The struggles of a teenager and their rebellion phase is not too far from the truth, I should say. As a 16 year old locked in the house during a global pandemic, I isolated myself from others. As I began to rekindle my friendship with my mother over the past few months, I realized how disconnected I was from her simply because I had shut everyone out and refused to listen carefully. Of course, she is my mom, however, one of my New Year resolutions was for us to become genuine friends; to like each other's quirks, personalities, and imperfections. Listening was the first step in doing so, and I can gladly say, with a smile on my face, that it was the best decision. Listening to my mom consists of us sitting down on the coffee table and talking back and forth about how our days went, catching up on celebrity news, and our inner struggles. Part of me listening involves resisting the urge to share my thoughts right away, but rather letting her express herself fully and safely. As I do so, the same is reciprocated to me, allowing for fruitful conversation. As I sit back and listen, I have learned how much my mom is interested in house decorations and fashion trends. Just by sitting tight, and opening my ears, a new person that I had never truly known, had become my best friend. In listening to others, I become more empathetic and knowledgeable. With what I have heard from my friends and relatives, I am eager to expand and apply what they have taught me. Along with my mom's story and my other family members' experiences, I hope to make a difference. A difference that allows for the simple act of listening to become something extraordinary.

The integrity of education can only be preserved if the rich, the middle class, and the poor can afford it. From a young age, my priority was to become a first-generation college student, but also to find a way to afford it. My El Salvadoran parents consistently repeat to me, "Ponte las pilas" translating to, "get to work," because they cannot afford my education, therefore, I will need to depend on scholarships and grants. Debt would be the breaking point. Within my family, most of my cousins had struggled to pay for college and had ended up dropping out. When I began my high school STEM program in 2018, I realized most of my peers' parents had college funds for them. This was a shock to me and disheartening. Ending this cycle of educational inequity, especially in minority communities, would allow for a more equal society overall. A society where perspectives and experiences are intertwined. A society where a diverse community of students is instituted. A society where kids like me can attend their dream universities without worrying whether they are putting their parents into endless debt. By allowing each individual to get an education, we are raising an empowered generation rather than an empowered social class. Education does not and will never discriminate, thus no one should have the power over who gets access to it. An inclusive and educated community will instill a legacy of infinite learning for those who desire it.