Going to college means far more to me than simply earning a degree. As a first-generation college student, higher education represents opportunity, growth, and the ability to create a future that once felt out of reach. Growing up, I did not have a roadmap explaining how to navigate college, research opportunities, leadership positions, or long-term career planning. Many aspects of higher education felt unfamiliar, and there were moments when I questioned whether I truly belonged in academic spaces. However, pursuing a college education became a way for me to challenge those limitations and redefine what was possible for both myself and my family. As a minority and first-generation student, my educational journey has required resilience, adaptability, and self-advocacy. Navigating personal, academic, and mental health challenges while pursuing higher education was not always easy, but those experiences shaped my perspective and strengthened my determination to succeed. Rather than allowing adversity to define me, I began using those experiences to better understand others and to discover how I could create meaningful change within my community. Through college, I found not only an education, but also a sense of purpose. I currently attend University of Central Florida at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, where I study Hospitality Management while conducting undergraduate research focused on neuroinclusive hospitality practices. My research explores how hospitality environments can better support autistic families and individuals with sensory and accessibility needs. What began as a classroom project evolved into award-winning undergraduate research and eventually into my honors thesis. Through this work, I realized that hospitality is about much more than service. Hospitality has the ability to influence whether people feel safe, included, and respected within their environments. That realization completely changed how I view my education and future career. College has also given me the confidence to step into leadership and advocacy roles that I once never imagined possible. Over the past year, I became involved in nonprofit and mental health advocacy initiatives through organizations such as Metabolic Collective and NAMI Central Florida. This fall, I will serve as the incoming Vice President of NAMI on Campus at the University of Central Florida, where I hope to help create a supportive community that encourages open conversations about mental health, fosters belonging, and empowers students navigating their own challenges. Through my education, I hope to continue combining research, advocacy, hospitality, and nonprofit initiatives to create more inclusive and supportive environments for underserved communities. Long term, I want to help reshape how organizations and communities approach accessibility, mental health, and inclusion so that individuals from all backgrounds feel valued and understood. To me, college is not only about personal success. It is about using education as a tool to create opportunities, uplift others, and contribute to a more compassionate and understanding world.

Mental health has profoundly shaped the way I view myself, my relationships, and the impact I hope to make in the world. Growing up, I often felt different from those around me but struggled to fully understand why. As I navigated mental health challenges throughout my life, I came to realize how deeply emotional well-being affects every aspect of a person’s identity, confidence, relationships, and ability to succeed. These experiences were not always easy, especially while trying to navigate higher education as a first-generation college student, but they ultimately shaped my resilience, empathy, and sense of purpose. My experiences with mental health taught me the importance of compassion and human connection. There were times when I felt isolated or misunderstood, particularly in environments where mental health was not openly discussed. Those experiences influenced my beliefs by showing me how essential it is for people to feel seen, supported, and accepted without judgment. I began to understand that healing is not only about treatment, but also about community, belonging, and access to supportive environments. Because of this, I became passionate about helping reduce stigma surrounding mental health and advocating for greater understanding within both educational and community spaces. Mental health challenges have also deeply influenced the way I approach relationships. I have learned to listen to others with greater empathy and to recognize that many people silently struggle while trying to meet the expectations placed upon them. Rather than viewing vulnerability as weakness, I now see openness and honesty as strengths that help create meaningful human connections. These lessons motivated me to become involved in advocacy and nonprofit work focused on mental health awareness and inclusion. Through volunteering with Metabolic Collective and collaborating with NAMI Central Florida I have seen how powerful community support and lived experience can be in helping individuals feel less alone. This fall, I will serve as the incoming Vice President of NAMI on Campus at the University of Central Florida, where I hope to help create a supportive community that encourages open conversations about mental health, fosters belonging, and empowers students navigating their own mental health journeys. My mental health experiences have also directly shaped my career aspirations. I currently study Hospitality Management at UCF Rosen College while conducting undergraduate research focused on neuroinclusive hospitality practices and accessibility. My goal is to help create environments where individuals feel emotionally safe, respected, and included, particularly those navigating mental health and neurodevelopmental challenges. In the future, I hope to combine research, advocacy, and nonprofit initiatives to continue improving accessibility and mental health support within communities. Although my journey has been challenging at times, it ultimately gave me a deeper understanding of empathy, resilience, and the importance of creating spaces where people feel that they truly belong.

One of the most important lessons I have learned throughout my life is that empathy has the power to transform how people experience the world. Whether in schools, workplaces, healthcare settings, or everyday interactions, people are deeply impacted by whether they feel understood, included, and valued. As a first-generation college student, I have often had to navigate unfamiliar spaces without a clear roadmap. Those experiences taught me the importance of compassion, self-advocacy, and creating environments where people feel that they belong. They also inspired me to use my education and experiences to help build a more understanding and empathetic global community. I currently attend the University of Central Florida at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, where I study Hospitality Management while conducting undergraduate research focused on neuroinclusive hospitality practices. My research examines how hospitality environments can better support autistic families and individuals with sensory and accessibility needs. Through this work, I realized that hospitality is about far more than customer service. Hospitality has the ability to shape emotional experiences, foster human connection, and influence whether individuals feel safe and welcomed within their environments. I believe creating inclusive spaces is one of the most meaningful ways to build empathy within communities. One of my greatest strengths is my ability to connect people and create conversations centered around understanding and inclusion. Over the past year, I have become involved in advocacy and nonprofit initiatives focused on mental health awareness, accessibility, and community support. Through volunteering with Metabolic Collective and collaborating with NAMI Central Florida , I have learned how powerful lived experience and compassionate leadership can be in helping others feel less isolated. This fall, I will serve as the incoming Vice President of NAMI on Campus at the University of Central Florida, where I hope to help build a supportive community that encourages open conversations about mental health, fosters belonging, and empowers students navigating their own mental health journeys. As someone who has personally experienced challenges navigating educational and social systems, I understand how important representation, accessibility, and emotional support can be. These experiences strengthened my ability to listen to others with empathy and advocate for individuals whose needs are often overlooked. Rather than allowing adversity to limit me, I chose to channel those experiences into leadership, research, and community-building efforts that prioritize inclusion and human connection. In the future, I hope to combine hospitality, advocacy, and research to develop nonprofit and community-based initiatives focused on accessibility, mental health advocacy, and inclusive hospitality practices. I want to contribute to a world where individuals from all backgrounds feel respected, supported, and understood, regardless of their mental health status, neurodiversity, or personal challenges. To me, building a more empathetic global community begins with small but meaningful actions: listening to others, creating inclusive spaces, and ensuring that people feel they matter. I hope to continue using my education and leadership experiences to contribute to that kind of lasting impact.

Mental health is deeply important to me as a student because I understand firsthand how significantly it can impact every aspect of a person’s life, including education, relationships, confidence, and overall well-being. As students, we are often expected to continuously perform academically while silently navigating personal struggles behind the scenes. Throughout my own educational journey, I have learned that mental health support, understanding, and community are not luxuries; they are essential. Without those foundations, many students struggle to fully reach their potential or feel that they belong within academic spaces. Navigating mental health challenges throughout my life has shaped the person I am today and has strengthened my desire to advocate for others. There were periods where balancing academics, personal responsibilities, and mental health felt overwhelming, especially while trying to navigate higher education largely on my own as a first-generation college student. Those experiences taught me resilience, self-advocacy, and the importance of compassionate support systems. They also showed me how many individuals silently struggle while feeling isolated or misunderstood. Because of this, I became passionate about helping create spaces where students feel seen, supported, and empowered rather than judged. I currently attend University of Central Florida at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, where I study Hospitality Management while conducting undergraduate research focused on neuroinclusive hospitality practices. My research examines how hospitality environments can better support autistic families and individuals with sensory and accessibility needs. Through this work, I realized how important inclusion, accessibility, and emotional safety are within all environments, including schools, workplaces, and communities. I began to understand that advocacy can take many forms, whether through research, leadership, education, or simply creating conversations that reduce stigma surrounding mental health. Over the past year, I have also become involved in nonprofit and advocacy work centered around mental health awareness and community support. Through volunteering with Metabolic Collective and collaborating with NAMI Central Florida I have learned how powerful lived experience and community-driven advocacy can be. This fall, I will serve as the incoming Vice President of NAMI on Campus at the University of Central Florida, where I hope to help build a supportive community that encourages honest conversations about mental health, creates a sense of belonging, and empowers students throughout their healing journeys. In the future, I hope to continue combining advocacy, research, and leadership to create environments where individuals feel supported both academically and emotionally. To me, mental health advocacy means helping people feel less alone and reminding them that their experiences matter. Even small acts of understanding and compassion can change the direction of someone’s life, and I hope to continue contributing to that kind of positive impact within my community and future career.

One of the most meaningful lessons I have learned through volunteering and advocacy work is that people often heal and grow when they feel seen, understood, and supported. Throughout my life, I have experienced how isolating it can feel to navigate challenges without strong guidance or community. Those experiences shaped not only who I am, but also the kind of impact I hope to make in the world. As a student at the University of Central Florida studying Hospitality Management, I originally viewed hospitality as an industry centered around service and operations. However, through my education, research, and volunteer experiences, I began to see hospitality differently. I realized that hospitality has the power to shape how people experience belonging, accessibility, and human connection. This realization inspired me to pursue research and advocacy focused on creating more inclusive environments for individuals who are often overlooked, particularly neurodivergent individuals and families navigating mental health challenges. Over the past year, I have become deeply involved in nonprofit and advocacy work centered around mental health awareness, accessibility, and community support. Through volunteering with organizations such as Metabolic Collective and collaborating with NAMI Central Florida , I have learned how powerful grassroots leadership and lived experience can be. I have helped support outreach initiatives, educational events, and community-building efforts designed to create spaces where individuals feel less alone in their healing journeys. These experiences taught me that meaningful impact does not always begin with large-scale change. Sometimes it begins with listening to others, connecting people to resources, or creating conversations that help reduce stigma. My academic research has further strengthened my desire to create positive change. I currently conduct undergraduate research focused on neuroinclusive hospitality practices and the experiences of autistic families within hospitality environments. What began as a classroom project evolved into award-winning research and eventually into my honors thesis. Through this work, I recognized how many individuals and families continue to encounter environments that were not designed with their needs in mind. I want to help change that by contributing to research, advocacy, and organizational initiatives that prioritize accessibility, dignity, and inclusion. In the future, I hope to combine hospitality, nonprofit leadership, and advocacy to create environments where people feel genuinely supported and valued. Whether through research, community organizations, educational initiatives, or leadership roles, I want to help build systems that are more compassionate and accessible for individuals facing mental health and neurodevelopmental challenges. To me, making a positive impact on the world means helping people feel that they matter and that they belong. Even small acts of understanding and inclusion can create lasting change, and I hope to continue dedicating my education and career toward that mission.

Being the first person in my family to pursue a college degree means breaking cycles that once felt impossible to escape. Growing up, higher education always felt distant and unfamiliar. There was no roadmap explaining how to navigate college, research opportunities, leadership positions, or long-term career planning. Much of my journey has involved learning how to advocate for myself, ask questions, and continue moving forward even when I felt uncertain. Because of this, earning a degree represents far more than academic success to me. It represents growth, resilience, and the ability to create new opportunities not only for myself, but for others as well. As a first-generation student, I have faced challenges that tested both my confidence and perseverance. Navigating higher education while balancing personal, financial, and mental health challenges taught me independence at an early stage in my college journey. There were moments where I questioned whether I truly belonged in academic spaces, especially when surrounded by students who seemed to already understand systems that were completely new to me. However, those experiences ultimately strengthened my determination to succeed. They also shaped the type of leader and advocate I hope to become. I currently attend the University of Central Florida at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, where I am pursuing a degree in Hospitality Management while conducting undergraduate research focused on neuroinclusive hospitality practices. My research examines how hospitality environments can better support autistic families and individuals with sensory and accessibility needs. What began as a class project evolved into award-winning undergraduate research and eventually into my honors thesis. Through this work, I realized that hospitality is not only about service; it is about creating spaces where people feel safe, understood, and included. Beyond academics, I have become involved in advocacy and community leadership initiatives focused on mental health awareness, accessibility, and inclusion. These experiences have shown me the importance of transforming lived experience into meaningful change. As someone who has personally navigated adversity, I understand how powerful it can be when people feel seen and supported within their communities. My long-term goal is to combine hospitality, research, and advocacy to improve accessibility and inclusion for neurodivergent individuals and families. I hope to continue pursuing research while also developing initiatives that create more inclusive environments within hospitality and community spaces. Ultimately, being a first-generation student means creating a path that did not previously exist for my family and using that path to help others feel less alone in their own journeys.

As a first-generation college student, my path to higher education has been anything but traditional. I entered college facing multiple barriers—not only as a Hispanic woman navigating college for the first time, but also while managing a serious mental health condition. I experienced challenges that went beyond academics, including limited access to resources and a lack of understanding of how to navigate both higher education and my own mental health. Although it has taken me longer to complete my degree due to these challenges, I never gave up. Instead, these experiences shaped how I approach both my education and my role in supporting others. I realized that many first-generation students are not lacking motivation—they are lacking access, guidance, and systems that help them succeed. I am currently a Hospitality Management student at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College, where I am completing an Honors undergraduate thesis focused on improving travel experiences for families with children on the autism spectrum. My work reflects a broader commitment to accessibility and inclusion, particularly for individuals and families navigating complex challenges. However, my impact extends beyond academics. As the founding president of NAMI on Campus at UCF, I am building a student-led organization focused on mental health advocacy, education, and access to resources. Through this work, I am not just raising awareness—I am creating a space where students, especially those without prior guidance, can find support and learn how to navigate their college experience more effectively. In addition, I serve as a REBUILD Coach with the Metabolic Collective, where I guide individuals in turning their ideas into actionable advocacy initiatives. In this role, I help others break down complex goals into manageable steps, connect them to resources, and build confidence in their ability to create change. This work reflects how I approach inspiring others—not through words alone, but through action, structure, and support. I do not aim to inspire first-generation students simply by telling them they can succeed. I aim to show them how. By sharing my experiences, building organizations, and actively connecting others to resources, I demonstrate that it is possible to navigate unfamiliar systems, advocate for oneself, and create meaningful impact—even in the face of significant challenges. Moving forward, I plan to continue developing initiatives that improve accessibility within both education and the hospitality industry. My goal is to ensure that first-generation students are not left to figure everything out alone, but instead have access to the tools, support, and systems they need to succeed.