I am 17 years old; I was born in the United States of America in California. My parents are Mexican citizens and my first language is Spanish. In the year 2022, I migrated from Mexico to the United States. The transition was not easy faced difficulties due to the language barrier and the immigration status of my parents. In my 11th grade. I found myself with unexpected challenges including depression, as coped with leaving behind my friends, family, and my native language Spanish. However, my dreams of a bright future kept me resilient and with the unwavering support and love of my parents, I persevered. Every day has been a struggle, but it has also been an opportunity to learn and grow making it a point not to miss school and walking each day as a chance to acquire new knowledge and skills. Despite the hurdles. I show courage in the things I do. I am daring and I’m not afraid to try something new or pass through any change. I am always willing to do anything, even if that leads me to obstacles that can prevent me from moving forward, I always look for a way to overcome them. I have managed to excel academically. I am particularly proud of being recognized as the Student of the Month in English three times in one school year; a language and a subject I have never practiced before. This accomplishment has boosted my confidence and reinforced my determination to succeed. I have found solace and purpose in my school through volunteering and doing community service, I have been able to give back make meaningful connections and have the opportunity to make new friends. Engaging in these activities has not only kept my mind occupied but has also given me a sense of fulfilment. Every day, my conviction strengthens, affirming that a career in Criminal Justice is my true calling. I envision myself in a future political position, motivated by a singular purpose: the betterment of my community. My focus lies in expanding opportunities for underprivileged families, weaving a fabric of support and empowerment. I am driven to enhance crime prevention strategies and create innovative projects aimed at elevating the quality of life for all citizens. With a resolute spirit and a commitment to excellence, I am dedicated to crafting a future where meaningful change is not just a possibility, but a reality.

My name is Frida Medina Salinas. I am a senior at Calexico High School. In June 2022, I migrated from Mexico to the United States of America to prepare for my university career. I would like to share with you, my journey, one that has been both challenging and rewarding. I come from a close-knit Mexican family. Where Spanish was my first language. At the age of 16. I made the courageous decision to move to the United States to pursue my education and prepare for my university career. My new school is in Calexico California, situated near the border with Mexico. The transition was not easy faced difficulties due to the language barrier and the immigration status of my parents. Despite the hurdles. I show courage in the things I do. I am daring and I’m not afraid to try something new or pass through any change. I am always willing to do anything, even if that leads me to obstacles that can prevent me from moving forward, I always look for a way to overcome them. I started 11th grade at Calexico High School, where I developed skills that I didn’t know I was capable of. I found myself with unexpected challenges including depression, as coped with leaving behind my friends family, and my native language Spanish. However, my dreams of a bright future kept me resilient and with the unwavering support and love of my parents, I persevered. Having migrated, opened my panorama with a broader vision of my future. I am in my second year of the Career Technical Education (CTE) program in Law Enforcement and I have been inspired by my CTE Teacher to study Criminology. I have participated in multiple community services at my school, such as the CTE fair program and supported students and parents by informing them of class activities (English and Spanish) and as a security guard in most school events. I find immense fulfilment in my role as a security guard particularly during my community service activities. It brings me great satisfaction to ensure the safety and happiness of the people I serve. Every day in my CTE class, my conviction strengthens, affirming that a career in Criminal Justice is my true calling. I envision myself in a future political position, motivated by a singular purpose: the betterment of my community. My focus lies in expanding opportunities for underprivileged families, weaving a fabric of support and empowerment. I am driven to enhance crime prevention strategies and create innovative projects aimed at elevating the quality of life for all citizens. With a resolute spirit and a commitment to excellence, I am dedicated to crafting a future where meaningful change is not just a possibility but a reality.

My name is Frida Medina Salinas. I am a senior at Calexico High School. In June 2022, I migrated from Mexico to the United States of America to prepare for my university career; my home language is Spanish. I came here because I am passionate about studying criminal justice and giving me the opportunity to get this scholarship; If I get this opportunity I could continue with my studies and be able to apply the knowledge acquired for the benefit of my community and my country. I started 11th grade at Calexico High School, where I developed skills that I didn’t know I was capable of. Having migrated, opened my panorama with a broader vision of my future. Despite the fact of migrating from a different city, friends, culture and language, I never gave up, I gave all my effort. I was nominated student of the month twice in English, received recognition in Unified Physical Education, and also an Academic Achievement award in English 11. I passed the Advanced Placement (AP) exam in Spanish Language and Culture with the highest grade. Currently, I am enrolled in a dual enrollment course and looking forward to this senior year to pursue earning college credits. I am in my second year of the Career Technical Education (CTE) program in Law Enforcement and I have been inspired by my CTE Teacher to study Criminology. I have participated in multiple community services at my school, such as the CTE fair program and supported students and parents by informing them of class activities (English and Spanish) and as a security guard in most school events. I became an Associated Student Body (ASB) member in the charity group. I had the opportunity to do community service by working in the food area and cleaning during the homecoming games, setting up and organizing events like the “Suicide Prevention” week, and PEP Rallies. I also co-organized school events such as the Mexican Independence Assembly, Start with Hello Week, The Spirit Week, The National IT Professionals Day and Club Rush. I have facilitated as a Master of Ceremonies (MC) by presenting all performances giving out a speech on Mexican Independence and announcing different events. My vision extends beyond the ordinary; I aspire to acquire the knowledge and tools necessary to make a positive change within my community. I harbor ambitions of effecting substantial improvements at the state level. I’m passionate about obtaining a master's degree in Criminal Justice, a choice profoundly influenced by my unwavering dedication to Law enforcement, a passion instilled in me by my esteemed teacher since the first day of my technical career journey in the eleventh grade. Every day, my conviction strengthens, affirming that a career in Criminal Justice is my true calling. I envision myself in a future political position, motivated by a singular purpose: the betterment of my community. My focus lies in expanding opportunities for underprivileged families, weaving a fabric of support and empowerment. I am driven to enhance crime prevention strategies and create innovative projects aimed at elevating the quality of life for all citizens. With a resolute spirit and a commitment to excellence, I am dedicated to crafting a future where meaningful change is not just a possibility but a reality.

My name is Frida Medina Salinas. I am a senior at Calexico High School. In June 2022, I migrated from Mexico to the United States of America to prepare for my university career; my home language is Spanish. I came here because I am passionate about studying criminal justice and giving me the opportunity to get this scholarship; If I get this opportunity I could continue with my studies and be able to apply the knowledge acquired for the benefit of my community and my country. I started 11th grade at Calexico High School, where I developed skills that I didn’t know I was capable of. Having migrated, opened my panorama with a broader vision of my future. Despite the fact of migrating from a different city, friends, culture and language, I never gave up, I gave all my effort. I was nominated student of the month twice in English, received recognition in Unified Physical Education, and also an Academic Achievement award in English 11. I passed the Advanced Placement (AP) exam in Spanish Language and Culture with the highest grade. Currently, I am enrolled in a dual enrollment course and looking forward to this senior year to pursue earning college credits. I am in my second year of the Career Technical Education (CTE) program in Law Enforcement and I have been inspired by my CTE Teacher to study Criminology. I have participated in multiple community services at my school, such as the CTE fair program and supported students and parents by informing them of class activities (English and Spanish) and as a security guard in most school events. I became an Associated Student Body (ASB) member in the charity group. I had the opportunity to do community service by working in the food area and cleaning during the homecoming games, setting up and organizing events like the “Suicide Prevention” week, and PEP Rallies. I also co-organized school events such as the Mexican Independence Assembly, Start with Hello Week, The Spirit Week, The National IT Professionals Day and Club Rush. I have facilitated as a Master of Ceremonies (MC) by presenting all performances giving out a speech on Mexican Independence and announcing different events. My goals in studying Criminal Justice focus on expanding opportunities for underprivileged families, weaving a fabric of support and empowerment. I am driven to enhance crime prevention strategies and create innovative projects aimed at elevating the quality of life for all citizens. With a resolute spirit and a commitment to excellence, I am dedicated to crafting a future where meaningful change is not just a possibility but a reality.

My name is Frida Medina and I think the Hogwarts house I most identify with, is Hufflepuff. I consider myself a person with a noble heart, kind and who puts effort into everything that I propose to myself. I like being able to take care of people, giving them the attention they deserve is very nice for me to express. Also, I offer my help to people who need it or not. Those are the things that I do to show my love for others and make them feel loved. I show courage in the things I do. I am daring and I’m not afraid to try something new or pass through any change. I am always willing to do anything, even if that leads me to obstacles that can prevent me from moving forward, I always look for a way to overcome them. I feel that being part of Hufflepuff is identified by justice and inclusion. On a daily basis, I fight for the values and principles instilled by my parents and for what I believe is right. I don't like it when people are excluded from certain activities because they "aren't good" or "don't have what it takes to do it." And it's wrong since every person deserves to have a moment in which they can excel regardless of condition or skill. I feel that everyone deserves an opportunity to do things and even if they make mistakes, they gain more experience and learning, so with that, they have already gained a lot. I feel like I belong to Hufflepuff because apart from all that, I have leadership skills and dedication. I'm good at managing myself. And thanks to this, I have learned how to manage a whole group of people and inspire and motivate with my enthusiasm. It wouldn't be bossing them around like a boss or as if it were something of obligation. It would motivate and inspire them to do the right thing and instead of making them feel angry about it, it gives them joy in what they do. Finally, I am a very dedicated and passionate person. I find myself constantly falling in love with the endeavors I pursue, and it fills my heart with immense gratitude. I am not a conformist nor someone who gives up very easily. I like to fight for what I want. I like to see how I am advancing along the way, how I change, how I improve in the process and how little by little, I am getting closer to my goal. For me, it is gratifying to see how I can move forward and at the same time look back, learning from the past and my mistakes. And I don't stop fighting until I reach my goal, of course without feeling superior or surpassing others, always doing it in the fairest way. That's why I feel like I belong to Hufflepuff.

One of my favorite Netflix series is "Extraordinary Attorney Woo". It is about a girl who has Asperger Syndrome on the autism spectrum and becomes a lawyer, facing society's criticism of her disability, the complications of falling in love and family relationships. This series emphasizes Woo's condition, implying that being autistic is not an impediment to excelling as a person and connecting to the outside world. When Woo was a child, she was very interested in reading books that covered the topics of politics, penal codes, rights and laws of Korea. As time went by, she surprised the community where she lived; she was able to help her father in his economic and rights assertion as he was the one who cared for and supported her education, coming from a simple and humble family. Many people believed that she had no future because "being autistic is a disability." But I didn't think so, and the series inspires you to have a positive outlook and have hope for families with an autistic family member. In college, Woo excelled in school because of how smart she was. She earned her law degree with honors, she was at the top of her class and despite being autistic, she was able to get a place at a prestigious law firm in Korea. As the series progresses, it explains details of Woo's day-to-day life, her enormous love for whales and details it as a form of therapy for relaxation in a time of stress crisis; in this series, they explain Woo's life as a completely normal life, but she faced the obstacles of a lawyer's duties and the major challenge of being autistic. I am fascinated with this series because it has not been easy in my life, facing the different stages of my growth and maturity; but now, I can understand and empathize in knowing how difficult it is for someone with this condition to relate to other people to be understood and to be able to perform activities. In the series, there's a topic about love, which explains that there are no limits, love has no barriers, and that a disability/condidtion is not a reason not to love someone and be loved, it is beautiful to see this picture in real life, without prejudice, without discrimination, and to integrate everyone in the same society in order to have a community with values and cultural integration. I think everyone deserves a chance, and in this series, I admire the lawyer Woo, her enthusiasm to be an independent person, and to achieve a place in the buffet of lawyers. We all have a fear, maybe it is not a physical or mental disability/condition, it may be just personal insecurity to face the world, we may also be afraid to change jobs, city, or culture for fear of discrimination, or rejection of colleagues. I think it is good to take the opportunity to change because opportunities open up. It is important to be persistent by having a dream and hope because this leads to change for a better life in the community where you live–that’s how I identify with this series and I love to watch it over and over again.

My favorite KPOP group is BTS. I started listening to them when I was 13 years old. At that time, my best friend recommended that I listen to this style so that we could share our musical tastes together. That was the first time I listened to them and I fell in love with their songs. The first song I heard was DOPE. What I liked very much was that each member of BTS was dressed as a professional; for example, Jungkook was dressed as a policeman and Taehyung was dressed as a teacher or a student. As I got to know each member of the group and each song, I realized how much they try to tell their fandom through their songs about self-love. Many of their albums are about self-love and it's really nice that an artist includes a sensitive subject like this in most of their songs. I think that self-love is the love you have for yourself as a person, and in days like this, self-love is impacted a lot by stereotypes or social networks that show images of what it is to be a perfect person, and because of this, people criticize themselves a lot and demand a lot of things. Most people have gone through a lot of criticism, whether it's their body, their personality, where they come from, etc. And I can say that all of that is horrible because I have experienced it as well. I have been judged for my body image. And the truth is these comments have affected my perception of myself and the love I have for me. I used to not take all those kinds of comments into account. As I got older, those comments started to be more recurrent, and I started to doubt the perception I had of myself; I started to believe that the way I saw myself was wrong, that I was incorrect, and that all those derogatory comments towards me were real. When I started listening to BTS, I felt their songs like a warm hug to my heart. Those songs showed that we are all beautiful in our own way and it is good to be ourselves and not follow the stereotypes imposed by society and technology. Each song has inspired me to love my body on a daily basis and just like me, many people feel inspired and loved by their songs. I am very pleased that BTS has integrated such a sensitive topic that has affected many people as the theme for their songs. I feel identified by what is stated in their lyrics and the more I listen to the beautiful words they say, the more I begin to learn to love myself, to love myself just the way I am. That's why BTS are my favorite artists. They have taught me to love myself and how to cope with the kind of negative comments I may hear at times.

My name is Frida Medina Salinas. I am 17 years old. I am Latina and there is a Starbucks drink that I love–Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte. This drink is about nostalgia. It announces the beginning of autumn, which reminds me of love and passion and of a very special loved one who passed away, my grandmother Minita. Having the Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte drink nearby makes me remember the spices that my grandmother liked, especially cloves and pumpkin, with a touch of cinnamon (she was always surrounded by these aromas when she was baking such as cinnamon rolls, cookies, and sometimes hot chocolate); it makes me go back through the years, remembering the old times that we spent together. My grandmother lived with me since I was born; she helped my parents take care of me. She had all the patience to play with me, but above all, to give me all her love, and to teach me to share. She died at 84 years old when I was 9 years of age, but, I remember her daily, on these autumn dates since in the Latino culture we celebrate the day of the dead, November 2; we remember our deceased relatives by making an altar of the deceased, “Altar de Muertos,” which we decorate with Marigold flowers, in Spanish are called Flor de Cempazuchilt (they are typical Mexican flowers characterized by having many small petals shaped like pom poms and which only blossom during these autumn dates) in yellow and orange colors; we also put the favorite foods of the deceased, water or their favorite drink, and candles to illuminate their path since legend says that on that day, they come to visit us when they are remembered. But I want to tell you that in my house, we remember her daily since we have a special area for her; her altar is placed on a special location at home where we can see her from every corner of the house, and she always has a candle lit to demonstrate that she is still present every day in our hearts. My grandmother’s presence does not go unnoticed, even with the changes in weather, temperature, changes in colors such as the leaves, and trees (yellow, orange-brown); these awaken in me the craving for the aromas that she liked–pumpkin spices, cloves, vanilla, cinnamon–which provokes in my heart that nostalgic feeling that makes me remember the aroma that brings her image and essence of the great love that my grandmother and I had for each other; in my 17 years it is the first loved one that I have lost, and that will always be in my heart. When she passed away, part of my heart went to heaven with her, but she comes back to my heart whenever I taste a Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte.

My name is Frida Medina Salinas. I am a senior at Calexico High School. In June 2022, I migrated from Mexico to the United States of America to prepare for my university career; my home language is Spanish. I came here because I am passionate about studying criminal justice and giving me the opportunity to get me this scholarship; If I get this opportunity I could continue with my studies and be able to apply the knowledge acquired for the benefit of my community and my country. I started 11th grade at Calexico High School, where I developed skills that I didn’t know I was capable of. Having migrated, opened my panorama with a broader vision of my future. Despite the fact of migrating from a different city, friends, culture and language, I never gave up, I gave all my effort. I was nominated student of the month twice in English, received recognition in Unified Physical Education, and also an Academic Achievement award in English 11. I passed the Advanced Placement (AP) exam in Spanish Language and Culture with the highest grade. Currently I am enrolled in a dual enrollment course and looking forward this senior year to pursue earning college credits. I am in my second year of Career Technical Education (CTE) program in Law Enforcement and I have been inspired by my CTE Teacher to study Criminology. I have participated in multiple community services at my school, such as the CTE fair program and supported students and parents by informing them of class activities (English & Spanish) and as a security guard in most school events. I became an Associated Student Body (ASB) member in the charity group. I had the opportunity to do community service by working in the food area and cleaning during the homecoming games, setting up and organizing events like the “Suicide Prevention” week, and PEP Rallies. I also co-organized school events such as the Mexican Independence Assembly, Start with Hello Week, The Spirit Week, The National IT Professionals Day and the Club Rush. I have facilitated as a Master of Ceremonies (MC) by presenting all performances and giving out a speech of Mexican Independence and announcing different events. As a Hispanic, I value the California Dedication for Education Scholarship vision and strongly believe this could support reaching my professional and personal goals by supporting the community with creating an environment of embracing the culture and equity of all citizens.