My father is an immigrant from Chile. When he first came to the United States he had to do hard labor. Luckily, due to his education, he was able to advance quickly. Because of this, the conditions of my upbringing have been different. I never had to move with my family because of work. I grew up in one house. I never had to worry about supporting my family by working, at the expense of my education. Education, housing stability, strong finances, and high family values made all of the difference. Therefore, growing up Latina has been mostly positive. I have strong friendships with individuals within our community and am proud of my heritage. However, I consider myself a minority within the minority. That is to say, I find that within my area there is a focus on the Mexican community, and within that, an emphasis on those of a lower socioeconomic status. My Chilean family is three connecting flights away, but I still strive to find a place within my community. Yet when I attended, for example, the LatinX Youth Conference, an event where I thought I could meet people like me, I heard phrases like, " Your fathers are most likely blue-collar workers, and your mothers are probably maids". Looks of shock as people discovered that I would be a second-generation college graduate were humiliating. That experience drove a wedge between me and the community I wanted to be a part of. I came away asking, "Am I poor enough to belong here? Why should I be ashamed to be Hispanic and have opportunities that put me at a higher socioeconomic level?" I am Hispanic! I am smart and creative! I love my family! I could survive on only arroz, leche asada, and Lola Beltran! I value hard work and serving others! We accomplish nothing when we divide ourselves based on color, our parent's work, or the countries of our origin. Instead, we must unite, celebrate our similarities, our differences, and build ourselves up with our strong characters, values, and beliefs. In regards to my career, raising rabbits through 4-H and dreams of larger livestock spiked my interest in agriculture. But after joining an alternative learning program at my high school. I realized my purpose within the world of agriculture. Our curriculum included studying the effects of industrial agriculture on social justice issues and climate change. The unit of study that had the greatest impact on me was the history and present conditions of farmworkers--primarily migrant workers. I was shocked by the harsh working environments that impact their lives and the lives of their families for generations. I knew I couldn't stand idly by and let that cycle continue I will be attending New Mexico State University this fall. With a degree in Agricultural Business and Economics, I can start my own farms and strive toward creating an environment within industrial agriculture that will end the cycle of hardships that oppress Hispanic and Latinx farmworkers in America.

You never find quotes about taking things seriously. They always end up talking about “letting loose” and “going with the flow”. Well, I did just that my first two years of high school. I kicked my feet up, let life happen, and ended up with many meaningless relationships, physical altercations with peers, poor communication with my parents, and a GPA you get nauseous looking at. Nonetheless, through tough love and my own realizations, I have carved a new path for myself. As an either grader, dreams of becoming a high schooler, meeting new friends, being packed like sardines in football games, and not going over the same history lessons were intoxicating. On the first day of school, our principal belting over the microphone that we needed 24 credits to graduate didn’t phase me . What would be the harm in skipping ten minutes of class to swallow shots from a three liter bottle of Jack Daniels and buying more cheap liquor for my new friends? Or having a Juul shoved into my mouth between periods, and sneaking out at night to makeout with men I would never dare introduce to my mother? With that, I became disliked by my closest friends that I’d had since kindergarten. Looks of disdain and embarrassment radiated from them yet I ignored them in the name of “living my best life”. My grades were nothing to brag about either. I had no motivation to do quality class work and the then constant “nagging” from my parents did nothing to motivate my tanking academics. Even a physical fight on school grounds and an unnerving experience with law enforcement couldn't convince me that I was hurting myself and my future! Then, the summer after my Sophomore year, I received a wake up call. It occured sitting on the porch of my family's cabin in the Rocky Mountains. My Great Aunt Shirley, is a woman I have an infinite amount of respect for. So when she asked me "what the heck had gone wrong?", I was embarrassed and speechless. Tough love can come in the form of salt being smothered on a wound but that's what woke me up. Junior year, I had a game plan. I enrolled myself in the Freedom Farmers program at my school and through real effort, I had all A’s through both semesters. Senior year I enrolled myself in four AP classes. I am doing well, and I am projected to have all A’s again and a high GPA. My failure to withdraw myself from dangerous and toxic situations had almost forced me to drop out of highschool but the people I’ve met and the experiences they put me through during this clouded time in my life are not to be forgotten. My failure was a shovel and my aunt was the motivation to pick it up. Allowing me to dig myself out of my hole, layed down the dirt for a not only new path but a path to success and stability.

I think of music as a soundtrack to the movie of my life and my emotions are always dictated by my choice of music. Therefore songs like Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel inspire me to get going, move along, and be happy while doing it. The playlist I have curated, filled with fast beats and sometimes catchy choruses, embellish on that same emotion of happiness while being productive. They allow me to hum while working on school projects or dance in my backyard while doing garden work. It's songs like these that keep me content through tasks big and small.