On Sunday, October 8th, at 8:00 a.m., I promised my grandmother I would work hard and make her proud. She passed away a couple of minutes later. Six hours before, I received a phone call that she had a heart attack and that it was time for me to say goodbye. Three hours before, I boarded my flight from Wilmington, North Carolina, to Newark, New Jersey, sobbing the entire time. One month before, we spoke about missing one another on the phone. She used to call herself, "huevo," which meant egg, but she was so beautiful. Two months before, I had hugged her goodbye for the last time, saying how excited I was to come back and see her at Thanksgiving. Four months before, I went to one of her chemotherapy sessions alongside her son, my padrino, Santiago. I learned what a port was and where hers was placed. Around this time, I also cut her hair with my mother when it began to fall out. Five months before, I landed from Wilmington, North Carolina, to Newark, New Jersey, and the minute I got back to my padrino's house with my cousin, I was told my grandmother was battling ovarian cancer. My sun was gone in a matter of months. Although our daily texts and phone calls abruptly stopped, my thoughts about her did not. She consumed my mind. Each sleepover we shared, each word we ever spoke to one another, everything. We were inseparable, how was the moon supposed to live without her sun? I am grateful to say I inherited her determination. I worked hard during my undergraduate studies, and at the time of my grandmother's passing, I was pursuing a dual major in communication studies and sociology, had a 3.7 cumulative GPA, was the Chapter President and Social Media Chair of my sorority, had completed two of my dream internships at Deloitte, and attended multiple conferences. She was always one of the first to congratulate me and tell me how proud she was of me. I don't remember much of myself directly after her passing, but I do remember going back on my promise to her. I was deliberately not doing assignments, skipping class, and lashing out at my loved ones. As time passed, I knew I had to make a change. If not for myself, for her. After her passing, I graduated from UNCW with a 3.8 GPA, received my first 4.0 semester GPA in Spring 2024, was selected to present my final paper from one of my classes in a research showcase, and won the Chapter President of the Year Award, the Cornerstone Award of Distinguished Engagement, the Sociology Academic Excellence Award for being the graduating sociology senior with the highest overall GPA, and the Communication Studies Cunningham Department Exemplar Award. I took a piece of her with me, wearing one of her rings every time. I also thanked her in my mind after each moment. I am not done fulfilling my promise to her. I recently began my Master of Enterprise Risk Management at Wake Forest University and am beginning as a Risk and Financial Advisory Analyst in March at Deloitte. Watching her battle with cancer during that time reminds me to keep pushing and to build upon the legacy she left for my family. I miss her every day, and although I cry as I write this, I know she is right by my side at this second. She found her peace and I will do my all to fulfill my promise to her that I made on that fateful Sunday.

As a child, I had always been rule-oriented and thought about the impact of my and others' actions. For better or for worse, I was always first to notice those cheating in hide and seek or remind someone to buckle their seatbelt when I was younger. As I grew older and tried to find my footing in the world, I took this trait and turned it into a viable career. My long-term goal is to work in enterprise risk management, specifically within consulting. My journey within risk management began when I held office as the Vice President of Risk Management Position for my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. The position focused on the physical and mental safety of the chapter, allowing me to tap into the insurance aspect of risk management, spearheading the creation of a mental health Instagram page for the chapter, alumni, and campus community. The following semester, I was elected into a more policy-based position called the Vice President of Chapter Relations and Standards. This position required me to become comfortable with extensive documents and administrative tasks like meeting scheduling and facilitation, paperwork, and more. My final executive position, Chapter President, strengthened the leadership and managerial skills that I need in both consulting and enterprise risk management. After experiencing the collegiate side of risk management, I set sights on expanding my horizons. I completed two Risk and Financial Advisory internships at Deloitte, with my second one specifically focusing on enterprise risk management. I will be returning to this practice in March as an Analyst, and this fall I will be beginning the Master of Enterprise Risk Management program at Wake Forest University. Having an educational background in the field I am pursuing full-time will take my knowledge from my internships to the extra mile, allowing me to connect real-life experiences to specific courses. Having direct experience with enterprise risk management at Deloitte also allows me to seamlessly transition into the Analyst role, as I worked very closely with my Analyst on my summer 2023 engagement. Lastly, I hope to earn the Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification after three years of consulting experience. I never felt like I had a place in the business world as a double major in communication studies and sociology until I found risk management. By utilizing my risk management experience, I turned my two majors into an area of study focused on consistent and professional communication, data analytics and interpretation, interpersonal skills, and diverse thinking. I want to be a reliable internal teammate on my ERM engagements, striving always to be someone people can count on. Moreover, I want to be a beacon of support and knowledge to my clients to deliver them tailored solutions to their business needs. I believe the steps I've taken show my dedication to the field and hope the insights learned throughout them shine when I begin full-time!

A love for travel goes beyond surface level. Interpersonally, I see travel as a passion for experiencing the beauty of other cultures, increasing our empathy and awareness, and creating shared experiences with others. Internally, it is a time to connect with our heritage, reflect on our cultural beliefs, and consider our current beliefs and perspectives. The beauty of travel is how it is multifaceted and individualized, with everyone having the opportunity to grow differently from it. A travel memory that allowed me to reflect on my culture and enhance my perspective on kindness was when my family traveled to Athens, Greece in 2022. We traveled with many people with varying backgrounds and histories, fully ready to explore Greek culture since it is not home to any of our heritages. Our group was primarily of Hispanic descent, with my immediate family being Mexican and Hungarian, my extended family being Mexican and Cuban, my close family friends being Ecuadorian, and my partner being Lebanese and Italian. Dining out for dinner quickly became one of our favorite aspects of the trip because of the hospitality rooted in Greek culture. In Greece, it is common practice to receive free dessert as a way to enjoy your meal in full. I remember grinning ear to ear after being surprised with yogurt and honey on the first night, as it is one of my father's and I’s favorite snacks. I had never experienced such kindness while dining before and deeply respected the roots it takes in Greek culture. Although it was simply a small act of kindness, it allowed me to reflect on the importance of food in my Mexican culture, as in both cultures, we show love, care, and respect through food. In fact, many of my fondest memories are of my grandmother making me my favorite foods as a child, as acts of service were one of her love languages. It was peaceful to find comfort in a culture that was not my own. After the trip concluded, I focused on making an impact on my loved ones through random acts of kindness. I also took the time to further appreciate and grow my knowledge of my Mexican heritage. There is an abundance of stories of travel having similar effects on others. One commonality we can all agree on is how having the opportunity to travel, whether domestically or internationally, is a true gift that leaves a lasting impact on ourselves and those around us. I will forever be grateful for the memories shared through travel and will strive to lead with the kindness that was given to me in Athens, Greece.

Since I was eleven years old, nearly every world I created was never complete without a fishing dock as an ode to my grandfather. Growing up, I found his adventurous nature and deep love for the sea inspiring. I wanted to be just like him. Through fishing in the game, I realized why he would spend hours off-shore— time moved slower when I would fish. I recall diligently staring close to my screen, impatiently waiting for the bobber to fall deep beneath the water before reeling in at the right moment. It did not matter if I got nearly broken bows and salmon, I would still grin ear-to-ear whenever I received my treasure. “This is how he feels when he catches something,” I’d note. Fishing was always my favorite aspect of the game; doing it in this light was my way of connecting with him. Although it was virtual, it felt real to me. My grandfather unfortunately passed a few months shy of my thirteenth birthday. I found out he was in the hospital while I was playing on my favorite server at the time, Edawg878 Creative. Minecraft played a large role in my grief journey as I searched for solace during a time I had little understanding of. Years later, at twenty-two years old, I still frequently play the game and build a fishing dock in all my worlds. I now prefer to play on a small server, and while other players are creating a multitude of automatic farms or exploring the depths of the Nether, I can be found fishing out by my dock. My use of the game brings me peace and is a time when I can cast the rod and feel his presence. I continue to resonate deeply with fishing in the game as it allows me to see my grandfather in the sand, kelp, and cod that take home within the digital sea.

I lacked drive and determination throughout high school and was astounded that any university accepted me during my admissions process. I let my emotions get the better of me, consistently using them as an excuse to put minimal effort into my assignments and exams. I frequently blamed others for my faults yet refused to seek help. In contrast, my grandmother, Adolfina Estrada, was fierce and determined, yet also a gentlewoman. She was everything I wished to be. She was at my side at my highest of highs and my lowest of lows, always remaining proud to be my grandmother. She truly wanted the world for me and knew I was able to achieve it. I realized I could not stay like this and was determined to change my attitude in university, and that I did. At the beginning summer of 2023, I was both the Chapter President and Social Media Chair of my sorority, was at my second internship at one of the Big Four accounting firms, maintained a strong academic track record with a 3.7/4.0 GPA, and attended four national professional development conferences. Simultaneously, my grandmother, who played a vital role in my upbringing, was beginning her battle with ovarian cancer. My kind, beautiful grandmother, who immigrated from México to give herself and her children a better life, was now facing a battle with a disease that wanted to consume her. I dreaded coming back to North Carolina in August, however, was hopeful I would see her again when I returned to New Jersey. On October 8, 2023, at 2:47 a.m., my sweet mother called me saying I needed to get on a flight from North Carolina to New Jersey, it was time to say goodbye. I was thirty minutes too late and had to say goodbye on the phone in the car, with her passing away after our call concluded. At that moment, I felt unbearable pain knowing the woman I once spoke to every night since I was 15 was now someone who could only visit me in my dreams. I began screaming once I arrived at the hospital, collapsing at the sight of her. I tried to find peace knowing the physical and mental agony she felt was over, yet selfishly, I missed her dearly. I spent the majority of my days glued to my bed and lashing out, ignoring, or crying to my loved ones. My memory began fleeting and in turn, I began slacking on class work. Above all, I was spiteful, bitter, and full of hate. I missed her deeply. My mother, who I am very close to, urged me to go to therapy. I did not officially make an appointment until my UNCW Fraternity and Sorority Life Advisor walked me to the on-campus center, sitting by my side as I filled out my new patient paperwork. On November 8th, just one month after her passing, I received the Chapter President of the Year award from my university. I proudly wore her ring during the ceremony, kissing it when I won. I believe this moment was a sign from my grandmother to keep on pushing and continue the work I had left behind. From that moment forward, I fought to build upon her beautiful and inspirational legacy. I began practicing kindness with others, setting healthy boundaries to focus on my mental health, and focusing heavily on my school work. I was determined to finish my final two undergraduate semesters on a high note to honor the beginning of my professional career, just as she wanted. I received four A’s and one A minus for the Fall 2023 semester, and my first 4.0 GPA for the Spring 2024 semester. I also received a Cornerstone Award for Distinguished Engagement from the university, the Sociology Academic Excellence Award for being the graduating sociology student with the highest overall GPA, and the Communication Studies Cunningham Department Exemplar Award. Recently, I enrolled at Wake Forest University for their Master of Enterprise Risk Management program. I wore her ring during every moment. Although I carry her with me, a piece of me left with her on that fateful Sunday. I will forever be impacted by her and will continue to live for her and my loving family. To be loved is to be changed.