Math was once my enemy but now it is my way out of my circumstances. I grew up in a low-income community with parents that had a third-grade level education. Growing up I always thought I was not smart enough to do well in math. Once I was in high school a teacher Mr. Avila helped me excel and he believed in me. I was soon interested in math and all it has to offer. I've noticed in my traits that I love a challenge. I feel excited about a new challenge and that rewarding feeling inside from figuring out is the best. Puzzles are my absolute favorite thing to do. Math in itself is a huge puzzle to figure out. If you can find the answer you try and try again until it is figured out. I have often thought about a problem for days only to have the answer pop into my head in the middle of the night. Giving up is never an option in my life. Another aspect of math that I love is that it is all around me. It always comes up either at work or in my personal life. When counting the money at work in the safe it's always easier for me and I find a way to do everything faster than everyone else. Math has helped me be efficient and critical of situations. One thing so unique about math is that there are many different ways to solve a problem. There are multiple ways to find the answers we are looking for. It is one unique aspect that other subjects lack. Math will always be my friend in trying to better myself as a person. I welcome any challenge and I am always striving to be my best thanks to math. It has opened my eyes as well that math is useful in all subjects as well. There are statistics and science that are used for research. In engineering, many math classes are needed for engineers. In my math major, I have come across many engineers throughout my years in school. Math will always be useful in all subjects and will not be something to be phased out. As for the distant future, I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. Some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math. One of the most pressing goals that I have is that I hope to graduate with a transfer degree this year. In the following year, I hope to be accepted to a Cal State and start the rest of my schooling. In a way, all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have.

When you are gone from this earth, how will people remember me? That is the thought that pops into my mind when I think about my future career. I want people to think back and say that I made a difference in their lives. I want to influence the future, and teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher, I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their life it will all be worth it. In a way, all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned in my junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. I have great motivations to enter the STEM world because I came from a low-income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well, I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community, women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. I hope to change the way the world sees Mexican women. I want to heighten our expectations and not settle for what the world wants us to do.

A financially stable contributing member of society cultivating the next generation as a teacher.

Mind and body are connected within us with an eternal link that can't be broken. Everything inside us is connected. If your mind isn't healthy then your body suffers and vice versa. I was in a place where I wasn't looking at what I was putting in my body, only consuming what sounded good. Now I try to eat foods that I still enjoy but are better for me. I don't drink any beverages with sugars now I only have water or diet coke. For the carbs, I try to consume as little as I can. My favorite food was burgers which I still eat but now protein style with extra meat. I have always loved meat so I pack my meals now with plenty of protein. Protein helps you stay full longer so that you don't overconsume or have hunger. Constantly learning something new is what excites me about college the most. Every class that I take I give it my all and utmost interest. There is always something new or exciting to learn about. For example, in my communications class, I learned how the media writes stories. There is a specific format that most newspapers follow. If I had not taken this class, I would not have known about this. Even though I am constantly busy in school I still make an effort to maintain my health. It will benefit me in the long run if I make a small sacrifice in my day to think about my choices for lunch a little harder. Being healthy is an everyday goal. Some of the challenges that I face at CSU Fullerton are the stress of classes and homework. There is always something to do relating to school. If I don't have homework I have a major test that I have to study for. Being stressed out the only thing that helps it is exercising it out and eating balanced meals that help me overall. There are many benefits to eating healthy, one of the most obvious ones is that you receive all of your nutrition from your food. You don't have to rely on a multivitamin or various vitamins to receive your nutrients. Food needs to be consumed in a way that benefits you. I found out that you are supposed to receive all of your nutrients from food and not from vitamins. My trainer once told me that you are what you eat. If you eat food that isn't beneficial then expect to get the same results in your body. If you consume foods with high protein and nutrition you will feel the difference in your body. One of the best benefits of eating healthy is I have a whole new better headspace. I suffer from anxiety and depression. When I am not taking care of my body my mind suffers. Going to the gym and making smart choices in what I eat helps my depression go away. The act of having my body move and get good exercise always helps me be in a better mood. I do notice when I go three to four times a week I am much happier and surprisingly I have more energy. It is strange how you have to give energy to receive energy. Lying around in the house eating burgers and fries is a disaster waiting to happen with my mental health. Being healthy is something that gives me benefits and joy in my life.

One of the hardest struggles I have had is suffering from depression and anxiety. In the past it made me leave school because all I could do was exist. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally, all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. Fast Forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so for anything that I do achieve I work ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile every day even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future. The person I was during those dark depressive times is nowhere near where I am today. I take my studies very seriously. When I am struggling with my classes I seek help right away. I try to develop relationships with my professors to show them that I am trying and in the end, they are more willing to help me. I have been on the President’s List for three semesters and the Dean’s list for five semesters at Citrus Community College. All my hard work reflects on these recognitions. I was also selected to be part of a research summer experience with Fullerton where I was able to work with Dr. Soto to develop culturally relevant pedagogy. With everything that has changed recently I am the happiest I have been. I would not have it any other way because as the author Octavia Butler says “In order to rise from its own ashes, a Phoenix first must burn”.

When you are gone from this earth, how will people remember me? That is the thought that pops into my mind when I think about my future career. I want people to think back and say that I made a difference in their lives. I want to influence the future, teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher, I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their life it will all be worth it. In a way, all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned in my junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. I have great motivations to enter the STEM world because I came from a low-income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community, women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. I hope to change the way the world sees Mexican women. I want to heighten our expectations and not settle for what the world wants us to do. This scholarship will help me pay off some loans in the amount of 15,000 currently. Any amount I can contribute will help me worry less about the financial burden and focus on my dreams.

My name is Elizabeth Munoz. I am 28 and I have an associate degree in mathematics. I am planning on transferring to a Cal state in the coming year. I want to obtain my bachelor's degree and then go on to obtain my credentials. I am a full-time student and also hold down two part-time jobs. One of the small ways that I help my community is by taking jobs despite their low pay but they expose me to students. I could find a job that paid a livable wage but I want to help students. I want to make a positive impact in their lives. When I was growing up I felt like I needed a positive impact in my life I never received. It warms my heart to know that I am making a difference in their lives. The students that I work with are Middle school children. They are all going through changes and an awkward phase that needs much direction. Whatever they are going through I will be there to support them. I have great motivations to enter the STEM world because I came from a low-income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well, I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community, women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. I hope to change the way the world sees Mexican women. I want to heighten our expectations and not settle for what the world wants us to do. As for the distant future, I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. Some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned in that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential.

As for the distant future, I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. I was inspired initially by my high school math teacher who taught me to love math. later on some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math. One of the most pressing goals that I have is that I hope to graduate with a transfer degree this year. In the following year, I hope to be accepted to a Cal State and start the rest of my schooling. In a way, all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. All I have seen around me are bad decisions that lead to a dark path. Coming from a low-income community it seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do since it is what I will do for the rest of my life. In the Mexican community, women are only good for cleaning and having children. I am in no way saying there is anything wrong with that but I want to do something beyond that. I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. Not only have I felt the weight of society making my journey harder, I have had mental health issues that have not made it easy. I suffer from depression and anxiety. In the past it made me leave school because all I could do was exist. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so for anything that I do achieve I worked ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile every day even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future.

As for the distant future, I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. I was inspired initially by my high school math teacher who taught me to love math. later on some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math. One of the most pressing goals that I have is that I hope to graduate with a transfer degree this year. In the following year, I hope to be accepted to a Cal State and start the rest of my schooling. In a way, all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. All I have seen around me are bad decisions that lead to a dark path. Coming from a low-income community it seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do since it is what I will do for the rest of my life. In the Mexican community, women are only good for cleaning and having children. I am in no way saying there is anything wrong with that but I want to do something beyond that. I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. Not only have I felt the weight of society making my journey harder, I have had mental health issues that have not made it easy. I suffer from depression and anxiety. In the past it made me leave school because all I could do was exist. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so for anything that I do achieve I worked ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile every day even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future.

Mind and body are connected within us with an eternal link that can't be broken. Everything inside us is connected. If your mind isn't healthy then your body suffers and vice versa. I was in a place where I wasn't looking at what I was putting in my body, only consuming what sounded good. Now I try to eat foods that I still enjoy but are better for me. I don't drink any beverages with sugars now I only have water or diet coke. For the carbs, I try to consume as little as I can. My favorite food was burgers which I still eat but now protein style with extra meat. I have always loved meat so I pack my meals now with plenty of protein. Protein helps you stay full longer so that you don't overconsume or have hunger. Even though I am constantly busy in school I still make an effort to maintain my health. It will benefit me in the long run if I make a small sacrifice in my day to think about my choices for lunch a little harder. Being healthy is an everyday goal. Some of the challenges that I face at CSU Fullerton are the stress of classes and homework. There is always something to do relating to school. If I don't have homework I have a major test that I have to study for. Being stressed out the only thing that helps it is exercising it out and eating balanced meals that help me overall. There are many benefits to eating healthy, one of the most obvious ones is that you receive all of your nutrition from your food. You don't have to rely on a multivitamin or various vitamins to receive your nutrients. Food needs to be consumed in a way that benefits you. I found out that you are supposed to receive all of your nutrients from food and not from vitamins. My trainer once told me that you are what you eat. If you eat food that isn't beneficial then expect to get the same results in your body. If you consume foods with high protein and nutrition you will feel the difference in your body. One of the best benefits of eating healthy is I have a whole new better headspace. I suffer from anxiety and depression. When I am not taking care of my body my mind suffers. Going to the gym and making smart choices in what I eat helps my depression go away. The act of having my body move and get good exercise always helps me be in a better mood. I do notice when I go three to four times a week I am much happier and surprisingly I have more energy. It is strange how you have to give energy to receive energy. Lying around in the house eating burgers and fries is a disaster waiting to happen with my mental health. Being healthy is something that gives me benefits and joy in my life.

Mind and body are connected within us with an eternal link that can't be broken. Everything inside us is connected. If your mind isn't healthy then your body suffers and vice versa. I was in a place where I wasn't looking at what I was putting in my body, only consuming what sounded good. Now I try to eat foods that I still enjoy but are better for me. I don't drink any beverages with sugars now I only have water or diet coke. For the carbs, I try to consume as little as I can. My favorite food was burgers which I still eat but now protein style with extra meat. I have always loved meat so I pack my meals now with plenty of protein. Protein helps you stay full longer so that you don't overconsume or have hunger. Constantly learning something new is what excites me about college the most. Every class that I take I give it my all and utmost interest. There is always something new or exciting to learn about. For example, in my communications class, I learned how the media writes stories. There is a specific format that most newspapers follow. If I had not taken this class, I would not have known about this. Even though I am constantly busy in school I still make an effort to maintain my health. It will benefit me in the long run if I make a small sacrifice in my day to think about my choices for lunch a little harder. Being healthy is an everyday goal. Some of the challenges that I face at CSU Fullerton are the stress of classes and homework. There is always something to do relating to school. If I don't have homework I have a major test that I have to study for. Being stressed out the only thing that helps it is exercising it out and eating balanced meals that help me overall. There are many benefits to eating healthy, one of the most obvious ones is that you receive all of your nutrition from your food. You don't have to rely on a multivitamin or various vitamins to receive your nutrients. Food needs to be consumed in a way that benefits you. I found out that you are supposed to receive all of your nutrients from food and not from vitamins. My trainer once told me that you are what you eat. If you eat food that isn't beneficial then expect to get the same results in your body. If you consume foods with high protein and nutrition you will feel the difference in your body. One of the best benefits of eating healthy is I have a whole new better headspace. I suffer from anxiety and depression. When I am not taking care of my body my mind suffers. Going to the gym and making smart choices in what I eat helps my depression go away. The act of having my body move and get good exercise always helps me be in a better mood. I do notice when I go three to four times a week I am much happier and surprisingly I have more energy. It is strange how you have to give energy to receive energy. Lying around in the house eating burgers and fries is a disaster waiting to happen with my mental health. Being healthy is something that gives me benefits and joy in my life.

Mind and body are connected within us with an eternal link that can't be broken. Everything inside us is connected to each other. If your mind isn't healthy then your body suffers and vice versa. I have had the second option of not having a healthy body which in turn affected my mind. I was in a place where I wasn't looking at what I was putting in my body, only consuming what sounded good. The body craves sugars and carbs naturally because that is what will give it instant energy and satisfaction. We by default go to these instincts because we crave these foods. It is no wonder there is an overweight epidemic in the United States. Individuals are consuming what they want, not what they need. Restaurants know our wants and cater to them. I was once one of those consumers who didn't think about what I ate. Now I try to eat foods that I still enjoy but are better for me. I don't drink any beverages with sugars now I only have water or diet coke. For the carbs, I try to consume as little as I can. My favorite food was burgers which I still eat but now protein style with extra meat. I have always loved meat so I pack my meals now with plenty of protein. Protein helps you stay full longer so that you don't overconsume or have hunger. Even though I am constantly busy in school I still make an effort to maintain my health. It will benefit me in the long run if I make a small sacrifice in my day to think about my choices for lunch a little harder. Being healthy is an everyday goal. Some of the challenges that I face at CSU Fullerton are the stress of classes and homework. There is always something to do relating to school. If I don't have homework I have a major test that I have to study for. Being stressed out the only thing that helps it is exercising it out and eating balanced meals that help me overall. There are many benefits to eating healthy, one of the most obvious ones is that you receive all of your nutrition from your food. You don't have to rely on a multivitamin or various vitamins to receive your nutrients. Food needs to be consumed in a way that benefits you. I found out that you are supposed to receive all of your nutrients from food and not from vitamins. My trainer once told me that you are what you eat. If you eat food that isn't beneficial then expect to get the same results in your body. If you consume foods with high protein and nutrition you will feel the difference in your body. One of the best benefits of eating healthy is I have a whole new better headspace. I suffer from anxiety and depression. When I am not taking care of my body my mind suffers. Going to the gym and making smart choices in what I eat helps my depression go away. The act of having my body move and get good exercise always helps me be in a better mood. I do notice when I go three to four times a week I am much happier and surprisingly I have more energy. It is strange how you have to give energy to receive energy. Lying around in the house eating burgers and fries is a disaster waiting to happen with my mental health. Being healthy is something that gives me benefits and joy in my life.

Math was once my enemy but now it is my way out of my circumstances. I grew up in a low-income community with parents that had a third-grade level education. Growing up I always thought I was not smart enough to do well in math. Once I was in high school a teacher Mr. Avila helped me excel and he believed in me. I was soon interested in math and all it has to offer. I've noticed in my traits that I love a challenge. I feel excited about a new challenge and that rewarding feeling inside from figuring out is the best. Puzzles are my absolute favorite thing to do. Math in itself is a huge puzzle to figure out. If you can find the answer you try and try again until it is figured out. I have often thought about a problem for days only to have the answer pop into my head in the middle of the night. Giving up is never an option in my life. Another aspect of math that I love is that it is all around me. It always comes up either at work or in my personal life. When counting the money at work in the safe it's always easier for me and I find a way to do everything faster than everyone else. Math has helped me be efficient and critical of situations. Even when I don't think I will be using math such as with baking I end up using my skills. My sister even asks me for help with multiplying a recipe. One thing so unique about math is that there are many different ways to solve a problem. There are multiple ways to find the answers we are looking for. It is one unique aspect that other subjects lack. Math will always be my friend in trying to better myself as a person. I welcome any challenge and I am always striving to be my best thanks to math. It has opened my eyes as well that math is useful in all subjects as well. There are statistics and science that are used for research. In engineering, many math classes are needed for engineers. In my math major, I have come across many engineers throughout my years in school. Math will always be useful in all subjects and will not be something to be phased out. I can see myself once hired at a school as a great anchor and I will never be scared to be cut from the budget.

Math was once my enemy but now it is my way out of my circumstances. I grew up in a low-income community with parents that had a third-grade level education. Growing up I always thought I was not smart enough to do well in math. Once I was in high school a teacher Mr. Avila helped me excel and he believed in me. I was soon interested in math and all it has to offer. I've noticed in my traits that I love a challenge. I feel excited about a new challenge and that rewarding feeling inside from figuring out is the best. Puzzles are my absolute favorite thing to do. Math in itself is a huge puzzle to figure out. If you can find the answer you try and try again until it is figured out. I have often thought about a problem for days only to have the answer pop into my head in the middle of the night. Giving up is never an option in my life. Another aspect of math that I love is that it is all around me. It always comes up either at work or in my personal life. When counting the money at work in the safe it's always easier for me and I find a way to do everything faster than everyone else. Math has helped me be efficient and critical of situations. One thing so unique about math is that there are many different ways to solve a problem. There are multiple ways to find the answers we are looking for. It is one unique aspect that other subjects lack. Math will always be my friend in trying to better myself as a person. I welcome any challenge and I am always striving to be my best thanks to math. It has opened my eyes as well that math is useful in all subjects as well. There are statistics and science that are used for research. In engineering, many math classes are needed for engineers. In my math major, I have come across many engineers throughout my years in school. Math will always be useful in all subjects and will not be something to be phased out. I can see myself once hired at a school as a great anchor and I will never be scared to be cut from the budget.

When you are gone from this earth, how will people remember me? That is the thought that pops into my mind when I think about my future career. I want people to think back and say that I made a difference in their lives. I want to influence the future, teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher, I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their life it will all be worth it. In a way, all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned in my junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. I have great motivations to enter the STEM world because I came from a low-income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community, women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. I hope to change the way the world sees Mexican women. I want to heighten our expectations and not settle for what the world wants us to do. Diversity in the workplace is very important in bringing exposure to everyone's life. If I can enter the workforce at a professional academic level I can bring a level of diversity to the workplace. I can be a point of exposure for children as they see their teacher as a Mexican female teacher. I will add diversity to my workplace.

One of the hardest struggles I have had is suffering from depression and anxiety. In the past it made me leave school because all I could do was exist. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally, all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. Fast Forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so for anything that I do achieve I work ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile every day even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future. The person I was during those dark depressive times is nowhere near where I am today. I take my studies very seriously. When I am struggling with my classes I seek help right away. I try to develop relationships with my professors to show them that I am trying and in the end, they are more willing to help me. I have been on the President’s List for three semesters and the Dean’s list for five semesters at Citrus Community College. All my hard work reflects on these recognitions. I was also selected to be part of a research summer experience with Fullerton where I was able to work with Dr. Soto to develop culturally relevant pedagogy. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Math is the companion that helps me on my journey. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned in my junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential.

Math was once my enemy but now it is my way out of my circumstances. I grew up in a low-income community with parents that had a third-grade level education. Growing up I always thought I was not smart enough to do well in math. Once I was in high school a teacher Mr. Avila helped me excel and he believed in me. I was soon interested in math and all it has to offer. I've noticed in my traits that I love a challenge. I feel excited about a new challenge and that rewarding feeling inside from figuring out is the best. Puzzles are my absolute favorite thing to do. Math in itself is a huge puzzle to figure out. If you can find the answer you try and try again until it is figured out. I have often thought about a problem for days only to have the answer pop into my head in the middle of the night. Giving up is never an option in my life. Another aspect of math that I love is that it is all around me. It always comes up either at work or in my personal life. When counting the money at work in the safe it's always easier for me and I find a way to do everything faster than everyone else. Math has helped me be efficient and critical of situations. One thing so unique about math is that there are many different ways to solve a problem. There are multiple ways to find the answers we are looking for. It is one unique aspect that other subjects lack. Math will always be my friend in trying to better myself as a person. I welcome any challenge and I am always striving to be my best thanks to math. As for the distant future, I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. Some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned in that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential.

Mind and body are connected within us with an eternal link that can't be broken. Everything inside us is connected. If your mind isn't healthy then your body suffers and vice versa. Even though I am constantly busy in school I still make an effort to maintain my health. It will benefit me in the long run if I make a small sacrifice in my day to think about my choices for lunch a little harder. Being healthy is an everyday goal. Some of the challenges that I face at CSU Fullerton are the stress of classes and homework. There is always something to do relating to school. If I don't have homework I have a major test that I have to study for. Being stressed out the only thing that helps it is exercising it out and eating balanced meals that help me overall. There are many benefits to eating healthy, one of the most obvious ones is that you receive all of your nutrition from your food. You don't have to rely on a multivitamin or various vitamins to receive your nutrients. Food needs to be consumed in a way that benefits you. I found out that you are supposed to receive all of your nutrients from food and not from vitamins. My trainer once told me that you are what you eat. If you eat food that isn't beneficial then expect to get the same results in your body. If you consume foods with high protein and nutrition you will feel the difference in your body. One of the best benefits of eating healthy is I have a whole new better headspace. I suffer from anxiety and depression. When I am not taking care of my body my mind suffers. Going to the gym and making smart choices in what I eat helps my depression go away. The act of having my body move and get good exercise always helps me be in a better mood. I do notice when I go three to four times a week I am much happier and surprisingly I have more energy. It is strange how you have to give energy to receive energy. Lying around in the house eating burgers and fries is a disaster waiting to happen with my mental health. Being healthy is something that gives me benefits and joy in my life. It makes everything that I do much more enjoyable.

When you are gone from this earth, how will people remember me? That is the thought that pops into my mind when I think about my future career. I want people to think back and say that I made a difference in their lives. I want to influence the future, and teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher, I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their life it will all be worth it. In a way, all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned in my junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. I have great motivations to enter the STEM world because I came from a low-income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community, women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. I hope to change the way the world sees Mexican women. I want to heighten our expectations and not settle for what the world wants us to do.

My mom has been my biggest supporter in helping me with everything I need. She brought me up to be a responsible person both personally and in my educational life. When financial aid did not cover my classes she paid for them even though she didn't make much. Most of her paychecks went towards paying for my classes. All of these sacrifices aren't ignored.It will be because of her that I will receive my degree. Her motivational lessons help me have a great work ethic and never give up. I will be successful to help my mother live comfortably in the future. I will give her anything that she did not have growing up. My mom always taught me that any job, no matter what it is, is proud of your work ethic. I am a child of a single mother and seeing her struggles inspires me to be better. My mom didn't have a husband for many years so all the responsibilities went to her. She always manages to have enough money for the rent even though her job is a dishwasher. I am pursuing my education for her to show her that her hard work did not go to waste. Her hands are always cracked and rough from washing so many dishes. I can tell she is such a hard-working woman that inspires me to be a hard worker. That's where my work ethic comes from. I have learned to be an independent woman and to know that I can do anything that I set my mind to. She always said not to rely on anyone else but yourself. She reasons that everyone else will let you down but you must rely on the most reliable person, yourself. You need to take charge of your destiny. You can not blame your circumstances, financial situation or any other excuse. At the end of the day they are exactly what they are called, excuses. Your landlord doesn't want to hear the excuses why the rent isn't paid or the patients at a hospital don't care why staff called off. Make it happen and get it done with whatever resources you have. Always take charge of your own life. I want to make her proud of who I become. I will be a participating member of society who will help her community. I will show other students like myself that it is possible to become an educator.

Math was once my enemy but now it is my way out of my circumstances. I grew up in a low-income community with parents that had a third-grade level education. Growing up I always thought I was not smart enough to do well in math. Once I was in high school a teacher Mr. Avila helped me excel and he believed in me. I was soon interested in math and all it has to offer. I've noticed in my traits that I love a challenge. I feel excited about a new challenge and that rewarding feeling inside from figuring out is the best. Puzzles are my absolute favorite thing to do. Math in itself is a huge puzzle to figure out. If you can find the answer you try and try again until it is figured out. I have often thought about a problem for days only to have the answer pop into my head in the middle of the night. Giving up is never an option in my life. Another aspect of math that I love is that it is all around me. It always comes up either at work or in my personal life. When counting the money at work in the safe it's always easier for me and I find a way to do everything faster than everyone else. Math has helped me be efficient and critical of situations. One thing so unique about math is that there are many different ways to solve a problem. There are multiple ways to find the answers we are looking for. It is one unique aspect that other subjects lack. Math will always be my friend in trying to better myself as a person. I welcome any challenge and I am always striving to be my best thanks to math. It has opened my eyes as well that math is useful in all subjects as well. There are statistics and science that are used for research. In engineering, many math classes are needed for engineers. In my math major, I have come across many engineers throughout my years in school. Math will always be useful in all subjects and will not be something to be phased out. I can see myself once hired at a school as a great anchor and I will never be scared to be cut from the budget.

Going to school has made me stumble on more than my fair share of debt. From not making enough money and using my credit card to fill the gaps it all started to slowly add up. I had gas, groceries and other essentials being charged to my credit card. My mother was hurt at her job and it was up to me to keep the family afloat. My parents were recently divorced and the only person who was responsible for the well-being of my family was me. I started school with zero debt and ended up with 20,000 in debt currently. This amount was all in horrible credit card debt not student loan debt. I wish I knew not to overuse my credit card for anything that wasn't necessary. You are not supposed to spend more than what you make. If you can not afford to pay off the whole amount at the end of the month then perhaps you should not be making huge purchases. Buy things within your means not purchases you would not have been able to do without the help of a credit card. That was one of the pieces of advice that I received a little too late. I was spending my money like there was no tomorrow. I was buying things that at the end of the day I didn't need. At Citrus Community College they had a class for us on financial literacy. I was required to attend one seminar on campus for my class. I didn't want to go at first but decided that it wouldnt hurt to go listen to some advice on how to be financially responsible. There I was given advice that would have been helpful ten years ago, but they also gave me new information that was helpful for my future decisions. They went over the difference in student loans and what the difference was between them. There isn't much financial aid available for me from the government due to circumstances beyond my control. I knew that at some point I would have to take out a loan to par for my schooling. Before the seminar at Citrus Community College I didn't know the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans. I thought that they were the same thing. I soon realized I was very mistaken. There are major differences between them in terms of their interests. Subsidized loans are the best to get because they don't charge you interest. The government pays the interest fees until you are done with schooling. As long as you're in school they will defer the payments until the time when you stop attending school. The other option which is unsubsidized loans is not the best option. These loans will accrue interest from the moment the money is disbursed. That means whatever time you are in school that money is accruing interest for that duration of time. Now that I am in the Cal State system this information did not go unnoticed. I needed all this information that I thought I did not need. I accepted the offer for the subsidized loans and rejected the offers for unsubsidized loans. It was in the amount of 12,000. Now I don't have any debt with my loans and only will pay for what I borrowed. I have made better decisions in my loans due to that one financial literacy class. If I would have never taken that class I would not have known how to deal with my loans. I feel like everyone should be required to take a workshop to this degree. College students don't know the first thing about being financially responsible. I think I am a good example of this. When I teach in public school I will teach my students these valuable lessons so that they can learn from my mistakes. It is important to be responsible with money. That will be the foundation for the rest of their life. Credit scores are something important when you are trying to find somewhere to rend or to find a car loan. It will follow you for the rest of your life. It is an essential and important skill for anyone to learn.

My name is Elizabeth Munoz. I am 28 and I have an associate degree in mathematics. I am planning on transferring to a Cal state in the coming year. I want to obtain my bachelor's degree and then go on to obtain my credentials. I am a full-time student and also hold down two part-time jobs. One of the small ways that I help my community is by taking jobs despite their low pay but they expose me to students. I could find a job that paid a livable wage but I want to help students. I want to make a positive impact in their lives. When I was growing up I felt like I needed a positive impact in my life I never received. It warms my heart to know that I am making a difference in their lives. The students that I work with are Middle school children. They are all going through changes and an awkward phase that needs much direction. Whatever they are going through I will be there to support them. Another way that I am helping my community is by helping a local teacher with her classroom. I have started volunteering in helping her clean and set up the classroom. I have helped her with preparing materials for her activities. It feels great to support my local elementary school and a future fellow teacher. It is important to support each other in the pursuit of helping out for the benefit of the students. As for the distant future, I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. Some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned in that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential.

My name is Elizabeth Munoz. I am 28 and I have an associate degree in mathematics. I am planning on transferring to a Cal state in the coming year. I want to obtain my bachelor's degree and then go on to obtain my credentials. I am a full-time student and also hold down two part-time jobs. One of the small ways that I help my community is by taking jobs despite their low pay but they expose me to students. I could find a job that paid a livable wage but I want to help students. I want to make a positive impact in their lives. When I was growing up I felt like I needed a positive impact in my life I never received. It warms my heart to know that I am making a difference in their lives. The students that I work with are Middle school children. They are all going through changes and an awkward phase that needs much direction. Whatever they are going through I will be there to support them. Another way that I am helping my community is by helping a local teacher with her classroom. I have started volunteering in helping her clean and set up the classroom. I have helped her with preparing materials for her activities. It feels great to support my local elementary school and a future fellow teacher. It is important to support each other in the pursuit of helping out for the benefit of the students. As for the distant future, I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. Some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned in that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential.

My name is Elizabeth Munoz I am 28 years old and I am attending cal state fullerton. When I think about my future what comes to mind is my legacy. When you are gone from this earth, how will people remember me? That is the thought that pops into my mind when I think about my future career. I want people to think back and say that I made a difference in their lives. I want to influence the future, and teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher, I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their life it will all be worth it. In a way, all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. I have great motivations to enter the STEM world because I came from a low-income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community, women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. I hope to change the way the world sees Mexican women. I want to heighten our expectations and not settle for what the world wants us to do. Diversity in the workplace is very important in bringing exposure to everyone's life. If I can enter the workforce at a professional academic level I can bring a level of diversity to the workplace. I feel like there is still racism in the world because people don't interact with other races and have preconceived notions of them. I can be a point of exposure for children as they see their teacher as a Mexican female teacher. I will add diversity to my workplace.

My name is Elizabeth Munoz and I have an associate degree in mathematics. I am planning on transferring to Cal state Fullerton in the coming year. I want to obtain my bachelor's degree and then go on to obtain my credentials. I am a full-time student and also hold down two part-time jobs. As a first-generation student, I have seen the hardships that my mom has faced. Everything I do at my job is 110% I want to be proud of the work I'm doing. I want someone when speaking about me to say I am the most hard-working and reliable worker they have met. From being a worker at McDonald's, to a tutor at a local high school to working with the city of Claremont I have done it all. No job is too low for me to work. I am proud of all the jobs I have had over the years because they have taught me valuable lessons in my life. As for the distant future, I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. Some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math. One of the most pressing goals that I have is that I hope to graduate with a transfer degree this year. In the following year, I hope to be accepted to a Cal state and start the rest of my schooling. In a way, all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Coming from a low-income community it seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community, women are only good for cleaning and having children. I am in no way saying there is anything wrong with that but I want to do something beyond that. I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. Not only have I felt the weight of society making my journey harder, but I have also had mental health issues that have not made it easy. I suffer from depression and anxiety. In the past it made me leave school because all I could do was exist. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so for anything that I do achieve I worked ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile every day even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future. If I do receive a scholarship it would help me worry less about the financial aspect and focus more on my studies. Working and going to school is not easy so I am trying to save up as much as I can so I can focus more on my educational goals because I know my retail job is going to get me nowhere. Education is the only way to go up from here.

1. I am a part-time student but it is because I am taking two math classes at this time. Taking on any other coursework would be foolish to do. Sometimes it is hard to work so many hours and still have time for my coursework. I do find time after work to do my homework. I usually go to the coffee shop for numerous hours. I find it's best to go somewhere where there are no distractions. I wouldn’t say that I am a caregiver but I do help take care of my little brother. One of the most pressing goals that I have is that I hope to graduate with a transfer degree this year. In the following year, I hope to be accepted to a Cal state and start the rest of my schooling. In a way, all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. I would say the hardest thing about being a first-generation student is not being understood. My mom doesn't know the magnitude of what I am achieving. She doesn't understand that one piece of paper as a diploma took so much hard work to receive. Also, there is no understanding of how hard my classes are. She expects so much out of me in helping my family but doesn't realize I have a billion things to do in my classes. Although she doesn't understand my struggles, it is for her to give her a better life than she has now. 2. Math was once my enemy but now it is my way out of my circumstances. I grew up in a low-income community with parents that had a third-grade level education. Growing up I always thought I was not smart enough to do well in math. Once I was in high school a teacher Mr. Avila helped me excel and he believed in me. I was soon interested in math and all it has to offer. I've noticed in my traits that I love a challenge. I feel excited about a new challenge and that rewarding feeling inside from figuring out is the best. Puzzles are my absolute favorite thing to do. Math in itself is a huge puzzle to figure out. If you can find the answer you try and try again until it is figured out. I have often thought about a problem for days only to have the answer pop into my head in the middle of the night. Giving up is never an option in my life. Another aspect of math that I love is that it is all around me. It always comes up either at work or in my personal life. When counting the money at work in the safe it's always easier for me and I find a way to do everything faster than everyone else. Math has helped me be efficient and critical of situations. 3. One of the hardest struggles I have had is suffering from depression and anxiety. In the past it made me leave school because all I could do was exist. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally, all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. Fast Forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so for anything that I do achieve I work ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile every day even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future.

One of the hardest struggles I have had is suffering from depression and anxiety. In the past it made me leave school because all I could do was exist. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally, all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. Fast Forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so for anything that I do achieve I work ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile every day even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future. The person I was during those dark depressive times is nowhere near where I am today. I take my studies very seriously. When I am struggling with my classes I seek help right away. I try to develop relationships with my professors to show them that I am trying and in the end, they are more willing to help me. I have been on the President’s List for three semesters and the Dean’s list for five semesters at Citrus Community College. All my hard work reflects on these recognitions. I was also selected to be part of a research summer experience with Fullerton where I was able to work with Dr. Soto to develop culturally relevant pedagogy. As for the distant future, I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. Some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math. One of the most pressing goals that I have is that I hope to graduate with a transfer degree this year. In the following year, I hope to be accepted to Cal state and start the rest of my schooling. In a way, all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. With everything that has changed recently I am the happiest I have been. I would not have it any other way because as the author Octavia Butler says “In order to rise from its own ashes, a Phoenix first must burn”.

I take my studies very seriously. When I am struggling with my classes I seek help right away. I try to develop relationships with my professors to show them that I am trying and in the end, they are more willing to help me. I have been on the President’s List for three semesters and the Dean’s list for five semesters at Citrus Community College. All my hard work reflects on these recognitions. I was also selected to be part of a research summer experience with Fullerton where I was able to work with Dr. Soto to develop culturally relevant pedagogy. When you are gone from this earth, how will people remember me? That is the thought that pops into my mind when I think about my future career. I want people to think back and say that I made a difference in their lives. I want to influence the future, teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher, I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their life it will all be worth it. In a way, all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned in my junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential.

Going to school has made me stumble on more than my fair share of the debt. From not making enough money and using my credit card to fill the gaps it all started to slowly add up. I started school with zero debt and ended up with 20,000 in debt currently. I wish I knew not to overuse my credit card for anything that wasn't necessary. You are not supposed to spend more than what you make. At Citrus Community College they had a class for us on financial literacy. There I was given advice that would have been helpful ten years ago, but they also gave me new information that was helpful for my future. They went over the difference in student loans. There isn't much financial aid available for me from the government due to circumstances beyond my control. I knew that at some point I would have to take out a loan. Before the seminar at Citrus Community College I didn't know the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans. I thought that they were the same thing. I soon realized I was very mistaken. There are major differences between them in terms of their interests. Subsidized loans are the best to get because they don't charge you interest. The government pays the interest fees until you are done with schooling. As long as you're in school they will defer the payments. The other option which is unsubsidized loans is not the best. These loans will accrue interest from the moment the money is disbursed. That means whatever time you are in school that money is accruing interest for that duration of time. Now that I am in the Cal state system this information did not go unnoticed. I accepted the offer for the subsidized loans and rejected the offers for unsubsidized loans. I have made better decisions in my loans due to that one financial literacy class. I feel like everyone should be required to take a workshop to this degree. College students don't know the first thing about being financially responsible. I think I am a good example of this. When I teach in the public school system l I will teach my students these valuable lessons so that they can learn from my mistakes. There will be student debt without any doubt in my career. For now, during the Fall I am working as many hours as I can get my hands on. I am picking up extra shifts on the weekends at my current jobs. This past weekend I was able to work a 6-hour event that helped greatly in my paycheck. All these extra hours I am working are taking a toll on me. I am tired all the time and have little time for myself. The only thing that keeps me going is to tell myself that all of this hard work is going to pay off for me in my paycheck. Every dollar I receive I am putting it away for my savings. I am trying to spend as little as possible so I can have enough money for my tuition. So far I have one thousand dollars saved up. To reduce my future student debt I am going to look for a helping hand anywhere I can. I am also applying everywhere for scholarships. I am seeking financial help and this scholarship will help with this goal.

One of the hardest struggles I have had is suffering from depression and anxiety. In the past it made me leave school because all I could do was exist. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally, all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. Fast Forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so for anything that I do achieve I work ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile every day even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future. The person I was during those dark depressive times is nowhere near where I am today. I take my studies very seriously. When I am struggling with my classes I seek help right away. I try to develop relationships with my professors to show them that I am trying and in the end, they are more willing to help me. I have been on the President’s List for three semesters and the Dean’s list for five semesters at Citrus Community College. All my hard work reflects on these recognitions. I was also selected to be part of a research summer experience with Fullerton where I was able to work with Dr. Soto to develop culturally relevant pedagogy. With everything that has changed recently I am the happiest I have been. I would not have it any other way because as the author Octavia Butler says “In order to rise from its own ashes, a Phoenix first must burn”.

My name is Elizabeth Munoz I am 28 and I have associates in mathematics I am planning on transferring to a Cal state in the coming year. I want to obtain my bachelor's degree and then go on to obtain my credentials. I am a full-time student and also hold down two part-time jobs. Sometimes it is hard to work so many hours and still have time for my coursework. I do find time after work to do my homework. I usually go to the coffee shop for numerous hours. I find it's best to go somewhere where there are no distractions. I wouldn’t say that I am a caregiver but I do help take care of my little brother. Whenever he is having trouble with math homework it is tasked to me to help him. This has developed my undertaking of tasks and becoming a great problem solver. I have great practice being a parent to my little brother. As for the distant future, I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. Some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math. One of the most pressing goals that I have is that I hope to graduate with a transfer degree this year. In a way, all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Coming from a low-income community it seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community, women are only good for cleaning and having children. I am in no way saying there is anything wrong with that but I want to do something beyond that. I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. Not only have I felt the weight of society making my journey harder, but I have also had mental health issues that have not made it easy. I suffer from depression and anxiety. In the past it made me leave school because all I could do was exist. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so for anything that I do achieve I worked ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile every day even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future.

When you are gone from this earth, how will people remember me? That is the thought that pops into my mind when I think about my future career. I want people to think back and say that I made a difference in their lives. I want to influence the future, teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher, I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their life it will all be worth it. In a way, all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned in my junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. I have great motivations to enter the STEM world because I came from a low-income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community, women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. I hope to change the way the world sees Mexican women. I want to heighten our expectations and not settle for what the world wants us to do. I take my studies very seriously. When I am struggling with my classes I seek help right away. I try to develop relationships with my professors to show them that I am trying and in the end, they are more willing to help me. I have been on the President’s List for three semesters and the Dean’s list for five semesters at Citrus Community College. All my hard work reflects on these recognitions. I was also selected to be part of a research summer experience with Fullerton where I was able to work with Dr. Soto to develop culturally relevant pedagogy.

I want to influence the future, teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher, I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their life it will all be worth it. In a way, all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned in my junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. I have great motivations to enter the STEM world because I came from a low-income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community, women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. I hope to change the way the world sees Mexican women. I want to heighten our expectations and not settle for what the world wants us to do. Diversity in the workplace is very important in bringing exposure to everyone's life. If I can enter the workforce at a professional academic level I can bring a level of diversity to the workplace. I feel like there is still racism in the world because people don't interact with other races and have preconceived notions of them. Growing up I only interacted with Mexican Americans because that was all that was around me. I can admit I had a preconceived notion about people of other colors. It wasn't until I started working that I met people of all races. When I expanded my horizons in the workforce I saw they were loving and accepting. Most did not care what ethnicity I was and I no longer saw color in them. They were all just people to me. I needed this to further shape my perception of people. This was an important lesson for me and for these reasons diversity is important to me. I can be a point of exposure for children as they see their teacher as a Mexican female teacher. I will add diversity to my workplace.

My name is Elizabeth Munoz. I am 28 and I have an associate degree in mathematics. I am planning on transferring to a Cal state in the coming year. I want to obtain my bachelor's degree and then go on to obtain my credentials. I am a full-time student and also hold down two part-time jobs. One of the small ways that I help my community is by taking jobs despite their low pay but they expose me to students. I could find a job that paid a livable wage but I want to help students. I want to make a positive impact in their lives. When I was growing up I felt like I needed a positive impact in my life I never received. It warms my heart to know that I am making a difference in their lives. The students that I work with are Middle school children. They are all going through changes and an awkward phase that needs much direction. Whatever they are going through I will be there to support them. Another way that I am helping my community is by helping a local teacher with her classroom. I have started volunteering in helping her clean and set up the classroom. I have helped her with preparing materials for her activities. It feels great to support my local elementary school and a future fellow teacher. It is important to support each other in the pursuit of helping out for the benefit of the students. As for the distant future, I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. Some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned in that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential.

My name is Elizabeth Munoz I am 28 and I have an associate degree in mathematics I am planning on transferring to a Cal state in the coming year. I want to obtain my bachelor's degree and then go on to obtain my credentials. I am a full-time student and also hold down two part-time jobs. One of the small ways that I help my community is by taking jobs despite their low pay but they expose me to students. I could find a job that paid a livable wage but I want to help students. I want to make a positive impact in their lives. When I was growing up I felt like I needed a positive impact in my life I never received. It warms my heart to know that I am making a difference in their lives. The students that I work with are Middle school children. They are all going through changes and an awkward phase that needs much direction. Whatever they are going through I will be there to support them. Another way that I am helping my community is by helping a local teacher with her classroom. I have started volunteering in helping her clean and set up the classroom. I have helped her with preparing materials for her activities. It feels great to support my local elementary school and a future fellow teacher. It is important to support each other in the pursuit of helping out for the benefit of the students. As for the distant future, I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. Some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned in that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential.

Not giving up no matter the obstacle that what perseverance means to me. I am a first-generation student which means I did not have much help with the college applications and just overall help. There was not enough emphasis on the importance of education. My mother and father went to school up to the 6th grade and were pulled out to work for their family. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally, all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. Fast forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. Nothing is going to stop me from becoming my best self. Facing such hardships has helped me to appreciate every moment with my loved ones. The individuals that I have around me will always have my support. I remember those dark times when I felt so alone and wished someone would ask me if I was fine. I want to be the person that I never had around me. The only person that pulled me out of that depression was myself. No, it does not make me weak, all my struggles make me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so for anything that I do achieve I work ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile every day even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future. The person I was during those dark depressive times is nowhere near where I am today. I take my studies very seriously. When I am struggling with my classes I seek help right away. I try to develop relationships with my professors to show them that I am trying and in the end, they are more willing to help me. I have been on the President’s List for three semesters and the Dean’s list for five semesters at Citrus Community College. All my hard work reflects on these recognitions. I was also selected to be part of a research summer experience with Fullerton where I was able to work with Dr. Soto to develop culturally relevant pedagogy. With everything that I have gone through I would not change a thing. I would not have it any other way because as the author Octavia Butler says “In order to rise from its own ashes, a Phoenix first must burn ''.

I am a first-generation student which means I did not have much help with the college applications and just overall help. In terms of the application, There was not enough emphasis on the importance of education. My inspiration to seek higher education had to come from other people in my life. Teachers around me and community members always encouraged me by informing me I was ahead of my class. My mother and father went to school up to the 6th grade and were pulled out to work for their family. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally, all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. Fast forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. Nothing is going to stop me from becoming my best self. Facing such hardships has helped me to appreciate every moment with my loved ones. The individuals that I have around me will always have my support. I remember those dark times when I felt so alone and wished someone would ask me if I was fine. I want to be the person that I never had around me. The only person that pulled me out of that depression was myself. No, it does not make me weak, all my struggles make me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so for anything that I do achieve I work ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile every day even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future. The person I was during those dark depressive times is nowhere near where I am today. I take my studies very seriously. I have been on the President’s List for three semesters and the Dean’s list for five semesters at Citrus Community College. All my hard work reflects on these recognitions. I was also selected to be part of a research summer experience with Fullerton where I was able to work with Dr. Soto to develop culturally relevant pedagogy. With everything that I have gone through I would not change a thing. I would not have it any other way because as the author Octavia Butler says “In order to rise from its own ashes, a Phoenix first must burn ''.

I want to influence the future, teaching students the best way. As a math teacher, I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their life it will all be worth it. In a way, all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned in my junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. I can make them successful. I am now a Junior at Cal State Fullerton, and I am extremely proud of all the hard work I have put in to accomplish my goals. I am transferring with an Associate in Mathematics and with a 3.66 GPA that I worked countless hours to achieve. This success did not come easy. There have been many cracks along my path to this very moment. Over the past year, I feel like I have grown and become the woman that I desired to be since I was a child. I hope to be an inspiration for someone else. I want to show them that just as I have been successful as a female minority they can do it as well. I did not have a role model growing up and I wish I can be that role model for someone else.

Going to school has made me stumble on more than my fair share of the debt. From not making enough money and using my credit card to fill the gaps it all started to slowly add up. I started school with zero debt and ended up with 20,000 in debt currently. I wish I knew not to overuse my credit card for anything that wasn't necessary. You are not supposed to spend more than what you make. If you can not afford to pay off the whole amount at the end of the month then perhaps you should not be making huge purchases. Buy things within your means not purchases you would not have been able to do without the help of a credit card. That was one of the pieces of advice that I received a little too late. At Citrus Community College they had a class for us on financial literacy. There I was given advice that would have been helpful ten years ago, but they also gave me new information that was helpful for my future. They went over the difference in student loans. There isn't much financial aid available for me from the government due to circumstances beyond my control. I knew that at some point I would have to take out a loan. Before the seminar at Citrus Community College I didn't know the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans. I thought that they were the same thing. I soon realized I was very mistaken. There are major differences between them in terms of their interests. Subsidized loans are the best to get because they don't charge you interest. The government pays the interest fees until you are done with schooling. As long as you're in school they will defer the payments. The other option which is unsubsidized loans are not the best option. These loans will accrue interest from the moment the money is disbursed. That means whatever time you are in school that money is accruing interest for that duration of time. Now that I am in the Cal state system this information did not go unnoticed. I accepted the offer for the subsidized loans and rejected the offers for unsubsidized loans. I have made better decisions in my loans due to that one financial literacy class. I feel like everyone should be required to take a workshop to this degree. College students don't know the first thing about being financially responsible. I think I am a good example of this. When I teach in the public school system I will teach my students these valuable lessons so that they can learn from my mistakes.

I am a first-generation student which means I did not have much help with the college applications and just overall help. There was not enough emphasis on the importance of education. My mother and father went to school up to the 6th grade and were pulled out to work for their family. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally, all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. Fast forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. Nothing is going to stop me from becoming my best self. Facing such hardships has helped me to appreciate every moment with my loved ones. The individuals that I have around me will always have my support. I remember those dark times when I felt so alone and wished someone would ask me if I was fine. I want to be the person that I never had around me. The only person that pulled me out of that depression was myself. That is also why I am so independent in my relationships as well. Although I am there for them I don't need them. I choose to be with them. Even if I was alone I know I would be fine because I am strong. It has taught me that I will always be able to achieve my goals with or without the support of other people. No, it does not make me weak, all my struggles make me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so for anything that I do achieve I work ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile every day even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future. The person I was during those dark depressive times is nowhere near where I am today. I take my studies very seriously. have been on the President’s List for three semesters and the Dean’s list for five semesters at Citrus Community College. All my hard work reflects on these recognitions. I was also selected to be part of a research summer experience with Fullerton where I was able to work with Dr. Soto to develop culturally relevant pedagogy. With everything that I have gone through I would not change a thing. I would not have it any other way because as the author Octavia Butler says “In order to rise from its own ashes, a Phoenix first must burn ''.

One of the hardest struggles I have had is suffering from depression and anxiety. In the past it made me leave school because all I could do was exist. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally, all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. Fast Forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so for everything that I do achieve I work ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile every day even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future. In terms of my career aspirations, I want to influence the future, and teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher, I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their life it will all be worth it. Some of the hobbies that I enjoy are expressing myself artistically through drawing or painting. It is very important to me to express my feelings through art. It helps me destress and come back with a more positive attitude toward my schoolwork. There will be student debt without any doubt in my career. During the Fall I am working as many hours as I can. I am picking up extra shifts on the weekends at my current jobs. All these extra hours I am working are taking a toll on me. I am tired all the time and have little time for myself. The only thing that keeps me going is to tell myself that all of this hard work is going to pay off for me in my paycheck. Every dollar I receive I am putting it away for my savings. I am trying to spend as little as possible so I can have enough money for my tuition. To reduce my future student debt I am going to look for a helping hand anywhere I can. I am also applying everywhere for scholarships. I am seeking financial help and this scholarship will help with this goal.

One of the hardest struggles I have had is suffering from depression and anxiety. In the past it made me leave school because all I could do was exist. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally, all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. Fast Forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder, everything that I do achieve I work ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile every day even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future. In terms of my career goals I want to influence the future, and teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher, I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their life it will all be worth it. Math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential.

Many obstacles have plagued my way toward my career but it has made me a resilient strong individual. I am a first-generation student which means I did not have much help with the college applications and just overall help. My mother and father went to school up to the 6th grade and were pulled out to work for their family. My inspiration to seek higher education had to come from other people in my life. Teachers around me and community members always encouraged me by informing me I was ahead of my class. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally, all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. I won't lie it was a dark time when all I could do was eat, sleep and collect some energy to do basic family functions. I wasn't living, I was existing. I shut out my family and friends resorting to sleeping so I could not feel the sadness. Even going to the store was hard I would have panic attacks. Fast forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. Nothing is going to stop me from becoming my best self. No, it does not make me weak, all my struggles make me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so for anything that I do achieve I work ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile every day even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future. The person I was during those dark depressive times is nowhere near where I am today. I take my studies very seriously. When I am struggling with my classes I seek help right away. I try to develop relationships with my professors to show them that I am trying and in the end, they are more willing to help me. I have been on the President’s List for three semesters and the Dean’s list for five semesters at Citrus Community College. All my hard work reflects on these recognitions. I was also selected to be part of a research summer experience with Fullerton where I was able to work with Dr. Soto to develop culturally relevant pedagogy. With everything that I have gone through I would not change a thing. I would not have it any other way because as the author Octavia Butler says “ In order to rise from its own ashes, a Phoenix first must burn ''.

One technology that was revolutionary in the world was the internet. There was a time when the internet did not exist. All the information everyone received was from television, word of mouth and books. It gave us the gateway into information and connecting with people. We have information at our fingertips from our laptops to our phones. I grew up in a time where information wasn't as attainable as what we have today. You had to seek information from another source. I remember going to the library to research for my history project. Whenever I am wondering about something I can just look it up now.No need to speculate or go to the library to look it up. It is essential in the world of education. Another great thing about the internet is the connection between people. I can find people with the same interest and taste in music. When before it would be difficult to find someone with similar beliefs. Now there are groups for everything from politics, and musical groups to anime fandoms/I can connect with someone across the world to exchange ideas. This level of communication is helpful in all aspects. For example, scientists can share their research with other scientists. That way they can collaborate and add to existing ideas. This way of exchanging can speed up the process for possible cures in the future. When COViD-19 hit our country the vaccine was developed in record time and this must have been contributed by the collaboration of information.

My mom has been my biggest supporter in helping me with everything I need. When financial aid did not cover my classes she paid for them even though she didn't make much. She gave up her whole paycheck to make sure that I could pay for my classes. That is something that I will never forget that she did for me. All of these sacrifices aren't ignored.It will be because of her that I will receive my degree. When I have enough money to support myself I will help her reach her goal of owning a home in a better neighborhood than we are now. Her motivational lessons help me have a great work ethic and never give up. Without her, I wouldn't have as much hunger to receive a degree and to become something greater. My mom always taught me that any job, no matter what it is, is proud of your work ethic. It shows a positive character. I am a child of a single mother and seeing her struggles inspires me to be better. My mom didn't have a husband for many years so all the responsibilities went to her. She always manages to have enough money for the rent even though her job is as a dishwasher. I am pursuing my education for her to show her that her hard work did not go to waste. Her hands are always cracked and rough from washing so many dishes. I can tell she is such a hard-working woman that inspires me to be a hard worker. That's where my work ethic comes from. I have learned from my mom to be an independent woman and to know that I can do anything that I set my mind to. She always has always said to not rely on anyone else but yourself. Her reasoning is that everyone else will let you down but you must rely on the most reliable person, yourself. You need to take charge of your destiny. You can not blame your circumstances, financial situation or any other excuse. At the end of the day they are exactly what they are called, excuses. Your landlord doesn't want to hear the excuses why the rent isn't paid or the patients at a hospital don't care why staff called off. Make it happen and get it done with whatever resources you have. Always take charge of your own life.

Being financially literate is perhaps the most important lesson that they don't teach in school. I am the prime example that students do not think about these things. Going to school has made me stumble on more than my fair share of debt. From not making enough money and using my credit card to fill the gaps it all started to slowly add up. I started school with zero debt and ended up with 20,000 in debt currently. I wish I knew not to overuse my credit card for anything that wasn't absolutely necessary. You are not supposed to spend more than what you make. If you can not afford to pay off the whole amount at the end of the month then perhaps you should not be making huge purchases. Buy things within your means not purchases you would not have been able to do without the help of a credit card. That was one of the pieces of advice that I received a little too late. At Citrus Community College they had a class for us on financial literacy. There I was given advice that would have been helpful ten years ago, but they also gave me new information that was helpful for my future. They went over the difference in student loans. There isn't much financial aid available for me from the government due to circumstances beyond my control. I knew that at some point I would have to take out a loan. Before the seminar at Citrus Community College I didn't know the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans. I thought that they were the same thing. I soon realized I was very mistaken. There are major differences between them in terms of their interests. Subsidized loans are the best to get because they don't charge you interest. The government pays the interest fees until you are done with schooling. As long as you're in school they will defer the payments. The other option which is unsubsidized loans are not the best option. These loans will accrue interest from the moment the money is disbursed. That means whatever time you are in school that money is accruing interest for that duration of time. Now that I am in the Cal state system this information did not go unnoticed. I accepted the offer for the subsidized loans and rejected the offers for unsubsidized loans. I have made better decisions in my loans due to that one financial literacy class. I feel like everyone should be required to take a workshop to this degree. College students don't know the first thing about being financially responsible. I think I am a good example of this. When I teach in public school I will teach my students these valuable lessons so that they can learn from my mistakes.

My name is Elizabeth Munoz I am 28 and I have associates in mathematics I am planning on transferring to a cal state in the coming year. I want to obtain my bachelor's degree and then go on to obtain my credentials. I am a full-time student and also hold down two part-time jobs. One of the small ways that I help my community is by taking jobs despite their low pay but they expose me to students. I could find a job that paid a livable wage but I want to help students. I want to make a positive impact in their lives. When I was growing up I felt like I needed a positive impact in my life I never received. It warms my heart to know that I am making a difference in their lives. The students that I work with are Middle school children. They are all going through changes and an awkward phase that needs much direction. Whatever they are going through I will be there to support them. Another way that I am helping my community is by helping a local teacher with her classroom. I have started volunteering in helping her clean and set up the classroom. I have helped her with preparing materials for her activities. It feels great to support my local elementary school and a future fellow teacher. It is important to support each other in the pursuit of helping out for the benefit of the students. As for the distant future, I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. Some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was understanding all of the concepts and did well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned in my junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential.

I am a first-generation student which means I did not have much help with the college applications and just overall help. There was not enough emphasis on the importance of education. My inspiration to seek higher education had to come from other people in my life. Teachers around me and community members always encouraged me by informing me I was ahead of my class. My mother and father went to school up to the 6th grade and were pulled out to work for their family. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. Fast Forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. Nothing is going to stop me from becoming my best self. Facing such hardships has helped me to appreciate every moment with my loved ones. The individuals that I have around me will always have my support. I remember those dark times when I felt so alone and wished someone would ask me if I was fine. I want to be the person that I never had around me. The only person that pulled me out of that depression was myself. That is also why I am so independent in my relationships as well. Although I am there for them I don't need them. I choose to be with them. Even if I was alone I know I would be fine because I am strong. It has taught me that I will always be able to achieve my goals with or without the support of other people.

I am a first-generation student which means I did not have much help with the college applications and just overall help. There was not enough emphasis on the importance of education. My inspiration to seek higher education had to come from other people in my life. Teachers around me and community members always encouraged me by informing me I was ahead of my class. My mother and father went to school up to the 6th grade and were pulled out to work for their family. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. Fast Forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. Nothing is going to stop me from becoming my best self. Facing such hardships has helped me to appreciate every moment with my loved ones. The individuals that I have around me will always have my support. I remember those dark times when I felt so alone and wished someone would ask me if I was fine. I want to be the person that I never had around me. The only person that pulled me out of that depression was myself. That is also why I am so independent in my relationships as well. Although I am there for them I don't need them. I choose to be with them. Even if I was alone I know I would be fine because I am strong. It has taught me that I will always be able to achieve my goals with or without the support of other people.

In the long term I want to influence the future, teaching students the best way. As a math teacher I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their lives it will all be worth it. In a way all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. All of my middle school math classes I failed. Math was the subject that I hated the most. It was not until I started math in high school that I really started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was actually understanding all of the concepts and doing well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class, but I was capable of doing well I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn the concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. I want them to realize that is does not matter if your smart or not as intellectual. It is about how hard you work. The top grade will be given to those who complete homework and study extra hard. No matter what life throws at me I will always come out triumphant on the other side. I will never let anything take my perseverance away from me. I will achieve all of my goals both personally and in the educational field. I know once I do graduate and obtain a teaching credential the difficulties will not stop. There will be challenges in reaching students to learn mathematics. I'm not afraid I know that my character traits will serve me well on my journey as a math teacher.

One of the hardest struggles I have had is suffering from depression and anxiety. In the past it made me leave school because all I could do was exist. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. Fast Forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so anything that I do achieve I work ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile everyday even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future. In terms of my career inspirations, I want to influence the future, teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their lives it will all be worth it either in education or in terms of their mental health. Math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I really started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was actually understanding all of the concepts and doing well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn the concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential.

Influence our knowledge that is one way writing can impact us. It can express feelings within that we are yearning to share. One piece of writing that influenced my thought was the book 1984 by Geroge Orwell. Thought Police was the first words that jumped out of the page for me on that high school day. One book that made an impact in my life was 1984 by George Orwell, it gave me a first look into appreciating my own freedom. I had heard other students reading the book and it sounded like a foreign idea that seemed interesting to me. Picking up the book I saw a bright blue eye staring back at me. I think this foreshadowed how Winston would open his eyes to the truth. It made me think of how much the government influences everyone's life. Although I am an individual to a degree I am still being controlled by the government. In the book he was given rations and was even monitored what thoughts he had by the thought police. At first, I thought this was foolish. How can the government control your thoughts? Everyone should have the freedom to think or do what they want with their lives. Our main character however had no choice in this. He was born into this, and it has always been like this. The system was structured, and he was just placed in this situation. Then it hit me, this book was social commentary on our world not just in the fictitious world of Oceania. There have already been situations not to this degree but similar situations to this. For example, the most extreme is the current situation in North Korea. Their government controls their haircuts, makeup and what movies are imported into their country. They are controlled by their government and have no say in this. The same can be said about the United States with some degree of control. There are laws in place that tell us what to do and how to act. There are laws in place that tell us not to steal but also limit our freedom. In the current day in age there is censorship even in the platform Facebook where nothing too violent can be posted. I've had more posts flagged within the year than ever before. Even the internet is slowly censoring us. Just as Winston Smith was born into it, I too was born into the system. Without this type of writing there would not be a way to make people think. It is a piece of writing that is provocative and give us this type of social commentary.

I want to influence the future, teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their lives it will all be worth it. In a way all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I really started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was actually understanding all of the concepts and doing well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class, but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn the concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. Another motivation to enter the STEM world is for the fact that I came from a low-income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well, I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point, but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. I hope to change the way the world sees Mexican women. I want to heighten our expectations and not settle for what the world wants us to do.

One of the songs that holds a dear space in my heart is "Hurt" covered by Johnny Cash. I have struggled with depression and have been in a place where this song described my feelings exactly. He starts of the song saying, " I hurt my self today". When I was in that dark place, I too hurt myself by isolating myself from others and just existing. It was such a dark time where I didn't care about myself. The only reason I did not kill myself was for my family. He then says that "I focus on the pain. The only thing that's real". These words when he says them, I feel them in my soul. When I was depressed, I didn't feel anything. I could not feel happiness nor sadness. I was just numb existing just because I didn't want to cause pain to others. All this was pain but then then towards the end the music starts with a more hopeful tone. This remind me of my own experience after everything happened I am now in a netter place. The words give it special meaning, but the music video gives it another level of depth. It features Johnny Cash singing on the piano with his old, wrinkled skin. The music video is portrayed in a muted yellowish hue giving it an ancient vibe to it. Once we are introduced to the current old Johnny Cash it starts to show him in his younger days. There are numerous numbers of reels as he is reflecting on the span of his life. It goes from him by himself and then with his wife. From there their child makes an appearance. It makes me reflect on my life and how my reel of my life will look like.

As a first generation student I have seen the hardships that my mom has faced. Everything I do at my jobs is 110% I want to be proud of the work I'm doing. I want someone when speaking about me to say I am the most hard working and reliable worker they have met. From being a worker at McDonalds, to a tutor at a local high school to working with the city of Claremont I have done it all. No job is too low for me to work. I am proud of all the jobs I have had over the years because they have taught me valuable lessons in my life. My mom always taught me that any job no matter what it is be proud of your work ethic it shows a positive character trait. I am a child of a single mother and seeing her struggles inspires me to be better. My mom didn't have a husband for many years, so all the responsibilities went to her. She always manages to have enough money for the rent even though her job is a dishwasher. I am pursuing my education for her to show her that her hard work did not go to waste. Her hands are always cracked and rough from washing so many dishes. I can tell she is such a hard-working woman that inspires me to be a hard worker. That's where I get my character traits from. I have learned to be an independent woman and to know that I can do anything I can do anything that I set my mind to from my mom. You cannot blame your circumstances, financial situation or any other excuse. At the end of the day, they are exactly what they are called, excuses. Your landlord doesn't want to hear the excuses why the rent isn't paid or the patients at a hospital don't care why staff called off. Make it happen and get it done with whatever resources you have. Always take charge of your own life. I would say the hardest thing about being a first-generation student is not being understood. My mom doesn't know the magnitude of what I am achieving. She doesn't understand that one piece of paper as a diploma took so much hard work to receive. Also, there is no understanding of how hard my classes are. She expects so much out of me in helping my family but doesn't realize I have a billion things to do in my classes. Although she doesn't understand my struggles, it is for her to give her a better life than she has now. I was motivated to enter the STEM world is for the fact that I came from a low-income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well, I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point, but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. I hope to change the way the world sees Mexican women. I want to heighten our expectations and not settle for what the world wants us to do.

This is part of a gift that I gave my boyfriend for valentine's day. I have been obsessed with animal crossing game. For those who do not know it is a game in which you go have another life to live in the island. They have DIY recipes for everything from food to items. I thought it would be hilarious to make recipes on how to make the perfect boyfriend, perfect life and perfect love. I printed them and gifted them in cards he could keep.

I want to influence the future; teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their lives it will all be worth it. In a way all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I really started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was actually understanding all of the concepts and doing well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class, but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn the concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. Another motivation to enter the STEM world is for the fact that I came from a low-income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well, I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point, but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. I hope to change the way the world sees Mexican women. I want to heighten our expectations and not settle for what the world wants us to do.

When you are gone from this earth how will people remember me, that is what a legacy is for me. I want to influence the future, teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their lives it will all be worth it. In a way all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I really started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was actually understanding all of the concepts and doing well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class, but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn the concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. Another motivation to enter the STEM world is for the fact that I came from a low-income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well, I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point, but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. The way that I will break my cycle is to obtain a great paying job. My children will not suffer the same struggles I had with a struggling financial situation. They will grow up to also attend school and become something I will be proud of.

Sadness, loneliness and hopelessness were the feelings I had cluttering my brain. The things that I went through in my childhood led me to this unfortunate place. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. Fast Forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. Nothing is going to stop me from becoming my best self. Facing such hardships has helped me to appreciate every moment with my loved ones. The individuals that I have around me will always have my support. I remember those dark times when I felt so alone and wished someone would ask me if I was fine. I want to be the person that I never had around me. The only person that pulled me out of that depression was myself. That is also why I am so independent in my relationships as well. Although I am there for them, I don't need them. I choose to be with them. Even if I was alone, I know I would be fine because I am strong. It has taught me that I will always be able to achieve my goals with or without the support of other people.

All social rules go out the door in online gaming forums. It is a strange foreign land where everything you knew about interacting with others no longer applies. Usually, social rules in life are strict with friendly interactions and censoring the inner thoughts in your head. Everywhere we go there must be mutual respect. When we go to school, we give respect to the professors and try to get along with our fellow classmates. There is a certain way that we are expected to act. At work we must get along with our co-workers and be polite. Even if you don't particularly like an individual, you must find a way to get along. Supervisors are put in a position of power and individuals are expected to follow the directives. They convey commands in a friendly manner in which it can be received in an amicable manner. When we encounter other people on the street, we don't tell them exactly what we are thinking. We don't comment on the type of clothing they wear or how ridiculous their conversation are. All of these rules do not apply to gaming online forums and all forums in that manner. No one censors what they are thinking. If they think your comment or strategy is abysmal, they will let you know. Now only they will do that, but they will say it in the cruelest way. Everyone can gang up on one person leading to bullying. This is one of the worst forms of communication where people start to degrade who you are as a person to the core. Bullying can be found in other forms like YouTube comments. I think it is the allure of the level of anonymity of the internet. You can say something cruel with no consequences to your actions. It seems less hurtful when it is only words, but it is just as effective as yelling at someone in person. Along with this there is no mutual respect within the forums. There is a culture of “trash talking” where it has become the norm and acceptable. There are real life consequences to online bullying. By this point I think everyone has seen the unfortunate consequences with teen suicides. If they are already in a dark place this type of talk will not help the situation. This culture of bullying is not helping teens in their development. There should be a change to how we interact on the internet.

Is curiosity a career? Yes! A scientist essentially is an individual who seeks answers to their curious questions. I believe science is important because it has already brought us great innovation in our lives. From electricity, vaccines and answers to questions in nature. It is always important to seek new ideas in our world. It is in our nature to be curious. It is because of this curiosity that innovations are invented. Scientists have impacted the way individuals live their current lives. When you wake up in the morning and turn on the light someone invented that. If that particular scientist did not have the motivation and drive, we wouldn't have electricity in the present day. It is always important to motivate the next generation of scientists. They might make the next great impact on humanity. We need motivated scientists to better our world. Not only have current conveniences been invented but even in the world of health. Vaccination isn't just produced, someone has to do the research to find a vaccine that works. There are so many diseases that have been almost eradicated from the United States thanks to a scientist. Most recently the COVID pandemic gave rise to a development of a vaccine. It was accelerated and scientists worked on it. A little over a year and we had a vaccine to give to the masses. It was worked on by scientists who without them we would not have a vaccine. Science has the very special aspect of sparking curiosity. It is probably what inspired most scientists to pursue an invention. We as humans need to remain curious about the world around us. If we stop questioning why something is happening around the world around us, are we really human? We need to inquire and invent to make our lives easier. Early civilizations were always curious and invented tales to explain why volcanoes erupted. Humans are always finding a way of explaining a phenomenon. Now that we have science, we have a scientific way of finding answers to our questions. Science will always be an integral part of our lives. There will never be an end to inventing. With my mathematics degree I hope to obtain my masters. Hopefully one day I will have the opportunity to do research in math and mix it with science to help humanity. I hope to make at least a small impact and better the lives of everyone.

Arriving at 5am with the most tired look on her face was the scene I saw every night. I have seen the hardships that my mom has faced. Everything I do at my jobs is 110% I want to be proud of the work I'm doing. I want someone when speaking about me to say I am the most hard working and reliable worker they have met. From being a worker at McDonalds, to a tutor at a local high school to working with the city of Claremont I have done it all. No job is too low for me to work. I am proud of all the jobs I have had over the years because they have taught me valuable lessons in my life. My mom always taught me that any job no matter what it is be proud of your work ethic it shows a positive character trait. I am a child of a single mother and seeing her struggles inspires me to be better. My mom didn't have a husband for many years, so all the responsibilities went to her. She always manages to have enough money for the rent even though her job is a dishwasher. I am pursuing my education for her to show her that her hard work did not go to waste. Her hands are always cracked and rough from washing so many dishes. I can tell she is such a hard-working woman that inspires me to be a hard worker. That's where I get my character traits from. I have learned to be an independent woman and to know that I can do anything I can do anything that I set my mind to from my mom. She always said do not rely on anyone else but yourself. Her reasoning is that everyone else will let you down, but you must rely on the most reliable person, yourself. You need to take charge of your own destiny. You cannot blame your circumstances, financial situation or any other excuse. At the end of the day, they are exactly what they are called, excuses. Your landlord doesn't want to hear the excuses why the rent isn't paid or the patients at a hospital don't care why staff called off. Make it happen and get it done with whatever resources you have. Always take charge of your own life. I would say the hardest thing about being a first-generation student is not being understood. My mom doesn't know the magnitude of what I am achieving. She doesn't understand that one piece of paper as a diploma took so much hard work to receive. Also, there is no understanding of how hard my classes are. She expects so much out of me in helping my family but doesn't realize I have a billion things to do in my classes. Although she doesn't understand my struggles, it is for her to give her a better life than she has now.

Even though I am constantly busy in school I still make an effort to maintain my health. It will benefit me in the long run if I make a small sacrifice in my day to think about my choices for lunch a little harder. Being healthy is an everyday goal. It is not something that you decide to do for one day. In order to feel the difference or results there must be an obvious effort from the person every day. Some of the challenges that I face in CSU Fullerton is the stress of classes and homework. There is always something to do relating to school. If I don't have homework I have a major test that I have to study for. Being stressed out the only thing that helps it is exercising it out and eating balanced meals that help me overall. There are many benefits to eating healthy, one of the most obvious ones is that you receive all of your nutrition from your food. You don't have to rely on a multivitamin or various vitamins to receive your nutrients. Food needs to be consumed in a way that benefits you. I found out that you are supposed to receive all of your nutrients from food and not from vitamins. My trainer once told me that you are what you eat. If you eat food that isn't beneficial then expect to get the same results in your body. If you consume foods with high protein and nutrition, you will feel the difference in your body. One of the best benefits from eating healthy is I have a whole new better headspace. I suffer from anxiety and depression. When I am not taking care of my body my mind suffers. Going to the gym and making smart choices in what I eat helps my depression go away. The act of having my body move and get good exercise always helps me be in a better mood. I do notice when I go to three to four times a week, I am much happier and surprisingly I have more energy. It is strange how you have to give energy to receive energy. Lying around in the house eating burgers and fries is a disaster waiting to happen with my mental health. I don't feel productive and don't have motivation to do much. Being healthy is something that gives me benefit and joy in my life.

Learning is something essential in the experience of being a human. We are one of the most developed species, and we should use our abilities to the max. I will definitely never stop learning in my life. Learning helps us develop our talents and skills. For example, if an individual is a great artist growing up, going to school and receiving professional training will help them develop their talent. They will have new techniques to make their drawings or paintings better. Learning I feel is the process of taking an interest and creating something greater. It is always a great adventure to discover something you never knew before. It makes you see the world in a different light than what you had before. In my political science class, I learned more on how the voting process works. It made me think about elections in a different way. I will continue learning by being open to other individuals' knowledge and never stop going to school. The people around you are a great source of information and opportunities to learn. Whenever someone who I consider wise offers me advice I listen. They have walked through life already and have some advice on how to navigate the world. It is wise to learn from their mistakes so we don't make the same ones in our life. Once I receive my bachelor's degree, I will be planning on receiving my master's and then my Doctorate. My bachelors will be enough to become a math teacher, but it would be beneficial to become an expert in the math field. There would be the obvious financial compensation from my teaching job but I will keep up to date with the new curriculum. it doesn't seem like a great idea to become a teacher and never step foot in a classroom again for your own learning. The world is constantly changing and the education I may have received in the past may not be relevant in the present time. One example of updating your knowledge is the recent curriculum change in the math world. Gone are the ways that children were being taught math. There has been a total overhaul of the way that students are learning math. The new curriculum that teachers must follow is math core. I'm sure later on in my life there will be another curriculum change that I will have to learn about. For this reason, I will never finish learning.

Constantly learning something new is what excites me about college the most. Every class that I take I give it my all and utmost interest. There is always something new or exciting to learn about. For example, in my communications class I learned how the media writes stories. There is a specific format that most Newpapers follow. If I had not taken this class, I would not have known about this. Even though I am constantly busy in school I still make an effort to maintain my health. It will benefit me in the long run if I make a small sacrifice in my day or think about my choices for lunch a little harder. Being healthy is an everyday goal. Some of the challenges that I face in CSU Fullerton is the stress of classes and homework. There is always something to do relating to school. If I don't have homework, I have a major test that I have to study for. Being stressed out the only thing that helps it is exercising it out and eating balanced meals that help me overall. There are many benefits to eating healthy, one of the most obvious ones is that you receive all of your nutrition from your food. You don't have to rely on a multivitamin or various vitamins to receive your nutrients. Food needs to be consumed in a way that benefits you. I found out that you are supposed to receive all of your nutrients from food and not from vitamins. My trainer once told me that you are what you eat. If you eat food that isn't beneficial then expect to get the same results in your body. If you consume foods with high protein and nutrition, you will feel the difference in your body. One of the best benefits from eating healthy is I have a whole new better headspace. I suffer from anxiety and depression. When I am not taking care of my body my mind suffers. Going to the gym and making smart choices in what I eat helps my depression go away. The act of having my body move and get good exercise always helps me be in a better mood. I do notice when I go to three to four times a week, I am much happier and surprisingly I have more energy. It is strange how you have to give energy to receive energy. Lying around in the house eating burgers and fries is a disaster waiting to happen with my mental health. Being healthy is something that gives me benefit and joy in my life.

Mind and body are connected within us with an eternal link that can't be broken. Everything inside us is connected to each other. If your mind isn't healthy then your body suffers and vice versa. I have had the second option of not having a healthy body which in turn affected my mind. I was in a place where I wasn't looking at what I was putting in my body, only consuming what sounded good. Now I know that was the wrong way to feed my body. The body craves sugars and carbs naturally because that is what will give it instant energy and satisfaction. We by default go to these instincts because we crave these foods. It is no wonder there is an overweight epidemic in the United States. Individuals are consuming what they want, not what they need. Restaurants know our wants and cater to that. I was once one of those consumers who didn't think about what I ate. Now I try to eat foods that I still enjoy but are better for me. I don't drink any beverages with sugars now I only have water or diet coke. For the carbs I try to consume as little as I can. My favorite food was burgers which I still eat but now protein style with extra meat. I have always loved meat so I pack my meals now with plenty of protein. There are protein cookies,shakes and even gatorades. Protein helps you stay full longer so that you don't over consume or have hunger. There are many benefits to eating healthy, one of the most obvious ones is that you receive all of your nutrition from your food. You don't have to rely on a multivitamin or various vitamins to receive your nutrients. Food needs to be consumed in a way that benefits you.I found out that you are supposed to receive all of your nutrients from food and not from vitamins. My trainer once told me that you are what you eat. If you eat food that isn't beneficial then expect to get the same results in your body. If you consume foods with high protein and nutrition you will feel the difference in your body. One of the best benefits from eating healthy is I have a whole new better headspace. I suffer from anxiety and depression. When I am not taking care of my body my mind suffers. Going to the gym and making smart choices in what I eat helps my depression go away. The act of having my body move and get good exercise always helps me be in a better mood. I do notice when I go to three to four times a week I am much happier and surprisingly I have more energy. It is strange how you have to give energy to receive energy. Lying around in the house eating burgers and fries is a disaster waiting to happen with my mental health. Being healthy is something that gives me benefit and joy in my life.

Mind and body are connected within us with an eternal link that can't be broken. Everything inside us is connected to each other. If your mind isn't healthy then your body suffers and vice versa. I have had the second option of not having a healthy body which in turn affected my mind. I was in a place where I wasn't looking at what I was putting in my body, only consuming what sounded good. Now I know that was the wrong way to feed my body. The body craves sugars and carbs naturally because that is what will give it instant energy and satisfaction. We by default go to these instincts because we crave these foods. It is no wonder there is an overweight epidemic in the United States. Individuals are consuming what they want, not what they need. Restaurants know our wants and cater to that. I was once one of those consumers who didn't think about what I ate. Now I try to eat foods that I still enjoy but are better for me. I don't drink any beverages with sugars now I only have water or diet coke. For the carbs I try to consume as little as I can. My favorite food was burgers which I still eat but now protein style with extra meat. I have always loved meat, so I pack my meals now with plenty of protein. There are protein cookies, shakes and even Gatorades. Protein helps you stay full longer so that you don't over consume or have hunger. There are many benefits to eating healthy, one of the most obvious ones is that you receive all of your nutrition from your food. You don't have to rely on a multivitamin or various vitamins to receive your nutrients. Food needs to be consumed in a way that benefits you. I found out that you are supposed to receive all of your nutrients from food and not from vitamins. My trainer once told me that you are what you eat. If you eat food that isn't beneficial then expect to get the same results in your body. If you consume foods with high protein and nutrition, you will feel the difference in your body. One of the best benefits from eating healthy is I have a whole new better headspace. I suffer from anxiety and depression. When I am not taking care of my body my mind suffers. Going to the gym and making smart choices in what I eat helps my depression go away. The act of having my body move and get good exercise always helps me be in a better mood. I do notice when I go to three to four times a week, I am much happier and surprisingly I have more energy. It is strange how you have to give energy to receive energy. Lying around in the house eating burgers and fries is a disaster waiting to happen with my mental health. Being healthy is something that gives me benefit and joy in my life.

I want to influence the future, teaching students the best way. As a math teacher I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their lives it will all be worth it. In a way all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I really started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was actually understanding all of the concepts and doing well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn the concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. I am now a Junior at Cal State Fullerton, and I am extremely proud of all the hard work I have put in to accomplish my goals. I am transferring with an Associates in Mathematics and with a 3.66 GPA that I worked countless hours to achieve. This success did not come easy. There have been many cracks along my path to this very moment. Over the past year I feel like I have grown and become the woman that I desired to be since I was a child. One year ago, I was working a job at AutoZone where I wasn't happy and made my anxiety levels extremely high every day. Everything was going nowhere with my career. I decided to apply to a paid internship at Cal State Fullerton. Soon after I left my job at AutoZone and embarked on a journey to work towards what I love, math. That summer experience showed me that I am capable of doing great things in the education field. I was worthy of having this money spent on me. As for my education a year ago, I was still at community college going nowhere. I decided I was procrastinating long enough and decided to transfer to Cal State as soon as possible. I applied to Cal State Fullerton and got in. It was the next big step in my career. I was going to be someone that I am proud of. I am now continuing my journey and will graduate in three years. With everything that has changed recently I am the happiest I have been. I would not have it any other way because as the author Octavia Butler says, “In order to rise from its own ashes, a Phoenix first must burn”.

I want to influence the future; teaching students is the best way. The only way that I will be able to achieve my dreams is to pursue higher education to receive my bachelors degree and credentials. As a math teacher I hope to inspire a new generation of hard-working productive citizens. I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their lives it will all be worth it. In a way all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school. It was not until I started math in high school that I really started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was actually understanding all of the concepts and doing well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class, but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn the concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. Another motivation to enter the STEM world and a degree is for the fact that I came from a low-income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well, I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point, but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer.

Going to school has made me stumble on more than my fair share of debt. From not making enough money and using my credit card to fill the gaps it all started to slowly add up. I started school with zero debt and ended up with 20,000 in debt currently. I wish I knew not to overuse my credit card for anything that wasn't absolutely necessary. You are not supposed to spend more than what you make. If you can not afford to pay off the whole amount at the end of the month then perhaps you should not be making huge purchases. Buy things within your means not purchases you would not have been able to do without the help of a credit card.That was one of the pieces of advice that I received a little too late. At Citrus Community College they had a class for us on financial literacy. There I was given advice that would have been helpful ten years ago, but they also gave me new information that was helpful for my future.They went over the difference in student loans. There isn't much financial aid available for me from the government due to circumstances beyond my control. I knew that at some point I would have to take out a loan. Before the seminar at Citrus Community College I didn't know the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans. I thought that they were the same thing. I soon realized i was very erroneous. There are major differences between them in terms of the interest. Subsidized loans are the best to get because they don't charge you interest. The government pays the interest fees until you are done with schooling. As long as your in school they will defer the payments. The other option which is unsubsidized loans are not the best option. These loans will accrue interest from the moment the money is disbursed. That means whatever time you are in school that money is accruing interest for that duration of time. Now that I am in the Cal state system this information did not go unnoticed. I accepted the offer for the subsidized loans and rejected the offers for unsubsidized loans. I have made better decisions in my loans due to that one financial literacy class. I feel like everyone should be required to take a workshop to this degree. College students don't know the first thing about being financially responsible. I think I am a good example of this.

"I need the newest iphone!" are words that will never be uttered by myself. I am a minimalistic person, I only use what I have to and buy only what I need. I benefit the planet and also benefit myself in reducing the impact my trash has on the environment. I always use everything I have to the max until it is broken, or it is not functional. I recently bought a new laptop after seven years of owning the same laptop. I never looked for a new one because I didn't want to just update because I wanted the latest model. It is irresponsible to update your technology just because a new model comes out. It is ingrained in this culture to have the latest model in all technology. I know my sister is the same way with her phones when another apple product comes on the market that is what she asks for that year. She has the latest iphone and is planning on purchasing the macbook air just because there was a new one out this year. Another way that I fight climate change in my life is to carpool wherever I go with friends, family or my boyfriend. Even if it's just dinner or a family outing it is never a bad time to carpool together. Even if it takes some extra planning it never bothers me to match schedules with the individuals that I hang out with. If we can take one car to an event, I most certainly will take the opportunity to save the planet from more emissions that are unnecessary. It benefits the planet and also benefits me by taking the carpool lane. With rising gas costs, it is essential to waste as little gas money and resources to entertain ourselves. I also plan to carpool with my sister once we start attending California State University-Fullerton. We signed up for a class together and plan to take one car for that class. We will trade off using each other's cars and contribute to gas in both of them. There isn't much I can do with little income to make a big impact. I cannot donate a million dollars to a charity that combats climate control, but I can do my part. I know that if everyone can do one small act to help save our world it is going to make a huge impact. I know that in the long run all of my efforts will add up and I will reduce my carbon footprint in the world.

There will be student debt without any doubt in my career. I have had assistance from the government but my time in school went over the limit of my financial aid. Now I have two more years to go for my degree and my teaching credential. Community College was easy to pay for since it is far cheaper than traditional school. Now that I am in the CSU system classes are considerably much more expensive. The price per semester is 2,500 at CSU Fullerton. I start classes in the spring so now for now during the Fall I am working as many hours as I can get my hands on. I am picking up extra shifts on the weekends at my current jobs. This past weekend I was able to work a 6 hour event that helped greatly in my paycheck. All these extra hours I am working are taking a toll on me. I am tired all the time and have little time for myself. The only thing that keeps me going to tell myself that all of this hard work is going to pay off for me in my paycheck. Every dollar I receive I am putting it away for my savings. I am trying to spend as little as possible so I can have enough money for my tuition. So far I have one thousand dollars saved up. From both of my part time jobs I am making as much money as I can before I start school .I know that once I start the semester I will have far less time to work. I am going to have to cut back on my work hours. It will be half of what I am currently working now. It will be tough but student loans will relieve some of the stress. They are however a temporary fix to the situation. Once I graduate I will have to pay these off. I will continue to be responsible with my money through college. My goal is to pay off as much as I can while I am in school. Once I graduate and find a job the first few years will be dedicated to paying off my debt. Once all of my affairs are in order I will look into getting a newer car, apartment hunting and just overall improving my life. I am hopefully going to be student debt free as soon as possible but a little help never hurt anyone.

One technology that was revolutionary in the world was the internet. There was a time when the internet did not exist. All the information everyone received was from television,word of mouth and books.It gave us the gateway into information and connecting with people. We have information at our fingertips from our laptops to our phones. I grew up in a time where information wasn't as attainable as what we have today. I remember going to the library to research for my history project. Whenever I am wondering about something I can just look it up now.No need to speculate or go to the library to look it up. It is essential in the world of education. Another great thing about the internet is the connection between people. I can find people with my same interest and taste in music. When before it would be difficult to find someone with similar beliefs. Now there are groups for everything from politics, musical groups to anime lovers. I can connect with someone across the world to exchange ideas. This level of communication is helpful in all aspects. For example scientists can share their research with other scientists. That way they can collaborate and add to existing ideas. This way of exchanging can speed up the process for possible cures in the future. When COVID-19 hit the vaccine was developed in record time and this must have been contributed by the collaboration of information. Not only was the vaccine produced at such a rapid pace but also the information pertaining to COVD-19 was dispersed quick as well. News outlets but especially the internet helped spread awareness. It only took a couple of days for people to know how to be safe around others. All this was possible thanks to the power of the internet.

The main thing I want to see changed is the attitude in which students have in low income schools.There is such a stigma of students who live in lower income areas don't have it takes to succeed. I want to influence the future, teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher I hope to inspire a new generation of hard working productive citizens.I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their lives it will all be worth it.In a way all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school.It was not until I started math in high school that I really started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was actually understanding all of the concepts and doing well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn the concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential.

I am a first-generation student which means I did not have much help with the college applications and just overall help. There was not enough emphasis on the importance of education. My inspiration to seek higher education had to come from other people in my life. Teachers around me and community members always encouraged me by informing me I was ahead of my class. My mother and father went to school up to the 6th grade and were pulled out to work for their family. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. Fast Forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. Nothing is going to stop me from becoming my best self. Facing such hardships has helped me to appreciate every moment with my loved ones. The individuals that I have around me will always have my support. I remember those dark times when I felt so alone and wished someone would ask me if I was fine. I want to be the person that I never had around me. The only person that pulled me out of that depression was myself. That is also why I am so independent in my relationships as well. Although I am there for them I don't need them. I choose to be with them. Even if I was alone I know I would be fine because I am strong. It has taught me that I will always be able to achieve my goals with or without the support of other people.

My mental health is the most important aspect in my life. Without a healthy mental space everything else does not work. I know this from my own personal experiences.One of the hardest struggles I have had is mental health issues. I suffer from depression and anxiety. I am a first-generation student which means I did not have much help with the college applications and just overall help. My mother and father went to school up to the 6th grade and were pulled out to work for their family. My parents worked long hours and I was expected to help raise my siblings. When I was in High school my mom became pregnant with her 4th child. She worked her whole pregnancy and once she had the baby and went back to work, I took care of him. I remember having to put him to sleep before I would start my homework and waking up at 3 in the morning to take care of the crying baby and still waking up at 7 am for school. My job wasn't done there when my sister attempted suicide and was cutting herself, I was expected to watch over her. I was in survival mode 24/7. Her negativity was so toxic that most of my happiness faded away. Naturally all this pressure from my childhood caused me to suffer from depression and anxiety. It started to get so bad that during college I had to quit and seek help from the doctor for antidepressants. Fast forward to now I am in a healthy space and continue to strive towards my degree. Nothing is going to stop me from becoming my best self. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so anything that I do achieve I work ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile everyday even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future. All the struggles I have gone through would not have it any other way because as the author Octavia Butler says “In order to rise from its own ashes, a Phoenix first must burn”.

I currently own a mixed poodle that I co- own with my mom. His name is Benjamin. I would say that my dog is an unofficial therapy dog because he helps me. Whenever I get overwhelmed I cuddle with my dog and let the problems melt away. He recognizes when I am upset or angry and always tries to comfort me. Benjamin does not judge if whatever I was upset about he is just there to comfort me. The most important role that he provides is companionship. It makes me happy when he is there first thing in the morning to say hello. He is the first person I say good morning to and cuddle in the morning. Once I go to work I say goodbye only to him and it makes me feel like there is someone who cares about them. When I have a break between my jobs I go home to eat lunch. As soon as I pull in I hear the barking of my beloved Benjamin. He knows exactly what my car sounds like and that amazes me every time. He As I unlock the door he gets super excited and then jumps on me. It baffles me that he still gets just as excited everyday even though he has seen me all the time. His favorite thing to do while I'm home is to take a nap with me. He will cuddle next to me and kiss me. It always warms my heart to know that he cares about me. If I were to go missing he would miss me. I know that if I were ever to lose him it would break my heart to know I would have to part from his love. I've lost pets before and I am familiar with the pain. I've had two hamsters before that lived out their lives with me. I had each for about four years. I soon realized that the pain I felt was too great for me to have numerous pets that would eventually die very soon. I decided to get a pet that I could invest endless time in. There would be less grief if I didn't have to say goodbye so often. Benjamin is now a part of my family for a long time. My mom loves him like its her own son. I hope I have him for many years to come.

The traits that I value the most are courage and strength, that is why Mulan is my favorite Disney character now. When I was growing up my favorite Disney character used to be Ariel from the Little Mermaid. Growing up we put value in beauty and popularity. Those were the values that I thought were important. Now my opinions have totally changed into something else. I value other things in my life now. Mulan embodies a strong woman who doesnt let the standards of society define her. She went against her expectations. She was expected to marry and become a pretty wife. She however did not fit the stereotype, she was too unique to fit the mold her family gave to her. She was not graceful enough to be married off to honor her parents. That reflects my attitude perfectly because I never let gender roles define who I am. I am an extremely independent woman in my personal and educational life. I do not wish to marry now until I have my career goals completed. I jump at the opportunity to learn stereotypical masculine interests such as the automotive industry and mathematics. My field in mathematics is defined as being a male dominated industry. When Mulan's dad was forced to join the army with his declining health she was determined to help him. Instead of having her elderly father go to war to be indefinitely killed she put herself in danger by disguising herself as his son. Her courage inspired me to be my best self. I can relate to her courage as I faced many adversities with my mental health. Everyday I choose to fight for my life and happiness. It takes courage to face the world everyday that I fear. Some days my social anxiety is at its worst but I don't let it stop me.

The quality that I most value in myself is perseverance. I have learned to never give up on my dreams no matter what obstacles were in the way. Growing up I always faced adversities from working an almost full time job while going to school, to family to struggling with my mental health . It has not been easy to work two part time jobs with 36 hours hours a week and also go to school full time. Sometimes it is hard to work so many hours and still have time for numerous coursework. I always make time despite my busy schedule to get my coursework done. As soon as I am out of work I drive to the coffee shop and study until eight at night. On my days off I go directly to the coffee shop and study mostly all day or until I have finished all my assignments. Although that rarely happens because there is always something to do in terms of assignments when I am at school. One of the hardestI have had mental health issues that have not made it easy. I suffer from depression and anxiety. In the past it made me leave school because all I could do was exist. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so anything that I do achieve I work ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile everyday even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future. All the struggles I have gone through would not have it any other way because as the author Octavia Butler says “In order to rise from its own ashes, a Phoenix first must burn”. No matter what life throws at me I will always come out triumphant on the other side. I will never let anything take my perseverance away from me. I will achieve all of my goals both personally and in the educational field. I know once I do graduate and obtain a teaching credential the difficulties will not stop. There will be challenges in reaching students to learn mathematics. I plan on working in a low income district such as Pomona. As those students are the ones who need the most help.I'm not afraid I know that my character traits will serve me well on my journey as a math teacher.

As a first generation student I have seen the hardships that my mom has faced. Everything I do at my jobs is 110% I want to be proud of the work I'm doing. I want someone when speaking about me to say I am the most hard working and reliable worker they have met. From being a worker at McDonalds, to a tutor at a local high school to working with the city of Claremont I have done it all. No job is too low for me to work. I am proud of all the jobs I have had over the years because they have taught me valuable lessons in my life.My mom always taught me that any job no matter what it is be proud of your work ethic it shows a positive character trait. I am a child of a single mother and seeing her struggles inspires me to be better. My mom didn't have a husband for many years so all the responsibilities went to her. She always manages to have enough money for the rent even though her job is a dishwasher. I am pursuing my education for her to show her that her hard work did not go to waste. Her hands are always cracked and rough from washing so many dishes. I can tell she is such a hard working woman that inspires me to be a hard worker. That's where I get my character traits from. I have learned to be an independent woman and to know that I can do anything I can do anything that I set my mind to from my mom. She always said do not rely on anyone else but yourself. Her reasoning is that everyone else will let you down but you must rely on the most reliable person, yourself. You need to take charge of your own destiny. You can not blame your circumstances, financial situation or any other excuse. At the end of the day they are exactly what they are called, excuses. Your landlord doesn't want to hear the excuses why the rent isn't paid or the patients at a hospital don't care why staff called off. Make it happen and get it done with whatever resources you have. Always take charge of your own life. I would say the hardest thing about being a first generation student is not being understood. My mom doesn't know the magnitude of what I am achieving. She doesn't understand that one piece of paper as a diploma took so much hard work to receive. Also there is no understanding of how hard my classes are. She expects so much out of me in helping my family but doesn't realize I have a billion things to do in my classes. Although she doesn't understand my struggles, it is for her to give her a better life than she has now.

Over the past year I feel like I have grown and become the woman that I desired to be since I was a child. One year ago I was working a job at Autozone where I wasn't happy. I was still in community college for the fourth year. My personal life had completely shattered with the arrest of my boyfriend for crimes I knew nothing about.Everything was going on the fast track to nowhere. I felt lost and unhappy where my life at that current state it was in.Cut to now I am the happiest I have ever been and that old Elizabeth has been erased. During those dark times at my job at Autozone I was driving 40 hours a week stressing out about traffic and the driving constraints they gave us during our job.I had managers that were constantly beligerating us on an emotional level. There was never any appreciation from them or from corporate. The newly hired staff was being paid more than I did and I had been there for five years. Everything was going nowhere with my career. Don't get me wrong I loved the people that I worked with but it wasn't making me happy. All this culminated in me making a change, I sought out a paid internship at Fullerton. It was a rigorous process with many interviews but to my surprise I got the job. Soon after I left my job at AutoZone and embarked on a journey to work towards what I love, math. That summer experience showed me that I am capable of doing great things in the education field. I was worthy of having this money spent on me. As for my education a year ago I was still at community college going nowhere. I decided I was procrastinating long enough and decided to transfer to Cal State as soon as possible. I applied to Cal State Fullerton and got in. It was the next big step in my career. I was going to be someone that I am proud of. Not only was my work life and education life in shambles, my personal life was too. I met my boyfriend while at AutoZone. I thought it was a great relationship at the time but looking back it was toxic. There was so much secrecy with him and now I know why. During our relationship he was arrested at work and refused to tell me why. I was foolish for not pressing the topic further because I thought I could trust him. Later on in our relationship he had pulled away completely from me. It came to the point where he had to tell me what was going on because he was possibly going to be on house arrest with his ankle bracelet. He told me he was arrested for child porn. My heart sunk and honestly that was the lowest point of my life I had no choice but to leave him. Cut to now I have met the most wonderful man my Elliot is the sweetest man I have ever met. He treats me with care and kindness everyday. He is an open book with no secrets between us. I know he is my soulmate and will spend the rest of my life with him. I thought I knew love before him but I was erroneous. With everything that has changed recently I am the happiest I have been. I would not have it any other way because as the author Octavia Butler says “In order to rise from its own ashes, a Phoenix first must burn”.

I am a child of a single mother and seeing her struggles inspires me to be better. My mom didn't have a husband for many years so all the responsibilities went to her. She always manages to have enough money for the rent even though her job is a dishwasher. I am pursuing my education for her to show her that her hard work did not go to waste. Her hands are always cracked and rough from washing so many dishes. I can tell she is such a hard working woman that inspires me to be a hard worker. That's where my work ethic ethic comes from. Everything I do at my jobs is 110% I want to be proud of the work I'm doing. I want someone when speaking about me to say I am the most hard working and reliable worker they have met. From being a worker at McDonalds, to a tutor at a local high school to working with the city of Claremont I have done it all. No job is too low for me to work. I am proud of all the jobs I have had over the years because they have taught me valuable lessons in my life.My mom always taught me that any job no matter what it is be proud of your work ethic it shows a positive character trait. I have learned to be an independent woman and to know that I can do anything I can do anything that I set my mind to from my mom. She always said do not rely on anyone else but yourself. Her reasoning is that everyone else will let you down but you must rely on the most reliable person, yourself. You need to take charge of your own destiny. You can not blame your circumstances, financial situation or any other excuse. At the end of the day they are exactly what they are called, excuses. Your landlord doesn't want to hear the excuses why the rent isn't paid or the patients at a hospital don't care why staff called off. Make it happen and get it done with whatever resources you have. Always take charge of your own life.I have taken this and applied to it my studies. I have no excuses for not doing assignments. As for the distant future I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. Some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math.Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school.It was not until I started math in high school that I really started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was actually understanding all of the concepts and doing well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn the concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential.

My name is Elizabeth Munoz I am 28 and I have an associates in mathematics I am planning on transferring to a Cal State Fullerton in the coming year. I want to obtain my bachelors degree and then go on to obtain my credentials for a single subject. I am a full time student and also hold down two part time jobs. I want to influence the future, teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher I hope to inspire a new generation of hard working productive citizens.I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their lives it will all be worth it.In a way all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. As for the distant future I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. Some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math.Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school.It was not until I started math in high school that I really started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was actually understanding all of the concepts and doing well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn the concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential.

My name is Elizabeth Munoz I am 28 and I have an associates in mathematics I am planning on transferring to a cal state in the coming year. I want to obtain my bachelors degree and then go on to obtain my credentials. I am a full time student and also hold down two part time jobs. One of the small ways that I help my community is taking jobs despite their low pay but they expose me to students. I could find a job that paid a livable wage but I want to help students. I want to make a positive impact in their lives. When I was growing up I felt like I needed a positive impact in my life I never received. It warms my heart to know that I am making a difference in their lives. The students that I work with are Middle school children. They are all going through changes and an awkward phase that need much direction.Whatever they are going though I will be there to support them. Another way that I am helping my community is helping a local teacher with her classroom. I have started volunteering in helping her clean and set up the classroom. I have helped her with preparing materials for her activities. It feels great to support my local elementary school and a future fellow teacher. It is important to support each other in the pursuit of helping out for the benefit of the students. As for the distant future I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. Some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math.Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school.It was not until I started math in high school that I really started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was actually understanding all of the concepts and doing well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn the concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential.

My name is Elizabeth Munoz I am 28 and I have an associates in mathematics I am planning on transferring to a cal state in the coming year. I want to obtain my bachelors degree and then go on to obtain my credentials. I am a full time student and also hold down two part time jobs. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school.It was not until I started math in high school that I really started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was actually understanding all of the concepts and doing well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn the concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. I want to influence the future, teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher I hope to inspire a new generation of hard working productive citizens.I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their lives it will all be worth it.In a way all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Another motivation to enter the STEM world is for the fact that I came from a low income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer.

Foolish Yearning by Elizabeth Munoz How my heart yearns for another kiss Another warm embrace in your arms The smell of your skin The sweetness of your words The presence of your innocent soul Your soft lips pressed against my forehead The sweet sound of your laugh Even the tears you shed..the tears I shed Even the cold shoulder… Even the loneliness Now I have nothing No embrace,No companionship, No… sadness Farewell! Four seasons lost to you My youth wasted Tears shed over a being less than human May the chains you are in and the prison you inhabit Be punishment enough for breaking my heart For the crimes against humanity you have caused The disgust I feel of ever loving you The privilege you had over my body The deep sorrows you caused The little piece of me you took The faith in love May the afterlife bring justice to my heart

I am a child of a single mother and seeing her struggles inspires me to be better. My mom didn't have a husband for many years so all the responsibilities went to her. She always manages to have enough money for the rent even though her job is a dishwasher. I am pursuing my education for her to show her that her hard work did not go to waste. Her hands are always cracked and rough from washing so many dishes. I can tell she is such a hard working woman that inspires me to be a hard worker. That's where my work ethic ethic comes from. Everything I do at my jobs is 110% I want to be proud of the work I'm doing. I want someone when speaking about me to say I am the most hard working and reliable worker they have met. From being a worker at McDonalds, to a tutor at a local high school to working with the city of Claremont I have done it all. No job is too low for me to work. I am proud of all the jobs I have had over the years because they have taught me valuable lessons in my life.My mom always taught me that any job no matter what it is be proud of your work ethic it shows a positive character trait. I have learned to be an independent woman and to know that I can do anything I can do anything that I set my mind to from my mom. She always said do not rely on anyone else but yourself. Her reasoning is that everyone else will let you down but you must rely on the most reliable person, yourself. You need to take charge of your own destiny. You can not blame your circumstances, financial situation or any other excuse. At the end of the day they are exactly what they are called, excuses. Your landlord doesn't want to hear the excuses why the rent isn't paid or the patients at a hospital don't care why staff called off. Make it happen and get it done with whatever resources you have. There is always a way to get the results you desire. It is an art to make the dance of life go smoothly in your favor. Always take charge of your own life. I hope to one day be an inspiration for women just as my mom has been for me.

My name is Elizabeth Munoz I am 28 and I have an associates in mathematics I am planning on transferring to a cal state in the coming year. I want to obtain my bachelors degree and then go on to obtain my credentials. I am a full time student and also hold down two part time jobs. Sometimes it is hard to work so many hours and still have time for my coursework plus my mental health struggles. I do find time after work to do my homework. I usually go to the coffee shop for numerous hours. I find it's best to go somewhere where there are no distractions. I wouldn’t say that I am a caregiver but I do help take care of my little brother. Whenever he is having trouble with math homework it is tasked to me to help him. This has developed my undertaking of tasks and becoming a great problem solver. I have great practice being a parent to my little brother. My mental struggles have made me want to care for others. As for the distant future I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school and help more students as I have for my little brother. Some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math.One of the most pressing goals that I have is that I hope to graduate with a transfer degree this year. In the following year I hope to be accepted to a Cal state and start the rest of my schooling. In a way all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Not only have I felt the weight of society making my journey harder, I have had mental health issues that have not made it easy. I suffer from depression and anxiety. In the past it made me leave school because all I could do was exist. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so anything that I do achieve I worked ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile everyday even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future. I know that once I achieve all my educational goals it will make it all worth it. I will hopefully be able to help people with their education and perhaps help those with mental struggles. I know for me personally I would have loved to have a teacher to talk to about my struggles. Unfortunately no one was there to listen. I want to be that listening ear for someone else.

My name is Elizabeth Munoz I am 28 and I have an associates in mathematics I am planning on transferring to a cal state in the coming year. I want to obtain my bachelors degree and then go on to obtain my credentials. I am a full time student and also hold down two part time jobs. Sometimes it is hard to work so many hours and still have time for my coursework. I do find time after work to do my homework. I usually go to the coffee shop for numerous hours. I find it's best to go somewhere where there are no distractions. I wouldn’t say that I am a caregiver but I do help take care of my little brother. Whenever he is having trouble with math homework it is tasked to me to help him. This has developed my undertaking of tasks and becoming a great problem solver. I have great practice being a parent to my little brother. As for the distant future I will hopefully become a math teacher at a local high school. Some tutoring experience and helping my little brother with his homework have made me discover that I love to teach others the magic of math.One of the most pressing goals that I have is that I hope to graduate with a transfer degree this year. In the following year I hope to be accepted to a Cal state and start the rest of my schooling. In a way all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Not only have I felt the weight of society making my journey harder, I have had mental health issues that have not made it easy. I suffer from depression and anxiety. In the past it made me leave school because all I could do was exist. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so anything that I do achieve I worked ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile everyday even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future.

Math was once my enemy but now it is my way out of my circumstances. I grew up in a low income community with parents that had third grade level education. Growing up I always thought I was not smart enough to do well in math. Once I was in high school a teacher Mr. Avila helped me excel and he believed in me. I was soon interested in math and all it has to offer. I want to do the same for other students and inspire them. I've noticed in my personal traits that I love a challenge. I feel excited about a new challenge and that rewarding feeling inside from figuring out is the best. Puzzles are my absolute favorite thing to do. Math in itself is a huge puzzle to figure out. If you can find the answer you try and try again until it is figured out. I have often thought about a problem for days only to have the answer pop in my head in the middle of the night. Giving up is never an option in my life. Another aspect about math that I love is that it is all around me. It always comes up either at work or in my personal life. When counting the money at work in the safe it's always easier for me and I find a way to do everything faster than everyone else. Math has helped me be efficient and critical of situations. One thing so unique about math is that there are many different ways to solve a problem. There are multiple ways to find the answers we are looking for. It is one unique aspect that other subjects lack. Math will always be my friend in trying to better myself as a person. I welcome any challenge and I am always striving to be my best thanks to math. It has opened my eyes as well that math is useful in all subjects as well. There are stats in science that are used for research. In engineering there are many math classes that are needed for engineers. In my math major I have come across many engineers through my years in school. Math will always be useful in all subjects and will not be something to be phased out. I can see myself once hired at a school as a great anchor and I will never be scared to be cut from the budget.

I want to influence the future, teaching students is the best way. As a math teacher I hope to inspire a new generation of hard working productive citizens.I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their lives it will all be worth it.In a way all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school.It was not until I started math in high school that I really started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was actually understanding all of the concepts and doing well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn the concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. Another motivation to enter the STEM world is for the fact that I came from a low income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer.

I want to influence the future by becoming a Math teacher at a local high school. As a teacher I hope to inspire a new generation of hard working productive citizens.I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their lives it will all be worth it.In a way all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school.It was not until I started math in high school that I really started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was actually understanding all of the concepts and doing well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn the concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. Another motivation to enter the STEM world is for the fact that I came from a low income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer.

Teaching math is the future for my career,I want to inspire the next generation. I want to be able to teach the future children how to see that math doesn't have to be scary. That they are capable of learning and becoming successful in all STEM careers.I hope to inspire working productive citizens in our world. Many teachers have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. Math was once my enemy but now it is my way out of my circumstances. I grew up in a low income community with parents that had third grade level education. Growing up I always thought I was not smart enough to do well in math. Once I was in high school a teacher Mr. Avila helped me excel and he believed in me. I was soon interested in math and all it has to offer. My biggest struggle with my education is having mental health issues . I suffer from depression and anxiety. In the past it made me leave school because all I could do was exist. No, it does not make me weak, it makes me stronger. It makes everything I do harder so anything that I do achieve I worked ten times harder than the person next to me. I don't give up on anything because to give up would put me right back in that dark place where the coming day was dreaded. I make it a point to smile everyday even if it is harder because it doesn't come easy. I know that I am blessed with today and strive to be someone in my future. It has taken me a little longer to receive my education but nothing is going to stop me from pursuing it. I am currently looking into school to transfer to a Cal state. No matter what happens I am finishing school. It is the only way to earn respect in my community and show other women that they can pursue a career in STEM. It is not an impossible goal in life. I have so many supportive people now that encourage me to be my best everyday. It is for them that I don't give up on my education and once I graduate I will be able to repay them back. I look forward to being my best self with math along my side.

Teaching math is the future for my career,I want to inspire the next generation. I want to be able to teach the future children how to see that math doesn't have to be scary. That they are capable of learning and becoming successful in all STEM careers. Science is important because it has already brought us great innovation in our lives. Scientists have impacted the way individuals live their current lives. When you wake up in the morning and turn on the light someone invented that. If that particular scientist did not have the motivation and drive we wouldn't have electricity in the present day. It is always important to motivate the next generation of scientists. They might make the next great impact in the world. Not only have current conveniences been invented but even in the world of health. Vaccination isn't just produced, someone has to do the research to find a vaccine that works. There are so many diseases that have been almost eradicated from the United States thanks to a scientist. Science has the very special aspect of sparking curiosity. It is probably what inspired most scientists to pursue an invention. We as humans need to remain curious about the world around us. If we stop questioning why something is happening around the world around us, are we really human? We need to inquire and invent to make our lives easier. Early civilizations were always curious and invented tales to explain why volcanoes erupted. Science will always be an integral part of our lives.

Math was once my enemy but now it is my way out of my circumstances. I grew up in a low income community with parents that had third grade level education. Growing up I always thought I was not smart enough to do well in math. Once I was in high school a teacher Mr. Avila helped me excel and he believed in me. I was soon interested in math and all it has to offer. I've noticed in my personal traits that I love a challenge. I feel excited about a new challenge and that rewarding feeling inside from figuring out is the best. Puzzles are my absolute favorite thing to do. Math in itself is a huge puzzle to figure out. If you can find the answer you try and try again until it is figured out. I have often thought about a problem for days only to have the answer pop in my head in the middle of the night. Giving up is never an option in my life. Another aspect about math that I love is that it is all around me. It always comes up either at work or in my personal life. When counting the money at work in the safe it's always easier for me and I find a way to do everything faster than everyone else. Math has helped me be efficient and critical of situations. One thing so unique about math is that there are many different ways to solve a problem. There are multiple ways to find the answers we are looking for. It is one unique aspect that other subjects lack. Math will always be my friend in trying to better myself as a person. I welcome any challenge and I am always striving to be my best thanks to math.

What I want most of all is to make an impact in my community. I want to become a math teacher and help students the way that I was helped. If I make a difference in one child's life it will all be worth it.

Thought Police was the first words that jumped out of the page for me on that high school day.One book that made an impact in my life was 1984 by George Orwell it gave me a first look into appreciating my own freedom. I had heard other students reading the book and it sounded like a foreign idea that seemed interesting to me.Picking up the book I saw a bright blue eye staring back at me. I think this foreshadowed how Winston would open his eyes to the truth. It made me think of how much the government influences everyone's life. Although I am an individual to a degree I am still being controlled by the government. In the book he was given rations and was even monitored what thoughts he had by the thought police. At first I thought this was foolish. How can the government control your thoughts? Everyone should have the freedom to think or do what they want with their lives. Our main character however had no choice in this. He was born into this and it has always been like this. The system was structured and he was just placed in this situation. Then it hit me, this book was social commentary on our world not just in the fictitious world of Oceania. There have already been situations not to this degree but similar situations to this. For example, the most extreme is the current situation in North Korea. Their government controls their haircuts,makeup and what movies are imported into their country.They are controlled by their government and have no say in this. The same can be said about the United States with some degree of control. There are laws in place that tell us what to do and how to act. There are laws in place that tell us not to steal but also limit our freedom. In the current day in age there is censorship even on the platform Facebook where nothing too violent can be posted. I've had more posts flagged within the year than ever before. Even the internet is slowly censoring us. Just as Winston Smith was born into it I too was born into the system. In 1984, Winston was also prohibited from having an affair with Julia. He was even tortured with rats in room to give up the connection. Same thing is happening now with same sex marriage. The government is telling us who we can love and marry just like Winston and Julia. George Orwell was ahead of his time in predicting how much power the government has on us all. Big brother is the government and we the people need to continue to participate to prevent anything like 1984 from happening to us.

I want to influence the future by becoming a Math teacher at a local high school. As a teacher I hope to inspire a new generation of hard working productive citizens.I know of many teachers that have inspired me with their stories. It is amazing how the people that you bump into impact you for the rest of your life. If I can reach one student and make an impact in their lives it will all be worth it.In a way all my goals lead to the ultimate goal of becoming something greater than what my peers have. Education is the only way out of my current expectations and circumstances. Math is the key to success in my life. Looking back at all my experiences I would say that math was never my strong subject in school.It was not until I started math in high school that I really started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was the teacher or my head space that finally made it fun for me. I was actually understanding all of the concepts and doing well in my tests. Math was no longer my enemy but my friend. I learned that junior year of high school that I wasn't the smartest kid in the class but I was capable of doing well. I loved learning and looked forward to learning something new. From that moment on I decided that I wanted to be a math teacher and help other kids learn the concepts that were essentially not hard at all. I want to unlock their full potential. Another motivation to enter the STEM world is for the fact that I came from a low income community. It seems the norm is to get a job and survive. Well I don't want to survive, I want to enjoy what I do. In the Mexican community women are expected to clean and have children. I want to have a family at some point but I want to show every person that told me I was too stupid or judged me by the color of my skin to look up to me not down on me. There will be a time when I will be proud to tell everyone I have a degree even if it took a little longer. Diversity in the workplace is very important in bringing exposure to everyone's life. I feel like there is still racism in the world because people don't interact with other races and have preconceived notions of them. Growing up I only interacted with Mexican Americans because that was all that was around me. At my high school 95 percent of students were Latino with only a handful of Asian,white and African Americans. I can admit I had a preconceived notion on people of other colors. It wasn't until I started working that I met people of all races. I came to find that they were not even close to how I perceived them. I thought that all white people were racist and did not like people of color. I feared them treating me as their inferior. This came from a couple of interactions I had with other people of their color. When I expanded my horizons in the workforce I saw they were loving and accepting. Most did not care what ethnicity I was and I no longer saw color in them. They were all just people to me. I needed this in order to further shape my perception of people. This was an important lesson for me and for these reasons diversity is important to me.

My name Elizabeth came from the famous actor Elizabeth Taylor. My mother was just freshly migrated here from Mexico and that was one of the exposures to American culture that she had. It was a name that would encompass the great culture of a place that she dreamed of being. She wanted my name to reflect how much she loved this country. With all my sisters she did not choose names that were popular in her country they were all Americanized. The names were supposed to make us feel like we belonged. She felt that having a name that people saw as different would not have been beneficial to us. There was already so much hate for our culture in the United States. I recall her telling me stories about how ICE would target the swap meet for immigrants. It was a sad time when spending time with your family at the swap meet now had a tone of fear in it. No one felt safe enough to go out anymore. Going out came with the risk of being deported. With everything happening she wanted to give everyone less of a reason to persecute me if I had an Americanized name, Elizabeth. Part of me understands the reasons that she did this. Personally I currently do not like my name. It just makes me reflect on how racist this country has been to my people. I wish I could have had a Mexican name that reflects my culture. I love where I came from and I am proud of who I am. I never deny that I am a person of color with a rich culture of food, customs and music. I want my name to reflect that I am a person of color. Even with all the racism going on in the world I am not afraid. Standing up to my culture is my number one goal in life. Many people do not expect much from me because I am a colored female who is interested in math. I will defy the odds of my expectations. When I have my own children I will give them traditional names. They will know where they came from with exposure to their culture and music. Americanized names will not be something I will do in my family. Writing this essay opened my eyes to how much weight comes in just a name. We walk around not thinking about the way that we introduce ourselves, our names are the first thing people know about you. From there it stems out to other things about yourself but for that first introduction a name is all that is given.