I recall the exact moment my curiosity for the amazing human brain began. A fourth-grade science project where I tested my classmates’ ability to draw with both hands started okay, but overnight it consumed my imagination when I noticed that the shapes only looked best for left-handed participants (the exact opposite of my hypothesis). The thought-provoking experiment inspired me to present my results at the regional science fair despite my shy personality. Little did I understand then how the mysteries of neuroscience would impact my entire life until just recently. The brain can be mesmerizing, but it is infinitely more complex than we think. I’ve always gravitated towards anything related to brain science and behavior. That’s why even as a kid, I suspected that the hectic changes in my father’s behavior must’ve had something to do with his excessive alcohol consumption. I knew something chemical-related was going haywire inside his brain. I was seventeen when I started to connect the dots, as I often wondered, “Has it always been like this, and I’m only now noticing?” But worst of all, “Is it too late?” My persistent inquiry prompted me to understand the darkest depths of this mysterious organ. As a teenager and daughter, I felt powerless to help my father amid the complexities of addiction. Addiction wasn’t like a science fair; this was real life. By simply doing my research on brain facts, I learned that the brain wasn’t an exact science – and that regardless of one’s socioeconomic status, quality, accessible mental healthcare is a right, rather than a privilege. The summer of my senior year, I witnessed firsthand in a Texas Tech lab how life-changing scientific research can be in addressing critical mental health conditions. Get this: I helped with a student’s thesis on how changing the diet of a cricket could change their aggression during a one-on-one fight! On a serious note, the findings from this research have real applications to human behavior and how our dietary habits can directly affect our brain’s health. That incredible research opportunity cracked the door open to the possibility of pursuing a career in mental health as a young Latina. I felt one step closer to awakening my dream: helping individuals heal and take care of their wellbeing. As an incoming Red Raider, I am stoked to join other driven classmates and professors in conducting more cutting-edge brain research and studies. My education at TTU will serve as the foundation for my career as an advocate, scientist, and psychiatrist. Whenever the darkness of this field feels too heavy, I remind myself that it is never too late to help someone –and I hear my mother’s words assuring me that there is a solution for everything. Watching my single mother work hard as a research leader and remaining optimistic under pressure inspires me to approach life the same way. I don’t need to know exactly who I want to become yet, but I’m certain that mental healthcare is my purpose and calling.