I am a child of an immigrant, and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to succeed financially--a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. I recall watching my mother constantly hold two jobs to support us as a single parent, and try to better our situation by using her skills to create her own business. She failed, but not because of lack of effort, but because she did not have access to financial resources or the knowledge to succeed. My mother is a single parent who raised all my siblings herself. I watched her work through the entirety of her pregnancy with my little sister and be strong for us. Naturally, this placed a lot of stress on her, and as child I couldn't help her--and many children of immigrants can relate. I resented the various responsibilities I had to take on, and caring for my siblings. I frequently had to pick up my little sister after school and often cancel plans after school to watch her for many hours. However, due to this, I believe our sibling relationship is stronger. I recall visiting these financial centers that helped my mother with taxes, financial issues, and documents she wasn't knowledgeable on. I now realize how helpful these centers are for immigrant communities who are not given financial resources to succeed. Now I am more mindful of the struggles my mom faced as a single parent, and the struggles other single parents experience as well--and I am infinitely grateful for the tiring and thankless work for put herself through for us. Unfortunately during my freshman year, my mother became financially unstable and could not support me. Fortunately, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. But, the feeling of not having enough money, food, and comfort in my home never left. I used these emotions, my new home, and my mother's sacrifices to motivate myself to succeed academically and financially. When I set the expectation upon myself to succeed, I worked harder to earn money. I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I learned to set up a simple business plan, kept track of sales and profits, and managed group communication. On my most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. With this money, I tried to help my biological mother however I could. I quickly understood that I was allowed to succeed in this experience, because I was given the financial knowledge that my mother and siblings were not given. I began to realize that I had to help others who are in the same financial situation as I once was. This experience is ultimately what led me to pursue finance as a career. This has inspired me to be able to provide a solution for others during financial difficulties. It is important to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community, especially recent immigrants. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to aid community centers similar to the location my mother went to for help, and providing a framework for families lacking financial framework to succeed. I am confident with my bilingual background and desire to help my community throughout my career that I will be able to improve the lives of others.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and the child of an undocumented single parent. I am a child of an immigrant, and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to succeed financially--a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. My mother is a single parent who raised all my siblings. I watched her work through the entirety of her pregnancy with my little sister and be strong for us. Naturally, this placed a lot of stress on her which was reflected in her behavior; she was constantly anxious and easily agitated. As a child, I did not aid her as much as I should have. I resented the various responsibilities I had to take on caring for my siblings. I frequently had to pick up my little sister after school and often cancel plans after school to watch her. However, due to this, I believe our sibling relationship is stronger and I enjoy taking care of children. Now I am more mindful of the struggles my mom faces as a single parent, and the struggles other single parents experience as well. Unfortunately during my freshman year, my mother became financially unstable and could not support me. Fortunately, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. But, the feeling of not having enough money, food, and comfort in my home never left. I used these emotions and opportunity to motivate myself academically and financially to succeed. When I set the expectation upon myself to succeed, I worked harder to earn money. I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. This business quickly became my passion and took up a lot of my motivation. There were nights I had trouble falling asleep because I wanted to plan for my business. I learned to set up a simple business plan, kept track of sales and profits, and managed group communication. On my most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. With this money, I tried to help my biological mother however I could. I began to realize that I had to help others who were in the same financial situation as me. This experience is ultimately what led me to pursue finance as a career. This has inspired me to be able to provide a solution for others during financial difficulties. It is important to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community, especially recent immigrants. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to aid starting companies or encourage new businesses in low-income communities. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen the burden of their financial responsibilities. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. I am confident with my bilingual background and desire to help my community throughout my career that I will be able to improve the lives of other

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. Early on in my childhood, my father--who was also an undocumented immigrant--had been driving under the influence of alcohol. He had gotten into an accident and injured the person he hit. Due to this, he was deported and left my mother to care for two children on her own. I wanted to avoid the financial hardship my mother endured and support her when I was financially stable. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. It is not an option to fail. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. Fortunately, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. It was extremely difficult for me to overcome the negativity of my circumstances. Due to being raised in a single-parent household, we were impoverished, which eventually led to my mother not being able to support her children. My response to this was anger at everything, which ultimately led to my depression. With time, I learned that I can choose to let myself be angry and discontent with life, or I can take in the little things and have gratitude. This was one of the major components of overcoming my depression. If I had let my anger and the pressure of my circumstances overwhelm me I would not be where I am today. Drinking had taken my father from us, but also my family's financial stability. My mother had to work two times as hard and be both father and mother. When I set the expectation for myself to succeed, I worked harder to earn money so I could help support her. I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. On my most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. With this money, I tried to help my biological mother however I could. This business made me realize that I had to help others in the same financial situation as me. My experience with life instilled within me a passion to help my community and those who are less fortunate than me. I chose to accept the situation I was in, which has allowed me to be successful. It is important to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community, especially recent immigrants. I hope to highlight the dangers of drunk driving in my community and potentially save another family from experiencing what mine did. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen the burden of their financial responsibilities. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Ultimately, some obstacles and adversities in life can seem too monumental to overcome. Feelings that arise from adversity typically are negative, and if we allow ourselves to stay in that negative space then we cannot grow and overcome hardships. It is vital to actively choose to pursue happiness, for you will find peace with your hardships much quicker than if you were to remain discontent.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. I wanted to avoid the financial hardship my mother endured and support her when I was financially stable. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to succeed financially; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. Fortunately, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. These unfortunate circumstances have molded my tenacious character and desire for success. When I set the expectation for myself to succeed, I worked harder to earn money. During my Junior year, I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown to try new ideas, so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. I invested in a computer and learned many methods of being able to acquire products to resell. I learned to set up a simple business plan, keep track of sales and profits, communication, and group management through this business. On the most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. As my senior year was approaching I decided to slow things down and focus on school. I had done over $60,000 in sales that year. With this money, I tried to help my biological mother however I could and decided on a career that would allow me to be happy and support my family. This business is what made me interested in entrepreneurship and pursuing it in higher education. Being able to aid the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in has always been vital to me. I watched other families in my community give up everything to come to the United States. Our community struggles to not only provide for our families but also achieve career aspirations as well. Despite being separated from my biological family and living in poverty, I am blessed to have had the opportunity of education before me. The sacrifice my mother made for me provided me the opportunity to attend a good school, which has inspired me to give back and reciprocate her kindness to those less fortunate. My lifelong goal is to support my family with the income I earn from my career. It is also paramount to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community, especially recent immigrants. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to aid starting companies or encourage new businesses in low-income communities. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen the burden of their financial responsibilities. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. Once I am able to provide as much as I am able to those in need, that will be my true greatest accomplishment. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

To give hope to those who need it. To provide for my mother and sisters. To provide scholarships/funding to first-generation/impoverished students.

To my mother, the American dream meant surviving and having access to food, and shelter. Anything was better than what she had access to in Mexico. She has had to work relentlessly to have a life in the United States due to her undocumented status. This has led to financial hardship and constant stress--something many immigrants are familiar with. My American Dream is to support my family with the income I earn from my career. I could relieve my mother of the financial weight she carries. Ultimately, my grandest dream is to be able to provide my younger sister with the childhood and opportunities I did not have. I want to be able to help pay for my sister’s education and for her not to worry about where she would get the money. I want her to be able to participate in sports clubs and other activities without dwelling on the financial burden it would place on my mother. Another important portion of my dream is to contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in. These opportunities can come more easily to me through acquiring my education. Many people associate the American Dream with opportunity. While there are many opportunities, many immigrants struggle to take advantage of these opportunities and maintain a foothold in America due to a multitude of barriers: Financial, Language, and Culture. My family and community’s well-being is important to me, and being able to support them one day is what fuels my life. Despite being separated from my family--and being taken in by guardians-- I am blessed with the opportunity of education before me. The most important thing education has provided me with is the opportunity to be more. Education will allow me to aid not only myself, but those important to me. My mother has always desired to be educated but was never given the opportunity due to a lifetime of working and hardship. She has always expressed the importance of education to me and has worked hard to get me the education she never had. With my college degree, I will be one step closer to achieving my American dream of supporting my family with my income, and financial security. I hope to use my knowledge after I graduate with a degree in business to encourage new businesses in low-income communities. I also hope to possibly invest in these businesses once I am in a position to do so. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. I want to be able to provide scholarships and give them some financial security in college that I did not have at their age. I am confident that with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career, I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. I wanted to avoid the financial hardship my mother endured and support her when I was financially stable. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. Fortunately, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. When I set the expectation for myself to succeed, I worked harder to earn money. During my Junior year, I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown to try new ideas, so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. I invested in a computer and learned many methods of being able to acquire products to resell. I learned to set up a simple business plan, keep track of sales and profits, communication, and group management through this business. On the most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. As my senior year was approaching I decided to slow things down and focus on school. I had done over $60,000 in sales that year. With this money, I tried to help my biological mother however I could and decided on a career that would allow me to be happy and support my family. I enjoyed not only the business itself but the numbers behind it. This business I had in high school is where my interest in accounting began. Being able to aid the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in has always been vital to me. I watched other families in my community give up everything to come to the United States. Our community struggles to not only provide for our families but also achieve career aspirations as well. Despite being separated from my biological family and living in poverty, I am blessed to have had the opportunity of education before me. The sacrifice my mother made for me provided me with the opportunity to attend a good school, which has inspired me to give back and reciprocate her kindness to those less fortunate. My lifelong goal is to support my family with the income I earn from my career. It is also paramount to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community, especially recent immigrants. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to aid in starting companies in low-income communities. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen the burden of their financial responsibilities. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. Once I am able to provide as much as I am able to those in need, that will be my true greatest accomplishment. I am confident that with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career, I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

To my mother, the American dream meant surviving and having access to food, and shelter. Anything was better than what she had access to in Mexico. She has had to work relentlessly to have a life in the United States due to her undocumented status. This has led to financial hardship and constant stress. My American Dream is to support my family with the income I earn from my career. I could relieve my mother of the financial weight she carries. Ultimately, my grandest dream is to be able to provide my younger sister with the childhood and opportunities I did not have. I want to be able to help pay for my sister’s education and for her not to worry about where she would get the money. I want her to be able to participate in sports clubs and other activities without dwelling on the financial burden it would place on my mother. Another important portion of my dream is to contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in. These opportunities can come more easily to me through acquiring my education. Many people associate the American Dream with opportunity. While there are many opportunities, many immigrants struggle to take advantage of these opportunities and maintain a foothold in America due to a multitude of barriers: Financial, Language, and Culture. My family and community’s well-being is important to me, and being able to support them one day is what fuels my desire to be educated. Despite being separated from my family--and being taken in by guardians-- I am blessed with the opportunity of education before me. The most important thing education has provided me with is the opportunity to be more. Education will allow me to aid not only myself, but those important to me. My mother has always desired to be educated but was never given the opportunity due to a lifetime of working and hardship. She has always expressed the importance of education to me and has worked hard to get me the education she never had. With my college degree, I will be one step closer to achieving my American dream of supporting my family with my income, and financial security. I hope to use my knowledge after I graduate with a degree in business to encourage new businesses in low-income communities. I also hope to possibly invest in these businesses once I am in a position to do so. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. I want to be able to provide scholarships and give them some financial security in college that I did not have at their age. I am confident that with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career, I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. Early on in my childhood, my father--who was also an undocumented immigrant--had been driving under the influence of alcohol. He had gotten into an accident and injured the person he hit. Due to this, he was deported and left my mother to care for two children on her own. I wanted to avoid the financial hardship my mother endured and support her when I was financially stable. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. It is not an option to fail. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. Fortunately, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. It was extremely difficult for me to overcome the negativity of my circumstances. Due to being raised in a single-parent household, we were impoverished, which eventually led to my mother not being able to support her children. My response to this was anger at everything, which ultimately led to my depression. With time, I learned that I can choose to let myself be angry and discontent with life, or I can take in the little things and have gratitude. This was one of the major components of overcoming my depression. If I had let my anger and the pressure of my circumstances overwhelm me I would not be where I am today. Drinking had taken my father from us, but also my family's financial stability. My mother had to work two times as hard and be both father and mother. When I set the expectation for myself to succeed, I worked harder to earn money so I could help support her. I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. On my most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. With this money, I tried to help my biological mother however I could. This business made me realize that I had to help others in the same financial situation as me. My experience with life instilled within me a passion to help my community and those who are less fortunate than me. I chose to accept the situation I was in, which has allowed me to be successful. It is important to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community, especially recent immigrants. I hope to highlight the dangers of drunk driving in my community and potentially save another family from experiencing what mine did. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen the burden of their financial responsibilities. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Ultimately, some obstacles and adversities in life can seem too monumental to overcome. Feelings that arise from adversity typically are negative, and if we allow ourselves to stay in that negative space then we cannot grow and overcome hardships. It is vital to actively choose to pursue happiness, for you will find peace with your hardships much quicker than if you were to remain discontent.

To my mother, the American dream meant surviving, and having access to food, and shelter. Anything was better than what she had access to in Mexico. She traversed the border on her own at the age of 15. Due to her undocumented status, she has had to work relentlessly to have a life in the United States. I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US, and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. I wanted to avoid the financial hardship my mother endured and support her when I was financially stable. I am a child of an immigrant, and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. I think the biggest challenge I faced was not dealing with the effects of poverty, but watching as my mother tried to better her life and fail. My mother has attempted to create businesses, take classes to further her education, and still have time for her kids. Sadly, as an undocumented immigrant, the American Dream is far out of reach. Yet she never stopped trying, and I admire her greatly for persevering. Unfortunately, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. Luckily, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. I used this opportunity to motivate myself academically and financially to succeed. I try to live up to my mother’s tenacity every day as I encounter new obstacles. When I set the expectation upon myself to succeed, I worked harder to earn money. Despite my despair in this new home, I had to persevere so I could help my mother. During my Junior year, I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown to try new ideas, so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. I invested in a computer and learned many methods to acquire products to resell. I learned to set up a simple business plan, keep track of sales and profits, communication, and group management through this business. On the most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. With this money, I tried to help my biological mother however I could. I am proud to have a fraction of the tenacity my mother possesses, and it is what I value most within myself. I would be lying if I said I had never given up in these difficult times. But I find that it helps me to remember how my mother persevered through years of uncertainty and that nothing is hopeless. There will be countless obstacles that I will continue to face as a first-generation college student, but by following my mother’s example and persevering, I will succeed. My experience with being a first-generation student has bolstered my beliefs that collectively we must help those less fortunate than ourselves. It is my desire to provide some hope to first-generation students who are struggling to continue to pursue their dreams. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. I want to be able to provide scholarships and give them some financial security in college that I did not have at their age. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

To my mother, the American dream meant surviving, and having access to food, and shelter. Anything was better than what she had access to in Mexico. She traversed the border on her own at the age of 15. Due to her undocumented status, she has had to work relentlessly to have a life in the United States. I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US, and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. I wanted to avoid the financial hardship my mother endured and support her when I was financially stable. I am a child of an immigrant, and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. I think the biggest challenge I faced was not dealing with the effects of poverty, but watching as my mother tried to better her life and fail. My mother has attempted to create businesses, take classes to further her education, and still have time for her kids. Sadly, as an undocumented immigrant, the American Dream is far out of reach. Yet she never stopped trying, and I admire her greatly for persevering. Unfortunately, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. Luckily, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. I used this opportunity to motivate myself academically and financially to succeed. I try to live up to my mother’s tenacity every day as I encounter new obstacles. When I set the expectation upon myself to succeed, I worked harder to earn money. Despite my despair in this new home, I had to persevere so I could help my mother. During my Junior year, I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown to try new ideas, so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. I invested in a computer and learned many methods to acquire products to resell. I learned to set up a simple business plan, keep track of sales and profits, communication, and group management through this business. On the most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. With this money, I tried to help my biological mother however I could. I am proud to have a fraction of the tenacity my mother possesses, and it is what I value most within myself. I would be lying if I said I had never given up in these difficult times. But I find that it helps me to remember how my mother persevered through years of uncertainty and that nothing is hopeless. There will be countless obstacles that I will continue to face as a first-generation college student, but by following my mother’s example and persevering, I will succeed. My experience with being a first-generation student has bolstered my beliefs that collectively we must help those less fortunate than ourselves. It is my desire to provide some hope to first-generation students who are struggling to continue to pursue their dreams. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. I want to be able to provide scholarships and give them some financial security in college that I did not have at their age. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

I am a future business leader hoping to provide for the low-income community I grew up in. I have a major interest in pursuing business and entrepreneurship due to a recent business I started during my Junior year of high school. When I set the expectation upon myself to succeed, I work harder to earn money. After my first job, I saved up about six thousand dollars. Growing up impoverished taught me to be very frugal, so saving money has never been difficult. This seed money helped me start my own business. I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown so I had to take advantage. I settled on selling shoes. I discovered the joy of working for myself by utilizing social media for my business. I created advertisements and interacted with customers. There were nights I had trouble falling asleep because I wanted to plan for my business. I invested in a computer and learned many methods of being able to acquire products to resell. I learned to set up a simple business plan, keep track of sales (to a minor degree) and profits, communication, and group management through this business. During the school’s shutdown, my enthusiasm for education declined, but this business became my motivation. On my most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. I plan to continue this business alongside other endeavors I encounter to help counteract college debt during my studies. I have already established a good credit score at 741, set up a savings plan, and regularly track my spending. Being able to aid the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in has always been a paramount goal of mine as well. I watched the other families in my community give up everything to come to the United States. Our community struggles to not only provide for our families but also achieve career aspirations as well. The sacrifice my mother made for me to provide me with the opportunity to attend a good school with plenty of resources. She inspired me to give back and reciprocate her kindness to those less fortunate. Often, immigrants send money to their families in other countries despite their financial struggles in the United States. In my experience, the immigrant Hispanic community continues to maintain tight familial bonds across countries because they acknowledge they are lucky enough to be in the United States. In a way, this reflects how I feel regarding my relationship with my biological family. I was lucky enough to be taken in by a local family, but my biological family is still in their unfortunate position, and despite not being financially secure to support them, I still provide what I am able. I hope to escape this economic pattern by graduating college debt-free and pursuing a career and using that career to help low-income communities escape poverty as well. I want to use my knowledge after I graduate with a degree in business to aid starting companies or encourage new businesses in low-income communities. I also hope to possibly invest in these businesses once I am in a position to do so. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. I want to be able to provide scholarships and give them some financial security in college that I did not have at their age. I am confident with my bilingual background and desire to help my community from a young age that I will be able to make a difference in my community.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and the child of an undocumented single parent. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. In Mexican culture, talking about mental health is taboo and the solution is to get over it. There is immense pressure to succeed financially--a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for my sister and me. My mother is a single parent who raised all my siblings. I watched her work through the entirety of her pregnancy with my little sister and be strong for us. Naturally, this placed a lot of stress on her which was reflected in her behavior; she was constantly anxious and easily agitated. This was my first experience with mental health. My mother did not have the resources, finances, or time to properly take care of her mental health--but also did not prioritize it. After the event in which my mother became unable to financially support her children, I was adopted by my good friend’s family. Consequently, I would have to come to terms with overcoming the cultural taboo I grew up with. Although I aided my mother in accepting her mental health, I was having trouble allowing myself to feel the same. I was blessed to have been taken in by a loving family and used this to motivate myself academically to succeed. This motivation only lasted so long before the pressure I had placed on myself had taken a great toll once again. I was diagnosed with Major Depression Disorder in my senior year of high school. I was planning on a medical career for financial security, but I didn't want to go into science. I was willing, however, to compromise my happiness to support my family. Eventually, my passion and my academic drive began to decline. If I wanted to succeed with my life goals and be happy, then I needed to go into a career that I wanted. I aspire to pursue business, but more specifically entrepreneurship. As a result of my own mental health journey I find it comes easily to empathize with people in a manner I would’ve never understood previously. Everyone should always strive to be as kind as they can to a stranger as you never know what their life is like; However, as humans we make mistakes and are not always able to uphold that. After the worst of my depression I have a more positive outlook on life, but also towards people. Everyone deserves to have someone treat them kindly, and each day I make that extra effort to do so. A random act of kindness can truly mean so much more than what we expect. My experience with mental health has emboldened my desire to help my community and aid others. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to encourage new businesses in low-income communities. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families, and children of immigrants are much more likely to face mental health issues as a result. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen their financial responsibilities. I want to be able to provide support for mental health services in these communities as well. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

To my mother, the American dream meant surviving, having access to food, and shelter. Anything was better than what she had access to in Mexico. She traversed the border on her own at the age of 15. She has had to work relentlessly to have a life in the United States due to her undocumented status. I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US, and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. I wanted to avoid the financial hardship my mother endured and support her when I was financially stable. I am a child of an immigrant, and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. I think the biggest challenge I faced was not dealing with the effects of poverty, but watching as my mother tried to better her life and fail. My mother has attempted to create businesses, take classes to further her education, and still have the time for her kids. Sadly, as an undocumented immigrant, the American Dream is far out of reach. Yet she never stopped trying, and I admire her greatly for persevering. Unfortunately, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. Luckily, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. I used this opportunity to motivate myself academically and financially to succeed. I try to live up to my mother’s tenacity every day as I encounter new obstacles. When I set the expectation upon myself to succeed, I worked harder to earn money. Despite my despair in this new home, I had to persevere so I could help my mother. During my Junior year, I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown to try new ideas, so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. I invested in a computer and learned many methods of being able to acquire products to resell. I learned to set up a simple business plan, keep track of sales and profits, communication, and group management through this business. On the most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. With this money, I tried to help my biological mother however I could. I am proud to have a fraction of the tenacity my mother possesses, and it is what I value most within myself. I would be lying if I said that I have never given up in these difficult times. But I find that it helps me to remember how my mother persevered through years of uncertainty and that nothing is hopeless. There will be countless obstacles that I will continue to face as a first-generation college student, but by following my mother’s example and persevering, I will succeed.

My lifelong goal is to support my family with the income I earn from my career. It is also paramount to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community, especially recent immigrants. Being able to aid the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in has always been vital to me. I watched other families in my community give up everything to come to the United States. Our community struggles to not only provide for our families but also achieve career aspirations as well. Despite being separated from my biological family and living in poverty, I am blessed to have had the opportunity of education before me. The sacrifice my mother made for me provided me the opportunity to attend a good school, which has inspired me to give back and reciprocate her kindness to those less fortunate. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to aid starting companies or encourage new businesses in low-income communities. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen the burden of their financial responsibilities. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. Once I am able to provide as much as I am able to those in need, that will be my true greatest accomplishment. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. My mother usually would be exhausted as she came home after working 10+ hours a day, and as a result, would get fast food to help feed her children. This is where I became all too familiar with the McChicken sandwich from McDonalds. It was a very cheap highly caloric meal that I could get easily by scrounging up enough quarters with my childhood friends. Combine this with an insatiable lightning-fast metabolism and you have a caloric disaster. I couldn’t gain weight no matter what I did--and I was ecstatic! My mother did not always bring home fast food of course. Often she would cook whenever she could in very large portions. I love my mother’s cooking, but it is very unhealthy. Usually, her food contained a large amount of oil and lots of unhealthy fats. However, with her meager salary healthier alternatives were not always available. She cooked in these very large portions because sometimes she wouldn’t see her children until she came home to them asleep--so it had to last. Occasionally she would take me to even unhealthier buffets and I would consume an entire day’s worth of food in a single sitting for $5. It is far cheaper to provide a child with an unhealthy diet in mass than a healthy diet. I believe that role models for children are essential in developing good habits. I do not fault my mother for not having the time or money to lead a healthy life. I have grown up with an obese parent all my life. This is a prominent issue for people living in poverty. At the foundation, a person is responsible for their own actions, however subconsciously these unhealthy role models play a major role in eating habits. It is a well-known fact that clinically overweight people are much more at risk for developing health problems. I want to avoid that, but more importantly, I want my mother to avoid that. If I change my fitness and eating habits, then perhaps I can aid and influence my mother in improving her own. I would like her to be present for as much of my life as possible, and I often worry with her working physical labor 10+ hours a day at the age of 55 as an obese woman she could face heart issues. I want to be a role model for my younger sister so she has someone to model her eating and fitness habits after. I am already on my way to improving my fitness and eating habits by tracking calories and what I eat, as well as by going to the gym a few times a week. I plan to maintain this by inviting my current girlfriend to participate with me, so we can support each other. I currently maintain my habits by prioritizing my health, and will not allow myself to participate in entertainment such as Netflix without first going to the gym.

I never had a positive financial role model in my life, and my mother did not as well. I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. It is not an option to fail. In addition to this, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. I was fortunately adopted by my good friend’s family. I used this opportunity to motivate myself academically and financially to succeed. I worked harder to earn money. I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. This venture was where I learned my most valuable financial lesson--always keep your money busy. Essentially always reinvest my money back into my business or something that will bring me financial opportunities. Saving money had never been difficult for me as I was very frugal from a lifetime of financial insecurity, but acquiring knowledge on how to use my money to make more was a challenge. Once I had learned a few things, I realized that in high school and college I had the perfect opportunity to do this as I had few expenses or any real need for money aside from education. I am always reinvesting to grow and prosper in hope of a financially stable future.

How has a pet or pets changed your life? Why do you love pets? Many people have formed relationships with pets very early on in life, but I had never known such a relationship. Pets often are a person’s confidant and close companion. I was born into an impoverished family where pets were never a part of my household as we couldn’t afford them. Despite our financial insecurity, I had wanted a pet as I still had a soft spot for animals. However, this financial insecurity worsened and my mother was unable to provide for me--so a pet was a definite impossibility. Fortunately, I was adopted by my friend’s family. I had known this friend since middle school, and we were close. During my first year in my new home, she acquired two chinchillas named Lewis and Milo. I didn’t know how fundamental they would be in adapting to my new environment until later. These chinchillas were my first experience with pets in my house. I adored them, and watching them interact with each other would always make me happy. These chinchillas provided me with much-needed comfort and company in a new environment. During my sophomore year, I started becoming accustomed to my new home--then tragedy struck. Milo had become very ill, and we immediately sought veterinary care. They told us he would most likely not make it through the night. We were distraught. Milo was the runt and baby of the two and Lewis had immediately taken a liking to him. Chinchillas are very social animals, and if separated from each other they become depressed. I needed Milo to survive not just for his sake, but for who he would leave behind. This reminded me of my home life, and if Lewis could experience any semblance of the loneliness I felt, then I needed to spare him from that. My friend and I stayed up all night with Milo syringe-feeding him. He was so ill he lost the ability to walk. I held one of my few sources of happiness in my hands and it was dying--I had never cared for an animal like this before. I tried to stay strong for my friend, but as she fell asleep I cried more than when I was separated from my family. Miraculously, Milo began to walk--there was hope. By morning he had recovered, and I was thrilled. You do not fully appreciate the relationship you have with your pet until it is almost gone. I had few people in my life, and these animals were my best friends. In my experience with helping a helpless animal, I had come to realize that I had to aid the helpless in the community I grew up in. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community by lessening the burden of their financial responsibilities. Despite being told Milo had very little chance of surviving, I never gave up. During this time when I had very little hope for the future, this experience had given me hope and to always persevere.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. I wanted to avoid the financial hardship my mother endured and support her when I was financially stable. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. Fortunately, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. These unfortunate circumstances have molded my tenacious character and desire for success. When I set the expectation upon myself to succeed, I worked harder to earn money. During my Junior year, I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown to try new ideas, so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. I invested in a computer and learned many methods of being able to acquire products to resell. I learned to set up a simple business plan, keep track of sales and profits, communication, and group management through this business. On the most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. As my senior year was approaching I decided to slow things down and focus on school. I had done over $60,000 in sales that year. With this money, I tried to help my biological mother however I could and decided on a career that would allow me to be happy and support my family. I began to realize that I had to help others who were in the same financial situation as me. Being able to aid the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in has always been vital to me. I watched other families in my community give up everything to come to the United States. Our community struggles to not only provide for our families but also achieve career aspirations as well. Despite being separated from my biological family and living in poverty, I am blessed to have had the opportunity of education before me. The sacrifice my mother made for me provided me the opportunity to attend a good school, which has inspired me to give back and reciprocate her kindness to those less fortunate. My lifelong goal is to support my family with the income I earn from my career. It is also paramount to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community, especially recent immigrants. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to aid starting companies or encourage new businesses in low-income communities. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen the burden of their financial responsibilities. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. Once I am able to provide as much as I am able to those in need, that will be my true greatest accomplishment. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. I wanted to avoid the financial hardship my mother endured and support her when I was financially stable. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. Fortunately, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. These unfortunate circumstances have molded my tenacious character and desire for success. When I set the expectation upon myself to succeed, I worked harder to earn money. During my Junior year, I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. I invested in a computer and learned many methods of being able to acquire products to resell. I learned to set up a simple business plan, keep track of sales and profits, communication, and group management through this business. On the most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. As my senior year was approaching I decided to slow things down and focus on school. I had done over $60,000 in sales that year. With this money, I tried to help my biological mother however I could and decided on a career that would allow me to be happy and support my family.

Many people have formed relationships with pets very early on in life, but I had never known such a relationship. Pets often are a person’s confidant and close companion. I was born into an impoverished family where pets were never a part of my household as we couldn’t afford them. Despite our financial insecurity, I had wanted a pet as I still had a soft spot for animals. However, this financial insecurity worsened and my mother was unable to provide for me--so a pet was a definite impossibility. Fortunately, I was adopted by my friend’s family. I had known this friend since middle school, and we were close. During my first year in my new home, she acquired two german shepherds named Bear and Scout. I didn’t know how fundamental they would be in adapting to my new environment until later. These dogs were my first experience with pets in my house. I adored them, and watching them interact with each other would always make me happy. These dogs provided me with much-needed comfort and company in a new environment. During my sophomore year, I started becoming accustomed to my new home--then tragedy struck. Scout had become very ill, and we immediately sought veterinary care. I needed Scout to survive not just for his sake, but for who he would leave behind. This reminded me of my home life, and if Bear could experience any semblance of the loneliness I felt, then I needed to spare him from that. My friend and I stayed up all night worrying about Scout. He was a very dear companion, who never judged me and was always content to see me--I had never cared for an animal like this before. I tried to stay strong for my friend, but as she fell asleep I cried more than when I was separated from my family. Miraculously, by morning he had recovered, and I was thrilled. You do not fully appreciate the relationship you have with your pet until it is almost gone. I had few people in my life, and these animals were my best friends. These dogs allowed me to become accustomed to my home and made the experience less lonely. I have discovered a newfound appreciation for all pets and am very grateful for these dogs in my life. I do not think I would be as content with my situation if it weren’t for these dogs always being by my side, and for that, I am forever grateful.

I never had a positive financial role model in my life, and my mother did not as well. I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. I am a child of an immigrant, and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. It is not an option to fail. In addition to this, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. I was fortunately adopted by my good friend’s family. I was much more financially secure in this new home, but my mother was still struggling. I used this opportunity to motivate myself academically and financially to succeed so I would be able to help her. I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. This business was where I would learn most of what I know about finances. I had done a lot of research and self-taught myself financial education. This venture was where I learned my most valuable piece of financial advice--always keep your money busy. Essentially always reinvest my money back into my business or something that will bring me financial opportunities. Saving money had never been difficult for me as I was very frugal from a lifetime of financial insecurity, but acquiring knowledge on how to use my money to make more was a challenge. Once I had learned a few things, I realized that in high school and college I had the perfect opportunity to do this as I had few expenses or any real need for money aside from education. Instead of spending on trivial things, I am always reinvesting to grow and prosper. It is paramount to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community, especially recent immigrants. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to provide financial education to this community. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen the burden of their financial responsibilities. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and the child of an undocumented single parent. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. In Mexican culture, talking about mental health is taboo and the solution is to get over it. There is immense pressure to succeed financially--a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for my sister and me. My mother is a single parent who raised all my siblings. I watched her work through the entirety of her pregnancy with my little sister and be strong for us. Naturally, this placed a lot of stress on her which was reflected in her behavior; she was constantly anxious and easily agitated. This was my first experience with mental health. My mother did not have the resources, finances, or time to properly take care of her mental health--but also did not prioritize it. After the event in which my mother became unable to financially support her children, I was adopted by my good friend’s family. Consequently, I would have to come to terms with overcoming the cultural taboo I grew up with. Although I aided my mother in accepting her mental health, I was having trouble allowing myself to feel the same. I was blessed to have been taken in by a loving family and used this to motivate myself academically to succeed. This motivation only lasted so long before the pressure I had placed on myself had taken a great toll once again. I was diagnosed with Major Depression Disorder in my senior year of high school. I was planning on a medical career for financial security, but I didn't want to go into science. I was willing, however, to compromise my happiness to support my family. Eventually, my passion and my academic drive began to decline. If I wanted to succeed with my life goals and be happy, then I needed to go into a career that I wanted. I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. This business became a major motivator for me and served as an outlet whenever I was feeling depressed. Due to my experience with this business, I aspire to pursue entrepreneurship in college. My experience with mental health has emboldened my desire to help my community and aid others. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to encourage new businesses in low-income communities. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families, and children of immigrants are much more likely to face mental health issues as a result. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen their financial responsibilities. I want to be able to provide support for mental health services in these communities as well. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

To me, succeeding in life means my family is financially stable, and I can help others be financially stable. When I set the expectation upon myself to succeed, I worked harder to earn money. I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. This business quickly became my passion and took up a lot of my motivation. There were nights I had trouble falling asleep because I wanted to plan for my business. I learned to set up a simple business plan, kept track of sales and profits, and managed group communication. On my most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. All the money I did make I immediately reinvested back into my business. If I were to be granted $1,000 right now, I would purchase more inventory for my business. Some of the best financial advice I have ever received is to “always keep your money busy” to make more with it. This especially applies to me in high school, as this period is when my expenses are lowest and my ability to constantly reinvest is at its highest.

To my mother, the American dream meant surviving, having access to food, and shelter. Anything was better than what she had access to in Mexico. She has had to work relentlessly to have a life in the United States due to her undocumented status. This has led to financial hardship and constant stress--something many immigrants are familiar with. My American Dream is to support my family with the income I earn from my career. I could relieve my mother of the financial weight she carries. Ultimately, my grandest dream is to be able to provide my younger sister with the childhood and opportunities I did not have. I want to be able to help pay for my sister’s education and for her not to worry about where she would get the money. I want her to be able to participate in sports clubs and other activities without dwelling on the financial burden it would place on my mother. Another paramount portion of my dream is to contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in. How could I have all these opportunities presented to me and not work to help those who are less fortunate? Many people associate the American Dream with opportunity. While there are many opportunities, many immigrants struggle to take advantage of these opportunities and maintain a foothold in America due to a multitude of barriers: Financial, Language, and Culture. My family and community’s well-being is important to me, and being able to support them one day is what fuels my life. Despite being separated from my family--and being taken in by guardians-- I am blessed with the opportunity of education and finance before me. I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. On my best days, I could make $100-$1000. With this money, I tried to help my biological mother however I could. This business proved to be the catalyst to my American Dream. With my college degree, I will be one step closer to achieving my American dream of supporting my family with my income, and financial security. I hope to use my knowledge after I graduate with a degree in business to encourage new businesses in low-income communities. I also hope to possibly invest in these businesses once I am in a position to do so. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. I want to be able to provide scholarships and give them some financial security in college that I did not have at their age. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

My lifelong goal is to support my family with the income I earn from my career. I could relieve my mother of the financial weight she carries. It is also paramount to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. I want to be able to provide scholarships and give them some financial security in college that I did not have at their age. Ultimately, my biggest motivation is to be able to provide my younger sister with the childhood and opportunities I did not have. I want to be able to help pay for my sister’s education and for her not to worry about where she would get the money. I want her to be able to participate in sports clubs and other activities without dwelling on the financial burden it would place on my mother. My family and community’s well-being is important to me, and being able to support them one day is what fuels my life. With this motivation, I have pursued entrepreneurship to finance my education. I created a small business during my Junior year where I sold sneakers and earned enough to aid my family. I plan to continue this business into college, so each day I will be closer to achieving my goals.

From early on in life I aspired to be able to provide for my impoverished family, as well as others in my community. My mother had worked her whole life and was a single parent providing for three kids. I could never be fulfilled, for others were struggling as I have. Unfortunately, along with this adversity came more as my mother became unable to provide for me. Luckily, I was adopted by a friend’s family in the summer of my freshman year. This event ignited the flame of the ambition I possessed. It wasn’t until I began my business in my junior year that I began to realize that success is not achieved in a day--but step by step. But I was impatient, as every day that passed was another day my mother had to endure, as well as many in my community. I needed to persist, and appreciate the minor success along the way to my ultimate goal. In the past two years, I have been able to aid my mother financially. With patience, as I continue to build my success, I would like to be able to support her fully and eventually aid others financially struggling as well. The time it would take to become successful became tolerable with the realization I needed to be patient and invigorated my hope for the future.

From early on in life I aspired to be able to provide for my impoverished family, as well as others in my community. My mother had worked her whole life and was a single parent providing for three kids. Each issue of adversity I encountered during my childhood was one more added to a list I needed to aid others with. I could never be fulfilled as long there were others struggling as I have. Unfortunately, along with this adversity came more as my mother became unable to provide for me. Luckily, I was adopted by a friend’s family in the summer of my freshman year. It was during this time that I created a business selling sneakers and discovered my passion for entrepreneurship. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to encourage new businesses in low-income communities. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and reduce their financial responsibilities. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

The biggest problem the world is facing right now is the toleration of the suffering of others. Many people--especially in first-world countries--often do not consider an issue to be problematic if it is not affecting them. There are many humanitarian issues worldwide that are deeply rooted in humanity’s greed and infighting with one another. I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. Fortunately, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. I acknowledge I have it much better than others, and I acknowledge others have it easier than me. I experienced financial problems and instability due to my mother’s residential status. Nobody stepped in to ease the financial issues of my family, instead, it felt as though our ailments were being piled up by the system that was supposed to liberate us. It is unrealistic to believe that these humanitarian issues could be resolved with one sudden change, however, I believe if everyone were to take the time to learn and even venture to aid these issues--the world would benefit.

I never had a positive financial role model in my life, and my mother did not as well. I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. It is not an option to fail. In addition to this, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. I was fortunately adopted by my good friend’s family. I used this opportunity to motivate myself academically and financially to succeed. I worked harder to earn money. I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. This venture was where I learned my most valuable piece of financial advice--always keep your money busy. Essentially always reinvest my money back into my business or something that will bring me financial opportunities. Saving money had never been difficult for me as I was very frugal from a lifetime of financial insecurity, but acquiring knowledge on how to use my money to make more was a challenge. Once I had learned a few things, I realized that in high school and college I had the perfect opportunity to do this as I had few expenses or any real need for money aside from education. Instead of spending on trivial things, I am always reinvesting to grow and prosper.

From early on in life I aspired to be able to provide for my impoverished family, as well as others in my community. My mother had worked her whole life and was a single parent providing for three kids. I needed to be able to financially support her as soon as possible. I placed an immense amount of pressure on myself to succeed both financially and academically. This only intensified as my mother became financially unstable and could not support me. Fortunately, I was adopted by a friend’s family in the summer of my freshman year. This event ignited the flame of the unrealistic ambition I possessed. The pressure placed upon me became insurmountable, and I began to lose hope of achieving my dream. It wasn’t until I began my business in my junior year that I began to realize that success is not achieved in a day--but step by step. I needed to persist through the day by day and acknowledge the advances I have made towards my goals, instead of how much was left. In the past two years, I have been able to aid my mother financially. As I continue to work towards my goal, I must persist through the guilt and pressure I place upon myself to immediately provide for my family, as it is unrealistic. To persist through the direst situations, one must envision the desired outcome and keep focused. For me, this is providing for my family and those who cannot provide for themselves.

Good things come with patience is something I have struggled to accept. From early on in life I aspired to be able to provide for my impoverished family, as well as others in my community. My mother had worked her whole life and was a single parent providing for three kids. I needed to be able to financially support her as soon as possible. That was not realistic, but my ambition clouded that fact. I placed an immense amount of pressure on myself to succeed both financially and academically. This only intensified as my mother became financially unstable and could not support me. Fortunately, I was adopted by a friend’s family in the summer of my freshman year. This event ignited the flame of the unrealistic ambition I possessed. The pressure placed upon me became insurmountable, and I began to lose hope of achieving my dream. It wasn’t until I began my business in my junior year that I began to realize that success is not achieved in a day. I needed to alleviate the guilt and pressure I placed upon myself to immediately provide for my family, as it was unrealistic. Accepting some things are out of my control is a reality I am working to accept. I remind myself daily that I am trying my best for where I am, and make an effort to refute any self-imposed negative notions I place on myself. When I am feeling anxious about the future or something I am passionate about, I pace and become restless. I have taken up weight lifting as an activity to redirect my energy and place some focus on self-improvement. These little things ground me at the current time in my life, instead of worrying about things in the future that are out of my control.

Good things come with patience is something I have struggled to accept. From early on in life I aspired to be able to provide for my impoverished family, as well as others in my community. My mother had worked her whole life and was a single parent providing for three kids. I needed to be able to financially support her as soon as possible. That was not realistic, but my ambition clouded that fact. I placed an immense amount of pressure on myself to succeed both financially and academically. This only intensified as my mother became financially unstable and could not support me. Fortunately, I was adopted by a friend’s family in the summer of my freshman year. This event ignited the flame of the unrealistic ambition I possessed. The pressure placed upon me became insurmountable, and I began to lose hope of achieving my dream. It wasn’t until I began my business in my junior year that I began to realize that success is not achieved in a day--but step by step. I needed to be patient, and appreciate the minor success along the way to my ultimate goal. In the past two years, I have been able to aid my mother financially. With patience, as I continue to build my success, I would like to be able to support her fully. The time it would take to become successful became tolerable with the realization I needed to be patient and invigorated my hope for the future.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and the child of an undocumented single parent. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. In Mexican culture, talking about mental health is taboo and the solution is to get over it. There is immense pressure to succeed financially--a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for my sister and me. My mother is a single parent who raised all my siblings. I watched her work through the entirety of her pregnancy with my little sister and be strong for us. Naturally, this placed a lot of stress on her which was reflected in her behavior; she was constantly anxious and easily agitated. This was my first experience with mental health. My mother did not have the resources, finances, or time to properly take care of her mental health--but also did not prioritize it. After the event in which my mother became unable to financially support her children, I was adopted by my good friend’s family. Consequently, I would have to come to terms with overcoming the cultural taboo I grew up with. Although I aided my mother in accepting her mental health, I was having trouble allowing myself to feel the same. I was blessed to have been taken in by a loving family and used this to motivate myself academically to succeed. This motivation only lasted so long before the pressure I had placed on myself had taken a great toll once again. I was diagnosed with Major Depression Disorder in my senior year of high school. I was planning on a medical career for financial security, but I didn't want to go into science. I was willing, however, to compromise my happiness to support my family. Eventually, my passion and my academic drive began to decline. If I wanted to succeed with my life goals and be happy, then I needed to go into a career that I wanted. I aspire to pursue business, but more specifically entrepreneurship. My experience with mental health has emboldened my desire to help my community and aid others. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to encourage new businesses in low-income communities. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families, and children of immigrants are much more likely to face mental health issues as a result. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen their financial responsibilities. I want to be able to provide support for mental health services in these communities as well. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and the child of an undocumented single parent. I am a child of an immigrant, and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to succeed financially--a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. My mother is a single parent who raised all my siblings. I watched her work through the entirety of her pregnancy with my little sister and be strong for us. Naturally, this placed a lot of stress on her which was reflected in her behavior; she was constantly anxious and easily agitated. As a child, I did not aid her as much as I should have. I resented the various responsibilities I had to take on caring for my siblings. I frequently had to pick up my little sister after school and often cancel plans after school to watch her. However, due to this, I believe our sibling relationship is stronger and I enjoy taking care of children. Now I am more mindful of the struggles my mom faces as a single parent, and the struggles other single parents experience as well. Unfortunately during my freshman year, my mother became financially unstable and could not support me. Fortunately, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. This has inspired me to be able to provide a solution for others during financial difficulties. It is also important to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community, especially recent immigrants. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to aid starting companies or encourage new businesses in low-income communities. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen the burden of their financial responsibilities. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. I am confident with my bilingual background and desire to help my community throughout my career that I will be able to improve the lives of others.

My mother is a single parent who raised all my siblings. I watched her work through the entirety of her pregnancy with my little sister and be strong for us. It was instilled into me from an early age to be empathetic towards everyone, and to help those that were in need--despite our own dire financial circumstances. The selflessness my mother displayed was constant. Rarely did she do anything for herself and aimed to provide for her children and community. Occasionally due to the stress placed upon her, she could be harsh with her expectations, but she always wanted her children to live the life she couldn’t. I think the most important thing my mother had ingrained within me is to be humble and appreciate what you have. My mother immigrated from Mexico when she was a child, as the conditions she was living in weren’t sustainable. While she may still be impoverished, she is grateful to be in a better position today. Often people forget just how lucky we have it in the United States--and of course, it is fine if you desire something greater--but we must appreciate the little things in life. The sacrifice my mother made for me provided me the opportunity to attend a good school, which has inspired me to give back and reciprocate her kindness to those less fortunate.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. Early on in my childhood, my father--who was also an undocumented immigrant--had been driving under the influence of alcohol. He had gotten into an accident and injured the person he hit. Due to this, he was deported and left my mother to care for two children on her own. I wanted to avoid the financial hardship my mother endured and support her when I was financially stable. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. It is not an option to fail. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. Fortunately, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. These unfortunate circumstances have molded my tenacious character and desire for success. Drinking had taken my father, but also my family's financial stability. My mother had to work two times as hard, and be both father and mother. When I set the expectation upon myself to succeed, I worked harder to earn money so I could help support her. I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. This business quickly became my passion and took up a lot of my motivation. There were nights I had trouble falling asleep because I wanted to plan for my business. I learned to set up a simple business plan, kept track of sales and profits, and managed group communication. On my most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. With this money, I tried to help my biological mother however I could. This business made me realize that I had to help others who were in the same financial situation as me. Being able to aid the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in has always been vital to me. I watched other families in my community give up everything to come to the United States. Our community struggles to not only provide for our families but also achieve career aspirations as well. Despite being separated from my biological family and living in poverty, I am blessed to have had the opportunity of education before me. The sacrifice my mother made for me provided me the opportunity to attend a good school, which has inspired me to give back and reciprocate her kindness to those less fortunate. It is important to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community, especially recent immigrants. I hope to highlight the dangers of drunk driving in my community and potentially save another family from experiencing what mine did. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen the burden of their financial responsibilities. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children. I am confident with my bilingual background and desire to help my community throughout my career that I will be able to improve the lives of others.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. I wanted to avoid the financial hardship my mother endured and support her when I was financially stable. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. It is not an option to fail. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. Fortunately, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. These unfortunate circumstances have molded my tenacious character and desire for success. To me, succeeding in life means my family is financially stable, and I can help others be financially stable. When I set the expectation upon myself to succeed, I worked harder to earn money. I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. This business quickly became my passion and took up a lot of my motivation. There were nights I had trouble falling asleep because I wanted to plan for my business. I learned to set up a simple business plan, kept track of sales and profits, and managed group communication. On my most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. With this money, I tried to help my biological mother however I could. This business made me realize that I had to help others who were in the same financial situation as me. Being able to aid the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in has always been vital to me. I watched other families in my community give up everything to come to the United States. Our community struggles to not only provide for our families but also achieve career aspirations as well. Despite being separated from my biological family and living in poverty, I am blessed to have had the opportunity of education before me. The sacrifice my mother made for me provided me the opportunity to attend a good school, which has inspired me to give back and reciprocate her kindness to those less fortunate. Twenty years from now I hope to support my family with the income I earn from my career. It is also paramount to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community, especially recent immigrants. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to aid starting companies or encourage new businesses in low-income communities. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen the burden of their financial responsibilities. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. I am confident with my bilingual background and desire to help my community throughout my career that I will be able to improve the lives of others.

My lifelong goal is to support my family with the income I earn from my career. It is also paramount to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community, especially recent immigrants. I was born to an undocumented single parent. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to succeed financially--a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for my sister and me. After the event in which my mother became unable to financially support her children, I was adopted by my good friend’s family. I was blessed to have been taken in by a loving family and used this to motivate myself academically to succeed. This motivation only lasted so long before the pressure I had placed on myself had taken a great toll once again. Eventually, my passion and my academic drive began to decline. I was diagnosed with Major Depression Disorder in my senior year of high school. Often, when people feel depressed they try to keep it to themselves as they feel as though they’re a burden. Even from a young age, if I got hurt while playing outside I would hide my wound from my mom so she wouldn’t have another issue to worry about. My guardians made it clear to me that they were open to any issues I had, but I didn’t want to place another burden on them as they had already taken me in. As our relationship grew closer, I allowed myself to open up to them about how I was feeling and accept their positive support. As a result, I was given a break from suppressing my feelings just so I could focus on my goals and school. This experience has given me insight into how important positive support can be regarding your mental health. During the summer of the Covid-19 lockdown, I chose to pursue a business idea in one of my interests--selling shoes. Despite my reservations regarding my ability to succeed in this, my guardians affirmed to me their belief in me. This business became my outlet, and wouldn’t have been possible without my guardians. People who lose hope need positive support to help them stay on track with their goals and desires. I plan to continue maintaining my current system of support with my family, as well as utilizing counseling services at my university. I find that alongside my education if I am pursuing something like my business, it keeps me motivated. I plan to continue my current business and develop upon other ventures in business that I come across. But most importantly, I will utilize my passion to support my community and others in my financial position to keep me driven to succeed. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to encourage new businesses in low-income communities. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families, and children of immigrants are more likely to face mental health issues as a result. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen the burden of their financial responsibilities. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

My lifelong goal is to support my family with the income I earn from my career. It is also paramount to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community, especially recent immigrants. I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and the child of an undocumented single parent. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to succeed financially--a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for my sister and me. My mother is a single parent who raised all my siblings. I watched her work through the entirety of her pregnancy with my little sister and be strong for us. Naturally, this placed a lot of stress on her which was reflected in her behavior; she was constantly anxious and easily agitated. This was my first experience with mental health. My mother did not have the resources, finances, or time to properly take care of her mental health--but also did not prioritize it. In Mexican culture, talking about mental health is taboo and the solution is to get over it. After the event in which my mother became unable to financially support her children, I was adopted by my good friend’s family. Consequently, I would have to come to terms with overcoming the cultural taboo I grew up with. Although I aided my mother in accepting her mental health, I was having trouble allowing myself to feel the same. I was blessed to have been taken in by a loving family and used this to motivate myself academically to succeed. This motivation only lasted so long before the pressure I had placed on myself had taken a great toll once again. Eventually, my passion and my academic drive began to decline. I was diagnosed with Major Depression Disorder in my senior year of high school. I find that thinking of the future brings on some anxious feelings, and I fight that by thinking of the opportunities I’ll have before me that will bring me joy. When I set the expectation upon myself to succeed, I work harder to earn money. I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown to start a business. I settled on selling shoes. This business quickly became my passion and provided me with an outlet to distract myself. There were nights I had trouble falling asleep because I wanted to plan for my business. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to encourage new businesses in low-income communities. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families, and children of immigrants are more likely to face mental health issues as a result. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen the burden of their financial responsibilities. I want to be able to provide support for mental health services in these communities as well. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. I wanted to avoid the financial hardship my mother endured and support her when I was financially stable. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. It is not an option to fail. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. Fortunately, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. I had used this opportunity to motivate myself academically and financially to succeed. When I set the expectation upon myself to succeed, I worked harder to earn money. I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown so I took advantage of setting up my own business via social media. I settled on selling shoes. This business quickly became my passion and took up a lot of my motivation. There were nights I had trouble falling asleep because I wanted to plan for my business. I learned to set up a simple business plan, kept track of sales and profits, and managed group communication. On my most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. With this money, I tried to help my biological mother however I could. I began to realize that I had to help others who were in the same financial situation as me. Being able to aid the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in has always been vital to me. I watched other families in my community give up everything to come to the United States. Our community struggles to not only provide for our families but also achieve career aspirations as well. Despite being separated from my biological family and living in poverty, I am blessed to have had the opportunity of education before me. The sacrifice my mother made for me provided me the opportunity to attend a good school, which has inspired me to give back and reciprocate her kindness to those less fortunate. My lifelong goal is to support my family with the income I earn from my career. It is also paramount to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community, especially recent immigrants. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to aid starting companies or encourage new businesses in low-income communities. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen the burden of their financial responsibilities. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

My lifelong goal is to support my family with the income I earn from my career. It is also paramount to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community, especially recent immigrants. Being able to aid the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in has always been vital to me. I watched other families in my community give up everything to come to the United States. Our community struggles to not only provide for our families but also achieve career aspirations as well. Despite being separated from my biological family and living in poverty, I am blessed to have had the opportunity of education before me. The sacrifice my mother made for me provided me the opportunity to attend a good school, which has inspired me to give back and reciprocate her kindness to those less fortunate. If I am fortunate enough to be granted this scholarship, it will bring me one step closer to helping the low-income communities around me break out of the economic pattern many Hispanic immigrants are familiar with. Often, immigrants send money to their families in other countries despite their financial struggles in the United States. In my experience, the immigrant Hispanic community continues to maintain tight familial bonds across countries because they acknowledge they are lucky enough to be in the United States. In a way, this reflects how I feel regarding my relationship with my biological family. I was lucky enough to be taken in by a local family, but my biological family is still in an unfortunate position, and despite me not being financially secure to support them, I still provide what I am able. I am hoping to escape this economic pattern by graduating college, pursuing a career, and using that career to help low-income communities escape as well. I hope to use my knowledge after I graduate with a degree in business to aid starting companies or encourage new businesses in low-income communities. I also hope to possibly invest in these businesses once I am in a position to do so. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. I want to be able to provide scholarships and give them some financial security in college that I did not have at their age. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community. I hope to be remembered as someone who cared more about taking care of his family than himself. As well as someone who did not forget the roots of where they came from and made an effort to help people in need. I want to be remembered as someone who provided hope and helped everyone around him to succeed in their aspirations.

My lifelong goal is to support my family with the income I earn from my career. I could relieve my mother of the financial weight she carries. It is also paramount to me that I contribute to bettering the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in. I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and the child of an undocumented single parent. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. Fortunately, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. I had used this opportunity to motivate myself academically to succeed. Due to my upbringing, I am frugal wherever I can be, and saving money has come easily. If I am fortunate enough to achieve this scholarship it will provide me with much-needed financial stability. I hope to provide my future family with the financial security and stability I did not have as a child, and this scholarship will put me in a greater position for this. Being able to aid the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in has always been vital to me. I watched other families in my community give up everything to come to the United States. Our community struggles to not only provide for our families but also achieve career aspirations as well. Despite being separated from my biological family and being in poverty, I am blessed to have had the opportunity to education before me. The sacrifice my mother made for me to provide me with the opportunity to attend a good school has inspired me to give back and reciprocate her kindness to those less fortunate. If I am fortunate enough to be granted this scholarship, it will bring me one step closer to helping the low-income communities around me break out of the economic pattern many Hispanic immigrants are familiar with. Often, immigrants send money to their families in other countries despite their financial struggles in the United States. In my experience, the immigrant Hispanic community continues to maintain tight familial bonds across countries because they acknowledge they are lucky enough to be in the United States. In a way, this reflects how I feel regarding my relationship with my biological family. I was lucky enough to be taken in by a local family, but my biological family is still in an unfortunate position, and despite me not being financially secure to support them, I still provide what I am able. I am hoping to escape this economic pattern by graduating college, pursuing a career, and using that career to help low-income communities escape as well. I hope to use my knowledge after I graduate with a degree in business to aid starting companies or encourage new businesses in low-income communities. I also hope to possibly invest in these businesses once I am in a position to do so. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. I want to be able to provide scholarships and give them some financial security in college that I did not have at their age. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and the child of an undocumented single parent. I am a child of an immigrant and a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to succeed financially--a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for my sister and me. My mother is a single parent who raised all my siblings. I watched her work through the entirety of her pregnancy with my little sister and be strong for us. My mother picked up the only work she could as she didn’t even have a high school diploma. She had attempted to build a business in her maid services, but due to her citizenship status she had to rely on her adult daughter for too much and it never came to fruition. In almost every attempt, I watched my mother try to better our lives, but she was shut down by the reality of being a low-income undocumented parent. Throughout my life it was ingrained into me by my mother that my education is paramount to all other goals in my life. After the event in which my mother became unable to financially support her children, I was adopted by my good friend’s family. I was blessed to have been taken in by a loving family and used this to motivate myself academically to succeed. This motivation only lasted so long before the pressure I had placed on myself had taken a great toll once again. I was diagnosed with Major Depression Disorder in my senior year of high school. The effects had been present since my junior year when the full weight of my responsibility had been realized. I was planning on a medical career for financial security, but I didn't want to go into science. I was willing, however, to compromise my happiness to support my family as my mother did. Eventually, my passion and my academic drive began to decline. If I wanted to succeed with my life goals and be happy, then I needed to go into a career that I wanted. I aspire to pursue business, but more specifically entrepreneurship. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to aid starting companies or encourage new businesses in low-income communities. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families, and children of immigrants are much more likely to face mental health issues as a result. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen the burden of their financial responsibilities. I want to be able to provide support for mental health services in these communities as well. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and the child of an undocumented single parent. I am a child of an immigrant and a first-generation American. There is immense pressure to succeed financially--a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for my sister and me. My mother is a single parent who raised all my siblings. I watched her work through the entirety of her pregnancy with my little sister and be strong for us. Naturally, this placed a lot of stress on her which was reflected in her behavior; she was constantly anxious and easily agitated. This was my first experience with mental health. My mother did not have the resources, finances, or time to properly take care of her mental health--but also did not prioritize it. In Mexican culture, talking about mental health is taboo and the solution is to get over it. This was the reality my mother was used to, but she did not have to cling to these primitive ideologies. My older sister and I have taken a forward approach to talk to my mother and help her by discussing mental health openly to break the cultural taboo. After the event in which my mother became unable to financially support her children, I was adopted by my good friend’s family. Consequently, I would have to come to terms with overcoming the cultural taboo I grew up with. Although I aided my mother in accepting her mental health, I was having trouble allowing myself to feel the same. I was blessed to have been taken in by a loving family and used this to motivate myself academically to succeed. This motivation only lasted so long before the pressure I had placed on myself had taken a great toll once again. I was diagnosed with Major Depression Disorder in my senior year of high school. The effects had been present since my junior year when the full weight of my responsibility had been realized. I was planning on a medical career for financial security, but I didn't want to go into science. I was willing, however, to compromise my happiness to support my family. Eventually, my passion and my academic drive began to decline. If I wanted to succeed with my life goals and be happy, then I needed to go into a career that I wanted. I aspire to pursue business, but more specifically entrepreneurship. I hope to use my skills after graduating with a degree in business to aid starting companies or encourage new businesses in low-income communities. Financial insecurity is a prominent issue within immigrant families, and children of immigrants are much more likely to face mental health issues as a result. I desire to aid children in my low-income Hispanic community and lessen the burden of their financial responsibilities. I want to be able to provide support for mental health services in these communities as well. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. Another goal I have is to be able to provide scholarships to these children to lessen the financial burden they carry. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

I am a future business leader hoping to provide for the low-income community I grew up in. I have a major interest in pursuing business and entrepreneurship due to a recent business I started during my Junior year of high school. When I set the expectation upon myself to succeed, I work harder to earn money. After my first job, I had saved up about six thousand dollars. Growing up impoverished taught me to be very frugal, so saving money has never been difficult. This seed money helped me start my own business. I had a remarkable opportunity during the pandemic lockdown so I had to take advantage. I settled on selling shoes. I had discovered the joy of working for myself by utilizing social media for my business. I created advertisements and interacted with customers. There were nights I had trouble falling asleep because I wanted to plan for my business. I invested in a computer and learned many methods of being able to acquire products to resell. I learned to set up a simple business plan, keep track of sales (to a minor degree) and profits, communication, and group management through this business. During the school’s shutdown, my enthusiasm for education declined, but this business became my motivation. On my most successful days, I could make $100-$1000 in a day which was exciting for a junior in high school. I plan to continue this business alongside other endeavors I encounter to help counteract college debt during my studies. I have already established a good credit score at 741, set up a savings plan, and regularly track my spending. Being able to aid the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in has always been a paramount goal of mine as well. I watched the other families in my community give up everything to come to the United States. Our community struggles to not only provide for our families but also achieve career aspirations as well. The sacrifice my mother made for me to provide me with the opportunity to attend a good school with plenty of resources. She inspired me to give back and reciprocate her kindness to those less fortunate. Often, immigrants send money to their families in other countries despite their financial struggle in the United States. In my experience, the immigrant Hispanic community continues to maintain tight familial bonds across countries because they acknowledge they are lucky enough to be in the United States. In a way, this reflects how I feel regarding my relationship with my biological family. I was lucky enough to be taken in by a local family, but my biological family is still in their unfortunate position, and despite not being financially secure to support them, I still provide what I am able. I hope to escape this economic pattern by graduating college debt-free and pursuing a career and using that career to help low-income communities escape poverty as well. I want to use my knowledge after I graduate with a degree in business to aid starting companies or encourage new business in low-income communities. I also hope to possibly invest in these businesses once I am in a position to do so. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. I want to be able to provide scholarships and give them some financial security in college that I did not have at their age. I am confident with my bilingual background and desire to help my community from a young age that I will be able to make a difference in my community.

It has been a lifelong goal of mine to be able to support my family with the income I earn from my career. I plan to be the first in my family to attend college. I plan to major in Business at the University Of Kansas. This decision has not always been linear as my priorities have changed, and so has my planned major. I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. I wanted to avoid the financial hardship my mother endured and support her when I was financially stable. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. It is not an option to fail. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. Fortunately, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. I had used this opportunity to motivate myself academically to succeed. Being able to aid the low-income Hispanic community I grew up in has always been a paramount goal of mine as well. I have watched the other families in my community give up everything to come to the United States. Our community struggles to not only provide for our families but also achieve career aspirations as well. Despite being separated from my biological family and being in poverty, I am blessed to have the opportunity of education before me. The sacrifice my mother made for me to provide me with the opportunity to attend a good school with plenty of resources. She has inspired me to give back and reciprocate her kindness to those less fortunate. A vision I aspire to fulfill is to help the low-income communities around me break out of the economic pattern many Hispanic immigrants are familiar with. Often, immigrants send money to their families in other countries despite their financial struggle in the United States. In my experience, the immigrant Hispanic community continues to maintain tight familial bonds across countries because they acknowledge they are lucky enough to be in the United States. In a way, this reflects how I feel regarding my relationship with my biological family. I was lucky enough to be taken in by a local family, but my biological family is still in their unfortunate position, and despite me not being financially secure to support them, I still provide what I am able. I am hoping to escape this economic pattern by graduating college and pursuing a career and using that career to help low-income communities escape as well. I hope to use my knowledge after I graduate with a degree in business to aid starting companies or encourage new business in low-income communities. I also hope to possibly invest in these businesses once I am in a position to do so. Many children grew up in similar conditions as me and are at a disadvantage in education. I want to be able to provide scholarships and give them some financial security in college that I did not have at their age. I am confident with my bilingual background, desire to help my community from a young age, and tenacity to succeed in my career that I will be able to make a difference and improve my community.

I was born into an impoverished family. I know many are also impoverished, but it is a different struggle when you are in a family with no foundation in the US and you are also the child of an undocumented single parent. I wanted to avoid the financial hardship my mother endured and support her when I was financially stable. I am a child of an immigrant and I am a first-generation American. It is not an option to fail. There is immense pressure to financially succeed; a unique stressor only another child of an undocumented parent can understand. In addition to this adversity, my financial security worsened when my mother was unable to provide for both my sister and me. Fortunately, I had been adopted by my good friend’s family. I had used this opportunity to motivate myself academically to succeed. This motivation only lasted so long before the pressure I had placed on myself took a great toll once again. I was planning to go into a career I did not want and exchange my happiness to support my family. Of course, this was not sustainable long term, and my passion and my academic drive began to decline. If I wanted to succeed with my life goals and be happy, then I needed to go into a career that I wanted. I have recently decided to major in business, which has changed drastically from my previous intention to go into medicine. I learned that being content with your decisions is required for success. However, despite this recent absolution, I still feel financially responsible for my family. Often, immigrants send money to their families in other countries despite their financial struggle in the United States. In my experience, the immigrant Hispanic community continues to maintain tight familial bonds across countries because they acknowledge they are lucky enough to be in the United States. In a way, this reflects how I feel in regard to my relationship with my biological family. I was lucky enough to be taken in by a local family, but my biological family is still in their unfortunate position, and despite me not being financially secure to support them, I still provide what I am able. This economic pattern is something that many Hispanic immigrants are familiar with that I am hoping to break out of--and help others break out of too. I have found serenity in my decision to pursue a career in Business, but my challenge will not be absolved until I am able to aid the low-income communities around me.