware of the power I have for these children to not only better their intellectual abilities, but gain insight into themselves and how they take on the world!