I'm drawn to legislative and policy work because that's where meaningful, lasting change happens - not just talk, but action that can transform lives. My passion began unexpectedly in high school, when a counselor urged me to take on leadership of M.E.Ch.A. (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano De Aztlán). At the time, I wasn't politically active. I was just a sophomore focused on my AP classes and academics, but someone saw further potential in me, and I stepped up. Leading that club changed the trajectory of my life. At first, I made mistakes. I chose officers poorly, not yet understanding how to build a team. But I learned. I learned how to bring people together around shared values, how to keep a group running smoothly, and how to educate and mobilize others. By my senior year, our club meetings had grown to over 60 regular attendees, and we had become a serious force for change in our school. Just as importantly, I had immersed myself in Chicano history, U.S. politics, and the power of organizing. As I studied, I began to recognize systemic injustice all around me, some of it subtle and some of it painfully direct. I've personally faced discrimination because of my language, my skin tone, and my background. These experiences didn't harden me; they focused me. They made me want to use my voice, not just for myself, but for those who are too quiet or too afraid to speak up. I want to serve at the state level because that's where deep, structural policy shifts can happen, whilst still maintaining a direct connection to the communities impacted. Local work is critical, and I plan to stay grounded in activism. Still, state legislatures have the power to transform education systems, housing laws, and labor protections that ripple across entire populations. Long-term, I aspire to serve at the federal level, either in the Senate or in the executive branch, where national-scale policy is created. But I believe real leadership begins with being rooted, and that's what the state level offers. One current issue I care deeply about is the intersection of education inequity, wage inequality, and housing instability. These are not isolated issues; they're linked. A student who receives a poor-quality education is more likely to struggle in the job market. A worker earning minimum wage cannot afford stable housing in most cities. A homeless person is less likely to recover economically or socially. It's a chain reaction and a cycle; thus, the only way to break it is with integrated policy solutions that address the root causes and not just the symptoms. I believe in fully funding public schools, raising the minimum wage, and expanding access to affordable and safe housing. I do not consider these to be radical ideas, but rather foundational investments in human dignity. Finally, civil discourse plays a vital role in shaping effective public policy. We live in a time when political debate often turns into a performance: loud voices, soundbites, and outrage. However, real policy doesn't emerge from yelling. It comes from listening. Civil discourse means hearing people out, especially when you disagree. It means finding common ground without compromising your core values. As someone who plans to be in this space long-term, I understand that effective leadership requires both conviction and humility. I'm not interested in being the loudest one in the room, though I can be. But I'd rather be the one who gets things done.