I remember being seven years old when doctors began asking my mother why I bit my nails, questioning her about my mental health, something I did not understand at the time. As a Mexican immigrant, my mother also struggled to make sense of what they were asking. For as long as I can remember, anxiety became a part of my identity, eventually growing into depression at a very young age. In my family, therapy was seen as taboo, so I never truly sought the help I needed. Even when I did, I could not maintain it; I would go in for an evaluation but never return. For years, I carried those struggles on my own and often turned to substance abuse as a way to cope. I remember taking psychology classes in high school and college and learning about mental health conditions that reflected my own behaviors and experiences. At one point, I wanted to become a therapist. However, as I learned more, I realized that I still had my own trauma to process and was not yet ready to carry the weight of others’ experiences. Now, as a thirty-year-old woman, a mother, a wife, and a student, I have made it my responsibility to change that. I have committed myself to seeking help, to healing, and to breaking the cycle so my daughters can grow up with the support I never had. Mental health is deeply important to me because I understand firsthand how anxiety and depression can affect every part of a person’s life. I know what it feels like to be a student with big goals while navigating a system that can sometimes make you feel less than your potential based on grades or progress. I plan to advocate for mental health in my community by integrating my personal experiences into the work I do. Through the healing candles I create, I hope to provide not only comfort, but also a space for conversation. By sharing my story, I want to encourage others to speak openly about mental health and seek the support they deserve. My journey has taught me resilience, self-awareness, and the importance of breaking generational cycles. Through my education and my work, I am committed to creating a future where mental health is understood, supported, and never silenced. My goal over the next ten years is to establish a nonprofit organization that specializes in horticultural therapy, using nature-based healing to support individuals struggling with mental health.

Since I was little, my father always told me that we were Indigenous, often saying that we were Apache. Growing up, however, I did not participate in Apache ceremonies or traditions. Instead, my upbringing was rooted in Aztec (Mexica) culture; through dance, ceremonies, and community practices that shaped much of who I am today. Now, as a thirty-year-old woman, a mother, and a wife, I have come to better understand my identity. I know that I am not Apache. Rather, that belief reflected my father’s attempt to fit into a more recognized image of what it means to be Indigenous in the United States. My journey has led me to rediscover my true origins and embrace them with pride. My name is Brittany Andraca, and my roots trace back to Guerrero, Mexico. I am part of the Nuu Savi people, “the People of the Rain,” and I also carry Nahua ancestry. It has taken me many years to reconnect with this truth and to fully appreciate the rich history, resilience, and cultural knowledge my people have carried forward through generations. As I mentioned, I grew up participating in Mexica traditions, including dance and ceremony, which have been central to my life. At the age of eighteen, I was introduced to the Native American Church, where I found another layer of spiritual connection and belonging. Through these experiences, I developed a deep respect for ceremony and the medicine used within them, medicine that comes from the same land my ancestors are from, strengthening my connection to both my identity and my heritage. A moment that deeply shaped me was the birth of my first child. I gave birth naturally at a birth center, seeking a connection to traditional ways of bringing life into this world. However, shortly after she was born, she could not breathe and was rushed to the hospital, where she remained in the NICU for five days. At the same time, I faced my own medical complications and underwent a procedure just days after giving birth. It was one of the most painful and uncertain times of my life, but through prayer, my daughter survived. Two weeks later, we held her welcoming-to-earth ceremony. Our home was filled with community, prayer, and love as we honored her life. That experience transformed me. It deepened my understanding of strength, faith, and the importance of cultural practices during life’s most vulnerable moments. Because of this journey, my ambition is to continue reconnecting with my roots while creating a strong foundation of identity for my children. I am committed to furthering my education so I can build a stable future for my family while also giving back to my community. I want to be someone who preserves and uplifts Indigenous knowledge, ensuring that the next generation grows up with a clear sense of who they are. My story has taught me that identity is something we must actively reclaim, and my goal is to live in a way that honors my ancestors while creating new opportunities for those who come after me.

Being a first-generation Mexican-American college graduate is more than just an academic accomplishment—it is a profound personal and familial triumph. My passion for achieving this milestone stems from the sacrifices my parents made, the dreams they had for my siblings and me, and the legacy I hope to create for my daughter. Each of these elements intertwines to make my journey not only about education but also about honoring the resilience and determination of my family. My parents both came to the United States as teenagers, facing the daunting challenge of starting their lives in a new country without fluency in English. I can only imagine the fear and uncertainty they felt entering a world so different from the one they knew, a world where even attending school might have felt intimidating. Despite these obstacles, they persevered, carving out lives for themselves while maintaining the hope that their children could access opportunities they never had. As young parents, they dedicated themselves to raising a family, often putting their own aspirations on hold to ensure we had stability, love, and support. Their sacrifices created the foundation for my educational journey, and I carry that awareness with me every day. Being a first-generation college graduate carries immense significance for me personally and culturally. It is the realization of a dream that began long before I was born—a dream my grandparents held for my parents and, in turn, a dream that my parents nurtured for my siblings and me. Each step I have taken toward graduation is not just for me; it is a fulfillment of the hopes and struggles of those who came before me. Their perseverance in the face of challenges inspires me to push forward, reminding me that my education is a privilege earned through hard work, determination, and sacrifice. Moreover, I am passionate about this achievement because it creates a legacy for my daughter. I want her to see that dreams can be pursued and realized, regardless of the obstacles we face. By completing my college degree, I am not only setting an example of resilience and ambition but also providing her with the tangible proof that education can be a path toward empowerment. I want her to grow up understanding that, while barriers may exist, they can be overcome with dedication, support, and belief in oneself. Ultimately, my passion as a first-generation Mexican-American college graduate is rooted in gratitude, responsibility, and hope. I am grateful for the sacrifices my parents made to provide opportunities I would not otherwise have. I feel a responsibility to honor their efforts by striving for excellence in my studies and life. And I hold hope that my achievement will serve as inspiration for my daughter and others who may face similar challenges. Being a first-generation college graduate is not just a personal milestone—it is a celebration of my family’s resilience, a realization of their dreams, and a beacon for future generations.

The Taylor Swift performance that inspires me most is her 2021 Grammy Awards performance of songs from Folklore and Evermore. Rather than relying on fireworks or an arena filled with fans, she chose a small stage decorated like a woodland scene and performed with just a guitar, her voice, and a few collaborators. It was stripped down and intimate, yet powerful. That moment reminded me that true influence doesn’t always come from spectacle—it comes from authenticity and the courage to be vulnerable. I connect with that message deeply. My own journey has been one of persistence and learning to trust in my voice, even when the challenges ahead felt overwhelming. I earned two Associate degrees in Business—one in Management and one in Administration for Transfer—along with a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Small Business. Each milestone required resilience and discipline, but more importantly, it required believing that my passion for helping others could guide me forward, even when the path was difficult. Just as Taylor’s performance showed that simplicity and honesty can still captivate millions, I’ve learned that sincerity and commitment can be powerful tools for creating impact. My career goal is to become a registered agent, helping small business owners navigate taxes and financial responsibilities. This goal began with something simple—helping my grandmother organize her business receipts at the kitchen table—but grew stronger after volunteering with a nonprofit that supported entrepreneurs. There, I witnessed how financial guidance could relieve stress and give people the freedom to focus on what they love. To me, this scholarship represents more than financial assistance—it is a way to keep moving forward authentically, staying true to my passion while expanding my ability to serve others. With your support, I can continue building the education and expertise needed to provide affordable financial services to small businesses, which are often the backbone of a community. Taylor’s Grammy performance showed me that it isn’t about the size of the spotlight, but about what you do with it. In the same way, I want to use my education and career not just to succeed personally, but to shine a light for others, proving that with the right guidance, they too can thrive.

For the longest of time I saw my parents work endlessly for the love of their children, without a high school or college education they always found a way to make things work and to provide a safe environment for my siblings and I to grow up in, they always surrounded us with a world that was so vibrant and and full of life. From the time I was nine my parents planted a seed that would sprout into the generation that I now carry within me. For the past nineteen year, I have been involved in preserving the sacred traditions of our grandparents, through dance, prayers, and ceremonies. I am currently pregnant with my first, and as my belly starts grow more and more, and I start to feel my baby girls kicks its fills my heart with so much happiness, and excitement to bring her into this world, to hear her first cry, her first laugh, holding her in my arms. As my baby continues to grow inside me, I think more about my educational choices that I am making, giving up is not an option for me. When I graduated from my community college in Business Aministration, I thought that’s exactly what I wanted for myself, but being pregnant aligned me in a different direction in reconsidering what makes me happy, and the happiness I will surround all my children with. My future plans are transferring to another University that will offer the degree I truly want to pursue, which is Horticulture, for the longest of time I wanted to become a Horticultural Therapist. My dream is to start a nonprofit organization that helps out low-income communities by assisting individuals who are struggling mentally, emotionally, or physically through the power of growing plants, being able to grow their own fruits and veggies and taking them home with them. This form of therapy is ancient, not only are patients reconnecting with the plants but reconnecting with themselves as well. Receiving a higher education means giving my children everything my parents would have wanted to give me, since they did not have that opportunity, it means that their sacrifices actually translated into all the love they gave to us, it means creating a solid future for my first child and and all my future babies that are yet to come. I strive to give all my babies a beautiful life but choosing an educational career that makes me happy as well.