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guadalupe cortez

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Finalist

Bio

Hello, my name is Guadalupe Cortez. I am a first-generation University student. I'm going to graduate on May 20th, 2026, and earn my associate's degree in psychology. Afterwards, I plan on attending UCLA to earn my bachelor's degree in psychology. When I earn my bachelor's degree, I plan on earning my Master's in psychology. My career goal is to become a clinical psychologist. I work part-time in retail to help support my mom. During my free time, I love listening to music and spending time with my family. Also, I volunteer on Mondays at Sierra Pacific Furbabies, which consists of caring for cats.

Education

University of California-Los Angeles

Bachelor's degree program
2026 - 2028
  • Majors:
    • Psychology, General

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Master's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      • Non-Profit Organization Management
    • Dream career goals:

      clinical psychologist

    • sales associate

      VF corporation
      2023 – Present3 years

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Sierra Pacific Furbabies — My role is to ensure that the cats have a clean and tidy place.
      2026 – Present
    TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT) MOA Scholarship
    1. I first found out about TXT in 2022. At the time, I knew them as BTS's little brothers, and I admired their qualities because they seemed like genuine people who were passionate about their music. Also, their lore is a unique aspect that I've never seen in K-pop. The first music video I ever saw from TXT was Good Boy Gone Bad, and their first album I bought was Thursday Child. I remember playing the CD and jamming out ot their songs while driving to work. I started to remember their names, fan chants, and listen to all of their music. My journey as a Moa has made me the adult I am today. 2. The most important characteristic of being a Moa is not giving up. As Moas, we unite together and are determined to succeed. Their track "Stick With You" from their 7th year: A moment of Stillness in the Thorns won first place in five different music shows, earning TXT their first grand slam. Moas were determined to see TXT win this award and voted. This was actually my first time voting for TXT on the Music Bank. The process of voting was challenging, but it was worth seeing TXT earn their awards. 3. My bias in TXT is Hueningkai. The story of Hueningkai becoming my bias is quite funny, and I enjoy telling this story. The reason why I chose him in the beginning is that I received a freebie of him. I said to myself, if I ever stanned TXT, he would be my bias. The story is quite silly, but as I learned more about each member, he was still the one I related to most. He is a kind and caring person who is an introvert, too. I relate to him because I stay in my shell, but when I am around the people I care about, I can feel like myself. Also, his laugh is so contagious, and he is a music prodigy. 4. My ult bias is Hueningkai, as he is talented and he cares about others. During his trainee days, the other members viewed him as mature for his age. He had to grow up fast and was emotionless. I relate to him because I feel like I grew up quickly. While my mom worked, I took on the responsibility of taking care of my younger brother. 5. Honestly, this is a difficult question as I love all of TXT's songs. Their songs have a deeper meaning, and their lyrics focus on their personal experience, some of which I can even relate to. One song that I truly admire is "Maze in the Mirror". This song has a deeper message, and it's about not recognizing yourself when you look at yourself in the mirror and being trapped in a maze. While this song explores TXT's personal struggles in their trainee days, it reflects their determination. Not to mention, this is the first song that all the members co-wrote together. I personally relate to the lyrics as well, feeling trapped in my thoughts. This song has given me hope that there's an exit to the maze. 6. I have seen TXT 3 times in concert. I saw them in Act: Sweet Mirage, Act: Promise, and Act: Tomorrow. Each time I've seen them, it feels as if just as special as the first time. Seeing them live is phenomenal. I am glad I was able to see them live, and I hope to see them at their next concert. 7. My favorite concept is definitely The Star Chapter: Together. Although it's the end of their lore, it is my favorite because they're able to find their identities. 8. I am currently paying for school with financial aid and the rest out of pocket. 9. This scholarship will help me with the rest of my tuition, other expenses like housing, and textbooks. 10. TXT has influenced me as they've taught me to love myself and deal with the scary reality of growing up. 11. I am majoring in Psychology, and I hope to help individuals with their mental health. Also, I hope to help people overcome their obstacles and escape their maze.
    Working Student Scholarship
    As a first-generation college student, there were many different challenges I faced while working part-time and attending school full-time. After I graduated from high school, I was determined to attend community college. I initially enrolled for the fall semester in 2022, but I decided to delay my education. Part of the reason why I delayed my education is that I wanted to save enough money to buy myself a car to get me to school. I worked two part-time jobs and saved enough money to buy a car within one and a half years. I finally reenrolled myself in community college for the spring semester of 2024. By the time it came to attending school, I decided to keep only one job to maintain a less hectic schedule. I was scared to balance school and work because working two jobs was challenging enough. Furthermore, I knew that I needed to work to be able to pay for my school expenses. I currently work at Kipling, although it is a part-time job, I have faced many challenges. Maintaining a work and school life balance is challenging; nevertheless, it has taught me a lot of responsibility and time management skills. To start, retail jobs are hectic during holidays, as I was working thirty hours of work. During this time, we were short-staffed, and it was complicated to find time to complete my assignment. I was also taking around four honors classes, which required a 7 to 10-page research paper. To complete my assignment on time, I had to scarifice my free time and commit at least 5 to 7 hours per day to it. I remember even using my breaks to complete my assignments; I took advantage of every second. I faced this challenge by sacrificing my time. Also, retail jobs are known for not having a set schedule. Sometimes I would close one day, and the next day, I had to be there again to open. While it was sometimes difficult to time manage, I used my days off to complete most of my work. I also took most classes online, only taking 1 to two classes in person. Online classes helped me complete my assignments from anywhere and even allowed me to watch my lectures during my breaks. Although it can be challenging to balance school and work, I personally think it is worth the sacrifice. I know I feel burnt out at certain times, but earning my bachelor's in Psychology with little to no debt will make it worth it in the end. Also, being able to help out my mom is worth the sacrifice as she struggles a lot for me to attend school.