Hello, I’m Jewel Cantu! I am grateful to have come from such a large family, and generations of strong women overcoming adversity, such as poverty, abuse, mental illness, and an overwhelming amount of struggle. However, this incredible display of resilience comes at a cost. Understanding the generations of struggles from families, in every community, has given me the passion to work towards better mental health and systems to create a support network. My life of constantly helping raise children and serving as an ear for those to vent to has given me the skills to continuously help others, and ensure that they become the best selves possible. I truly advocate for a stronger and more supportive society to improve our overall health, we must address the underlying issues in our psyche. I believe this network will help build a more empathetic and unified global community. I see that as human beings we have become so divided and hateful. I believe there is so much that we need to fix as mankind to truly enjoy the heaven, that is our earth. My lifetime has been full of love and full of the Lord, I believe that we can learn so much from faith and from love rather than from pain and war. “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sights of all. If possible, so far as it depends on, you live peacefully with all.” - Romans 12:17 I pray every night and I thank God for all of my wonderful blessings, although faith may not be the path for everyone I believe we must hold power in something to see the beauty in our lives, and seek to better ourselves each day. In this realization and journey, in my learnings of life through my wonderful family, I have come to believe that success is difficult yet humble. It took my Father years to stabilize our family in our lovely comfortable home, to ensure our financial stability, and to ensure our happiness. Through hard work and dedication, my Father has given us a beautiful life, sadly my siblings have never come to appreciate such. I love my extended family, but similar to many Hispanic families, many can be reckless, hateful, and full of drama. So, it is mostly just my parents, myself, my sister-in-law, and my beautiful niece and nephew. In my future, my success is being a stay-at-home Mom and wife, it is seeing my beautiful family weekly and being financially stable. My everyday life is successful as I care for my niece and nephew, watching them grow and learn, watching them become better people than in our past. All I truly want is for my loved ones to be safe and happy, to spend as much time with them as possible, also to possibly find a career helping others. If I am blessed to finally help my family with our financial struggles, as I continue to finish my education to help better my community, I can assure you, that I will do my best to make a difference, one life at a time.

Hello, I’m Jewel Cantu! I am grateful to have come from such a large family, generations of strong women overcoming adversity, such as poverty, abuse, mental illness, and an overwhelming amount of struggle. However, this incredible display of resilience comes at a cost. Understanding the generations of struggles from families, in every community, has given me the passion to work towards better mental health and systems to create a support network. My life of constantly helping raise children and serving as an ear for those to vent to has given me the skills to continuously help others, and ensure that they become the best selves possible. I truly advocate for a stronger and more supportive society in order to improve our overall health, we must address the underlying issues in our psyche. I believe this network will help build a more empathetic and unified global community. I see that as human beings we have become so divided and hateful. I believe there is so much that we need to fix as mankind in order to truly enjoy the heaven, that is our earth. My lifetime has been full of love and full of the Lord, I believe that we can learn so much from faith and from love rather than from pain and war. “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sights of all. If possible, so far as it depends on, you live peacefully with all.” - Romans 12:17 I pray every night and I thank God for all of my wonderful blessings, although faith may not be the path for everyone I believe we must hold power in something in order to see the beauty in our lives, and seek to better ourselves each day. it is said that in order to better the world as a whole, we must start with our home, our families and our communities, and go from there. I believe that if we all take the steps to better our lives, to understand the mental struggles all over the world, the beauty all over the world, and the meaning to life that we may start creating new history that we can be proud of. A new society. I believe that I am very skilled and experienced in helping others and evaluating choices in order to not repeat bad decisions. I believe that I am very knowledgeable about substance abuse and psychiatric disorders that allow me to address issues and create solutions in those that are struggling. I believe that I work well with children, and that I can help those that struggle, like so many of my family have, with ADHD or depression. I know that I am a hard worker and that I study hard in order to be able to help those in my career, hopefully in my hometown close to my family. If I am blessed to finally help my family with our financial struggles, as I continue to finish my education to help better my community, I can assure you, I will do my best to make a difference, one life at a time.

Hello, I’m Jewel Cantu! I am grateful to have come from such a large family, generations of strong women overcoming adversity, such as poverty, abuse, mental illness, and an overwhelming amount of struggle. However, this incredible display of resilience comes at a cost. Understanding the generations of struggles from families, in every community, has given me the passion to work towards better mental health and systems to create a support network. My life of constantly helping raise children and serving as an ear for those to vent to has given me the skills to continuously help others, and ensure that they become the best selves possible. I truly advocate for a stronger and more supportive society in order to improve our overall health, we must address the underlying issues in our psyche. I believe this network will help build a more empathetic and unified global community. I see that as human beings we have become so divided and hateful. I believe there is so much that we need to fix as mankind in order to truly enjoy the heaven, that is our earth. My lifetime has been full of love and full of the Lord, I believe that we can learn so much from faith and from love rather than from pain and war. “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sights of all. If possible, so far as it depends on, you live peacefully with all.” - Romans 12:17 I pray every night and I thank God for all of my wonderful blessings, although faith may not be the path for everyone I believe we must hold power in something in order to see the beauty in our lives, and seek to better ourselves each day. it is said that in order to better the world as a whole, we must start with our home, our families and our communities, and go from there. I believe that if we all take the steps to better our lives, to understand the mental struggles all over the world, the beauty all over the world, and the meaning to life that we may start creating new history that we can be proud of. A new society. I believe that I am very skilled and experienced in helping others and evaluating choices in order to not repeat bad decisions. I believe that I am very knowledgeable about substance abuse and psychiatric disorders that allow me to address issues and create solutions in those that are struggling. I believe that I work well with children, and that I can help those that struggle, like so many of my family have, with ADHD or depression. I know that I am a hard worker and that I study hard in order to be able to help those in my career, hopefully in my hometown close to my family. If I am blessed to finally help my family with our financial struggles, as I continue to finish my education to help better my community, I can assure you, I will do my best to make a difference, one life at a time.

Hello, I’m Jewel Cantu! I am grateful to have come from such a large family, generations of strong women overcoming adversity, such as poverty, abuse, mental illness, and an overwhelming amount of struggle. Coming from humble beginnings, and being aware that, as blessed as I may be, I will always want to find the means to better my life, continue my education in a way that benefits my daily life, and does not overwhelm my families financial standings. Since high school I have been participating in dual classes which I was happily able to receive multiple semesters worth of credits once I entered college in 2022. Also, the prior years of online courses during the Covid-19 pandemic was more practice of learning on my own asynchronously and allowed me to realize that I enjoyed such delivery of education, compared to the traditional method. Not only did I take advantage of the previously mentioned DUAL courses, but I also took multiple AP Exams after using online tools to ensure my scores outcome. I also utilized the wonderful Modern States process in order to take free CLEP Exams while finishing my college degree. These tools have helped my family and I decrease the cost of my education, while I continue to apply to scholarships and find more ways to receive credit. Being conscious of finances is a great tool, to have, especially when it comes to my education, but I have also discovered how the internet and platforms are available to help students and any person in expanding their knowledge and bettering their life. While using these tools to expand my studies, it has also helped me better apply my knowledge by lessening the stress of costs or availability of certain texts. Rather than constantly concern myself with the cost of textbooks, I have been so lucky to find many of mine needed throughout my course of university, online for free. This has allowed me to study care free, in a sense, and allowed me to better apply my knowledge with the reassurance that I am not rushed and there are unlimited resources available to me. Today, in the time of social media and the inescapable, massive Internet, we should be taking advantage of all the wonderful opportunities that lies on our screens while being responsible with our mental health, and being aware of how technology is a privilege and an important responsibility.

Hello, I’m Jewel Cantu! I am grateful to have come from such a large family, generations of strong women overcoming adversity, such as poverty, abuse, mental illness, and an overwhelming amount of struggle. However, this incredible display of resilience comes at a cost. Understanding the generations of struggles from families, in every community, has given me the passion to work towards better mental health and systems to create a support network. My life of constantly helping raise children and serving as an ear for those to vent to has given me the skills to continuously help others, and ensure that they become the best selves possible. I truly advocate for a stronger and more supportive society in order to improve our overall health, we must address the underlying issues in our psyche. I believe this network will help build a more empathetic and unified global community. I see that as human beings we have become so divided and hateful. I believe there is so much that we need to fix as mankind in order to truly enjoy the heaven, that is our earth. My lifetime has been full of love and full of the Lord, I believe that we can learn so much from faith and from love rather than from pain and war. “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sights of all. If possible, so far as it depends on, you live peacefully with all.” - Romans 12:17 I pray every night and I thank God for all of my wonderful blessings, although faith may not be the path for everyone I believe we must hold power in something in order to see the beauty in our lives, and seek to better ourselves each day. it is said that in order to better the world as a whole, we must start with our home, our families and our communities, and go from there. I believe that if we all take the steps to better our lives, to understand the mental struggles all over the world, the beauty all over the world, and the meaning to life that we may start creating new history that we can be proud of. A new society. I believe that I am very skilled and experienced in helping others and evaluating choices in order to not repeat bad decisions. I believe that I am very knowledgeable about substance abuse and psychiatric disorders that allow me to address issues and create solutions in those that are struggling. I believe that I work well with children, and that I can help those that struggle, like so many of my family have, with ADHD or depression. I know that I am a hard worker and that I study hard in order to be able to help those in my career, hopefully in my hometown close to my family. If I am blessed to finally help my family with our financial struggles, as I continue to finish my education to help better my community, I can assure you, I will do my best to make a difference, one life at a time.

Though I cannot say all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. I cherish my faith and determination, passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. Through years of enduring discrimination, hard labor, and abuse, many Mexican-American generations suffer from mental health issues. Within our communities, these issues are ignored, as we have for decades. I admit to the many struggles I see my family face because of their traumatic upbringing: alcoholism, depression, and drug use. I see their mental health issues continuing the pattern in their children. To stop the cycle, we must create a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options and inclusion within insurance. In my community, I have brought attention to these issues in order to prevent their continuation and begin the healing process for many generations of families. This will allow these patterns to stop and be replaced with positivity, and the passion to create better environments in all Mexican-American communities. As a Mexican-American woman, your role in life is predetermined. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me to pursue my dreams and preserve. Though it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of past treatment within my community of women, I will use my opportunity to help others in need and offer mental support to those in similar family dynamics. I plan to work closely within my community finding local partners to offer services to those in lower income areas or non-insured families, thus providing needed services and assistance. My goals include providing affordable mental health care to families like mine and eventually becoming a stay at home partner or parent, while still providing online assistance to families in need. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. Pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to our communities, in Texas, then around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need. Furthering my interest in general psychology will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me.

Though I cannot say all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. I cherish my faith and determination, passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. We’ve discovered the harsh realities of our childhoods, how we were affected by our upbringing, and how many of us were silent as the generations before us. I descended from strong-willed and dedicated immigrants, from working hands that never quit to provide and care for their families. I am a strong woman, like the many before me, and I am working to better my life, my community, and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of enduring discrimination, hard labor, and abuse, many Mexican-American generations suffer from mental health issues. Within our communities, these issues are ignored, as we have for decades. I admit to the many struggles I see my family face because of their traumatic upbringing: alcoholism, depression, and drug use. I see their mental health issues continuing the pattern in their children. To stop the cycle, we must create a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options and inclusion within insurance. This will allow these patterns to stop and be replaced with positivity, and the passion to create better environments in all Mexican-American communities. As a Mexican-American woman, your role in life is predetermined. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. To finally see how difficult and painful my grandmother's life was. Only death could release them from the heavy burden of life’s struggles. I see how they endured it and settled. I finally understood that devotion to our faith and the love of our family was an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those who have hurt us - we refuse to remain stagnant for our future and our children. Pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to our communities, in Texas, then around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to help those struggling to find their strength in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me.

Though I cannot say all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. I cherish my faith and determination, passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. We’ve discovered the harsh realities of our childhoods, how we were affected by our upbringing, and how many of us were silent as the generations before us. I descended from strong-willed and dedicated immigrants, from working hands that never quit to provide and care for their families. I am a strong woman, like the many before me, and I am working to better my life, my community, and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of enduring discrimination, hard labor, and abuse, many Mexican-American generations suffer from mental health issues. Within our communities, these issues are ignored, as we have for decades. I admit to the many struggles I see my family face because of their traumatic upbringing: alcoholism, depression, and drug use. I see their mental health issues continuing the pattern in their children. To stop the cycle, we must create a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options and inclusion within insurance. This will allow these patterns to stop and be replaced with positivity, and the passion to create better environments in all Mexican-American communities. As a Mexican-American woman, your role in life is predetermined. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. To finally see how difficult and painful my grandmother's life was. Only death could release them from the heavy burden of life’s struggles. I see how they endured it and settled. I finally understood that devotion to our faith and the love of our family was an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those who have hurt us - we refuse to remain stagnant for our future and our children. Pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to our communities, in Texas, then around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to help those struggling to find their strength in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me.

Though I cannot say all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. I cherish my faith and determination, passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. We’ve discovered the harsh realities of our childhoods, how we were affected by our upbringing, and how many of us were silent as the generations before us. I descended from strong-willed and dedicated immigrants, from working hands that never quit to provide and care for their families. I am a strong woman, like the many before me, and I am working to better my life, my community, and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of enduring discrimination, hard labor, and abuse, many Mexican-American generations suffer from mental health issues. Within our communities, these issues are ignored, as we have for decades. I admit to the many struggles I see my family face because of their traumatic upbringing: alcoholism, depression, and drug use. I see their mental health issues continuing the pattern in their children. To stop the cycle, we must create a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options and inclusion within insurance. This will allow these patterns to stop and be replaced with positivity, and the passion to create better environments in all Mexican-American communities. As a Mexican-American woman, your role in life is predetermined. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. To finally see how difficult and painful my grandmother's life was. Only death could release them from the heavy burden of life’s struggles. I see how they endured it and settled. I finally understood that devotion to our faith and the love of our family was an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those who have hurt us - we refuse to remain stagnant for our future and our children. Pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to our communities, in Texas, then around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to help those struggling to find their strength in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me.

Though I cannot say all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. I cherish my faith and determination, passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. We’ve discovered the harsh realities of our childhoods, how we were affected by our upbringing, and how many of us were silent as the generations before us. I descended from strong-willed and dedicated immigrants, from working hands that never quit to provide and care for their families. I am a strong woman, like the many before me, and I am working to better my life, my community, and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of enduring discrimination, hard labor, and abuse, many Mexican-American generations suffer from mental health issues. Within our communities, these issues are ignored, as we have for decades. I admit to the many struggles I see my family face because of their traumatic upbringing: alcoholism, depression, and drug use. I see their mental health issues continuing the pattern in their children. To stop the cycle, we must create a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options and inclusion within insurance. This will allow these patterns to stop and be replaced with positivity, and the passion to create better environments in all Mexican-American communities. As a Mexican-American woman, your role in life is predetermined. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. To finally see how difficult and painful my grandmother's life was. Only death could release them from the heavy burden of life’s struggles. I see how they endured it and settled. I finally understood that devotion to our faith and the love of our family was an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those who have hurt us - we refuse to remain stagnant for our future and our children. Pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to our communities, in Texas, then around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to help those struggling to find their strength in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me.

Though I cannot say all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. I cherish my faith and determination, passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. We’ve discovered the harsh realities of our childhoods, how we were affected by our upbringing, and how many of us were silent as the generations before us. I descended from strong-willed and dedicated immigrants, from working hands that never quit to provide and care for their families. I am a strong woman, like the many before me, and I am working to better my life, my community, and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of enduring discrimination, hard labor, and abuse, many Mexican-American generations suffer from mental health issues. Within our communities, these issues are ignored, as we have for decades. I admit to the many struggles I see my family face because of their traumatic upbringing: alcoholism, depression, and drug use. I see their mental health issues continuing the pattern in their children. To stop the cycle, we must create a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options and inclusion within insurance. This will allow these patterns to stop and be replaced with positivity, and the passion to create better environments in all Mexican-American communities. As a Mexican-American woman, your role in life is predetermined. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. To finally see how difficult and painful my grandmother's life was. Only death could release them from the heavy burden of life’s struggles. I see how they endured it and settled. I finally understood that devotion to our faith and the love of our family was an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those who have hurt us - we refuse to remain stagnant for our future and our children. Pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to our communities, in Texas, then around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to help those struggling to find their strength in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me.

Though I cannot say all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. I cherish my faith and determination, passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. We’ve discovered the harsh realities of our childhoods, how we were affected by our upbringing, and how many of us were silent as the generations before us. I descended from strong-willed and dedicated immigrants, from working hands that never quit to provide and care for their families. I am a strong woman, like the many before me, and I am working to better my life, my community, and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of enduring discrimination, hard labor, and abuse, many Mexican-American generations suffer from mental health issues. Within our communities, these issues are ignored, as we have for decades. I admit to the many struggles I see my family face because of their traumatic upbringing: alcoholism, depression, and drug use. I see their mental health issues continuing the pattern in their children. To stop the cycle, we must create a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options and inclusion within insurance. This will allow these patterns to stop and be replaced with positivity, and the passion to create better environments in all Mexican-American communities. As a Mexican-American woman, your role in life is predetermined. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. To finally see how difficult and painful my grandmother's life was. Only death could release them from the heavy burden of life’s struggles. I see how they endured it and settled. I finally understood that devotion to our faith and the love of our family was an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those who have hurt us - we refuse to remain stagnant for our future and our children. Pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to our communities, in Texas, then around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to help those struggling to find their strength in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me.

I’ve been raised to not fear death, to be prepared for when it comes into my life. I’ve lost my two loving grandmothers, I’ve seen the despair and withering of the remaining family before my eyes. My father’s Mom, she really loved me simply because I was just like her son. She really loved my father, so it was a shock to me to see the strongest man I know in complete heartache due to her passing. My extended family, though we’re very close, became torn with so much conflict simply because she wasn’t here to straighten us out. My grandmother served as the glue to the family that she created, she raised eight children and four of her grandchildren, not to mention many of my cousins, because of all the issues her children were in. As I grew older I realized how much disarray her death led to. To see such suffering, to realize how much she went through for my family to become who we are today, allowed me to focus on: the present, the good in life, and the people that truly love you. I want to strive to be better than the conflicts of my family, I want to live a happy life. Most of all I want to carry her strength with me, I found myself talking to her in my most trying times. We were never biblically religious people, but because of the history with my grandma and my father, I appreciate my faith so much more and I find it comforting to know that’s what connects us. When my mother‘s mother passed away, I had to learn how to be strong for her. I didn’t grieve then, but I could feel her pain. It’s difficult to see your parents suffer, and it’s imaginable to place yourself in their position in years to come. My mother talks about her every day and I talk to her almost every night begging for her guidance. My grandmother was a very kind and religious woman, she would celebrate the tiniest of my accomplishments and I never knew that’s what I always needed in my youth, until she was gone. I begged for her help in my stage of heartache and I do believe that she answered. It took a while for us to realize all she went through, not only in poverty with eight children, but with a difficulties with her grown family. In Mexico it’s very difficult to come to America and it’s very difficult to leave it all behind, the process is not always in our favor. I now pray for my grandmother‘s soul, knowing how much she went through, but her passing was so eye-opening. She remained a happy and proud woman, even in the midst of such tragedy, she was always available to help others and she was always honoring her faith. My parent's upbringing and hard work taught me to appreciate all I have in life. Through crowded households with insufficient funds, my parents broke the generational pattern of living in a constant struggle to better their lives and focus on financial stability for their children. I've been taught the importance of faith and forgiveness. My grandmothers were strong, independent, and determined women. My grandmothers raised children, and their children’s children. I will always have the upmost respect for them and all that they endured. My grandmother‘s passing left me with courage and knowledge to fight for every day. To be able to love myself and others, while remaining true to my goals.

Though I cannot say all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. I cherish my faith and determination, passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. We’ve discovered the harsh realities of our childhoods, how we were affected by our upbringing, and how many of us were silent as the generations before us. I descended from strong-willed and dedicated immigrants, from working hands that never quit to provide and care for their families. I am a strong woman, like the many before me, and I am working to better my life, my community, and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of enduring discrimination, hard labor, and abuse, many Mexican-American generations suffer from mental health issues. Within our communities, these issues are ignored, as we have for decades. I admit to the many struggles I see my family face because of their traumatic upbringing: alcoholism, depression, and drug use. I see their mental health issues continuing the pattern in their children. To stop the cycle, we must create a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options and inclusion within insurance. This will allow these patterns to stop and be replaced with positivity, and the passion to create better environments in all Mexican-American communities. As a Mexican-American woman, your role in life is predetermined. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. To finally see how difficult and painful my grandmother's life was. Only death could release them from the heavy burden of life’s struggles. I see how they endured it and settled. I finally understood that devotion to our faith and the love of our family was an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those who have hurt us - we refuse to remain stagnant for our future and our children. Pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to our communities, in Texas, then around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to help those struggling to find their strength in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me.

Though I cannot say all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. I cherish my faith and determination, passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. We’ve discovered the harsh realities of our childhoods, how we were affected by our upbringing, and how many of us were silent as the generations before us. I descended from strong-willed and dedicated immigrants, from working hands that never quit to provide and care for their families. I am a strong woman, like the many before me, and I am working to better my life, my community, and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of enduring discrimination, hard labor, and abuse, many Mexican-American generations suffer from mental health issues. Within our communities, these issues are ignored, as we have for decades. I admit to the many struggles I see my family face because of their traumatic upbringing: alcoholism, depression, and drug use. I see their mental health issues continuing the pattern in their children. To stop the cycle, we must create a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options and inclusion within insurance. This will allow these patterns to stop and be replaced with positivity, and the passion to create better environments in all Mexican-American communities. As a Mexican-American woman, your role in life is predetermined. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. To finally see how difficult and painful my grandmother's life was. Only death could release them from the heavy burden of life’s struggles. I see how they endured it and settled. I finally understood that devotion to our faith and the love of our family was an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those who have hurt us - we refuse to remain stagnant for our future and our children. Pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to our communities, in Texas, then around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to help those struggling to find their strength in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me.

Though I cannot say all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. I cherish my faith and determination, passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. We’ve discovered the harsh realities of our childhoods, how we were affected by our upbringing, and how many of us were silent as the generations before us. I descended from strong-willed and dedicated immigrants, from working hands that never quit to provide and care for their families. I am a strong woman, like the many before me, and I am working to better my life, my community, and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of enduring discrimination, hard labor, and abuse, many Mexican-American generations suffer from mental health issues. Within our communities, these issues are ignored, as we have for decades. I admit to the many struggles I see my family face because of their traumatic upbringing: alcoholism, depression, and drug use. I see their mental health issues continuing the pattern in their children. To stop the cycle, we must create a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options and inclusion within insurance. This will allow these patterns to stop and be replaced with positivity, and the passion to create better environments in all Mexican-American communities. As a Mexican-American woman, your role in life is predetermined. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. To finally see how difficult and painful my grandmother's life was. Only death could release them from the heavy burden of life’s struggles. I see how they endured it and settled. I finally understood that devotion to our faith and the love of our family was an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those who have hurt us - we refuse to remain stagnant for our future and our children. Pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to our communities, in Texas, then around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to help those struggling to find their strength in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me.

Though I cannot say all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. I cherish my faith and determination, passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. We’ve discovered the harsh realities of our childhoods, how we were affected by our upbringing, and how many of us were silent as the generations before us. I descended from strong-willed and dedicated immigrants, from working hands that never quit to provide and care for their families. I am a strong woman, like the many before me, and I am working to better my life, my community, and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of enduring discrimination, hard labor, and abuse, many Mexican-American generations suffer from mental health issues. Within our communities, these issues are ignored, as we have for decades. I admit to the many struggles I see my family face because of their traumatic upbringing: alcoholism, depression, and drug use. I see their mental health issues continuing the pattern in their children. To stop the cycle, we must create a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options and inclusion within insurance. This will allow these patterns to stop and be replaced with positivity, and the passion to create better environments in all Mexican-American communities. As a Mexican-American woman, your role in life is predetermined. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. To finally see how difficult and painful my grandmother's life was. Only death could release them from the heavy burden of life’s struggles. I see how they endured it and settled. I finally understood that devotion to our faith and the love of our family was an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those who have hurt us - we refuse to remain stagnant for our future and our children. Pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to our communities, in Texas, then around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to help those struggling to find their strength in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me.

Though I cannot say that all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost-perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. My faith and determination have been passed down to me through generations of struggles and We’ve grown up to discover the harsh realities of our childhoods, how they came to affect us as we grew up, and how many of us were silent just as the generations before us. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mental health. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off. I admit to the many struggles I see my family face because of their traumatic upbringing, I see their mental health issues continuing the pattern in their children. These patterns can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages, for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. I finally saw that devotion to our faith was also an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me. General psychology will be my offering to the world through my faith and wherever else this career may take me.

Though I cannot say that all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. My faith has been passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. The initials J. C. were given to me and my siblings in the name of Christ for him having saved my father’s life. My family and I have cherished the guidance and protection our faith has provided us through all times - good and evil. The truth about my childhood internal struggles and how so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mental health. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become a tragedy. These tragedies can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options. As a Mexican-American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages, for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. I finally saw that devotion to our faith was also an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those who have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives. This scholarship would heavily benefit my family and I, as it is hard to cover so many fees and tuition, and it would allow me to further my education to help others, without worries about payment.

@jewel_cantu

Though I cannot say that all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost-perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. My faith has been passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. The initials J. C. were given to me and my siblings in the name of Christ for him having saved my father’s life. My family and I have cherished the guidance and protection our faith has provided us through all times - good and evil. The truth about my childhood internal struggles and how so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mental health. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become a tragedy. These tragedies can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages, for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. I finally saw that devotion to our faith was also an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives. This scholarship would heavily benefit my family and I, as it is hard to cover so much fees and tuition, and it would allow me to further my education to help others, without worries about payment.

Though I cannot say that all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost-perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. My faith has been passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. The initials J. C. were given to me and my siblings in the name of Christ for him having saved my father’s life. My family and I have cherished the guidance and protection our faith has provided us through all times - good and evil. The truth about my childhood internal struggles and how so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mental health. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become a tragedy. These tragedies can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages, for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. I finally saw that devotion to our faith was also an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives. This scholarship would heavily benefit my family and I, as it is hard to cover so much fees and tuition, and it would allow me to further my education to help others, without worries about payment.

Though I cannot say that all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost-perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. My faith has been passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. The initials J. C. were given to me and my siblings in the name of Christ for him having saved my father’s life. My family and I have cherished the guidance and protection our faith has provided us through all times. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mental health. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become a tragedy. These tragedies can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options. My parent's upbringing and hard work taught me to appreciate all I have in life. Through crowded households with insufficient funds, my parents broke the generational pattern of living in a constant struggle to better their lives and focus on financial stability for their children. They were also very present and patient parents rather than the abusive parenting styles they had to endure. Though my parents adore their parents, which taught me to honor my own, they often emphasize their flaws so I can be a better parent one day. My parents have been mistreated in their lifetimes, so I have been taught to be kind and giving, and because they were unable to enjoy their childhood, they ensured that I could. I've been taught the importance of faith and forgiveness. A parent's healthy relationship is heavily involved in shaping a child's development therefore I am blessed to have such loving parents that give me a beautiful example of love and devotion. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages, for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. I finally saw that devotion to our faith was also an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it.

I’ve been raised to not fear death, to be prepared for when it comes into my life. I’ve had many older relatives pass away, i’ve lost my two loving grandmothers, I’ve seen the despair and withering of the remaining family before my eyes. I was never good at Spanish, so I could never properly communicate with my grandmothers. My father’s Mom, she really loved me simply because I was just like her son. She really loved my father, so it was a shock to me to see the strongest man I know in complete heartache due to her passing. My extended family, though we’re very close, became torn with so much conflict simply because she wasn’t here to straighten us out. My grandmother served as the glue to the family that she created, she raised eight children and four of her grandchildren, not to mention many of my cousins, because of all the issues her children were in. As I grew older I realized how much disarray her death led to. To see such suffering, to realize how much she went through for my family to become who we are today, allowed me to focus on: the present, the good in life, and the people that truly love you. I want to strive to be better than the conflicts of my family, I want to live a happy life. Most of all I want to carry her strength with me, I found myself talking to her in my most trying times and coincidentally they always get resolved. We were never biblically religious people, but because of the history with my grandma and my father, I appreciate my faith so much more and I find it comforting to know that’s what connects us. When my mother‘s mother passed away, I had to learn how to be strong for her. I didn’t grieve then, but I could feel her pain. It’s difficult to see your parents suffer, and it’s imaginable to place yourself in their position in years to come. It was very sudden when my grandmother passed away, it was difficult considering we were in the midst of a pandemic, and it was difficult to get into Mexico. My mother talks about her every day and I talk to her almost every night begging for her guidance. My grandmother was a very kind and religious woman, she would celebrate the tiniest of my accomplishments and I never knew that’s what I always needed in my youth, until she was gone. I begged for her help in my stage of heartache and I do believe that she answered. It took a while for us to realize all she went through, not only in poverty with eight children, but with a difficulties with her grown family. In Mexico it’s very difficult to come to America and it’s very difficult to leave it all behind, the process is not always in our favor. I now pray for my grandmother‘s soul, knowing how much she went through, but her passing was so eye-opening. She remained a happy and proud woman, even in the midst of such tragedy, she was always available to help others and she was always honoring her faith. My grandmother helped me realize that your own happiness is most important in life, whether it be going to your favorite place (like church) or surrounding yourself with the best attitudes. My parent's upbringing and hard work taught me to appreciate all I have in life. Through crowded households with insufficient funds, my parents broke the generational pattern of living in a constant struggle to better their lives and focus on financial stability for their children. They were also very present and patient parents rather than the abusive parenting styles they had to endure. Though my parents adore their parents, which taught me to honor my own while they are still with me, they often emphasize their flaws so I can be a better parent one day. I've been taught the importance of faith and forgiveness. A parent's healthy relationship is heavily involved in shaping a child's development therefore I am blessed to have such loving parents that give me a beautiful example of love and devotion. My grandmothers were strong, independent, and determined women. My grandmothers raised children, and their children’s children. I will always have the upmost respect for them and all that they endured. From Mexico to Texas, my grandmothers held the strongest traits to survive in this hard society, and they deserve praise for their countless selfless acts. My grandmother‘s passing left me with courage and knowledge to fight for every day. To be able to love myself and others, while remaining true to my goals.

Though I cannot say that all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost-perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. My faith has been passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. The initials J. C. were given to me and my siblings in the name of Christ for him having saved my father’s life. My family and I have cherished the guidance and protection our faith has provided us through all times - good and evil. The truth about my childhood internal struggles and how so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mental health. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become a tragedy. These tragedies can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options. My parent's upbringing and hard work taught me to appreciate all I have in life. Through crowded households with insufficient funds, my parents broke the generational pattern of living in a constant struggle to better their lives and focus on financial stability for their children. They were also very present and patient parents rather than the abusive parenting styles they had to endure. Though my parents adore their parents, which taught me to honor my own while they are still with me, they often emphasize their flaws so I can be a better parent one day. While caring for my niece and nephew, I realize the compassion I have learned from my parents as I create my own 'parenting style' full of patience and love. My parents have been mistreated in their lifetimes, so I have been taught to be kind and giving, and because they were unable to enjoy their childhood, they ensured that I could. I've been taught the importance of faith and forgiveness. A parent's healthy relationship is heavily involved in shaping a child's development therefore I am blessed to have such loving parents that give me a beautiful example of love and devotion. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages, for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. I finally saw that devotion to our faith was also an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it.

The most influential person in my life has been my Father. (Sorry, Mom.) Though I adore my parents equally enough to have started a journal writing down all their advice and life story, my father's hardships and lessons steer my thought process and life choices. My Father had a difficult upbringing with 11 other siblings and no money, so he worked hard all his life. He was always intelligent and observant, learning ways to better his life and how he never wanted to live in poverty and struggle again. He had my siblings young and took on that responsibility head-on. He dropped everything and began working to provide for his children, eventually having to do so on his own until my Mother came along. It may have taken years for him to build up his career, especially after the 2008 recession, but he worked tirelessly while being a present and wonderful Dad. My siblings will often complain about the differences in his demeanor and availability compared to their youth, and he may have made mistakes in his lifetime, but he is the greatest man I will ever know. My parent's upbringing and hard work taught me to appreciate all I have in life. Through crowded households with insufficient funds, my parents broke the generational pattern of living in a constant struggle to better their lives and focus on financial stability for their children. They were also very present and patient parents rather than the abusive parenting styles they had to endure. Though my parents adore their parents, which taught me to honor my own while they are still with me, they often emphasize their flaws so I can be a better parent one day. While caring for my niece and nephew, I realize the compassion I have learned from my parents as I create my own 'parenting style' full of patience and love. My parents have been mistreated in their lifetimes, so I have been taught to be kind and giving, and because they were unable to enjoy their childhood, they ensured that I could. I've been taught the importance of faith and forgiveness. A parent's healthy relationship is heavily involved in shaping a child's development therefore I am blessed to have such loving parents that give me a beautiful example of love and devotion. Throughout my childhood, I've been taught to accept death as a natural and inescapable thing, so as heartbreaking as the thought may be, my Father has prepared me for his death. I do my best to absorb all the knowledge he gives and cherish the time I have with him, as I also see how difficult it was when he lost his own Mom. My father's hard work and life experiences have allowed my family to live a comfortable life while learning to be grateful and appreciative of the opportunities and blessings we have. I've learned compassion, financial literacy, and all of life's lessons from the trials in my father's life. Through his love and care, I have realized my expectations from friends and partners. I've learned to honor those I love and to give credit to those who have bettered me as a person. My Father's story will always bring me to tears. I love him beyond words and will always be grateful that he is my Dad.

Though I cannot say that all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost-perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. My faith has been passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. The initials J. C. were given to me and my siblings in the name of Christ for him having saved my father’s life. My family and I have cherished the guidance and protection our faith has provided us through all times - good and evil. The truth about my childhood internal struggles and how so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mental health. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become a tragedy. These tragedies can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages, for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. I finally saw that devotion to our faith was also an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it.

Though I cannot say that all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost-perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. My faith has been passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. The initials J. C. were given to me and my siblings in the name of Christ for him having saved my father’s life. My family and I have cherished the guidance and protection our faith has provided us through all times - good and evil. The truth about my childhood internal struggles and how so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mental health. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages, for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. I finally saw that devotion to our faith was also an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it.

Though I cannot say that all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost-perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. My faith has been passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. The initials J. C. were given to me and my siblings in the name of Christ for him having saved my father’s life. My family and I have cherished the guidance and protection our faith has provided us through all times - good and evil. The truth about my childhood internal struggles and how so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mental health. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages, for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. I finally saw that devotion to our faith was also an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me.

Though I cannot say that all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost-perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. My faith and determination have been passed down through generations of struggles. We’ve grown up to discover the harsh realities of our childhoods, how they affected us as we grew up, and how many of us were silent as the generations before us. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mental health. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off. I admit to the many struggles I see my family face because of their traumatic upbringing. I see their mental health issues continuing the pattern in their children. These patterns can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages, for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. I finally saw that devotion to our faith was also an escape for them. I was never good at Spanish, so I could hardly communicate with my grandmothers. On my father's side, she loved me simply because I was just like her son. My extended family, though we’re all very close, became torn with so much conflict simply because she wasn’t here to straighten us out. My grandmother served as the glue to the family that she created, she raised eight children and four of her grandchildren, because of all the issues her children were in. I never mourned my grandmother for I was not distraught, it was only upsetting, but as I grew older I realized how much disarray her death led to. To see such suffering, and to realize how much she went through for my family to become who we are today, allowed me to focus on: the present, the good in life, and the people that truly love you. I want to strive to be better than the conflicts of my family, I want to live a happy life without settling. Most of all I want to carry her strength with me. When my mother‘s mother passed away, I had to learn how to be strong for her. I didn’t grieve then, but I could feel her pain. My grandmother was a very kind and religious woman, she would celebrate the tiniest of my accomplishments and I never knew that’s what I always needed in my youth until she was gone. It took a while for us to realize all she went through, not only in the past with her poverty and eight children but with a difficult life with her grown family. In Mexico, it’s very difficult to come to America and it’s very difficult to leave it all behind, the process is not always in our favor. I now pray for my grandmother‘s soul, knowing how much she went through, but her passing was so eye-opening. She remained a happy and proud woman, even amid such tragedy, she was always available to help others and she was always honoring her faith. My grandmother helped me realize that your happiness is the most important in life, whether it be going to your favorite place (like church) or surrounding yourself with the best attitude. She also helped me value my parents more because you never know what you’re missing out on until it’s gone. Again, I plan on bettering my life than the past my ancestors had, I plan on educating myself and trying my best. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me. General psychology will be my offering to the world through my faith and wherever else this career may take me.

Though I cannot say that all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost-perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. My faith and determination have been passed down to me through generations of struggles and We’ve grown up to discover the harsh realities of our childhoods, how they came to affect us as we grew up, and how many of us were silent just as the generations before us. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mental health. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off. I admit to the many struggles I see my family face because of their traumatic upbringing, I see their mental health issues continuing the pattern in their children. These patterns can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages, for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. I finally saw that devotion to our faith was also an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me. General psychology will be my offering to the world through my faith and wherever else this career may take me.

Though I cannot say I have a perfect life, I know mine has been full of happiness and ease, thanks to my parent's hard work. However, I wish I had the same appreciation for my siblings that I do for my parents when they are my heartache. I faced professional vendetta against me in public school, sexual harassment, heartbreak, and my grandmother's passing away, but the actions of my siblings have always been the hardest thing for me to overcome. I cannot blame them for the misery in my life because I am happy, but since 2016 my siblings have disrespected me and my parents. I have been called an anchor baby while my sister proceeded to stalk me at school so I would talk to her. My sister degraded my mother publicly, despite all my mother has done for her, because my sister is entitled, inexperienced, and immature. Though she has a wife now, not much has changed as she continues taking advantage of my parents and anyone who allows her to disregard the consequences of her actions. Though I don’t want to air out my family's business, I know this is the main issue I have had to overcome since I was 10. My siblings are narcissists and manipulators. It’s hard to love your blood when all you can think about is how you avoid them in the future. My father does not want me to carry hatred in my heart, nor does he want their actions to change my behavior. I didn’t expect to be writing about this today, but again, this has been my biggest life issue. My niece and nephew are often in the middle of these situations, something I wish would change as they are innocent children, as my brother decided to become a deadbeat for one month before crawling and apologizing for the millionth time to his wife and family. I never received apologies for the things he has done in the past, nor from my sister, and I never will because I am just the little sister whose life is perfect, but they will always hurt me. I do not want my innocent niece and nephew to suffer from these irresponsible actions. I have persevered for the last 10 years by reminding myself that so much happiness and love surround me, and I remain grateful for the life I’ve been given. My parents will always be good parents supporting my siblings in the way they can while still making their objections clear. Despite the terrible and inexcusable actions of many of my family members, they will always be my family, and they do not have to affect my life. God will always shelter me and I will always persevere. I am a strong woman and will continue to be because I want to live my life happily regardless of what my siblings do in the future. I can only pray that I will continue my determination and endurance to live a happy life so I will never allow misfortune to let me forget how blessed I am.

Though I cannot say that all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost-perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. My faith and determination has been passed down to me through generations of struggles and We’ve grown up to discover the harsh realities about our childhoods, how it came to affect us as we grew up, and how many of us were silent just as the generations before us. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mental health. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off. I admit to the many struggles I see my family face because of their traumatic upbringing, I see their mental health issues continuing the pattern in their children. These patterns can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages, for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. I finally saw that devotion to our faith was also an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me. General psychology will be my offering to the world through my faith and wherever else this career may take me.

I cannot say I had an unhappy life. I cannot say that all has been bliss, but close enough. I thank God constantly for all that I have and all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley assisting others in their times of need. Though I plan on bettering the world, my world being the Rio Grande Valley and offering online sessions to those in need - I know my mental health will be considered in these next few years of studying. I am the youngest of three siblings, ten years younger, yet I’ve been 30 since I was 6. I suppose I have always been a peculiar child. Not only did I find my habits interesting enough to follow a career in evaluating them and better understanding my mechanisms, but the effects of the GT Program were also a large part of my development. The GT Program, as beneficial as it may be to young children, has also been found to become a disadvantage over time. With inadequate or simply untrained teachers, the GT Program does not enforce a continuous process to ensure the constant challenges to promote further educational build, not to mention the lack of ability to encompass all facets of intelligence. Such can cause members to halt their efforts academically, place unreasonable expectations on themselves, or even develop depression and anxiety. Countless shots of degradation to the minds of children, myself included, strengthened my pursuit to better the flaws of my mind and provide care to any children needing psychological help. Furthering my education is a step into a world of philosophy and psychology that has arisen into light within the past few years. It is understandable why society pushes against enabling unhealthy behavior and strive to create a better psychological environment. We have opened the path to healing from recent or past trauma and discovered how it affected us so much, from our adulthood and relationships to our coping mechanisms and destructive habits. We have evolved past shameful stereotypes and living in psychological warfare. As society's mindset evolves, so does our technology, and so will the careers of future psychologists. Not only will I be able to assist in my hometown, but internationally as well. Sooner rather than later, it will also become typical to see clinical psychologists in traditional healthcare settings and a possibility in my future, if awarded this scholarship to complete my studies. Lastly, with the hopes of finishing early, obtaining this bachelor's degree will open a vast range of job options, allowing me to offer my services to those in my community that are in need. With an increase in the need for psychologists or not, I will strive to continue learning through this field and in the experiences I hope this career will bring me.

Though I cannot say that all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost-perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. My faith has been passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. The initials J. C. were given to me and my siblings in the name of Christ for him having saved my father’s life. My family and I have cherished the guidance and protection our faith has provided us through all times - good and evil. The truth about my childhood internal struggles and how so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mental health. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages, for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. I finally saw that devotion to our faith was also an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me.

My Barbie Dream House is located in Texas, 10 minutes away from my parents and my childhood home, to be exact. My Barbie Dream House has at least three bedrooms and two bathrooms - the most average feature. It's well built or overlooked by my handy father and is a beautiful shade of baby pink, with lovely trees and flowers surrounding my porch, with pink stepping stones leading up to my hot pink door. I'll have a vintage gold door knocker of two baby angels. I'll have many toys and areas for my niece and nephew to play in, pretty outdoor furniture for my guests and me to lounge in, outdoor lights, and cameras - all guarded behind a hot pink gate. Upon entry, my dream house will be full of colorful decor, like fruit-shaped stools and all pink appliances. My living room will have a large wrap-around sofa with pink rugs and gold frames covering my walls, full of photos of my family and friends. I'll have shelves full of my favorite items, like all the plushies my loved ones have gifted me or my collection of sea shells. I will have built-in wall space and features for my cat, Ivy, to play and jump around. I will also have a wall or stand dedicated to the memory of my late Grandmothers, with their photos, flowers, favorite snacks, and any family members that pass, as they will never be forgotten in my home. I will have a white walk-in pantry, fully stocked for snacks for my niece and nephew and my parent's favorite foods for when they visit - all organized in seal-tight funky pink containers. I will also have a large white kitchen, full of pink appliances, with lots of counter space and drawers for all my cooking and baking utensils. My furniture and drawers will have functions and organization to make life smoother and cooking for an entire family easier. I will also have many beautiful trays, pots, and molds to bake, as I enjoy learning more and giving some to my family. Meanwhile, my refrigerator will be painted pink and covered in the art of my niece and nephew. My bedroom will include my white bedroom set with soft bed sheets and plushes, against baby pink walls. I may have a pink rug, plus a small bed for Ivy (my cat). I will finally have a walk-in closet to hang all my clothes by color and season and display all my shoes and accessories. My room, just like the house, will never have bare walls - they will be covered in posters and art. I may have a beautiful and colorful vision of my future dream house, but the time and effort I put into it make it a home. Real homes get messy and are not always picture-perfect like all the houses of the Mexican-American generations that raised me. As many of us never had much, it's important to me to cherish what I have now - a lot. I know this may be about our Barbie Dream House, but I will never allow my vision to be full of materialistic items that I destroy the Earth for, I will be logical and realistic for the sake of the future. I will care for the things I have now to make them last, buy second-hand vintage items for my home, and keep my generation's memory alive. I will not overconsume and purchase things I do not need. My dream home will be beautiful and pink, full of love and laughter but never full of regret.

Though I cannot say that all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost-perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. My faith has been passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. The initials J. C. were given to me and my siblings, in the name of Christ for him having saved my father’s life. My family and I have cherished the guidance and protection our faith has provided us through all times - good and evil. The truth about my childhood internal struggles and how so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mental health. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages, for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. I finally saw that devotion to our faith was also an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me.

Though I cannot say that all has been bliss, I know I’ve had an almost-perfect life. I thank God constantly for all I have and all the wonderful people in my life. My faith has been passed down to me through generations of struggles and perseverance. The initials J. C. were given to me and my siblings, in the name of Christ for him having saved my father’s life. My family and I have cherished the guidance and protection our faith has provided us through all times - good and evil. The truth about my childhood internal struggles and how so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mental health. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, such as remote sessions with more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages, for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. I finally saw that devotion to our faith was also an escape for them. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself and mental health is becoming vital, many begin to look beyond the surface and improve their lives, so I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it as God has blessed me. General psychology will be my offering to the world through my faith and wherever else this career may take me.

I cannot say I had an unhappy life. I cannot say that all has been bliss, but close enough. I thank God constantly for all that I have and all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. The truth about my childhood internal struggles is that so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriage for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, mental health is becoming vital, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it. General psychology will be my offering to the world, and wherever else this career may take me.

I cannot say I had an unhappy life. I cannot say that all has been bliss, but close enough. I thank God constantly for all that I have and all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. The truth about my childhood internal struggles is that so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more innovative and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriage for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I am determined to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves and equality. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, mental health is becoming vital, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it. General psychology will be my offering to the world, and wherever else this career may take me.

I cannot say I had an unhappy life. I cannot say that all has been bliss, but close enough. I thank God constantly for all that I have and all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. The truth about my childhood internal struggles is that so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriage for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, mental health is becoming vital, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it. General psychology will be my offering to the world, and wherever else this career may take me.

I cannot say I had an unhappy life. I cannot say that all has been bliss, but close enough. I thank God constantly for all that I have and all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. The truth about my childhood internal struggles is that so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriage for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, mental health is becoming vital, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it. General psychology will be my offering to the world, and wherever else this career may take me.

I cannot say I had an unhappy life. I cannot say that all has been bliss, but close enough. I thank God constantly for all that I have and all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. The truth about my childhood internal struggles is that so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriage for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, mental health is becoming vital, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it. General psychology will be my offering to the world, and wherever else this career may take me.

I didn’t realize that things from my childhood affected me so harshly as I grew up until I started to find my interest in psychology. Not only with my internal issues, but with all that we are faced with in South Texas. As a Mexican American woman, it can be difficult to find your role in life. I was lucky to have a very, amazing father who never treated me based on gender roles, however, it’s very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts. I see their teenage pregnancies as an effect of their misogynistic treatment, and I see it continuing in their daughters, my cousins. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all. As I continue learning in my psychology courses, I’m sure I’ll continue to find true meanings behind so much of my family's trauma, but all of these examples also show how I’ve grown to look for a better life. I am the youngest of three siblings, I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. It took until my siblings gave me a reason not to look up to them that I realized how wonderful my parents were, not only as people but as a unit. I am beyond blessed to have been given such parents, for they have taught me the best things to know about relationships and what to expect from those that love you, romantically or platonically. I have a very difficult relationship with my siblings, so much so that only my essays know about it, and it wouldn't matter for I am the youngest. Obviously, I only mean in the sense that if I spoke my mind about these issues, I would only look like the spoiled younger sister because I have no business in those adult matters. I fear that these internal struggles will lead me to be distanced from my family, which is something I don’t want, but after all, I’ve learned, I don’t want to continue a relationship where we are constantly being taken advantage of. I believe that pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. I have struggled with body dysmorphia, I have torn myself down more than any other human being could. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, and understanding the human mind and its works, will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists around the globe, and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world.

I cannot say I had an unhappy life. I cannot say that all has been bliss, but close enough. I thank God constantly for all that I have and all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. The truth about my childhood internal struggles is that so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriage for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, mental health is becoming vital, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it. General psychology will be my offering to the world, and wherever else this career may take me.

I cannot say I had an unhappy life. I cannot say that all has been bliss, but close enough. I thank God constantly for all that I have and all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. The truth about my childhood internal struggles is that so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriage for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, mental health is becoming vital, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all who need it. General psychology will be my offering to the world, and wherever else this career may take me.

I cannot say I had an unhappy life. I cannot say that all has been bliss, but close enough. I thank God constantly for all that I have and all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. The truth about my childhood internal struggles is that so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriage for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, mental health is becoming vital, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world.

I cannot say I had an unhappy life. I cannot say that all has been bliss, but close enough. I thank God constantly for all that I have and all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. The truth about my childhood internal struggles is that so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their own mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriage's for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, mental health is becoming vital, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me.

I cannot say I had an unhappy life. I cannot say that all has been bliss, but close enough. I thank God constantly for all that I have and all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. The truth about my childhood internal struggles is that so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their own mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriage's for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, mental health is becoming vital, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world.

I cannot say I had an unhappy life. I cannot say that all has been bliss, but close enough. I thank God constantly for all that I have and all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. The truth about my childhood internal struggles is that so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their own mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriage's for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, mental health is becoming vital, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world.

I am the youngest of three siblings, known to have matured at age 4, and I am a stubborn woman of descent from hardworking immigrants. I love God. I love my wonderful family, and I value my parents very much and cherish all I have in life because of them. I am outgoing and tend to make my opinions heard regardless of any confrontation or issues. I am also a kind, communicative person, known to be prepared. Being very headstrong, I get that from my Father. I'm also very passionate, from healing the world or the planet to understanding my cluttered thoughts and helping others. Time can feel surreal, which may not be an issue for me, but a daily shock - my parents will celebrate their 20th anniversary this May, yet I thought I was 6, and they were years younger. My parents have always been very loving and kind, teaching me new things every day from their past and my future. Today, I am blessed to have lived my life (mostly) carefree, like a real kid, the way my parents always wanted. My family made a lot of sacrifices, my siblings were as comforting as they wanted to be, and I adored every memory I made with them. This scholarship would be a blessing for myself and my family, as tuition is not cheap, and I'm racked with guilt trying to further my education while my Father pays the bill, but he says I worry too much as he is happy to help me. This financial help will allow me to work hard towards my degree without guilt about the cost and assist me in helping others. The impact I plan to make on the world is correct the damage of years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor and how many Mexican-American generations suffer from their mind. Since childhood, in many Hispanic households, the disparity in the roles of husband and wife exists harshly. We have seen generations of trauma pass between families, the same toxic household many wish they did not live in. I am blessed to have only seen these issues, never to have experienced them in my household. My parents worked their hardest to end the cycle with their children, but my siblings have found their way to continue, hurting me and infecting my niece and nephew. I believe that pursuing my education in psychology is so important, as I can help those so close to me, and I can understand why these issues spanned on for generations. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Furthering my interest in general psychology, and understanding the human mind, will also cater to the rising demand in psychology, and the removal of mental health stigma. Society is evolving, as is our technology, and so will the careers of today's and future psychologists. The delivery of psychological services has progressed to online sessions, helping hundreds, possibly thousands, around the world from my home or office could be my future. Lastly, with the hopes of finishing early, obtaining this bachelor's degree will open a vast range of job options, allowing me to offer my services to those in my community that are in need. I will strive to continue learning in this field and the experiences I hope this career will bring me.

I cannot say I had an unhappy life. I cannot say that all has been bliss, but close enough. I thank God constantly for all that I have and all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. The truth about my childhood internal struggles is that so many of us were silent about the battle in our heads. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their own mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. As a Mexican American woman, your role in life is often set. I was lucky to have a wonderful father who never treated me based on gender roles, who respected my voice and encouraged me, but it can be very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts - to see how blind we have been to the past. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriage's for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all, to settle. Mental health was ignored for generations, and our voices were silent for years. The future generation of women in my family are not tolerating the past treatment, and we are growing towards better lives and relationships - not toxic family members or abusive partners. Generations of POC families are growing and learning to heal their past trauma, whether it be by focusing on ourselves or forgiving those that have hurt us. I believe pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A. in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, mental health is becoming vital, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those in need.

The dream version of my future self is: happy with my body, forgiving of my siblings, pursuing a full-filling career, and surrounded by those I love and God.

Since childhood, in many hispanic households, we’ve seen the disparity in roles of husband and wife. We’ve seen wives beaten, who remain by her husband’s side, simply because that is what our ancestors have done. I’ve seen mother’s do it all on their own, right after giving birth, while the husband awaits dinner. Luckily, only few of us have had first hand view of these problems, but our tias have. All the stories of unfairness, of how women are held to a different standard than men, have motivated me to strive in my education towards them psychology - in order to learn and stop this cycle, not only in Texas, but all Hispanic families. In majoring in psychology, I hope this is a step in the right direction of offering help to women in need, to others that have suffered trauma from living these lives, and to fix these deep rooted issues. I believe that pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A in psychology while searching for internships and experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. I have struggled with body dysmorphia, I have torn myself down more than any other human being could, but everyday is a choice I will myself to make - to find the beauty in life, on a dying planet. People are struggling in all corners of the world. I feel it is my duty to start offering help in my hometown for they are not as fortunate as me, their issues span farther and deeper. The limits of mental health issues do not exist, which means I must start immediately. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind and its works, will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists around the globe, and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world. As society's mindset evolves, as does our technology, and as will the careers of today’s and future psychologists, like myself. Not only will I be able to provide assistance to my hometown, but internationally as well. The delivery of psychological services has progressed over to online sessions, helping hundreds, possibly thousands, around the world from my own home or office. Sooner rather than later, it will also become more normal to see clinical psychologists in traditional healthcare settings which is another possibility of career advancement within my future, if awarded this scholarship to successfully complete my studies. Lastly, with the hopes of finishing early, obtaining this bachelors degree will open a vast range of job options, allowing me to offer my services to those in my community that are in need. With an increase in the need of psychologists or not, I will strive to continue learning through this field and in the experiences I hope this career will bring me.

I cannot say I've had an unfortunate life. I cannot say that it’s all been bliss, but close enough. I thank God every day for all that I have, and for all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. I didn’t realize that things from my childhood affected me so harshly as I grew up until I started to find my interest in psychology. Not only with my own internal issues, but with all that we are faced with in South Texas. As a Mexican American woman, it can be difficult to find your role in life. I was lucky to have a very, amazing father who never treated me based on gender roles, however, it’s very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my grandmothers and aunts. I see how they were taught to endure it all. As I continue learning in my psychology courses, and in life, I’ll continue to find true meanings behind so much of my family's trauma. I am the youngest of three siblings, I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. It took me until my siblings gave reason not to look up to them that I realized how wonderful my parents were, not only as people, but as a unit. I am beyond blessed to have been given such parents, for they have taught me the best things to know about relationships and what to expect from those that love you, romantically or platonically. I have a difficult relationship with my siblings, so much so that only my essays know about it, and it wouldn't matter for I am the youngest. I fear that these internal struggles will lead me to being distanced from my family, which is something I don’t want, but after all I’ve learned, I don’t want to continue a relationship where we are constantly being taken advantage of. I believe that pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. I have struggled with body dysmorphia, I have torn myself down more than any other human being could, but every day is a choice I will myself to make - to find the beauty in life, on a dying planet. People are struggling in all corners of the world. I feel it is my duty to start offering help in my hometown for they are not as fortunate as me, their issues span farther and deeper. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind and its works, will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists around the globe, and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world.

Taylor Swift is beyond talented, each album has a song for someone to love, possibly all. I may not be a mega-fan, not yet, but I can name so many extraordinary songs that are always sung at the top of my lungs. Specifically from the album ‘1989’, “Wildest Dreams” is my favorite song. I favor “Wildest Dreams” because I felt it perfectly captured my being of a hopeless romantic. At the age of 11, I knew what kind of love I’d want, even more so now. Not the type of love merely for the tall handsome men, but the kind that sets you ablaze with happiness and adoration. “Wildest Dreams” may signify different than a story tale romance, but I chose the song to represent just that. Taylor’s heartbeat being the intro really sets the theme for the song, though I’m sure our heartbeats are racing in love, or maybe it was just mine. The way the song is sang, the melody, it gives such a tragic love story, like Shakespeare. The lyrics, especially the bridge, give such a longing for the love that is to end, hoping it’ll never be forgotten even if it is no more. Recalling any past love, resolved or not, is an emotional rollercoaster, something Taylor Swift constantly represents well in her songwriting. I met my Wildest Dream years ago and it truly did feel surreal falling in love, even more so when it ended, nevertheless I still find this song to represent any tragic love story. How perfect a person can seem when you’re blinded by love. How beautiful it can be falling then living in love, and how awful it can feel in the end, wondering if it’ll all be forgotten. Whether it ends amicably or with countless tears shed, a good love story is never wished to be forgotten regardless of the pain it leaves behind. The album ‘1989’ was full of love stories and experiences that many can relate to, and some that people just want to sing about. I believe that Taylor Swift never fails to provide beautiful music to reminisce to, or fall in love to, and that’s the duality of her art. Our wildest dreams can be met, by the right person at the right time, and living in the moment is the best way to truly cherish that love. Plus Taylor Swift will never allow our expectations to fall.

Mental health should not only be 'believed' to be important, it should be socially accepted that it truly is. Our well-being has always been important and played a huge factor in our lives and our tragedies. Mental health is important for an endless list of reasons, some including the fact that we spend the most time of our lives with ourselves, and having deep-rooted issues or self-hate can lead to destruction or those struggling with mental health can pass their trauma to loved ones or children. My mental health is important for the reasons listed above, for the sake of my happiness, and for my quality of life. I want to be healthy for myself and all those I love around me, for my future self to look back with no regrets, and to help those still living in turmoil. I've seen enough of my Mexican-American family members living their lives in unstable conditions, passing all the devastation to their children and the pattern continues, enough to realize how I do not want to live or raise my children. I value my mental health because my mind allows my body to be healthy, it allows me to be strong, and it allows me to be the better person I strive to be better every day, and I must take care of it so it can take care of me. To break generational trauma, to teach my family how to be better for our future. I maintain my mental wellness by being open with my emotions with those around me, possibly when I feel invalidated or just angry. I write down my thoughts and sort them in the process, which is much better than bottling them up to explode while still not resolving any of the issues, this method has helped me understand myself on new levels, as I grow and as I heal. I do things I enjoy, such as reading poetry or learning psychology, things that interest me or help me see beauty in the world in such darkness. I also maintain my health by surrounding myself with those who I truly value and who bring good to my life, not mere acquaintances from high school that drain me. Those that bring negativity into my life are found in my family, though I cannot separate from them always, I learn to dismiss their remarks and learn how to go beyond their hatred. I am beyond blessed to be given such supportive and loving parents that do not diminish my mental health or dismiss its importance. Two wonderful adults overcame their childhood trauma, which stopped the pattern and allowed me to find my passion in psychology to help others that were not as fortunate as them in the end. They have taught me more than I can list, more than I can put into words, and we all learn to better ourselves daily - together.

Struggling with body dysmorphia since age 5 is not the easiest challenge to overcome, nor is it the most difficult. I truly was a beautiful healthy little girl, but my mind turned against me for reasons beyond my recollection. My mother, heartbroken for never realizing the pain I endured, was so confused when I revealed to her my constant struggle with accepting my body. Long story short, I met my first love, fell in love with myself even more, and finally began my journey of health and acceptance. Developing an eating disorder during marching band is never expected, but hey, I rolled with the punches. At my lightest and heaviest weight, I adored my body and began to install healthy life choices along the way. 2020, a wild year, began my isolated covid workout journey. I couldn't believe that I'd never really worked out before, it quickly turned to (light) weightlifting which gave me such confidence and satisfaction. To fuel my body, simply moving every day is a habit I have maintained since then. Having such supportive parents allow us to invest in an elliptical was another big help. On days I don't feel like lifting, I hop on my equipment and run for the dopamine! Exercise always gave me such a spark of happiness afterward, which was another reason to continue. Additionally, I began to watch the foods I put into my body. I don't restrict myself, it'd be triggering to my past ED, but now I take into consideration the effects food may have on my mood and energy levels. I've come to crave fruit so much more than sweets, having chocolate in moderation, and including more protein in my daily meals. Not only have I made physical and external changes to a healthier lifestyle, but I've changed my outlook on life and how to spend my spare time. Feeling negative or positive towards your body can feel permanent and discouraging, but you can turn loving yourself into a mindset and lifestyle. I now only do things that better my life, things that I enjoy such as: spending time with family, journaling, reading poetry, and removing bad people from my life. Over 3 years, I have truly made so many small changes to better myself that to list them is gratifying! Even when it gets tedious, all these small habits will lead me to a full-filling healthy life.

The human mind functions in the most extraordinary ways, not to mention the way a child does, so much so that we don’t completely know. I find the mind, our emotions, and our process of thinking to decision-making, very fascinating and crucial to how society thrives or declines. In this fascination and the past few pandemic quarantines, I found my passion for exploring the human mind and helping others understand the complexity of their own. If awarded this scholarship, I vow to use it wisely, by beginning this journey to better my well-being and curiosities, but most importantly, to put an end to generational trauma and the stigma around mental health help in the fields available. Though I plan on bettering the world, my world being the Rio Grande Valley, and offering online sessions to those in need - I know my mental health will be taken into consideration in these next few years of studying. While studying, I hope to possibly begin working with school districts to enter the world of psychology, even simple jobs where I interact with more people to better understand all social aspects that could arise in the field of psychology, maybe even social work. Beginning this degree, online nevertheless, is a step into a world of philosophy and psychology that has arisen into light within the past few years. The World Health Organization declared access to mental health services, a priority in its Mental Health Action Plan. So it is understandable that now, more than ever while learning about ourselves within the past few difficult years, society pushes against enabling unhealthy behavior and striving to create a better psychological environment. Society has opened the path to healing from recent or past trauma, we’ve discovered how it affected us so much, from our adulthood and relationships to our coping mechanisms and destructive habits. All members of each family should have access to therapy, to help children learn to express themselves best, to help mothers deal with the load they do, and to help each person become their best self. We have evolved past shameful stereotypes and living in psychological warfare, and it’s my goal to prevent that together for the younger generations. As society's mindset evolves, so does our technology, and so will the careers of today’s and future psychologists, like myself. Not only will I be able to assist in my hometown, but internationally as well. The delivery of psychological services has progressed over to online sessions, helping hundreds, possibly thousands, around the world from my own home or office. Sooner rather than later, it will also become more normal to see clinical psychologists in traditional healthcare settings which is another possibility of career advancement in my future, if awarded this scholarship to complete my studies. Lastly, with the hopes of finishing early, obtaining this bachelor's degree will open a vast range of job options, allowing me to offer my services to those in my community that are in need. With an increase in the need for psychologists or not, I will strive to continue learning through this field and in the experiences, I hope this career will bring me.

The human mind functions in the most extraordinary ways, not to mention the way a child does, so much so that we don’t completely know. I find the mind, our emotions, and our process of thinking to decision-making, very fascinating and crucial to how society thrives or declines. In this fascination and the past few pandemic quarantines, I found my passion for exploring the human mind and helping others understand the complexity of their own. If awarded this scholarship, I vow to use it wisely, by beginning this journey to better my well-being and curiosities, but most importantly, to put an end to generational trauma and the stigma around mental health help in the fields available. Though I plan on bettering the world, my world being the Rio Grande Valley, and offering online sessions to those in need - I know my mental health will be taken into consideration in these next few years of studying. While studying, I hope to possibly begin working with school districts to enter the world of psychology, even simple jobs where I interact with more people to better understand all social aspects that could arise in the field of psychology, maybe even social work. Beginning this degree, online nevertheless, is a step into a world of philosophy and psychology that has arisen into light within the past few years. The World Health Organization declared access to mental health services, a priority in its Mental Health Action Plan. So it is understandable that now, more than ever while learning about ourselves within the past few difficult years, society pushes against enabling unhealthy behavior and striving to create a better psychological environment. Society has opened the path to healing from recent or past trauma, we’ve discovered how it affected us so much, from our adulthood and relationships to our coping mechanisms and destructive habits. All members of each family should have access to therapy, to help children learn to express themselves best, to help mothers deal with the load they do, and to help each person become their best self. We have evolved past shameful stereotypes and living in psychological warfare, and it’s my goal to prevent that together for the younger generations. As society's mindset evolves, so does our technology, and so will the careers of today’s and future psychologists, like myself. Not only will I be able to assist in my hometown, but internationally as well. The delivery of psychological services has progressed over to online sessions, helping hundreds, possibly thousands, around the world from my own home or office. Sooner rather than later, it will also become more normal to see clinical psychologists in traditional healthcare settings which is another possibility of career advancement in my future, if awarded this scholarship to complete my studies. Lastly, with the hopes of finishing early, obtaining this bachelor's degree will open a vast range of job options, allowing me to offer my services to those in my community that are in need. With an increase in the need for psychologists or not, I will strive to continue learning through this field and in the experiences, I hope this career will bring me.

Struggling with body dysmorphia since age 5 is not the easiest challenge to overcome, nor is it the most difficult. I truly was a beautiful healthy little girl, but my mind turned against me for reasons beyond my recollection. My mother, heartbroken for never realizing the pain I endured, was so confused when I revealed to her my constant struggle with accepting my body. Long story short, I met my first love, fell in love with myself even more, and finally began my journey of health and acceptance. Developing an eating disorder during marching band is never expected, but hey, I rolled with the punches. At my lightest and heaviest weight, I adored my body and began to install healthy life choices along the way. 2020, a wild year, began my isolated covid workout journey. I couldn't believe that I'd never really worked out before, it quickly turned to (light) weightlifting which gave me such confidence and satisfaction. To fuel my body, simply moving every day is a habit I have maintained since then. Having such supportive parents allow us to invest in an elliptical was another big help. On days I don't feel like lifting, I hop on my equipment and run for the dopamine! Exercise always gave me such a spark of happiness afterward, which was another reason to continue. Additionally, I began to watch the foods I put into my body. I don't restrict myself, it'd be triggering to my past ED, but now I take into consideration the effects food may have on my mood and energy levels. I've come to crave fruit so much more than sweets, having chocolate in moderation, and including more protein in my daily meals. Not only have I made physical and external changes to a healthier lifestyle, but I've changed my outlook on life and how to spend my spare time. Feeling negative or positive towards your body can feel permanent and discouraging, but you can turn loving yourself into a mindset and lifestyle. I now only do things that better my life, things that I enjoy such as: spending time with family, journaling, reading poetry, and removing bad people from my life. Over 3 years, I have truly made so many small changes to better myself that to list them is gratifying! Even when it gets tedious, all these small habits will lead me to a full-filling healthy life.

Struggling with body dysmorphia since age 5 is not the easiest challenge to overcome, nor is it the most difficult. I truly was a beautiful healthy little girl, but my mind turned against me for reasons beyond my recollection. My mother, heartbroken for never realizing the pain I endured, was so confused when I revealed to her my constant struggle with accepting my body. Long story short, I met my first love, fell in love with myself even more, and finally began my journey of health and acceptance. Developing an eating disorder during marching band is never expected, but hey, I rolled with the punches. At my lightest and heaviest weight, I adored my body and began to install healthy life choices along the way. 2020, a wild year, began my isolated covid workout journey. I couldn't believe that I'd never really worked out before, it quickly turned to (light) weightlifting which gave me such confidence and satisfaction. To fuel my body, simply moving every day is a habit I have maintained since then. Having such supportive parents allow us to invest in an elliptical was another big help. On days I don't feel like lifting, I hop on my equipment and run for the dopamine! Exercise always gave me such a spark of happiness afterward, which was another reason to continue. Additionally, I began to watch the foods I put into my body. I don't restrict myself, it'd be triggering to my past ED, but now I take into consideration the effects food may have on my mood and energy levels. I've come to crave fruit so much more than sweets, having chocolate in moderation, and including more protein in my daily meals. Not only have I made physical and external changes to a healthier lifestyle, but I've changed my outlook on life and how to spend my spare time. Feeling negative or positive towards your body can feel permanent and discouraging, but you can turn loving yourself into a mindset and lifestyle. I now only do things that better my life, things that I enjoy such as: spending time with family, journaling, reading poetry, and removing bad people from my life. Over 3 years, I have truly made so many small changes to better myself that to list them is gratifying! Even when it gets tedious, all these small habits will lead me to a full-filling healthy life.

I didn’t realize that things from my childhood affected me so harshly as I grew up until I started to find my interest in psychology. Not only with my internal issues, but with all that we are faced with in South Texas. As a Mexican American woman, it can be difficult to find your role in life. I was lucky to have a very, amazing father who never treated me based on gender roles, however, it’s very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts. I see their teenage pregnancies as an effect of their misogynistic treatment, and I see it continuing in their daughters, my cousins. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all. As I continue learning in my psychology courses, I’m sure I’ll continue to find true meanings behind so much of my family's trauma, but all of these examples also show how I’ve grown to look for a better life. I am the youngest of three siblings, I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. It took until my siblings gave me a reason not to look up to them that I realized how wonderful my parents were, not only as people but as a unit. I am beyond blessed to have been given such parents, for they have taught me the best things to know about relationships and what to expect from those that love you, romantically or platonically. I have a very difficult relationship with my siblings, so much so that only my essays know about it, and it wouldn't matter for I am the youngest. Obviously, I only mean in the sense that if I spoke my mind about these issues, I would only look like the spoiled younger sister because I have no business in those adult matters. I fear that these internal struggles will lead me to be distanced from my family, which is something I don’t want, but after all, I’ve learned, I don’t want to continue a relationship where we are constantly being taken advantage of. I believe that pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B. A in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. I have struggled with body dysmorphia, I have torn myself down more than any other human being could. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, and understanding the human mind and its works, will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists around the globe, and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering itself, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world.

I didn’t realize that things from my childhood affected me so harshly as I grew up until I started to find my interest in psychology. Not only with my own internal issues, but with all that we are faced with in South Texas. As a Mexican American woman, it can be difficult to find your role in life. I was lucky to have a very, amazing father who never treated me based on gender roles, however, it’s very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts. I see their teenage pregnancies as an effect from their misogynistic treatment, and I see it continuing in their daughters, my cousins. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all. As I continue learning in my psychology courses, I’m sure I’ll continue to find true meanings behind so much of my family's trauma, but all of these examples also show how I’ve grown to look for a better life. I am the youngest of three siblings, I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. It took me until my siblings gave reason not to look up to them that I realized how wonderful my parents were, not only as people, but as a unit. I am beyond blessed to have been given such parents, for they have taught me the best things to know about relationships and what to expect from those that love you, romantically or platonically. I have a very difficult relationship with my siblings, so much so that only my essays know about it, and it wouldn't matter for I am the youngest. Obviously, I only mean in the sense that if I spoke my mind about these issues, I would only look like the spoiled younger sister because I have no business in those adult matters. I fear that these internal struggles will lead me to being distanced from my family, which is something I don’t want, but after all I’ve learned, I don’t want to continue a relationship where we are constantly being taken advantage of. I believe that pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. I have struggled with body dysmorphia, I have torn myself down more than any other human being could. People are struggling in all corners of the world. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind and its works, will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists around the globe, and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world.

Perseverance is fighting through obstacles and struggles to reach your goal, and hopefully go beyond. Perseverance is the backbone of my Mexican family. It is that and their stubbornness that allowed my Grandmothers to fight with all their will to provide for their children and to give the future generations a better life. It is how my family made it to this country, is it how the other side of my family still climbs to their goals of coming to Texas to better the lives and opportunities of their children. It is how my Father has worked all his life to provide for his family, to assure himself that we receive everything he didn’t. It is how my Mother has given me every ounce of love and attention since I was born because she never had a childhood nor the time to spare with her parents between her 6 siblings. It is the determination that fills our blood that allows us to continue in life happily bettering ourselves every day, knowing that many before us did the same. Not for materialistic items or greed, but for the happiness and stability of ourselves and those we love. I cannot say I've had an unfortunate life. I cannot say that it’s all been bliss, but close enough. I thank God every day for all that I have, and for all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. As a Mexican American woman, it can be difficult to find your role in life. I was lucky to have a very, amazing father who never treated me based on gender roles, however, it’s very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts. I see their teenage pregnancies as an effect from their misogynistic treatment, and I see it continuing in their daughters, my cousins. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all. As I continue learning in my psychology courses, I’m sure I’ll continue to find true meanings behind so much of my family's trauma, but all of these examples also show how I’ve grown to look for better relationships and a better life. I’ve lived facing the reality that my siblings aren’t the greatest people in the world, seeing how they degrade me and my parents, but that will never stop me from having a healthy family of my own one day. Such trauma will never stop me from bettering the relationships I have with all those I love. I’ve dealt with arrogant and inappropriate teachers, those who humiliated me until they got the outcome they wanted, but that never stopped me from being the strong woman I am. All the experiences I’ve faced, with disgraced family members and heartbreak, all those that can’t be said, will never stop me. I’ve had an amazing life and with my fair share of sadness and disappointment, it has allowed me to grow from those experiences. I become a better person every day, at least I try to, and I want to continue healing myself despite all the issues I know will come my way. My Grandmother’s, my Father, did all they could so I could live this beautiful complicated life, and I will to the best of my ability.

I cannot say I've had an unfortunate life. I cannot say that it’s all been bliss, but close enough. I thank God every day for all that I have, and for all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. I didn’t realize that things from my childhood affected me so harshly as I grew up until I started to find my interest in psychology. Not only with my own internal issues, but with all that we are faced with in South Texas. As a Mexican American woman, it can be difficult to find your role in life. I was lucky to have a very, amazing father who never treated me based on gender roles, however, it’s very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my grandmothers and aunts. I see how they were taught to endure it all. As I continue learning in my psychology courses, and in life, I’ll continue to find true meanings behind so much of my family's trauma. I am the youngest of three siblings, I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. It took me until my siblings gave reason not to look up to them that I realized how wonderful my parents were, not only as people, but as a unit. I am beyond blessed to have been given such parents, for they have taught me the best things to know about relationships and what to expect from those that love you, romantically or platonically. I have a difficult relationship with my siblings, so much so that only my essays know about it, and it wouldn't matter for I am the youngest. I fear that these internal struggles will lead me to being distanced from my family, which is something I don’t want, but after all I’ve learned, I don’t want to continue a relationship where we are constantly being taken advantage of. I believe that pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. I have struggled with body dysmorphia, I have torn myself down more than any other human being could, but every day is a choice I will myself to make - to find the beauty in life, on a dying planet. People are struggling in all corners of the world. I feel it is my duty to start offering help in my hometown for they are not as fortunate as me, their issues span farther and deeper. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind and its works, will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists around the globe, and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world.

Perseverance is fighting through obstacles and struggles to reach your goal, and hopefully go beyond. Perseverance is the backbone of my Mexican family. It is that and their stubbornness that allowed my Grandmothers to fight with all their will to provide for their children and to give the future generations a better life. It is how my family made it to this country, is it how the other side of my family still climbs to their goals of coming to Texas to better the lives and opportunities of their children. It is how my Father has worked all his life to provide for his family, to assure himself that we receive everything he didn’t. It is how my Mother has given me every ounce of love and attention since I was born because she never had a childhood nor the time to spare with her parents between her 6 siblings. It is the determination that fills our blood that allows us to continue in life happily bettering ourselves every day, knowing that many before us did the same. Not for materialistic items or greed, but for the happiness and stability of ourselves and those we love. I cannot say I've had an unfortunate life. I cannot say that it’s all been bliss, but close enough. I thank God every day for all that I have, and for all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. As a Mexican American woman, it can be difficult to find your role in life. I was lucky to have a very, amazing father who never treated me based on gender roles, however, it’s very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts. I see their teenage pregnancies as an effect from their misogynistic treatment, and I see it continuing in their daughters, my cousins. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all. As I continue learning in my psychology courses, I’m sure I’ll continue to find true meanings behind so much of my family's trauma, but all of these examples also show how I’ve grown to look for better relationships and a better life. I’ve lived facing the reality that my siblings aren’t the greatest people in the world, seeing how they degrade me and my parents, but that will never stop me from having a healthy family of my own one day. Such trauma will never stop me from bettering the relationships I have with all those I love. I’ve dealt with arrogant and inappropriate teachers, those who humiliated me until they got the outcome they wanted, but that never stopped me from being the strong woman I am. All the experiences I’ve faced, with disgraced family members and heartbreak, all those that can’t be said, will never stop me. I’ve had an amazing life and with my fair share of sadness and disappointment, it has allowed me to grow from those experiences. I become a better person every day, at least I try to, and I want to continue healing myself despite all the issues I know will come my way. My Grandmother’s, my Father, did all they could so I could live this beautiful complicated life, and I will to the best of my ability.

I am the youngest of three siblings, known to have matured at age 4, and I am a powerful stubborn woman descent from immigrants. I'm an outgoing person, an ambivert, and I tend to make my opinions heard regardless of any confrontation or issues. I'm also a kind communicative person, I'm known as the mom or therapist of my friend groups, and I'm always prepared. I'm very headstrong, I get that from my Father, and I'm extremely organized, another trait I inherited. My childhood is a bit suppressed, I dealt with a lot of body dysmorphia even with such a supportive family, but I was very happy nonetheless. I was the baby, still am, and I always got my way. I still think I'm the best child, even if I'm a bit spoiled. My parents have always been very loving and kind, they teach me new things everyday, I'd say I'm the smartest of all my siblings too! To this day, at age 18, I've been blessed enough to live my life carefree, like a real kid - despite heartbreak, academic standards, and the blue days. My family made a lot of sacrifices, my siblings were as nice as they could've been, and I adored every memory I made with them. The impact I plan to make on the world is correct the damage of years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, how many Mexican-American generations suffer from their own mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. I believe that pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A in psychology while searching for internships and experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. I have struggled with body dysmorphia, I have torn myself down more than any other human being could, but everyday is a choice I will myself to make - to find the beauty in life, on a dying planet. People are struggling in all corners of the world. I feel it is my duty to start offering help in my hometown for they are not as fortunate as me, their issues span farther and deeper. The limits of mental health issues do not exist, which means I must start immediately. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind and its works, will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists around the globe, and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world

Generational wealth is a thing not known within my family, nor the generations prior. My Grandparents did not have an easy life, nor any money, nor did their parents, and so on and so forth. I came from wonderful human beings, my parents specifically, who did not have easy beginnings, which is what made them so hardworking. Generational wealth may be all one’s assets such as money, property, or business, developed in their lifetime that eventually passes down to children, or family. Until now, my family has had none of the above. Given, my parents are great on their own accord, but their financial ways were influenced by their own upbringing. My Father, hoping to give his children everything he couldn’t have and more, has worked beyond his best ability since he was a teenager. My Mom, who began working as a preteen, was eventually moved to Texas, as she was the only one with citizenship, and sent all her money back to her family. With debt, medical bills, and 20 children between each family, my parents could’ve easily drowned in this cycle. Luckily, however, they didn’t. After meeting, marrying, and having me, I’ve seen their hard work to maintain a stable life for us, a very comfortable life. Technically, to me, my generation wealth will be our current home and my parents savings. However, I do not believe generational wealth will save you or help you achieve more, given it’d be easier. My parents financial stability will be my own, but not because of the money they may leave from their passing, but from all I learned. It’s easy to inherit money, it can be easy to keep it, but it’s hard to make it. I plan on doing the same, possibly even more, than my parents did because I strive to give the same to my children. Possibly money to save or fall back on, hopefully property that I’ll own, but I want them to be able to survive on their own in the world, not only in the economy. In all seriousness, my plan is to accumulate money and own some property by the time I am 40. I plan to support my family, live comfortably as my parents provided, or more. Properly can always, often time, work in your favor. I plan to work hard and manage my finances carefully, and I hope to leave a house to the next generation of Cantu’s, which they can do wonders with. It’s hard to be an 18 year old when asked this question, because you know the answer, but you forget you’ll have to act one day based on that answer. I’ll remember all I learned from my parents, from life, but I’ll never forget all the sacrifices my grandparents made to get us here. THAT is generational wealth.

The human mind functions in the most extraordinary ways, not to mention the way a child’s does, so much so we don’t completely know. I find the mind, our emotions, and our process of thinking to decision making, very fascinating and crucial to how society thrives or declines. In this fascination, and the past few pandemic quarantines, I found my passion for exploring the human mind and helping others understand the complexity of their own. If awarded this scholarship, I vow to use it wisely, by beginning this journey to better my well-being and curiosities, but most importantly, to put an end to generational trauma and the stigma around mental health help. As society's mindset evolves, as does our technology, and as will the careers of todays and future psychologists, like me. Not only will I be able to provide assistance to my hometown, but internationally as well. The delivery of psychological services has progressed over to online sessions, helping hundreds, possibly thousands, around the world from my own home or office. Sooner rather than later, it will also become more normal to see clinical psychologists in traditional healthcare settings which is another possibility of career advancement within my future, if awarded this scholarship to successfully complete my studies. Lastly, with the hopes of finishing early, obtaining this bachelors degree will open a vast range of job options, allowing me to offer my services to those in my community that are in need. With an increase in the need of psychologists or not, I will strive to continue learning through this field and in the experiences I hope this career will bring me.

I cannot say I've had an unfortunate life. I cannot say that it’s all been bliss, but close enough. I thank God every day for all that I have, and for all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. I’ve broken down more times than I can count, but it’s a good thing I appear very emotionally strong, resilient, even. I didn’t realize that things from my childhood affected me so harshly as I grew up until I started to find my interest in psychology. Not only with my own internal issues, but with all that we are faced with in South Texas. As a Mexican American woman, it can be difficult to find your role in life. I was lucky to have a very, amazing father who never treated me based on gender roles, however, it’s very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts. I see their teenage pregnancies as an effect from their misogynistic treatment, and I see it continuing in their daughters, my cousins. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all. As I continue learning in my psychology courses, I’m sure I’ll continue to find true meanings behind so much of my family's trauma, but all of these examples also show how I’ve grown to look for better relationships and a better life. I am the youngest of three siblings, I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. It took me until my siblings gave reason not to look up to them that I realized how wonderful my parents were, not only as people, but as a unit. I am beyond blessed to have been given such parents, for they have taught me the best things to know about relationships and what to expect from those that love you, romantically or platonically. I’ve had so many friendships that I never realized, maybe we’re just acquaintances. You shouldn’t be the only one putting an effort, especially within a friendship, and it’s really difficult to express that as it causes tension, but it has helped me solidify bonds with some of my closest friends that I consider family. I have a very difficult relationship with my siblings, so much so that only my essays know about it, and it wouldn't matter for I am the youngest. Obviously, I only mean in the sense that if I spoke my mind about these issues, I would only look like the spoiled younger sister because I have no business in those adult matters. I fear that these internal struggles will lead me to being distanced from my family, which is something I don’t want, but after all I’ve learned, I don’t want to continue a relationship where we are constantly being taken advantage of. Again, the friends that I have really proved to me how you should be treated in life, I’m never under minded or dismissed. So much has influenced my perception of all relationships, and I think everyone should reevaluate their own too. I believe that pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. I have struggled with body dysmorphia, I have torn myself down more than any other human being could, but every day is a choice I will myself to make - to find the beauty in life, on a dying planet. People are struggling in all corners of the world. I feel it is my duty to start offering help in my hometown for they are not as fortunate as me, their issues span farther and deeper. The limits of mental health issues do not exist, which means I must start immediately. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind and its works, will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists around the globe, and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world.

I cannot say I've had an unfortunate life. I cannot say that it’s all been bliss, but close enough. I thank God every day for all that I have, and for all the wonderful people in my life, but I find myself dissecting life and seeing the truth within. I’ve broken down more times than I can count, but it’s a good thing I appear very emotionally strong, resilient, even. I didn’t realize that things from my childhood affected me so harshly as I grew up until I started to find my interest in psychology. Not only with my own internal issues, but with all that we are faced with in South Texas. As a Mexican American woman, it can be difficult to find your role in life. I was lucky to have a very, amazing father who never treated me based on gender roles, however, it’s very disappointing to grow up and see the effects of such treatment within my aunts. I see their teenage pregnancies as an effect from their misogynistic treatment, and I see it continuing in their daughters, my cousins. I finally see how unhappy my grandmothers were in their marriages for it took their death to feel release. I see how they were taught to endure it all. As I continue learning in my psychology courses, I’m sure I’ll continue to find true meanings behind so much of my family's trauma, but all of these examples also show how I’ve grown to look for better relationships and a better life. I am the youngest of three siblings, I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. It took me until my siblings gave reason not to look up to them that I realized how wonderful my parents were, not only as people, but as a unit. I am beyond blessed to have been given such parents, for they have taught me the best things to know about relationships and what to expect from those that love you, romantically or platonically. I’ve had so many friendships that I never realized, maybe we’re just acquaintances. You shouldn’t be the only one putting an effort, especially within a friendship, and it’s really difficult to express that as it causes tension, but it has helped me solidify bonds with some of my closest friends that I consider family. I have a very difficult relationship with my siblings, so much so that only my essays know about it, and it wouldn't matter for I am the youngest. Obviously, I only mean in the sense that if I spoke my mind about these issues, I would only look like the spoiled younger sister because I have no business in those adult matters. I fear that these internal struggles will lead me to being distanced from my family, which is something I don’t want, but after all I’ve learned, I don’t want to continue a relationship where we are constantly being taken advantage of. Again, the friends that I have really proved to me how you should be treated in life, I’m never under minded or dismissed. So much has influenced my perception of all relationships, and I think everyone should reevaluate their own too. I believe that pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities, like my own, in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A in psychology while searching for experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. I have struggled with body dysmorphia, I have torn myself down more than any other human being could, but every day is a choice I will myself to make - to find the beauty in life, on a dying planet. People are struggling in all corners of the world. I feel it is my duty to start offering help in my hometown for they are not as fortunate as me, their issues span farther and deeper. The limits of mental health issues do not exist, which means I must start immediately. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind and its works, will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists around the globe, and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world.

The most impactful way one can combat climate change is with facts. Most American citizens believe their small actions of conserving energy and reducing their carbon footprint, will pile up to help defeat the global climate issues, however, they are being fed the wrong information. We are told by the largest corporations that our conservation methods will help heal the planet, meanwhile they continue to poison our planet and keep the profit. More so, I believe the entire “recycling” campaign was yet another way to shift blame and opportunity onto citizens for their living habits, as if they are the sole cause of climate change. The best way to inform others, not only of the issues surrounding such corporations, but of the solution as well, is to inform all eligible voters of the change they can make with their involvement. I do also enjoy taking in the small acts of kindness towards our planet, like any other conscious citizen, and I try to steer my family in the same way. Conserving water, composting, buying secondhand, and so many more small ways of reducing waste. Regardless of their impact, it is important that we all remain conscious of our actions when facing such a large dilemma in the world.

Feminism is love. Feminism is not the misconception that women want more rights than men, or that we wish to abuse the system as men have in the past. It is the belief that all people, of any gender, deserves to be treated fairly in any environment without harassment or certain disadvantages. I often disliked being called a feminist for it carried such a negative weight, usually meaning a stuck up sensitive woman. I didn’t want my male friends to view me in that way, however, it was the internalized misogyny that’s made me want to separate myself from feminist women. In reality, if a person, especially a man, has an issue with a feminist, they are the true issue. Similar to all causes, some feminists can take matters too far and misinterpret the goal, and they are the reason it is construed so badly. Overall, despite any issues, feminism is so important to truly learn and grow from learned behavior that is often disrespectful towards women. It also allows all people to reevaluate their treatment towards all genders, men and women deserve equal treatment, not a pedestal. My Dad has been truly inspiring, whether he considers himself a feminist or not, for he has always treated me with respect, never favoring male relatives or siblings over me. I often focus on the female equality part of feminism, for it’s often been the problem faced in my life, but never with my Dad. He has ALWAYS made it known that I do not need any man to support me, I am capable of supporting myself and more. I do not need to have children, nor will any person force or convince me to do so. My Dad has allowed me to know, from the day I took my first steps, that any mistreatment will not be tolerated and I will stand up for myself, not solely because I am a woman - but because I am powerful. I have always known to be a strong woman, even more so when feminism rose, and such allowed me to hold my ground in life, to never allow a person to belittle me. It’s quite difficult considering the hispanic culture and how they differ in roles, but it’s just another way to help empower the relatives in my family. To be present in the raising of my niece and nephew, assuring they are constantly reassured and not facing any gender disparities that I’ve seen in my childhood.

The human mind functions in the most extraordinary ways, not to mention the way a child’s does, so much so we don’t completely know. I find the mind, our emotions, and our process of thinking to decision making, very fascinating and crucial to how society thrives or declines. In this fascination, and the past few pandemic quarantines, I found my passion for exploring the human mind and helping others understand the complexity of their own. If awarded this scholarship, I vow to use it wisely, by beginning this journey to better my well-being and curiosities, but most importantly, to put an end to generational trauma and the stigma around mental health help. Though I plan on bettering the world, my world being the Rio Grande Valley, and offering online sessions to those in need - I know my mental health will be taken into consideration in these next few years of studying. I am the youngest of three siblings, ten years younger to be exact, yet I’ve been 18 since I was 6. Whether it be undiagnosed ADHD, or the simple inheritance and learned behaviors of my father, I’ve always been a peculiar child. Not only did I find my habits interesting enough to follow a career in evaluating them, and better understanding my own mechanisms, but the effects of the GT Program were also a large part of my development. The GT Program, as beneficial as it may be to young children, has also been found to become a large disadvantage over time. With inadequate, or simply untrained teachers, the GT Program does not enforce a continuous process to ensure the constant challenges to promote further educational build, not to mention the lack of ability to encompass all facets of intelligence. Such can cause program members to halt their efforts academically, place unreasonable expectations on themselves, or even develop depression and anxiety. Countless shots of degradation to the minds of children, myself included, is what strengthened my pursuit to better the flaws of my mind, and provide care to any children needing psychological help. Providing such help will also prevent children developing a people-pleasing desire in life, rather than search for validation in good grades and doing things only thinking of others opinions, they have the opportunity to go beyond their former expectations. Beginning this degree, online nevertheless, is a step into a world of philosophy and psychology that has arisen into light within the past few years. The World Health Organization declared access to mental health services, a priority in its Mental Health Action Plan. So it is understandable that now, more than ever, while learning about ourselves within the past few difficult years, society pushes against enabling unhealthy behavior and strived to create a better psychological environment. The largest stigma that has been pushed far in the last decade, is the belief that therapy is only for “serious” issues. Even in my own household, I find my family hesitant and in disbelief with the effectiveness of psychiatric care, because they find therapy often only necessary in the case of the mentally insane. However, society has opened the path to healing from recent or past trauma, we’ve discovered how it affected so much, from our adulthood and relationships to our coping mechanisms and destructive habits. All members of each family should have access to therapy, to help children learn to express themselves best, to help mothers dealing with the load they do, to help each person become their best self. We have evolved past shameful stereotypes and living in psychological warfare, and it’s my goal to prevent that all together for the younger generations. As society's mindset evolves, as does our technology, and as will the careers of today’s and future psychologists, like myself. Not only will I be able to provide assistance to my hometown, but internationally as well. The delivery of psychological services has progressed over to online sessions, helping hundreds, possibly thousands, around the world from my own home or office. Sooner rather than later, it will also become more normal to see clinical psychologists in traditional healthcare settings which is another possibility of career advancement within my future, if awarded this scholarship to successfully complete my studies. Lastly, with the hopes of finishing early, obtaining this bachelors degree will open a vast range of job options, allowing me to offer my services to those in my community that are in need. With an increase in the need of psychologists or not, I will strive to continue learning through this field and in the experiences I hope this career will bring me.

Struggling with body dysmorphia since age 5 is not the easiest challenge to overcome, nor is it the most difficult. I truly was a beautiful healthy little girl, but my mind turned myself against me for reasons beyond my recollection. My mother, heartbroken for never realizing the pain I endured, was so confused when I revealed to her my constant struggle with accepting my body. Long story short, I met my first love, fell in love with myself even more, and finally began my journey of health and acceptance. Developing an eating disorder during marching band is never expected, but hey, I rolled with the punches. At my lightest and heaviest weight, I adored my body and began to install healthy life choices along the way. 2020, a wild year, began my isolated covid workout journey. I couldn't believe that I'd never really worked out before, it quickly turned to (light) weightlifting which gave me such confidence and satisfaction. To fuel my body, to simply move every day is a habit I have maintained since then. Having such supportive parents to allow us to invest in an elliptical was another big help. On days I don't feel like lifting, I hop on my equipment and run for the dopamine! Exercise always gave me such a spark of happiness afterwards, which was another reason to continue. Additionally, I began to watch the foods I put into my body. I don't restrict myself, it'd be triggering to my past ED, but now I take into consideration the affects food may have on my mood and energy levels. I've come to crave fruit so much more than sweets, having chocolate in moderation, and including more protein into my daily meals. Not only have I made physical and external changes to a healthier lifestyle, but I've changed my outlook on life and how to spend my spare time. I now only do things that better my life, things that I enjoy such as: spending time with family, journaling, reading poetry, and removing bad people from my life. Over the span of 3 years, I have truly made so many small changes to better myself that to list them is gratifying! Even when it gets tedious, all these small habits will lead me to a full-filling healthy life.

My favorite Disney character, the lovable and oh so miserable, Eeyore. Sure, he’s a pessimist donkey, but he can also be very relatable. Similar to all the little girls, I also adore a Disney princess, Ariel. I admired Ariel for her courage, her quest for love, and love for her family, but as I got older I realized I overlooked such a realistic character. Despite having been around me since I was little, I began favoring Eeyore in 2020, maybe even before, but in such trying times I saw his cuteness and just felt so connected. Eeyore is a humorous character, for his exaggerated worries and blue thoughts, but also because he mirrors what us people do on a daily basis - we overthink and forget about the bright side! Not to mention, Eeyore is a classic Winnie the Pooh character and I tend to love oldies. Eeyore brings me such nostalgia, thoughts from my childhood having had a Tigger obsessed sister, and such comfort that things are never as bad as they seem. After so many personal dilemmas, pandemics, and years of overthinking, Eeyore helped me realize that sometimes I’m as ridiculous as a stuffed donkey and everything will work out in the end. I love plenty Disney characters, it’s a very comforting thing to have, to be able to watch these films and relax. To have even adults calm and wild down to watch their favorite Disney films. However, Eeyore is such an underrated and important character, I’m glad to remember him in times I need to be positive.

Struggling with body dysmorphia since age 5 is not the easiest challenge to overcome, nor is it the most difficult. I truly was a beautiful healthy little girl, but my mind turned myself against me for reasons beyond my recollection. My mother, heartbroken for never realizing the pain I endured, was so confused when I revealed to her my constant struggle with accepting my body. Long story short, I met my first love, fell in love with myself even more, and finally began my journey of health and acceptance. Developing an eating disorder during marching band is never expected, but hey, I rolled with the punches. At my lightest and heaviest weight, I adored my body and began to install healthy life choices along the way. 2020, a wild year, began my isolated covid workout journey. I couldn't believe that I'd never really worked out before, it quickly turned to (light) weightlifting which gave me such confidence and satisfaction. To fuel my body, to simply move every day is a habit I have maintained since then. Having such supportive parents to allow us to invest in an elliptical was another big help. On days I don't feel like lifting, I hop on my equipment and run for the dopamine! Exercise always gave me such a spark of happiness afterwards, which was another reason to continue. Additionally, I began to watch the foods I put into my body. I don't restrict myself, it'd be triggering to my past ED, but now I take into consideration the affects food may have on my mood and energy levels. I've come to crave fruit so much more than sweets, having chocolate in moderation, and including more protein into my daily meals. Not only have I made physical and external changes to a healthier lifestyle, but I've changed my outlook on life and how to spend my spare time. I now only do things that better my life, things that I enjoy such as: spending time with family, journaling, reading poetry, and removing bad people from my life. Over the span of 3 years, I have truly made so many small changes to better myself that to list them is gratifying! Even when it gets tedious, all these small habits will lead me to a full-filling healthy life. As society's mindset evolves, as does our technology, and as will the careers of today’s and future psychologists, like myself. Not only will I be able to provide assistance to my hometown, but internationally as well. Sooner rather than later, it will also become more normal to see clinical psychologists in traditional healthcare settings which is another possibility of career advancement within my future, if awarded this scholarship to successfully complete my studies.

From the childhood pet I had since I was a newborn, to the stray cat that found me in my darkest times, pets in my life have always loved and given me moments to cherish. My siblings had more time with my beloved terrier poodle mix dog, Snowy, he was a smart well trained and loving boy. Snowy protected our house and alerted us when my father got home from work, he was very spoiled in his food dishes and he was taken to the groomers when needed. I never realized how much of a good pet Snowy was until he was gone, I was too young at the time, I didn’t know that bathing him was a luxury rather than a burden. Snowy remains in my dad‘s heart, as well as ours, to this day which doesn’t allow any more room for pets. I know in the future I’ll have a dog, when I am financially and mentally prepared to care for another living being, but I know nothing will ever compare to the little white dog I had. He was never messy or mean, he was only ever protective of the little girl he always knew. He would do his own thing, go out into the neighborhood and play, then he’d come inside during the winter - he never barked or peed inside, he was such a smart boy. My Snowy loved us just as much as we loved him. It really breaks my heart to know that I was unaware of how old he was, so much so I didn’t know pulling on his leash to make him run was a bad thing, thought he needed exercise. But hey, that was just a few seconds, and I was a little kid, I know he doesn’t blame me for it. Now, as I look back to the fuzzy memories I have of my beloved Snowy, I know that he’ll have an everlasting paw print on my families hearts. In the end, we were sad he was fixed, we would’ve loved to have his puppies to keep a piece of him around, but he was perfect nonetheless. Nothing will ever compare, and I know he was ”just” a tiny furry thing, but he was real important to us and he still is. My snowy changed my childhood for the better, and he gave me the most beautiful memories, it’s the best story anyone can ever have of their childhood pet.

The human mind functions in the most extraordinary ways. I find the mind, our emotions, our process of thinking to decision making, very fascinating and crucial to how society thrives or declines. In this fascination, and the past few pandemic quarantines, I found my passion for exploring the human mind and helping others understand complexity of their own. If awarded their scholarship, I vow to use it wisely, beginning this journey to better my well-being and curiosities, but most importantly, to put an end to generational trauma and the stigma around mental health help. Though I plan on bettering the world, my world being the Rio Grande Valley, and offering online sessions to those in need - I know my mental health will be taken into consideration in these next few years of studying. I am the youngest of three siblings, ten years younger to be exact, yet I’ve been 18 since I was 6. Whether it be undiagnosed ADHD, or the simple inheritance and learned behaviors of my father, I’ve always been a peculiar child. Not only did I find my habits interesting enough to follow a career in evaluating them, and better understanding my own mechanisms, but the effects of the GT Program were also a large part of my development. The GT Program, as beneficial as it may be to young children, has also been found to become a large disadvantage over time. With inadequate, or simply untrained teachers, the GT Program does not enforce a continuous process to ensure the constant challenges to promote further educational build, not to mention the lack of ability to encompass all facets of intelligence. Such can cause members to halt their efforts academically, place unreasonable expectations on themselves, or even develop depression and anxiety. Countless shots of degradation to the minds of children, myself included, is what strengthened my pursuit to better the flaws of my mind, and provide care to any children needing psychological help. Beginning this degree, online nevertheless, is a step into a world of philosophy and psychology that has arisen into light within the past few years. The World Health Organization declared access to mental health services, a priority in its Mental Health Action Plan. So it is understandable that now, more than ever, while learning about ourselves within the past few difficult years, society pushes against enabling unhealthy behavior and strived to create a better psychological environment. Society has opened the path to healing from recent or past trauma, we’ve discovered how it affected so much, from our adulthood and relationships to our coping mechanisms and destructive habits. Respectfully informing older, or more hesitant, generations, of the new outlook and possibilities within therapy is a step forward. We have evolved past shameful stereotypes and living in psychological warfare. As society's mindset evolves, as does our technology, and as will the careers of today’s and future psychologists, like myself. Not only will I be able to provide assistance to my hometown, but internationally as well. Sooner rather than later, it will also become more normal to see clinical psychologists in traditional healthcare settings which is another possibility of career advancement within my future, if awarded this scholarship to successfully complete my studies. Lastly, with the hopes of finishing early, obtaining this bachelors degree will open a vast range of job options, allowing me to offer my services to those in my community that are in need. With an increase in the need of psychologists or not, I will strive to continue learning through this field and in the experiences I hope this career will bring me.

Struggling with body dysmorphia since age 5 is not the easiest challenge to overcome, nor is it the most difficult. I truly was a beautiful healthy little girl, but my mind turned myself against me for reasons beyond my recollection. My mother, heartbroken for never realizing the pain I endured, was so confused when I revealed to her my constant struggle with accepting my body. Long story short, I met my first love, fell in love with myself even more, and finally began my journey of health and acceptance. Developing an eating disorder during marching band is never expected, but hey, I rolled with the punches. At my lightest and heaviest weight, I adored my body and began to install healthy life choices along the way. 2020, a wild year, began my isolated covid workout journey. I couldn't believe that I'd never really worked out before, it quickly turned to (light) weightlifting which gave me such confidence and satisfaction. To fuel my body, to simply move every day is a habit I have maintained since then. Having such supportive parents to allow us to invest in an elliptical was another big help. On days I don't feel like lifting, I hop on my equipment and run for the dopamine! Exercise always gave me such a spark of happiness afterwards, which was another reason to continue. Additionally, I began to watch the foods I put into my body. I don't restrict myself, it'd be triggering to my past ED, but now I take into consideration the affects food may have on my mood and energy levels. I've come to crave fruit so much more than sweets, having chocolate in moderation, and including more protein into my daily meals. Not only have I made physical and external changes to a healthier lifestyle, but I've changed my outlook on life and how to spend my spare time. I now only do things that better my life, things that I enjoy such as: spending time with family, journaling, reading poetry, and removing bad people from my life. Over the span of 3 years, I have truly made so many small changes to better myself that to list them is gratifying! Even when it gets tedious, all these small habits will lead me to a full-filling healthy life.

Mt dream in life is to live happily and carefree, surrounded by people I love while doing something I love. my goal in life is to continue stimulating my mind and learning for years to come, which is why I am continuing my education now in psychology to help others.

Struggling with body dysmorphia since age 5 is not the easiest challenge to overcome, nor is it the most difficult. I truly was a beautiful healthy little girl, but my mind turned myself against me for reasons beyond my recollection. My mother, heartbroken for never realizing the pain I endured, was so confused when I revealed to her my constant struggle with accepting my body. Long story short, I met my first love, fell in love with myself even more, and finally began my journey of health and acceptance. Developing an eating disorder during marching band is never expected, but hey, I rolled with the punches. At my lightest and heaviest weight, I adored my body and began to install healthy life choices along the way. 2020, a wild year, began my isolated covid workout journey. I couldn't believe that I'd never really worked out before, it quickly turned to (light) weightlifting which gave me such confidence and satisfaction. To fuel my body, to simply move every day is a habit I have maintained since then. Having such supportive parents to allow us to invest in an elliptical was another big help. On days I don't feel like lifting, I hop on my equipment and run for the dopamine! Exercise always gave me such a spark of happiness afterwards, which was another reason to continue. Additionally, I began to watch the foods I put into my body. I don't restrict myself, it'd be triggering to my past ED, but now I take into consideration the affects food may have on my mood and energy levels. I've come to crave fruit so much more than sweets, having chocolate in moderation, and including more protein into my daily meals. Not only have I made physical and external changes to a healthier lifestyle, but I've changed my outlook on life and how to spend my spare time. I now only do things that better my life, things that I enjoy such as: spending time with family, journaling, reading poetry, and removing bad people from my life. Over the span of 3 years, I have truly made so many small changes to better myself that to list them is gratifying! Even when it gets tedious, all these small habits will lead me to a full-filling healthy life.

First and foremost, I would like to thank wiseGeek for giving myself and countless students this opportunity to continue our education. Continuing my education has always been in my long life plan, not only because it satisfies my constant quest for knowledge, but also because I plan to better the world with my education, more importantly, to better myself and my family. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their own mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. I believe that pursuing a higher education, in psychology specifically, will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A in psychology while searching for internships and experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. I have struggled with body dysmorphia, I have torn myself down more than any other human being could, but everyday is a choice I will myself to make - to find the beauty in life, on a dying planet. People are struggling in all corners of the world. I feel it is my duty to start offering help in my hometown for they are not as fortunate as me, their issues span farther and deeper. The limits of mental health issues do not exist, which means I must start immediately. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind and its works, will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists around the globe, and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world.

The human mind functions in the most extraordinary ways, as my own functions the same, but at 500 miles per hour, which is quite ironic considering the brain does function at 156-270 miles per hour. I find the mind, our emotions, and our process of thinking to decision making, very fascinating and crucial to how society thrives or declines. In this fascination, and the past few pandemic quarantines, I found my passion for exploring the human mind and helping others understand the complexity of their own. If awarded this scholarship, I vow to use it wisely, by beginning this journey to better my well-being and curiosities, but most importantly, to put an end to generational trauma and the stigma around mental health help. Though I plan on bettering the world, my world being the Rio Grande Valley, and offering online sessions to those in need - I know my mental health will be taken into consideration in these next few years of studying. Beginning this degree, online nevertheless, is a step into a world of philosophy and psychology that has arisen into light within the past few years. The World Health Organization declared access to mental health services, a priority in its Mental Health Action Plan. So it is understandable that now, more than ever, while learning about ourselves within the past few difficult years, society pushes against enabling unhealthy behavior and strived to create a better psychological environment. Society has opened the path to healing from recent or past trauma, we’ve discovered how it affected so much, from our adulthood and relationships to our coping mechanisms and destructive habits. Respectfully informing older, or more hesitant, generations, of the new outlook and possibilities within therapy is a step forward. We have evolved past shameful stereotypes and living in psychological warfare. As society's mindset evolves, as does our technology, and as will the careers of today’s and future psychologists, like myself. Not only will I be able to provide assistance to my hometown, but internationally as well. The delivery of psychological services has progressed over to online sessions, helping hundreds, possibly thousands, around the world from my own home or office. Sooner rather than later, it will also become more normal to see clinical psychologists in traditional healthcare settings which is another possibility of career advancement within my future, if awarded this scholarship to successfully complete my studies. Lastly, with the hopes of finishing early, obtaining this bachelors degree will open a vast range of job options, allowing me to offer my services to those in my community that are in need. With an increase in the need of psychologists or not, I will strive to continue learning through this field and in the experiences I hope this career will bring me.

The human mind functions in the most extraordinary ways, as my own functions the same, but at 500 miles per hour, which is quite ironic considering the brain does function at 156-270 miles per hour. I find the mind, our emotions, and our process of thinking to decision making, very fascinating and crucial to how society thrives or declines. In this fascination, and the past few pandemic quarantines, I found my passion for exploring the human mind and helping others understand the complexity of their own. If awarded this scholarship, I vow to use it wisely, by beginning this journey to better my well-being and curiosities, but most importantly, to put an end to generational trauma and the stigma around mental health help. Though I plan on bettering the world, my world being the Rio Grande Valley, and offering online sessions to those in need - I know my mental health will be taken into consideration in these next few years of studying. I am the youngest of three siblings, ten years younger to be exact, yet I’ve been 18 since I was 6. Whether it be undiagnosed ADHD, or the simple inheritance and learned behaviors of my father, I’ve always been a peculiar child. Not only did I find my habits interesting enough to follow a career in evaluating them, and better understanding my own mechanisms, but the effects of the GT Program were also a large part of my development. The GT Program, as beneficial as it may be to young children, has also been found to become a large disadvantage over time. With inadequate, or simply untrained teachers, the GT Program does not enforce a continuous process to ensure the constant challenges to promote further educational build, not to mention the lack of ability to encompass all facets of intelligence. Such can cause program members to halt their efforts academically, place unreasonable expectations on themselves, or even develop depression and anxiety. Countless shots of degradation to the minds of children, myself included, is what strengthened my pursuit to better the flaws of my mind, and provide care to any children needing psychological help. Beginning this degree, online nevertheless, is a step into a world of philosophy and psychology that has arisen into light within the past few years. The World Health Organization declared access to mental health services, a priority in its Mental Health Action Plan. So it is understandable that now, more than ever, while learning about ourselves within the past few difficult years, society pushes against enabling unhealthy behavior and strived to create a better psychological environment. As stated before, this complex organ controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, breathing, and every process that regulates our body. Yet we often find it difficult to express our emotions, or to even understand the depths of them, and disrespectful to be recommended to a psychologist.The largest stigma that has been pushed far in the last decade, is the belief that therapy is only for “psychos”. Even in my own household, I find my family hesitant and in disbelief with the effectiveness of psychiatric care, because they find therapy often only necessary in the case of the mentally insane. However, society has opened the path to healing from recent or past trauma, we’ve discovered how it affected so much, from our adulthood and relationships to our coping mechanisms and destructive habits. Respectfully informing older, or more hesitant, generations, of the new outlook and possibilities within therapy is a step forward. We have evolved past shameful stereotypes and living in psychological warfare. As society's mindset evolves, as does our technology, and as will the careers of today’s and future psychologists, like myself. Not only will I be able to provide assistance to my hometown, but internationally as well. The delivery of psychological services has progressed over to online sessions, helping hundreds, possibly thousands, around the world from my own home or office. Sooner rather than later, it will also become more normal to see clinical psychologists in traditional healthcare settings which is another possibility of career advancement within my future, if awarded this scholarship to successfully complete my studies. Lastly, with the hopes of finishing early, obtaining this bachelors degree will open a vast range of job options, allowing me to offer my services to those in my community that are in need. With an increase in the need of psychologists or not, I will strive to continue learning through this field and in the experiences I hope this career will bring me.

From the childhood pet I had since I was a newborn, to the stray cat that found me in my darkest times, pets in my life have always loved and given me moments to cherish. My siblings had more time with my beloved terrier poodle mix dog, Snowy, he was a smart well trained and loving boy. Snowy protected our house and alerted us when my father got home from work, he was very spoiled in his food dishes and he was taken to the groomers when needed. I never realized how much of a good pet Snowy was until he was gone, I was too young at the time, I didn’t know that bathing him was a luxury rather than a burden. Snowy remains in my dad‘s heart, as well as ours, to this day which doesn’t allow any more room for pets. I know in the future I’ll have a dog, when I am financially and mentally prepared to care for another living being, but I know nothing will ever compare to the little white dog I had. He was never messy or mean, he was only ever protective of the little girl he always knew. He would do his own thing, go out into the neighborhood and play, then he’d come inside during the winter - he never barked or peed inside, he was such a smart boy. My Snowy loved us just as much as we loved him. It really breaks my heart to know that I was unaware of how old he was, so much so I didn’t know pulling on his leash to make him run was a bad thing, thought he needed exercise. But hey, that was just a few seconds, and I was a little kid, I know he doesn’t blame me for it. Now, as I look back to the fuzzy memories I have of my beloved Snowy, I know that he’ll have an everlasting paw print on my families hearts. In the end, we were sad he was fixed, we would’ve loved to have his puppies to keep a piece of him around, but he was perfect nonetheless. Nothing will ever compare, and I know he was ”just” a tiny furry thing, but he was real important to us and he still is. My snowy changed my childhood for the better, and he gave me the most beautiful memories, it’s the best story anyone can ever have of their childhood pet.

Since childhood, in many hispanic households, we’ve seen the disparity in roles of husband and wife. We’ve seen wives beaten, who remain by her husband’s side, simply because that is what our ancestors have done. I’ve seen mother’s do it all on their own, right after giving birth, while the husband awaits dinner. Luckily, only few of us have had first hand view of these problems, but our tias have. All the stories of unfairness, of how women are held to a different standard than men, have motivated me to strive in my education towards them psychology - in order to learn and stop this cycle, not only in Texas, but all Hispanic families. In majoring in psychology, I hope this is a step in the right direction of offering help to women in need, to others that have suffered trauma from living these lives, and to fix these deep rooted issues. As society's mindset evolves, as does our technology, and as will the careers of today’s and future psychologists, like myself. Not only will I be able to provide assistance to my hometown, but internationally as well. The delivery of psychological services has progressed over to online sessions, helping hundreds, possibly thousands, around the world from my own home or office. Sooner rather than later, it will also become more normal to see clinical psychologists in traditional healthcare settings which is another possibility of career advancement within my future, if awarded this scholarship to successfully complete my studies. Lastly, with the hopes of finishing early, obtaining this bachelors degree will open a vast range of job options, allowing me to offer my services to those in my community that are in need. With an increase in the need of psychologists or not, I will strive to continue learning through this field and in the experiences I hope this career will bring me.

The human mind functions in the most extraordinary ways, as my own functions the same, but at 500 miles per hour, which is quite ironic considering the brain does function at 156-270 miles per hour. I find the mind, our emotions, and our process of thinking to decision making, very fascinating and crucial to how society thrives or declines. In this fascination, and the past few pandemic quarantines, I found my passion for exploring the human mind and helping others understand the complexity of their own. If awarded this scholarship, I vow to use it wisely, by beginning this journey to better my well-being and curiosities, but most importantly, to put an end to generational trauma and the stigma around mental health help. Though I plan on bettering the world, my world being the Rio Grande Valley, and offering online sessions to those in need - I know my mental health will be taken into consideration in these next few years of studying. I know the stress of taking on such topics, it can be overwhelming but also rewarding. Through all my issues and suppressed childhood memories, I will work my best towards my education while satisfying my need for knowledge. Not to mention how time consuming education can be, I know this will be another issue for me to tackle, which is why I’ve planned for the future and allowed myself to only focus on education, with the same life luxuries. I find my area of study is most exciting in my university experience, I’ve always found psychology interesting and complex. Beginning this degree, online nevertheless, is a step into a world of philosophy and psychology that has arisen into light within the past few years. The World Health Organization declared access to mental health services, a priority in its Mental Health Action Plan. So it is understandable that now, more than ever, while learning about ourselves within the past few difficult years, society pushes against enabling unhealthy behavior and strived to create a better psychological environment. Society has began to open the path to healing from recent or past trauma, we’ve discovered how it affected so much, from our adulthood and relationships to our coping mechanisms and destructive habits. Respectfully informing older, or more hesitant, generations, of the new outlook and possibilities within therapy is a step forward. We have evolved past shameful stereotypes and living in psychological warfare. As society's mindset evolves, as does our technology, and as will the careers of today’s and future psychologists, like myself. Not only will I be able to provide assistance to my hometown, but internationally as well. The delivery of psychological services has progressed over to online sessions, helping hundreds, possibly thousands, around the world from my own home or office. Sooner rather than later, it will also become more normal to see clinical psychologists in traditional healthcare settings which is another possibility of career advancement within my future, if awarded this scholarship to successfully complete my studies. Lastly, with the hopes of finishing early, obtaining this bachelors degree will open a vast range of job options, allowing me to offer my services to those in my community that are in need. With an increase in the need of psychologists or not, I will strive to continue learning through this field and in the experiences I hope this career will bring me.

First and foremost, I would like to thank Deja Sibley, for giving myself and countless students this opportunity to continue our education. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their own mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. I believe that pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A in psychology while searching for internships and experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. I have struggled with body dysmorphia, I have torn myself down more than any other human being could, but everyday is a choice I will myself to make - to find the beauty in life, on a dying planet. People are struggling in all corners of the world. I feel it is my duty to start offering help in my hometown for they are not as fortunate as me, their issues span farther and deeper. The limits of mental health issues do not exist, which means I must start immediately. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind and its works, will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists around the globe, and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world.

From the childhood pet I had since I was a newborn, to the stray cat that found me in my darkest times, pets in my life have always loved and given me moments to cherish. My siblings had more time with my beloved terrier poodle mix dog, Snowy, he was a smart well trained and loving boy. Snowy protected our house and alerted us when my father got home from work, he was very spoiled in his food dishes and he was taken to the groomers when needed. I never realized how much of a good pet Snowy was until he was gone, I was too young at the time, I didn’t know that bathing him was a luxury rather than a burden. Snowy remains in my dad‘s heart, as well as ours, to this day which doesn’t allow any more room for pets. I know in the future I’ll have a dog, when I am financially and mentally prepared to care for another living being, but I know nothing will ever compare to the little white dog I had. He was never messy or mean, he was only ever protective of the little girl he always knew. He would do his own thing, go out into the neighborhood and play, then he’d come inside during the winter - he never barked or peed inside, he was such a smart boy. My Snowy loved us just as much as we loved him. It really breaks my heart to know that I was unaware of how old he was, so much so I didn’t know pulling on his leash to make him run was a bad thing, thought he needed exercise. But hey, that was just a few seconds, and I was a little kid, I know he doesn’t blame me for it. Now, as I look back to the fuzzy memories I have of my beloved Snowy, I know that he’ll have an everlasting paw print on my families hearts. In the end, we were sad he was fixed, we would’ve loved to have his puppies to keep a piece of him around, but he was perfect nonetheless. Nothing will ever compare, and I know he was ”just” a tiny furry thing, but he was real important to us and he still is. My snowy changed my childhood for the better, and he gave me the most beautiful memories, it’s the best story anyone can ever have of their childhood pet. My sister, having had so many cats around the house, breaking her flat screens and just peeing all over her clothes, did not give me many fond memories of the creature. Sure, they were cute and soft, but gosh were they so mean and vicious. That was until I met my baby Ivy, given she was a probably few years old at the time and far along pregnant, but she was the sweetest kitty I’d ever met. She came along May 2020, and in the upcoming weeks I’d have my heart shattered, so I like to think she found me rather than I found her. Ivy, a grey regular stray, was a bit scared at first, but never aggressive - that was very new to me. She’d eat the food I provided and hang around my Mother’s growing plants, now a full garden thanks to her pandemic grown green thumb! Eventually, Ivy had her kittens and they hung around too, they left after a few short weeks but that’s their circle of life. Ivy and I became best friends, she trusts me and I do her. She is a very calm and loving cat. In fact, she’s so gentle, I wonder how a stray could be so accustomed. No doubt she is a skilled hunter, killed a bird with a fractured leg(!), but she’s nicer than any cat I’ve seen. Ivy went on to have another litter, they left too, and before her next pregnancy could begin, I had her spayed. I want Ivy to have a nice healthy life, not full of reproducing just to add to the cat overpopulation, so now she hangs around… ready to eat and be petted. Ivy found me at the perfect time, and I never knew, she’s the best kitty a gal can have. Ivy has given me the best experience for my “own” pet, she’s my responsibility even if she is self sufficient, and I adore having her at my side. My pets have given me so much love in my life, it’s sad to know I’ll have to live without them one day, but I’m glad to know that they’ll have known my love ALL THEIR life. Pets, in general, they give us more to love in life even in the difficult times. Their companionship, it’s a real gift to all that are lucky enough to experience it. I hope everyone can find a Snowy or Ivy in their lifetime, there’s so many different pets around the world, I hope they’re all loved just as they give it.

Struggling with body dysmorphia since age 5 is not the easiest challenge to overcome, nor is it the most difficult. I truly was a beautiful healthy little girl, but my mind turned myself against me for reasons beyond my recollection. My mother, heartbroken for never realizing the pain I endured, was so confused when I revealed to her my constant struggle with accepting my body. Long story short, I met my first love, fell in love with myself even more, and finally began my journey of health and acceptance. Developing an eating disorder during marching band is never expected, but hey, I rolled with the punches. At my lightest and heaviest weight, I adored my body and began to install healthy life choices along the way. 2020, a wild year, began my isolated covid workout journey. I couldn't believe that I'd never really worked out before, it quickly turned to (light) weightlifting which gave me such confidence and satisfaction. To fuel my body, to simply move every day is a habit I have maintained since then. Having such supportive parents to allow us to invest in an elliptical was another big help. On days I don't feel like lifting, I hop on my equipment and run for the dopamine! Exercise always gave me such a spark of happiness afterwards, which was another reason to continue. Additionally, I began to watch the foods I put into my body. I don't restrict myself, it'd be triggering to my past ED, but now I take into consideration the affects food may have on my mood and energy levels. I've come to crave fruit so much more than sweets, having chocolate in moderation, and including more protein into my daily meals. Not only have I made physical and external changes to a healthier lifestyle, but I've changed my outlook on life and how to spend my spare time. I now only do things that better my life, things that I enjoy such as: spending time with family, journaling, reading poetry, and removing bad people from my life. Over the span of 3 years, I have truly made so many small changes to better myself that to list them is gratifying! Even when it gets tedious, all these small habits will lead me to a full-filling healthy life.

i’ve been raised to not fear death, to be prepared for when it comes into my life. I’ve had many older relatives pass away, i’ve lost my two loving grandmothers, I’ve seen the despair and withering of the remaining family before my eyes. I was never good at Spanish, so I could never properly communicate with my grandmothers. My father side, she really loved me simply because I was just like her son. She would give me gifts when she could, and try to say things to me in English. She really loved my father, so it was a shock to me to see the strongest man I know in complete heartache due to her passing. My extended family, though we’re all very close, became torn with so much conflict simply because she wasn’t here to straighten us out. My grandmother served as the glue to the family that she created, she raised eight children and four of her grandchildren, because of all the issues her children were in. I never mourned my grandmother for I was not distraught, it was only upsetting, but as I grew older I realized how much disarray her death led to. To see such suffering, to realize how much she went through for my family to become who we are today, allowed me to focus on: the present, the good in life, and the people that truly love you. I want to strive to be better than the conflicts of my family, I want to live a happy life without settling. Most of all I want to carry her strength with me, I found myself talking to her in my most trying times and coincidentally they always get resolved. We were never biblically religious people, but because of the history with my grandma and my father, I appreciate my faith so much more and I find it comforting to know that’s what connects us. When my mother‘s mother passed away, I had to learn how to be strong for her. I didn’t grieve then, but I could feel her pain. It’s difficult to see your parents suffer, and it’s imaginable to place yourself in their position in years to come. It was very sudden when my grandmother passed away, it was difficult considering we were in the midst of a pandemic, and it was difficult to get into Mexico. My mother talks about her every day and I talk to her almost every night begging for her guidance. My grandmother was a very kind and religious woman, she would celebrate the tiniest of my accomplishments and I never knew that’s what I always needed in my youth, until she was gone. I begged for her help in my stage of heartache and I do believe that she answered. It took a while for us to realize all she went through, not only in the past with her poverty and eight children, but with a difficult life with her grown family. In Mexico it’s very difficult to come to America and it’s very difficult to leave it all behind, the process is not always in our favor. I now pray for my grandmother‘s soul, knowing how much she went through, but her passing was so eye-opening. She remained a happy and proud woman, even in the midst of such tragedy, she was always available to help others and she was always honoring her faith. My grandmother helped me realize that your own happiness is most important in life, whether it be going to your favorite place (like church) or surrounding yourself with the best attitudes. She also helped me value my parents more because you never know what you’re missing out on until it’s gone. Again, I plan on bettering my life than the past my ancestors have had, I plan on educating myself and trying my best. It’s very personal to describe what I’ve learned from the passing of my grandmother’s but now I’ve truly honored their memory. Sadly it was too late for them to know, but I know they hear my love at night. My grandmothers were strong, independent, and determined women. My grandmothers raised children, and their children’s children. I will always have the upmost respect for them and all that they endured. From Mexico to Texas, my grandmothers held the strongest traits to survive in this hard society, and they deserve praise for their countless selfless acts. Though I did not grieve my grandmother‘s passing, they left me with courage and knowledge to fight for every day. To be able to love myself and others, while remaining true to my goals.

In my life I have truly been blessed to have wonderful parents and to have the privilege of minimal worry about money, however, now that college is around I worry. I worry about my father having to pay for my tuition, along with supporting my niece and nephew, and for the jobs that I continue searching for to offer help in paying. With siblings who left too soon then did not plan for the future, and many adult family members that continue to rely on my father’s financial support, I worry that my dream of pursuing my education will become a burden to the greatest people who gave me life. In my family not many go to college, and the few that try do not finish, we are hard labor workers. The few of my family that have educations only received them well into adulthood because of financial regions or team pregnancy, and as much as I respect my family, my path in life will be much different. Furthering my education has always been planned for my dissent into adulthood, not only does it give me a sense of stability in finding a new routine after high school, but the seek of knowledge has always been satisfying. My father, a truly remarkable and intelligent man, began to work in his teens after the birth of my siblings, and his 30 year career in supporting his family is what strives me to better myself while still trying to ease the burden of my goals. I plan on helping rid my household of clutter, beginning our slow journey as minimalists, as well also making money selling it to help along with my tuition payments. When available, I plan on getting a job at Barnes & Noble, a place I think would suit me very well and would give me more chance to remove the worry of tuition payment. Luckily my university charges per semester and I plan on finishing quicker than most, considering I have a lot of college credit, something I accumulated during high school in hopes of lessening the costs of a college education. Since the process of college applications began, I have applied to many scholarships in hopes of creating some dent in the future tuition. I am very privileged to have my father‘s help, to have our income, and I’m not upset that I did not receive any financial aid or grants. I will still continue to search for any aid in scholarships. I find that education should be crucial and free of charge in our society considering it will only better our world, but until then, I will work with my family to allow myself to dive into the interesting world of psychology. I will work nonstop for the next seven semesters, hoping to finish two years early, in order to receive my education and save money for all the expenses that come with.

I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their own mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. I believe that pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A in psychology while searching for internships and experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. I have struggled with body dysmorphia, I have torn myself down more than any other human being could, but everyday is a choice I will myself to make - to find the beauty in life, on a dying planet. People are struggling in all corners of the world. I feel it is my duty to start offering help in my hometown for they are not as fortunate as me, their issues span farther and deeper. The limits of mental health issues do not exist, which means I must start immediately. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind and its works, will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists around the globe, and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world.

Struggling with body dysmorphia since age 5 is not the easiest challenge to overcome, nor is it the most difficult. I truly was a beautiful healthy little girl, but my mind turned myself against me for reasons beyond my recollection. My mother, heartbroken for never realizing the pain I endured, was so confused when I revealed to her my constant struggle with accepting my body. Long story short, I met my first love, fell in love with myself even more, and finally began my journey of health and acceptance. Developing an eating disorder during marching band is never expected, but hey, I rolled with the punches. At my lightest and heaviest weight, I adored my body and began to install healthy life choices along the way. 2020, a wild year, began my isolated covid workout journey. I couldn't believe that I'd never really worked out before, it quickly turned to (light) weightlifting which gave me such confidence and satisfaction. To fuel my body, to simply move every day is a habit I have maintained since then. Having such supportive parents to allow us to invest in an elliptical was another big help. On days I don't feel like lifting, I hop on my equipment and run for the dopamine! Exercise always gave me such a spark of happiness afterwards, which was another reason to continue. Additionally, I began to watch the foods I put into my body. I don't restrict myself, it'd be triggering to my past ED, but now I take into consideration the affects food may have on my mood and energy levels. I've come to crave fruit so much more than sweets, having chocolate in moderation, and including more protein into my daily meals. Not only have I made physical and external changes to a healthier lifestyle, but I've changed my outlook on life and how to spend my spare time. I now only do things that better my life, things that I enjoy such as: spending time with family, journaling, reading poetry, and removing bad people from my life. Over the span of 3 years, I have truly made so many small changes to better myself that to list them is gratifying! Even when it gets tedious, all these small habits will lead me to a full-filling healthy life.

First and foremost, I would like to thank Learner for giving myself and countless Texans this opportunity to continue our education. Continuing my education has always been in my long life plan, not only because it satisfies my constant quest for knowledge, but also because I plan to better the world with my education, more importantly, to better myself and my family. I am the youngest of three siblings, descent from determined immigrants, and I am a powerful stubborn woman working to better my community and our generations of mental health issues. Through years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, many Mexican-American generations suffer from their own mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. I believe that pursuing a higher education, in psychology specifically, will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A in psychology while searching for internships and experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. I have struggled with body dysmorphia, I have torn myself down more than any other human being could, but everyday is a choice I will myself to make - to find the beauty in life, on a dying planet. People are struggling in all corners of the world. I feel it is my duty to start offering help in my hometown for they are not as fortunate as me, their issues span farther and deeper. The limits of mental health issues do not exist, which means I must start immediately. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind and its works, will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists around the globe, and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world.

I am the youngest of three siblings, known to have matured at age 4, and I am a powerful stubborn woman descent from immigrants. I'm an outgoing person, an ambivert, and I tend to make my opinions heard regardless of any confrontation or issues. I'm also a kind communicative person, I'm known as the mom or therapist of my friend groups, and I'm always prepared. I'm very headstrong, I get that from my Father, and I'm extremely organized, another trait I inherited. My childhood is a bit suppressed, I dealt with a lot of body dysmorphia even with such a supportive family, but I was very happy nonetheless. I was the baby, still am, and I always got my way. I still think I'm the best child, even if I'm a bit spoiled. My parents have always been very loving and kind, they teach me new things everyday, I'd say I'm the smartest of all my siblings too! To this day, at age 18, I've been blessed enough to live my life carefree, like a real kid - despite heartbreak, academic standards, and the blue days. My family made a lot of sacrifices, my siblings were as nice as they could've been, and I adored every memory I made with them. The impact I plan to make on the world is correct the damage of years of endurance, discrimination, and hard labor, how many Mexican-American generations suffer from their own mind. Within such communities, mental health issues are brushed off until they become the 11th leading cause of death in Hispanics - suicide. These statistics can be avoided by creating a more efficient and available form of therapy, remote sessions, as well as more affordable options. I believe that pursuing my education in psychology will allow for such accommodations to Hispanic communities in Texas, then soon, around the United States. I plan to work towards my B.A in psychology while searching for internships and experience around the Rio Grande Valley helping others in their times of need, especially during the aftermath of a major pandemic and the overturn of Roe v Wade. Enduring years of misogyny thrown in my face, doubt in my abilities, and an unjust world - I have been prepared all my life to fight for those who have lost the strength to fight for themselves. I have struggled with body dysmorphia, I have torn myself down more than any other human being could, but everyday is a choice I will myself to make - to find the beauty in life, on a dying planet. People are struggling in all corners of the world. I feel it is my duty to start offering help in my hometown for they are not as fortunate as me, their issues span farther and deeper. The limits of mental health issues do not exist, which means I must start immediately. Furthering my interest in general psychology, understanding the human mind and its works, will also cater to the rising demand for psychologists around the globe, and the removal of mental health stigma. As our society leads into bettering themselves, looking beyond the surface and digging to improve their lives, I plan to take advantage and offer help to all those who need it. General psychology, and wherever else this career may take me, will be my offering to the world.

The human mind functions in the most extraordinary ways, as my own functions the same, but at 500 miles per hour, which is quite ironic considering the brain does function at 156-270 miles per hour. I find the mind, our emotions, and our process of thinking to decision making, very fascinating and crucial to how society thrives or declines. In this fascination, and the past few pandemic quarantines, I found my passion for exploring the human mind and helping others understand the complexity of their own. Though I plan on bettering the world, my world being the Rio Grande Valley, and offering online sessions to those in need - I know my mental health will be taken into consideration in these next few years of studying. I am the youngest of three siblings, ten years younger to be exact, yet I’ve been 18 since I was 6. Whether it be undiagnosed ADHD, or the simple inheritance and learned behaviors of my father, I’ve always been a peculiar child. Not only did I find my habits interesting enough to follow a career in evaluating them, and better understanding my own mechanisms, but the effects of the GT Program were also a large part of my development. The GT Program, as beneficial as it may be to young children, has also been found to become a large disadvantage over time. With inadequate, or simply untrained teachers, the GT Program does not enforce a continuous process to ensure the constant challenges to promote further educational build, not to mention the lack of ability to encompass all facets of intelligence. Such can cause program members to halt their efforts academically, place unreasonable expectations on themselves, or even develop depression and anxiety. Countless shots of degradation to the minds of children, myself included, is what strengthened my pursuit to better the flaws of my mind, and provide care to any children needing psychological help. The World Health Organization declared access to mental health services, a priority in its Mental Health Action Plan. So it is understandable that now, more than ever, while learning about ourselves within the past few difficult years, society pushes against enabling unhealthy behavior and strived to create a better psychological environment. As stated before, this complex organ controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, breathing, and every process that regulates our body. Yet we often find it difficult to express our emotions, or to even understand the depths of them, and disrespectful to be recommended to a psychologist.The largest stigma that has been pushed far in the last decade, is the belief that therapy is only for “psychos”. Even in my own household, I find my family hesitant and in disbelief with the effectiveness of psychiatric care, because they find therapy often only necessary in the case of the mentally insane. However, society has opened the path to healing from recent or past trauma, we’ve discovered how it affected so much, from our adulthood and relationships to our coping mechanisms and destructive habits. Respectfully informing older, or more hesitant, generations, of the new outlook and possibilities within therapy is a step forward. We have evolved past shameful stereotypes and living in psychological warfare. As society's mindset evolves, as does our technology, and as will the careers of today’s and future psychologists, like myself. Not only will I be able to provide assistance to my hometown, but internationally as well. The delivery of psychological services has progressed over to online sessions, helping hundreds, possibly thousands, around the world from my own home or office.