If received, I would use the scholarship money to help cover tuition, textbooks, and materials as I pursue my undergraduate degree in nursing. Being a diligent Latino heritage, I've always understood that budgeting is essential and squeezing every chance available must be squeezed. This scholarship would take an enormous financial load off my family's shoulders and allow me to be able to fully focus on studying. Besides fees, I would use the money to help pay for transportation, uniforms, and other miscellaneous expenses related to clinical rotations and nursing school. This financial support is important because I would not have to struggle to maintain too much part-time work during the semester, since I could devote more time to studies, leadership efforts, and volunteer work. I am really committed to becoming a certified nurse-midwife, and I understand that it will be long hours and hard work. This scholarship would allow me to say "yes" to every opportunity without fear of financial constraints. Most of all, I would be looking at this scholarship as an investment—both in my education but in the future for which I'm working. I aim to use my work to help care for mothers, especially in underserved and Spanish-speaking communities, where language and knowledge of cultures might make all the difference in caring. I'll be nearer with your support to making this a reality and giving return in some form of relevance.

My Latina heritage is all that matters. It's in the music that we play in our kitchen on Sunday mornings, the foods that we eat at family gatherings, and the tales that my parents and grandparents share of strength, of love, and of sacrifice. To be Latina is not simply to speak Spanish or celebrate traditions—it's pride, resolve, and close identification with my people. It's changed the way I see the world, the manner in which I navigate it, and the things I've done to plan out my own destiny. As I grew up, I was often put in the role of second parent—interpreting during visits to the doctors, helping my little brothers with their homework, or stepping in when my parents needed help. They weren't always easy moments, but they did instill in me lessons of responsibility, compassion, and resilience. My heritage has also taught me to be proud of where I come from and to work hard for where I want to end up. It's one of the biggest reasons that I've committed myself to service, leadership, and education. I'm looking forward to attending college because it is a stepping stone to the life that I see creating—for myself, my family, and the community that I am passionate about. I want to be a midwife, and I realize that a college degree is the start. I want to be present for women, especially those who are underserved or Spanish-speaking, at one of the most vulnerable moments in their lives. I've seen how language barriers and cultural unfamiliarity can block people's access to health care. I want to be the one who makes women feel safe, seen, and loved during their pregnancy and childbirth experience. College is also opportunity. My parents have worked so hard to give me the freedom to go further than they did. I want to make them proud and set an example for my little brothers and sisters that they can dream big as well. I've already taken a step in that direction—taking advanced classes, leading clubs like HOSA and Mu Alpha Theta, working at the food bank, and part-time labor at my aunt's ice cream shop. I do it all for the purpose of growing, giving, and leaving a legacy. Being Latina does not stop me—it empowers me. It causes me to be driven and humble regarding what is really important: family, community, and purpose. College is not just about a diploma. It's about building a future where I can return the support and love that has ever been given to me. I want to fulfill my heritage by becoming someone who lifts others—just as my heritage has lifted me.

Initially, working at my aunt's ice cream parlor, Antojitos & Ice Cream, meant trying to scrape together some spending cash on the side. I imagined it would be like all those run-of-the-mill after-school jobs—scooping ice cream, polishing counters, and listening to customers. But I quickly recognized that the shop was more than a dessert place; it was this small piece of home for our Hispanic community, and being part of it, without reservations, made me understand better what connection really looks like. Our customers are from all walks of life-hardworking parents, grandparents, teenagers, and toddlers. Most are immigrants like my own family. Some are still adjusting to life here, juggling work, raising children, and staying connected with their native culture. In the shop, people switch between English and Spanish, ask about flavors they remember from their childhood, and share stories about their lives. It's not just a business-it's a place where people get accustomed, welcome, and understood. One moment I really remember. A mother came into the shop one evening with her three children. She appeared to be tired-you could see she must have had one very long day. But even though maybe her purse wasn't that dabbed with money, she wanted to treat her kids to something. Yeah, she seemed to pick out what they wanted by gazing as I scooped their orders. Without even thinking too hard about it, I added an extra scoop to one of the cups and just smiled. She looked at me, and even though she didn't say much, I could see how much it meant to her. That moment reminded me of how kindness need not be loud or dramatic-it can be quiet and small and still mean everything. That's what really taught me this community: that connection is showing up for people in small ways. Remembering someone's usual order, talking to someone in their first language, or simply listening to them ramble about their day makes them feel like they belong. Being part of this community instilled in me a certain assurance-not just in my future, but for the kind of world I want to help build. I have seen how people support each other in hard times. I have learned that adversity is not just about showing giant victories; it is mostly about keeping on, about showing up, and about caring for others no matter what. Into the future, I want to carry such lessons with me, especially concerning being a person who wants to go into healthcare and become a midwife. I have seen how vital it is for people to feel unbiasedly visible and cared for and how powerful connecting with someone during vulnerable moments can be. This taught me that community is not something that you just live in-it is something you construct as well. Because of that, I am more hopeful than ever.