My family and I are originally from Mexico. We immigrated to the United States when I was six years old. My parents decided to leave Mexico in pursuit of stability, employment, and a better education for my siblings and me. This meant that from a very young age, I was encouraged to do my best in school so that eventually I could attend a higher education institution and receive a college degree. I recognize that the decision my parents made was a challenging one. I cannot imagine what it is like to have to leave behind family, friends, a home, and the country you grew up in. My parents had to make so many sacrifices. When I realized this, I was motivated to pursue college in order to make my parents proud and to ensure their sacrifices were not in vain. As a first-generation student, I faced many challenges myself. I had to learn how to apply for college on my own. I didn’t have anyone at home who could help me proofread essays for scholarships. I had to find my own way to pay for school. Then when I did my undergrad, I felt very isolated because my family could not relate to what I was experiencing. Despite all these challenges, I was determined to achieve my goals. I am glad I never gave up because it was all worth it when I saw the pride in my parents’ faces when I received my Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering in 2023. Currently I am pursuing a Masters of Science in Power Systems and Sustainable Energy. After I obtain my M.S. I want to pursue a career in public utilities. I want to pursue this path not only because I find it fascinating but also because I want to be a trailblazer. This field has historically been male dominated. I want to inspire other women to pursue their goals. I personally was inspired by a female mentor to pursue a career in STEM. My interest in STEM began from a young age and was fostered by mentors. I fell in love with STEM as soon as I started school. At the age of five I told everyone I wanted to be an engineer when I grew up. For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by the machines that we interact with every day. I wanted to learn how they worked and who designed them. My desire to be an engineer went from a dream to a real goal when I got to high school. When I walked into my geometry class, the teacher introduced herself and told us her story. She has a Masters of Science in Physics but unfortunately while she was pursuing her degree she often faced many obstacles due to the fact that she was the only woman of color in the program. Despite this, she persevered and achieved her goals. I was in awe of her passion and courage. Her story inspired me and as a Hispanic woman I found I could relate to her. I see my high school geometry teacher as a trailblazer and a role model for girls of color interested in pursuing a career in STEM. She increased my interest in pursuing a degree in STEM because I found that I wanted to be a mentor for other Hispanic girls interested in STEM like she had been for me. My desire to give back to my community by being a trailblazer and my curiosity made me want to pursue a STEM major.

Being from a low-income household has taught me that hard work gets you through challenges and allows you to reach your goals. My parents are an example of this. It has always been my parents’ dream to buy a house. However, due to our financial situation, this dream felt like it would never become a reality. My parents never gave up on their dream. For 17 years they worked hard. We were able to move from a one-bedroom apartment to a two-bedroom apartment. As a family of six, living in such small apartments was challenging. This motivated my parents even further. Four years ago, my parents purchased a small mobile home in a trailer park. Seeing the challenges my parents experienced inspired me to follow their example. It has always been my dream to get a masters degree in electrical engineering, but financial barriers have made it difficult to achieve this goal. However, I worked hard in high school and became valedictorian. This and other achievements impressed the selection committee of the Act Six scholarship program. I received a full need scholarship to Gonzaga University where I obtained my Bachelors of Science in electrical engineering. I have now been accepted to a graduate program at Santa Clara University where I will be working towards a masters degree. My challenges have not ended. I am still facing financial hardships. However, I will continue to work hard just as my parents have to make my dreams come true. I will use my life experience to inspire others in similar situations. In the future, I would like to volunteer at STEM programs geared towards high school students so that I can show other BIPOC students that it is possible to achieve your goals even if you're a BIPOC from a low-income household.

My parents motivated me to pursue college as a first-generation student. My family and I are originally from Mexico and we immigrated to the United States when I was six years old. They decided to leave Mexico in pursuit of stability, employment, and a better education for my siblings and me. This meant that from a very young age, I was encouraged to do my best in school so that eventually I could attend college. I recognize that the decision my parents made was a challenging one. I cannot imagine what it is like to have to leave behind family, friends, a home, and the country you grew up in. My parents had to make many sacrifices. When I realized this, I was motivated to pursue college in order to make my parents proud and to ensure their sacrifices were not in vain. As a first-generation student, I faced many challenges myself. I had to learn how to apply for college on my own. I didn’t have anyone at home who could help me proofread essays for scholarships. I had to find my own way to pay for school. Then when I did my undergrad, I felt very isolated because my family could not relate to what I was experiencing. Despite all these challenges, I was determined to achieve my goals. I am glad I never gave up because it was all worth it when I saw the pride in my parents’ faces when I received my Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering in 2023. Now, after discovering my love for education, it is my goal to obtain a Masters of Science. My interest in STEM began from a young age and was fostered by mentors. I fell in love with STEM as soon as I started school. As my mom will tell you, at the age of five I told everyone I wanted to be an engineer when I grew up. For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by the machines that we interact with every day. I wanted to learn how they worked and who designed them. My desire to be an engineer went from a dream to a real goal when I got to high school. When I walked into my geometry class, the teacher introduced herself and told us her story. She has a Masters of Science in Physics but unfortunately, while she was pursuing her degree she often faced many obstacles because she was the only woman of color in the program. Despite this, she persevered and achieved her goals. I was in awe of her passion and courage. Her story inspired me and as a Hispanic woman, I found I could relate to her. I see my high school geometry teacher as a trailblazer and a role model for girls of color interested in pursuing a career in STEM. She increased my interest in pursuing a degree in STEM because I found that I wanted to be a mentor for other Hispanic girls interested in STEM as she had been for me. My desire to give back to my community by being a trailblazer and my curiosity made me want to pursue a STEM major.