On June 8, 2014, my best friend, Allison, along with her mother and her two baby sisters, were taken away from this world by none other than her own stepfather. That sister-figure my own age that I got to have so much in common with was taken away from me. Growing up as an only child, I had always felt like an outlier, lacking a sense of companionship. While my extended family lives close to each other in other states, I didn’t always have an external support system or an upbringing that many can relate to. I have always felt the pressure to find new ways to entertain myself. Large family gatherings, cookouts, sleepovers, or simply having other children around my age, were always a fantasy. After the loss, I was in denial of the loneliness I felt in my day-to-day life. Even standing in a crowded room, I couldn’t help but feel the looming loneliness overshadowing me. Over time, I learned the skill of being able to stand still while the world rapidly moved around me. I learned to place myself in various activities that I felt the most comfortable in. If I couldn’t find these in my school or community, then I made them myself. It wasn't until a few years later that I learned the truth of what happened to Allison and it took me a while to understand why my parents hid details of her tragedy in order to protect my younger self. However, I believe I can create my own ideology of “grief” and “change”. I want to be able to solve problems and create innovative solutions that have an impact in my navigating the male-dominated STEM field. The many unanswered questions within this tragedy sparked the initiative of taking conceptual ideas and laboratory curiosity and turning them into valued products of great significance. I want to engineer better solutions, and contribute in producing an impactful final compound within the chemical and biological practices. Additionally, I felt compelled to bring awareness for the need of women in stem; I believe it is essential for contributing unique insights, fostering creativity and driving more comprehensive solutions to complex problems. I look at the women who inspire me in my day-to-day life, such as my mother, and their strength and resilience makes me want to be that for someone else. I aspire to inspire, and my career is how I want to represent myself.

Growing up as an outlier, an only-child in an immigrant family, I have always been taught that achieving my goals might be twice as difficult, but not impossible. While my privileged friends would play outside until dusk, I would be inside our apartment building with my mother reviewing multiplication table flash cards. I learned to stay resilient and focused, while also finding time to relax when permitted. During my time in college, I hope to expand on these valuable life skills. I want to be exposed to a broader learning community and be able to access various opportunities from studying abroad, and researching in a lab, to volunteering at an ESL hotline. I will use all the creative outlets I can get to pursue my passion for Science, Math, and Engineering, while also using my free time to explore other passions and hobbies such as Track and Field, Student Government associations, and much more. Winning this scholarship would help my parents help me achieve my academic and professional career goals. No matter what happens I am going to get a college degree and achieve what my parents never could. However, this scholarship would be incredibly helpful to achieve these goals. As an out-of-state student, this scholarship would benefit the costly tuition from my future university. While leaving my parents to go out of state is one of the hardest decisions I have had to make, it is a decision that is the most beneficial to my career and my future. This scholarship will help me attain my goals while helping me work towards graduating from college debt free. It will also allow me more free time to join other extracurricular activities and cultural clubs at my university. I plan to join Latin Student Association clubs and help spread my culture to those curious to learn about it. I am a proud Honduran-Puerto Rican first-generation woman, and I look forward to spreading the many wonderful things about Hispanic culture. I will educate and advocate for Hispanic students and the rights of our families and future generations. It is my goal to set an example for Hispanic women, especially navigating the male-dominated engineering field. With the support of this scholarship, my family, peers, and mentors, I will strive for excellence in the way I interact with the environment around me. I am going to be the first college graduate in my family, the first Chemical Engineer, and I am going to create my own sense of female empowerment through my own self-worth.

On June 8, 2014, at only ten years old, my best friend Allison, along with her two younger sisters and mother, were all taken away from this world by none other than her own stepfather. Growing up as an only child, I had always felt like an outlier, lacking a sense of companionship. While my extended family lives close to each other in other states, I didn’t always have an external support system or an upbringing that many can relate to. Allison was the other half that I could relate to, confide in, and the childhood companion I could rely on. Even though I had incredible people around to support me, it isn’t the same as having that sister figure my own age that I get to have so much in common with. We always bonded over mutual aspirations, which became a strong foundation for our relationship. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until a few years later that I learned the truth. It took me a while to understand why my parents hid details of her tragedy in order to protect my younger self. And it took even longer to read the news article they did on her. For the longest time, it filled me with sadness and guilt. I felt guilty for not growing up together and navigating teenage experiences, high school, or even college. My extracurriculars in my high school career include but are not limited to, being Student Council president for the past four years, Engineering Club, president of Eco Science club, Serviam Leadership Club, United Nations (UN) Connections Club, Marketing Club, and more. This tragedy inspired me to create my own ideology of “grief” and “change”. As I visualize Allison fighting the gun off her stepfather to save her younger sisters’ lives, I feel the urge to be stronger and break cultural and generational patterns. The many unanswered questions within her tragedy sparked the initiative of taking conceptual ideas and laboratory curiosity and turning them into valued products of great significance. I want to engineer better solutions, achieve what my parents never could as a first-generation student, and contribute to producing an impactful final compound within chemical and biological practices. I want to show that despite a tragedy, you are capable of achieving the seemingly “achievable”. I want to inspire other little girls such as myself that you can overcome anything. Every day, I am pushed to create my own sense of female empowerment and navigate through the male-dominated STEM field.

Growing up in a household with a close-minded third-world mentality and a grandparent who is a pastor with their own evangelical church had and continues to have fundamental restraints on inclusivity and my own personal self-expression. These religious ideologies have been enforced upon me; however, I continue to embrace my own personal values which consist of inclusivity, creating a safe and nurturing environment that allows freedom of self-expression and respect for human identity, and becoming the exception amongst these upheld religious restraints The patriarchal embedded notions of living that derive from the traditional mindset within my Latinx family and upbringing, drive me to prioritize the value of all individuals despite of gender, sexual orientation, race, age, and expression in my day-to-day life. My personal experience of being told to cover up and stay quiet around men, while even watching male family members being scrutinized for their own self-expression, shaped me as an individual to become better than these norms set before me. From my own uncle being disowned by our family due to his sexual orientation; to the inability of my own self-expression in my own household because of cultural and generational patterns embedded within my family system. I strive to transcend above the standard expectations placed upon me, from my being a minority in all aspects and lacking, to achieve what my parents never could. Because of all of my experiences, I strongly believe that everyone deserves a fair chance in being their true-authentic selves and feeling safe while doing so. I strive to maintain an accepting and inclusive environment. I have experienced prejudice and know what it is like to be placed into a “box” that you don’t quite fit into, which motivates me daily. I am creating my own sense of female empowerment by navigating through the male-dominated STEM field. At school, as class president, I prioritize ensuring any diversity and inclusion concerns my peers have gets resolved to the best of my abilities. By creating a safe space for those around me, I am overcoming adversity, while helping those around me do the same thing. I strive to make those around me feel safe and secure in any way that I can. By actively making sure people around me feel heard, being open to diversity and inclusivity, and more, I am rising above the adversity I have faced throughout my life and using that same adversity to produce a better outcome for others.

My mother is my biggest inspiration, quite literally, since birth. She moved to this country at the age of 14 - 3 years younger than my current age. I can not even begin to imagine how that must feel like, leaving your family, friends, and community behind to start over in a strange new country that does not speak your language. My mother, along with her little brother and my grandmother, moved here in 2001. Shortly after, she was placed into an American public high school. My mother has always told me that I could do anything that I put my mind to. I simply just have to put in the work. She’s taught me many valuable skills that I implement in my everyday life. She also taught me to be proud of who I am, where I come from, and the rest of my Latin attributes. I am a proud Honduran-Puerto Rican first-generation woman, and I look forward to spreading the many wonderful things about Hispanic culture. I will educate and advocate for Hispanic students and the rights of our families and future generations. It is my goal to set an example for Hispanic women, especially navigating the male-dominated engineering field. With the support of this scholarship, my family, peers, and mentors, I will strive for excellence in the way I interact with the environment around me. I am going to be the first college graduate in my family, the first Chemical Engineer, and I am going to create my own sense of female empowerment through my own self-worth. have always inclined towards math and science. When I reached elementary school, I co-founded my school's Robotics Team where we competed against other Bronx schools. STEM has always been my passion, and I had always been drawn more toward my science and math classes, but it wasn't until my time in Physics in my junior year that I realized this is something I could potentially see myself doing. I soon joined my school’s Engineering and Eco-Science Club where I explored these concepts even more by participating in activities with “Engineering Tomorrow”, and interacting with actual Engineers. During the summer going into my senior year, I had the opportunity to spend the day in a university Biology lab where I got to see real Biology and Chemistry major students give me a tour of the lab and conduct experiments; At the end of that day, that’s when I knew I wanted to pursue Chemical and Biomolecular engineering. I want to be able to expand on what I already know about science and be able to research in high-tech environments surrounded by professionals. I know that by choosing this area of study, I can shape my future into a successful one.

My mother has always been the woman I have looked up to, quite literally, since birth. She moved to this country at the age of 14 - 3 years younger than my current age. I can not even begin to imagine how that must feel like, leaving your family, friends, and community behind to start over in a strange new country that does not speak your language. My mother, along with her little brother and my grandmother, moved here in 2001. Shortly after, she was placed into an American public high school. My mother has always told me that I could do anything that I put my mind to. I simply just have to put in the work. She’s taught me many valuable skills that I implement in my everyday life. She also taught me to be proud of who I am, where I come from, and the rest of my Latin attributes. I am a proud Honduran-Puerto Rican first-generation woman, and I look forward to spreading the many wonderful things about Hispanic culture. I will educate and advocate for Hispanic students and the rights of our families and future generations. It is my goal to set an example for Hispanic women, especially navigating the male-dominated engineering field. With the support of this scholarship, my family, peers, and mentors, I will strive for excellence in the way I interact with the environment around me. I look at the life my mother has led, and it compels me to be strong and push against cultural and generational barriers and norms. The strong female example set before me drives me to stand up for myself and my values and create my own sense of female empowerment. Having no sisters or female cousins my age, I have always had a strong sense of independence. However, my mother taught me that sometimes it is okay to ask for help. To know that you are not alone. And to ask for support when needed. That is what family is for. She taught me what love is. My mother set an example of a loving relationship, not only, with my dad, but with my grandmother as well. And that is part of the reason why my mother and I have such a strong and healthy relationship. I hope that with the lessons I have learned from my mother, I can pass those on to future generations and help them create their own sense of empowerment, whatever that may mean to that.

Growing up as an outlier, an only-child in an immigrant family, I have always been taught that achieving my goals might be twice as difficult, but not impossible. While my privileged friends would play outside until dusk, I would be inside our apartment building with my mother reviewing multiplication table flash cards. I learned to stay resilient and focused, while also finding time to relax when permitted. During my time in college, I hope to expand on these valuable life skills. I want to be exposed to a broader learning community and be able to access various opportunities from studying abroad, researching in a lab, to volunteering at an ESL hotline. I will use all the creative outlets I can get in order to pursue my passion for Science, Math, and Engineering, while also using my free time to explore other passions and hobbies such as Track and Field, Student Government associations, and much more. Family is one of the most important things to me. My parents have worked hard for everything they have earned. Winning this scholarship would help my parents help me achieve my academic and professional career goals. No matter what happens I am going to get a college degree and achieve what my parents never could. However, this scholarship would be incredibly helpful to achieve these goals. As an out-of-state student, this scholarship would benefit the costly tuition from my future university. While leaving my parents to go out of state is one of the hardest decisions I have had to make, it is a decision that is the most beneficial to my career and my future. This scholarship will help me attain my goals while helping me work towards graduating from college debt free. It will also allow me more free time to join other extracurricular activities and cultural clubs at my university. I plan to join Latin Student Association clubs and help spread my culture to those curious to learn about it. I am a proud Honduran-Puerto Rican first-generation woman, and I look forward to spreading the many wonderful things about Hispanic culture. I will educate and advocate for Hispanic students and the rights of our families and future generations. It is my goal to set an example for Hispanic women, especially navigating the male-dominated engineering field. With the support of this scholarship, my family, peers, and mentors, I will strive for excellence in the way I interact with the environment around me. I am going to be the first college graduate in my family, the first Chemical Engineer, and I am going to create my own sense of female empowerment through my own self-worth.

Growing up as an outlier, an only-child in an immigrant family, I have always been taught that achieving my goals might be twice as difficult, but not impossible. While my privileged friends would play outside until dusk, I would be inside our apartment building with my mother reviewing multiplication table flash cards. I learned to stay resilient and focused, while also finding time to relax when permitted. During my time in college, I hope to expand on these valuable life skills. I want to be exposed to a broader learning community and be able to access various opportunities from studying abroad, and researching in a lab, to volunteering at an ESL hotline. I will use all the creative outlets I can get to pursue my passion for Science, Math, and Engineering, while also using my free time to explore other passions and hobbies such as Track and Field, Student Government associations, and much more. Winning this scholarship would help my parents help me achieve my academic and professional career goals. No matter what happens I am going to get a college degree and achieve what my parents never could. However, this scholarship would be incredibly helpful to achieve these goals. As an out-of-state student, this scholarship would benefit the costly tuition from my future university. While leaving my parents to go out of state is one of the hardest decisions I have had to make, it is a decision that is the most beneficial to my career and my future. This scholarship will help me attain my goals while helping me work towards graduating from college debt free. It will also allow me more free time to join other extracurricular activities and cultural clubs at my university. I plan to join Latin Student Association clubs and help spread my culture to those curious to learn about it. I am a proud Honduran-Puerto Rican first-generation woman, and I look forward to spreading the many wonderful things about Hispanic culture. I will educate and advocate for Hispanic students and the rights of our families and future generations. It is my goal to set an example for Hispanic women, especially navigating the male-dominated engineering field. With the support of this scholarship, my family, peers, and mentors, I will strive for excellence in the way I interact with the environment around me. I am going to be the first college graduate in my family, the first Chemical Engineer, and I am going to create my own sense of female empowerment through my own self-worth.

Growing up in a household with a close-minded third-world mentality and a grandparent who is a pastor with their own evangelical church had and continues to have fundamental restraints on inclusivity and my own personal self-expression. The influence of these religious principles that have been placed on a pedestal for the majority of my life has put a restraint on my social interactions, way of living, and influential expectations of how I should treat others. These religious ideologies have been enforced upon me; however, I continue to embrace my own personal values which consist of inclusivity, creating a safe and nurturing environment that allows freedom of self-expression and respect for human identity, and becoming the exception amongst these upheld religious restraints. I strive to make connections and be genuine with the people around me and make sure that they know that they have a safe space with me. The influence that my immigrant family has had upon me is something that is very special to me because I've seen firsthand what works and what does not work. The patriarchal embedded notions of living that derive from the traditional mindset within my Latinx immigrant family and upbringing, drive me to emphasize the value of all individuals despite gender, sexual orientation, race, age, and expression in my day-to-day life. The action of trying to be inclusive of all the individuals around me is one of the most important things that influence my life. I hold inclusivity and open-mindedness very high up in my personal values and beliefs because I know that I would have wanted the same thing growing up. My personal experience of being told to cover up and stay quiet around men, while even watching male family members being scrutinized for their own self-expression, shaped me as an individual to become better than these norms set before me. I also strive to transcend above the standard expectations placed upon me, which stems from my being a minority in all aspects and lacking, in order to achieve what my immigrant parents and grandparents never could, such as becoming the first generation within my immediate family to become a college graduate. As a first-generation everything, I sometimes feel the immense pressure that is subconsciously placed upon me by those around me. I strive to break generational barriers and cultural stereotypes, in order to improve the way I interact and learn with my environment.

My first-ever fourth-generation iPod Touch was what originally sparked my interest in the tech world, and how we could use technology to create. I was about 6 years old when I downloaded the Barbie Fashion design game on that iPod. I was able to create outfits I thought were “cool”, in my six-year-old mind, with just the touch of a button. Eventually, that iPod got discontinued. But my love for technology continued to grow, and I realized just how much we are capable of creating with just the touch of a button. I would do many things to impact the tech industry and leave my mark. Prioritizing ethics and responsible development, promoting diversity and inclusion, and protecting user data and privacy are just some of the things I would do. Tech companies must place ethical considerations at the forefront of their decision-making processes in order to ensure that their products are designed and developed in a responsible manner that takes into account the potential social and environmental impacts. The tech industry should also strive to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities it serves. We can achieve this goal by actively seeking out diverse talent. Tech companies must also prioritize user privacy and data protection, ensuring that their products are secure and that user data is handled responsibly. This includes providing users with transparency and control over their data. I strongly believe that the tech industry is socially and morally obligated to promote diversity and inclusion within its fields. Technology within the tech industry has become an integral part of modern society, and its impact on our lives is growing every day. As such, the benefits of technology should be accessible to all members of society, regardless of their background, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or any other characteristic that might cause them to be excluded. The tech industry is one of the leading factors in our society today that helps progress and change our world as we know it. Therefore, it is only right that the tech industry sets an example to be more inclusive and diverse. With the small step of promoting inclusiveness and diversity, we can start allowing more and more of the world to normalize the differences in people. Diversity sparks something in our minds and enables us to accept and love ourselves as people, which allows us to accept and love others as well. By normalizing things that make each one of us unique from the others, we can make the world a better place.

El futuro de nuestro mundo es inseguro. Pero, lo que sí sabemos es el pasado. Y cómo utilizar el pasado para asegurar un futuro innovador. Vosotros tenemos el deber de analizar los errores del pasado para asegurar nos de que no vuelvan a pasar de nuevo. Un evento del pasado que podemos aprender mucho de es el ataque terrorismo del Septiembre 11, 2001. El ataque de los Twin Towers fue un ataque muy impactante a los millones de Americanos en el país. Este ataque fue muy recentamente. Mi Abuela estaba trabajando en la cuidad. Mi mama estaba en su primer ano de high school. Y miles de personas estaban trabajando en los Twin Towers, donde el ataque occurio. Estas miles de personas se levantaron en la manana y fueron a su trabajo, sin saber que esa manana iba hacer su ultimo manana. Y tambien, no se debe de olvidar a los bomberos que ayudaron a sacar los gentes del edifcio, mientras se arrisgaban sus propios vidas. Muchos de estos bomberos salieron con un tipo de cancer, o malestar en sus pulmones, por el humo. En un país dividido por dinero, circunstancias, y odio, el país se unió por esta tragedia. Todo los paleas, todo los mal entiendimientos, todo los sentimientos se fueron. Este evento fue algo muy poderoso y impactante en vuestro país porque se enseña que ante todo los problemas, peleas, y odio, la vida siempre va ser la cosa más importante. Poco después de este evento, el racismo aumentó drásticamente en nuestra nación. El racismo ha sido un problema en nuestro país durante siglos. Las personas de vuestro pais estaban injustamente culpando las personas Musulmanos de este ataque. Vosotros como humanos tenemos el deber a cuidar vuestros hermanos y hermanas en tiempos dificles. Culpando nos uno a lo otro no va hacer el ataque desaparecer. Por eso, es muy importante de prender y ensaniar a los menores de edad que el odio no tiene hogar en nuestro vida. El amor, la pas, y la educacion son las cosas mas importantes que un humano deberia implementar en su vida. Al aprender de vuestros errores pasados, nos estamos ensenando a nosotros mismos como crear un futuro mejor. Y es vuestro deber como Americans en 2023 a detener el racismo y el odio que esta incrustado en el sistema de este pais. Se tiene que ensenar en las escuelas, que el odio no tiene hogar en vuestros vidas y en vuestros corazones.

On June 8, 2014, my best friend, along with her mother and her two baby sisters, were taken away from this world by none other than her own stepfather. That sister-figure my own age that I got to have so much in common with was taken away from me. We always bonded over mutual aspirations, which became a strong foundation for the supportive roles within our relationship. Growing up as an only child, I had always felt like an outlier, lacking a sense of companionship. While my extended family lives close to each other in other states, I didn’t always have an external support system or an upbringing that many can relate to. I have always felt the pressure to find new ways to entertain myself. Large family gatherings, cookouts, sleepovers, or simply having other children around my age, were always a fantasy. After the loss, I was in denial of the loneliness I felt in my day-to-day life. Even standing in a crowded room, I couldn’t help but feel the looming loneliness overshadowing me. Over time, I learned the skill of being able to stand still while the world rapidly moved around me. I learned to place myself in various activities that I felt the most comfortable in. If I couldn’t find these in my school or community, then I made them myself. It wasn't until a few years later that I learned the truth of what happened to you. It took me a while to understand why my parents hid details of your tragedy in order to protect my younger self. For the longest time it filled me with sadness and guilt. I felt guilty for not growing up together and navigating teenage experiences. However, I believe I can create my own ideology of “grief” and “change”. I want to be able to solve problems and create innovative solutions that have an impact around the world. Being a minority in all social aspects, such as coming from a poor working-class immigrant family, with a close-minded third-world mentality and upheld religious values, I am creating my own sense of female empowerment by navigating through the male-dominated STEM field. The many unanswered questions within this tragedy sparked the initiative of taking conceptual ideas and laboratory curiosity and turning them into valued products of great significance. I want to engineer better solutions, and contribute in producing an impactful final compound within the chemical and biological practices.

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted to create. Every Christmas I would receive Barbie dolls and Polly Pocket fashion dolls, while my male cousins would receive model car kits and lego sets; Yet, I always found myself nagging my cousins to play with their legos. My parents soon started to notice, which eventually led them to buy me my own lego sets. When I reached the fifth grade, I entered my elementary school’s Robotics Team, where we made motor-powered lego robots and competed with other teams from surrounding schools. Eventually, I got to high school, where I took my very first Physics class, and got introduced to topics such as Trigonometry, Mechanics, Kinematics, and other engineering concepts that I found captivating. I had always been drawn more towards my science and math classes, but it was not until my time in Physics in my junior year that I realized this is something I could potentially see myself doing. I soon joined my school’s Engineering and Eco-Science Club, where I explored these concepts even more by participating in activities with “Engineering Tomorrow”, and interacting with actual Engineers. I got to ask insightful questions that fueled my curiousity towards engineering. During the summer going into my senior year, I had the opportunity to spend the day in a university Biology lab where I got to see real Biology and Chemistry major students give me a tour of the lab and conduct experiments; At the end of that day, that’s when I knew I wanted to pursue Chemical and Biomolecular engineering. I want to be able to expand on what I already know about science and be able to research in high-tech environments surrounded by professionals. I want to be able to solve problems and create innovative solutions that have an impact around the world. I have the urge to be stronger and break cultural and generational patterns. The many unanswered questions I have within my life sparks initiative of taking conceptual ideas and laboratory curiosity, and turning them into valued products. I want to engineer better solutions, and contribute in producing an impactful final compound within the chemical and biological practices. I plan to seize the opportunities I gain while studying Engineering to expand on problem-solving skills, leadership skills, critical thinking, as well as interpersonal skills, and the way I interact with my environment in order to make an impactful change in the world.

My ability to connect with others is an ability that I cherish deeply, and one that has helped me in multiple aspects of my life. I feel the genuine need to connect with my peers, both, inside and outside of the classroom. By making an impact on the lives of the people around me, I am creating an even greater impact in my personal life. All throughout my high school career I’ve always tried to jump at any service opportunity that presents itself. My freshman year, I stepped out of my comfort zone for the first time and nominated myself to be on the freshman student council. This small leap of faith has led me to take on many more experiences throughout my time in high school; I’ve given speeches in front of my student body, formed connections with people from all grade levels, joined new, interesting clubs, and even performed in a fashion show! Additionally, my experiences in the Servant Leadership Academy club have taught me how to make connections with new people, feel empathy for others, and care for the community around me. By implementing these skills into my future endeavors, I hope to inspire others and, likewise, be inspired by the people around me. I believe that to achieve a deep, meaningful connection with others, you must make them feel heard and included. You can not expect the other person to put in 100% effort if you only put in 20%. Treating others the way you want to be treated is the key to these deep and meaningful relationships. I also believe that making others feel like they have a safe space when they talk to you, free of judgment, discrimination, and prejudice, is also extremely important. I hope to form even more connections as I progress in my educational career. I know that the people I will connect with, the clubs I will immerse myself in, and the classes I will take will all contribute to my overall success, which will help me change the world for the better. I plan to implement these skills into my personal life so that I make connections and relationships in and out of the classroom that is deep and meaningful. I know I wouldn’t be able to change the world 100% , but I know I can influence the lives of the people I surround myself with, and to me that is a great accomplishment.

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always wanted to create. Every Christmas I would receive Barbie dolls and Polly Pocket fashion dolls, while my male cousins would receive model car kits and lego sets; Yet, I always found myself nagging my cousins to play with their legos. My parents soon started to take notice and eventually bought me my own lego sets. When I reached the fifth grade I entered my elementary school’s Robotics Team, where we made motor-powered lego robots and competed with other teams from surrounding schools. Eventually, I had always been drawn more towards my science and math classes, but it wasn't until I got to high school where I took my very first Physics class and I got introduced to topics such as Trigonometry, Mechanics, Kinematics, and other engineering concepts that I found captivating. I had always been drawn more towards my science and math classes, but it wasn't until my time in Algebra/Trigonometry 2 in my junior year that I realized this is something I could potentially see myself doing. I soon joined my school’s Engineering and Eco-Science Club where I explored these concepts even more by participating in activities with “Engineering Tomorrow”, and interacting with actual Engineers. During the summer going into my senior year, I had the opportunity to spend the day in a university Biology lab where I got to see real Biology and Chemistry major students give me a tour of the lab and conduct experiments; At the end of that day, that’s when I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the STEAM field. I want to be able to expand on what I already know about science and math, as well as be able to research in high-tech environments surrounded by professionals. I hope that I can shape my future into a successful one. I hope to expand on my knowledge in the mathematical and scientific fields, as well as take advantage of the numerous opportunities provided in my future education to further expand my knowledge and help me gain insight into the rapidly innovating and developing world around me. I hope to spark an initiative within my myself, as well as others around me, into taking conceptual ideas and laboratory curiosity and turning them into valued products. I want to engineer better solutions, contribute in producing an impactful final compound within the STEAM field, and create my own sense of empowerment.

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always wanted to create. Every Christmas I would receive Barbie dolls and Polly Pocket fashion dolls, while my male cousins would receive model car kits and lego sets; Yet, I always found myself nagging my cousins to play with their legos. My parents soon started to take notice and eventually bought me my own lego sets. When I reached the fifth grade I entered my elementary school’s Robotics Team, where we made motor-powered lego robots and competed with other teams from surrounding schools. Eventually, I had always been drawn more towards my science and math classes, but it wasn't until I got to high school where I took my very first Physics class and I got introduced to topics such as Trigonometry, Mechanics, Kinematics, and other engineering concepts that I found captivating. I had always been drawn more towards my science and math classes, but it wasn't until my time in Physics in my junior year that I realized this is something I could potentially see myself doing. I soon joined my school’s Engineering and Eco-Science Club where I explored these concepts even more by participating in activities with “Engineering Tomorrow”, and interacting with actual Engineers. During the summer going into my senior year, I had the opportunity to spend the day in a university Biology lab where I got to see real Biology and Chemistry major students give me a tour of the lab and conduct experiments; At the end of that day, that’s when I knew I wanted to pursue Chemical and Biomolecular engineering. I want to be able to expand on what I already know about science and be able to research in high-tech environments surrounded by professionals. I hope that by choosing my first-choice major, I can shape my future into a successful one.

Growing up in a household with a close-minded third-world mentality and a grandparent who is a pastor with their own evangelical church had and continues to have, fundamental restraints on inclusivity and my own personal self-expression. These religious ideologies have been enforced upon me; however, I continue to embrace my own personal values which consist of inclusivity, creating a safe and nurturing environment that allows freedom of self-expression and respect for human identity and becoming the exception amongst these upheld religious restraints The patriarchal embedded notions of living that derive from the traditional mindset within my Latinx family and upbringing, drive me to prioritize the value of all individuals despite of gender, sexual orientation, race, age, and expression in my day-to-day life. My personal experience of being told to cover up and stay quiet around men, while even watching male family members being scrutinized for their own self-expression, shaped me as an individual to become better than these norms set before me. No matter what my current situation is, I always strive to help those around me. My family and friends, as well as my school community, and my peers that I lead as class president all take importance in my life. I strive to help them in any way possible, listening to their concerns, addressing them to the higher-ups, and making sure that my friends feel important. all of the relationships that I'm in with my family and friends, I make sure that they feel heard. by doing these things and helping them to the best of my ability, it helps me become a better person. It helps the people around me become better people as well, which in turn help me become a better person in the end. I also strive to transcend above the standard expectations placed upon me, from my being a minority in all aspects and lacking, to achieving what my parents never could. All I want to do is make my parents proud, and I feel that everything I do and has done in my school community, as well as my friendships, and family relationships, all contribute to my becoming a better person. By becoming a better person, I'm making my parents prouder every single day. Additionally, I placed myself in clubs and activities that help me achieve these obstacles. All of the clubs and activities that I partake in contribute to my overall success and happiness. And if I don't find a club or activity that I would like to partake in, I create it myself.