As a senior in high school who migrated from Mexico to the U.S. at age 12, I know firsthand what it means to come from a low-income family and face the discrimination that can come with it. My name is Eva, and I live in King City, California, a small farming town in the Salinas Valley. I’ve worked hard to adapt to a new culture, learn English, and follow my dream of becoming a nuclear medicine radiologist. I’m interested about science and technology, especially knowing that I will be helping families. King City may be small, but it’s full of hardworking families, many that belong to the agriculture area, including my parents. They’ve always supported me and my education, but college can be expensive. A scholarship like this would significantly help me and my family. I’m determined to succeed and not just for myself, but for my family and everyone who’s helped me. My community involvement is pretty wide. Every year during the month of December, close friends of mine, a few of my classmates, and I visit the cemetery to place American flags on veterans’ graves, a tradition that reminds us of the sacrifices made for this country. I’ve also worked with elementary school students, teaching them how to use musical instruments and new learning materials so they feel confident and excited to learn. During the Salinas Valley Fair each May, I help park cars and welcome visitors to make their experience simpler and pleasant. I also serve food at the King City Young Farmers reunion, where older farmers gather for a warm night of BBQ and celebration. I’ve recorded scores and taken pictures for the girls’ soccer team as well of the boys' soccer team, capturing special moments for them and their families. These experiences have taught me the impact and value of service, connection, and showing up for others. Keeping children and youth safe from bullying and cyberbullying is something I care deeply about. I’ve seen how online cruelty can affect mental health, especially for students who feel isolated or different. To help, we created interactive and social activities for incoming freshmen called Linked Crew where Freshmans could participate without fear of judgment. We also present during class time the importance of having someone to talk to, a friend, family member, teacher, or school psychologist. We encourage students to report to our principal or teacher of any harmful behavior. My goal is to help my community through empathy, and education. Whether I’m helping a patient with a medical procedure or helping out a student that is going through a tough moment, I want to be someone who makes others feel safe, seen, and supported. This scholarship would bring me one step closer to that future.