As the youngest in my family and the first to graduate high school, pursuing higher education is not just a personal milestone - it's a transformative journey that reshapes my family's narrative. My parents, Salvadoran immigrants who fled their country's civil war in the early 1980s, have always emphasized the importance of education as a pathway to a better life. Their sacrifices and unwavering support have instilled in me a deep-rooted determination to excel academically and make them proud. Witnessing my older sisters drop out of high school had a very profound impact on me. They prioritized working over continuing their education because it gave them a sense of freedom and independence. One thing led to another and my oldest sister fell into teen pregnancy due to her decisions. Their decisions highlighted the different paths someone can take and underlined the value I place on education. Determined not to follow in their footsteps, I became even more committed to excelling in my studies and pursuing a higher education to unlock opportunities that might otherwise remain inaccessible. As a first-generation student, I took proactive measures to prepare myself for college. My parents encouraged me to prioritize education above all else, which meant I wasn't allowed to date or get a job during high school for fear of ending up like my sisters. Despite not being able to experience certain high school experiences, it allowed me to focus and dedicate myself to my studies. I immersed myself in understanding the college application process, curating a list of my top choices, and staying after school to meet with our college counselor who guided me through the process of what steps I should take to help me advance in achieving my goals and exploring financial aid options. I enrolled in advanced placement classes like AP Language and AP Literature to allow me to challenge myself academically and developed effective study habits and time management skills. Recognizing areas where I needed improvement, I sought help from teachers and conversed with my classmates, ensuring I was well-prepared for the rigors of college academics. Although my high school didn't offer many extracurricular activities that favored the arts, I found creative ways to showcase and develop my artistic talents. I integrated my art skills into class projects whenever possible, turning assignments into opportunities to refine my abilities in art and graphic design. Additionally, I joined robotics and film clubs, where I contributed my artistic perspective to technical and creative projects. In my senior year, I became involved in journalism, assisting with creating the yearbook alongside my classmates. This experience not only allowed me to apply my graphic design skills but also taught me valuable lessons in collaboration, project management, and meeting deadlines. Being a first-generation college student is both a privilege and a responsibility. My pursuit of higher education is a tribute to my parents' sacrifices and a step toward altering the educational trajectory of my family. Through diligent preparation and unwavering determination, I have equipped myself with the tools needed to succeed in college. I am committed to leveraging my education to achieve a successful career in graphic design and to serve as a role model for others in my community. By doing so, I hope to demonstrate that with dedication and support, it's possible to overcome challenges and achieve one's dreams.

Growing up in a low-income household, it was very difficult to enjoy things others had like owning certain toys or video games. However, we did have one such luxury, it was a Nintendo NES system with the game Super Mario Bros 3. The Council belongs to my older sisters, who are more than 10 years older than me. Given the age gap, I sometimes felt like I didn't have the closest relationship with them, but when we played Super Mario Bros 3 together, for a moment it felt like we did. I was just a toddler, around the ages of 3 to 5, while my sisters were in their mid to late teens. Despite the differences in our ages, playing this game brought us together in a way nothing else could. I vividly remember the excitement of passing a controller, each of us taking turns to navigate Mario through the challenging levels. In those moments, I felt a closeness to them that I never wanted to end. For once, we had something we could all commonly share with each other, that being our love for playing Super Mario 3. One of the most memorable moments was when we finally beat World 1 together. That moment meant everything to me being a little kid but it also created this fun moment between the three of us as the room with laughter. That moment made me fall in love with Super Mario 3 and categorize it as one of my favorite co-op games. It wasn't just about the game; it was about the fleeting but precious connection it created between us.

For most people, being a teenager is often romanticized as a time of carefree fun, exploration, and self-discovery, but for others, it's also a period filled with intense emotional turmoil and uncertainty. Olivia Rodrigo’s “Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl” perfectly encapsulates the awkwardness and angst of those years, especially in the lines, “Everything I do is tragic, every guy I like is gay” and “Each time I step outside, it’s social suicide.” These lyrics hit close to home for me, as they mirror my own experiences of navigating the complexities of high school relationships and social anxiety. In high school, I found myself head over heels for a guy who, for several years, seemed to be everything I ever wanted. In my eyes, we had a good friendship and I often wondered if there could be something more. I analyzed every interaction, every glance, searching for signs that he might feel the same way. The idea that he could be attracted to someone else was something I had always feared. So when the rumor circulated that he was gay and that he confirmed it to me himself, it felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me. The lyric, “Every guy I like is gay,” sums up that feeling of helplessness and the irony that seemed to define my romantic life. This experience hit me hard during prom since it was a night I had always dreamed of as a kid. I went to prom with this same guy, having created false expectations of what the night might hold. I had dreamt that it was going to be a magical evening, where our friendship might evolve into something more. Unfortunately, because he wasn’t honest about his sexuality from the beginning, I ended up with nothing but bitter memories of what should have been one of the happiest nights of my life. The disappointment of that night, and the eventual realization that my feelings were never going to be reciprocated, left a lasting mark on how I view that milestone. It wasn’t just the heartbreak that made those years difficult, it was also the crippling social anxiety that accompanied it. “Each time I step outside, it’s social suicide,” Rodrigo sings, and I felt that in my bones. Every day was a battle to appear normal, to fit in, and to avoid making a fool of myself. My anxiety would spike in the most ordinary situations like walking into a classroom, speaking up in class, or even just sitting with friends. I was hyper-aware of every word I said, and every move I made, fearing that I would say or do something that would embarrass me or reveal how out of place I felt. The pressure to be perfect, or at least not to stand out, was overwhelming. These lyrics don’t just capture the essence of adolescence—they encapsulate the very real struggles that come with it. Rodrigo’s words remind us that adolescence is not just about finding yourself but also about surviving the emotional minefield that comes with growing up. Her music gives voice to the insecurities, the mistakes, and the moments of panic that we all experience during our teenage years. In sharing my story, I hope to convey that these challenges, while painful, are also a universal part of the journey to adulthood. The angst and awkwardness captured in these lyrics are not just relics of the past for me; they are reminders of how far I’ve come. While I still grapple with social anxiety, I’ve learned to navigate it more confidently.

If I were to choose three characters from "Stranger Things," I would choose the main character herself, Eleven, Hopper, and probably Steve Harrington. These three characters would be the best fit to face a new supernatural because they each bring a special ability to the table. Eleven would be the team's main force because of her telekinetic and psychic powers. With her knowledge in combat against previous enemies whose abilities were crucial to winning the battle, she can use this against any new supernatural enemies who would also have a connection to the Upside Down. Hopper's role would serve as the squad's leader with his years of experience as the Chief of Police in Hawkins. With his experience, he has good tactical skills, can make tough decisions easily under pressure, and is also very good at using a firearm. Hopper would be able to guide his team through dangerous situations, devise strategies to ensure a good outcome and make sure that most importantly, everyone remains focused. As for Steve, he brings a unique new dynamic to the squad with his resourcefulness and his courage. Despite lacking powers or years of law enforcement experience, Steve has a unique ability with his years as a high school student. Despite being seen as just a jock in the first season, he has proven how much he has grown into a reliable protector throughout the seasons and can show how he can hold up his own against supernatural threats from the Upside Down, even by using a nail spiked bat for example. His ability to improvise and the strong bond he's formed with the others really helps navigate the team through these unexpected challenges. Together, this trio, in my opinion, would create a well-rounded and formidable team ready to tackle any supernatural adversaries from the strange world that is the Upside Down.