For a long time, I have always been very passionate about the topic of sexual assault. Eradicating it, educating others, and contributing to victims in any way possible has always been on the forefront of my mind, and in the past year I have had the opportunity to make an impact on my local community. By giving my aid in multiple ways throughout the year, I have felt the gratitude and satisfaction of knowing that I have helped others, leaving me forever humbled and willing to help those in need. Kristi House is a non-profit organization located in Miami that aims to provide resources and therapy to children who have been sexually abused, while also providing informational sessions and accepting donations in different forms with the ultimate goal to eradicate child abuse and sexual trafficking. I have contributed by donating school supplies and toys during a Back to School Drive and Holiday Drive, respectively, attending youth informational seminars, and becoming a social media ambassador through linking their website onto my platforms and reposting their educational posts. This year, in addition to a donation drive for school supplies that I am in the process of organizing, I started a cookie business where all of the proceeds go straight to the organization, combining my love for baking and for helping others. I have made over $200 and am continuing to raise money, all of which will be given back to those children who are receiving the help they deserve. By promoting the organization so much, I have also gotten my friends involved, with several of them now following and keeping up with the organization's Instagram, purchasing my cookies, and contributing to my drive. My leadership in raising awareness about such an important cause to my school and personal community has made me develop a new sense of pride and fulfillment, especially knowing that others younger than me who don't have a voice will be able to get the help that they need. These projects have made a very big impact on my life just because I have been so blessed in my life to not have gone through all of the horrible experiences that those children have, inspiring a lot of humility and thankfulness within me for the life that I have. It has taught me to choose kindness above anything else and never take anything for granted, knowing that I have not had to go through so many things and am privileged enough to help those who have. When I have gone in to deliver the physical donations, there have been times where I saw some of the children that Kristi House helped, and it absolutely broke my heart knowing that they were so young and going through so much. I knew since that day that I wanted to help as much as I possibly could throughout the rest of my life. It showed me that service is very important to me, and being a light in the lives of those who are struggling, particularly children, means the world.

Throughout my life, I have been perceived in many different ways, and as I have gotten older, my self-perception of my best qualities have evolved. My once embarrassing sensitivity and proneness to tears have developed into empathy and compassion for. My extreme shyness and quietness have become thoughtfulness and discipline. Though there are many words to describe me in the classroom or professional setting, the quality that I find most valuable in myself is my constant willingness to help others in need and provide service. This aspect of myself has and will continue to reflect greater positivity in the world, making an impact on others, which providing me with a sense of gratification and keeping me grounded by reminding me of the existing blessings in my life. My altruism has made me become a happier and humbler individual, and knowing that I can help the world, even if just a little, is by far my most important characteristic. From my perspective, an individual’s character is evident when you see how they interact with those around them. Even the greatest amount of external beauty pales in comparison to a caring heart. As I have gone through life, I have experienced firsthand the effects of bullying and being around negative and selfish people who refused to help others. I have gone on to value, above anything else, those who are always willing to lend a helping hand and be there when you need them, and as a result I have internalized the love for that quality within myself. Whenever I see a friend or even a stranger who seems distraught, I feel like the least I can do is be there for them and provide them with any support they may need. This has evolved into people often coming to me for advice, trusting me with their deepest secrets, and thanking me for being in their lives, and knowing that I have made a positive impact on those around me is the best possible feeling. This has gone on to reflect itself outside of my personal life and into my volunteering. For the past year, I have been working with an organization called Kristi House that provides resources and therapy to children who have been sexually abused, also attempting to eradicate child abuse and trafficking. I have donated items, attended seminars, been a social media ambassador, and just recently I started a cookie business where 100% of the profits go to this organization. Every time I contribute and get thanked for helping, my heart feels full, and as someone who is very passionate about sexual assault, I feel that letting others know that they will survive is one of most rewarding feelings. While being altruistic might not help me make the most money or become the most powerful person in the future, I know that I will be impacting the lives of many people no matter how I choose to express it, and that will provide me with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment that cannot be bought. I will continue evolving to become a better person, and I will live knowing that I touched so many lives, which I feel is my purpose. In reality, I would simply be doing everything that I’m meant to do. My life and the lives of those around me will be positively impacted, and I hope to be sparking joy and hoped in those around me. My willingness to lend a helping hand and put others before myself is not only the most valuable trait within me, but others who too will make a difference.

Financial freedom, in itself, is a vague description that could come to mean almost anything to an individual. Whether it be lacking debt and having enough to survive, or having sufficient money to afford nice things and live a lavish lifestyle, everybody wants money. Having the privilege to have grown up in an upper middle class household, but acknowledging the struggles that it took my family to get to where we are financially, financial freedom to me means being able to live comfortably without questioning if I have enough money for all of the basic necessities or emergency situations, while also having a little bit extra to spend on myself or my loved ones. By pursuing a high degree through scholarships and financial aid and working towards a job that allows me to make a decent income, I can achieve this stability in the future. My parents are Cuban immigrants who sacrificed everything to come to this country, and they worked tirelessly everyday to provide themselves and their families with the financial freedom to live comfortably in the United States. My mom came here at the age of 21, and my father moved to Puerto Rico as a baby, both fleeing the economic and political hardships of the nation under the rule of dictator Fidel Castro. Because of this, I hear the stories and acknowledge the struggles of having lived in a third-world, poverty-stricken country in which you never know if you'll have food for the day, and traveling just to school is an hour-long mission. Keeping this is mind, I have been very humbled and cautious with my money and my savings, and part of this constitutes my view of financial freedom which is always knowing that I have enough money to get me through everyday in my purchases of food, water, electricity, clothing, a home, and insurance, among other things. Financial freedom means not being exposed to the unfortunate situations of my ancestors. Despite this, my parents worked very hard to give my brother and I the best possible life, and we have been lucky enough to have always gotten practically everything we've wanted without being concerned about whether it would cost too much. We never had to worry about getting Christmas or birthday presents, and I think that in that sense financial freedom has translated into something similar that I want to provide for myself and my future family where I can give me them more than just the basics. Financial freedom is having money to balance the needs and the wants. It has always been stressed to me the importance of being able to go to college debt-free without having to take out loans. Because of this, it has been engrained in my mind that part of achieving financial freedom comes directly from what I do right now: going to college for free through scholarships and financial aid would guarantee that I do not have so much to pay off in the future. Additionally, receiving a college education in itself increases my chances of receiving a high-paying job, which would provide me with financial security by having a steady salary and source of income. Pursuing a higher education while collecting the minimum amount of debt, allowing me to make money in a career that I am passionate about, will provide me with financial freedom and enough to spend on myself and those I love.