My father comes from a family of migrant farm workers in Central Valley, California. As a child, my father and his grandfather would report to the farmlands before sunrise. His inspiring journey from poverty to a successful career in academia is replete with influential teachers and mentors who helped him become who he is today. My father’s story shows the importance of early life experiences and meaningful mentorships that can shape the trajectory of a child’s life. In my undergraduate career, I was a student researcher and lab manager with Dr. Chad Jensen. My responsibilities as a lab manager included delegating research tasks and mentoring students on lab tasks and professional development. Additionally, I led a team of students in proposing an addendum to the school’s honor code to improve campus conduct and we proposed the inclusion of antiracism language to promote safety, kindness, and respect for all students. These experiences increased my desire to make meaningful contributions to eliminate institutional and systemic barriers to success. After my graduate training, I intend to pursue a career in academia to positively influence health equity for children. Clinical Psychology will equip me with the necessary tools to help children in poverty and marginalized communities, like my father experienced, and increase their access to and success in education and sense of belonging in the community. In doing so, I will carry forward the legacy of mentorship that changed my father’s life and use research as a tool to increase educational and health equity for children.