Education has always been important to me because I've seen how it important is to my parents and how they worked hard to get the help I needed. As their first child, they didn't know much but they always were there behind my back. I always saw this from my parents making me care for education. I saw that my education was a gift they could give me and an opportunity they both couldn't have. How education will change my path forward in life is not a struggle the way my parents did. I saw a lot of sacrifices my parents made, so I know with an education I will be open to new experiences they wish they could've had. They always wish the best for me which is why they came to this country wanting a better future for me and my siblings. I know with all the help I have gotten in my education I can become a person from my minority group and be someone with potential. My mom’s retina detached and we struggled to find the help she needed. We went to the recommended doctor's office my mom was given from the hospital. We didn't have insurance and had to pay for one, which was hard since my dad was in charge of the payments. The only way I was helpful was to continue doing well in my studies and to do my best. I've graduated from high school with a good GPA and gotten into a college that is near me with the major I want. So my studies, I cherish them because I have the opportunity they couldn't have and I am a hard worker. If I'm continuing my studies is because I want to have a job and be someone in the future who my parents can rely on. I want to continue working hard to have money and be able to help pay any bills my parents have, but most importantly I want to take care of them. I want to continue to strive which is why I'm pursuing college to have my bachelor's. I'm continuing because I want to use my talents and become a person people can see it's possible to accomplish your dreams. My studies are a gift my parents gave me and I want to use my gift to give back to other people. I am going to major in architecture and have many goals in mind after I graduate. I hope I can get an internship to get the preparation and the skills I need. I want to continue my studies to get my master's, but in the meantime, I want to go to Mexico. I want to help make new schools in the small villages to get the opportunity of an education. Also, I want to build more homes or rebuild homes for the people. Most importantly, I want to make hospitals closer to people who live far from the city. These are my goals and I'm interested in majoring in the STEM field because we are allowed to give back to our community, but also to the whole world. By one person we can make a change for the better which the STEM field is all about.

I am my mom's right hand and as well as my dad's right hand when it comes to translating, helping maintain siblings, chores, or even doing the bills. Not too long ago my mom's retina detached and needed multiple surgeries, so I had to put my mother's role on and do what my mom did while maintaining my education. I was a junior in high school when it first started and lost motivation in school, but also in myself. I felt angry about why all this happened and angry that I just couldn't do much to help. My dad took time off work to help take care of my mom and saw how stressed he was. My dad always fought for my mom to get the attention and help she needs because this was very serious, but the medical office would fight back in wanting the correct insurance to be able to see my mom. It was very stressful and as the oldest seeing everything made me emotionless. I started to blame myself that everything happened was my fault and started to realize how my mom probably won't be able to see from her eye again. Also I realize how I needed my mom so much and realize how important are parent figures because sometimes you don't take advantage of being with them, but now I do. It was hard when I had my downs, but it did teach me lessons because I learned to be more mature in how to handle challenges when you're faced with one. I was able to see a new perspective that you can't be stuck on yourself when something bad happens, but to stand firm. I figure that with everything that has happened to me I blame myself which is not my fault, things happen for a reason and it depends on how you want to interpret them. What happened to my mom was uncalled for which demonstrates anything can happen without you knowing and only be prepared to manage. I learned I need to be strong for my family and to not lack trust. I learned I should always be involved in the house because I learn I'm an anchor that can help stabilize my family. I saw how much my parents needed me to be strong and to be just happy, so that's what I did. I can't change the past, but there is a future which I always remember in my head and will continue to strive to do my best. My dad was my advisor when this happened and he always gave me the reassurance I needed and I think everyone can agree it does really relieve yourself. What I would advise is if you are in a situation that involves family it really does depresses you, but if you love your family the best thing to do is stay firm while being there for them since it can get lonely and they would want your support. Don't give up to the point you even lose yourself because it's hard finding your way through, so best advice is believe in yourself and most importantly in God. If you at least speak to him everything will be smooth and it's the advice my parents have always given me.

As a first-time generation student it is hard when you have parents that don't know the language and you are studying with a language you don't understand. I remember my dad had to use the translator app from the phone to help me do my homework and then seeing all the answers are wrong. Also it was frustrating because I was in speech due to the fact I couldn't speak and didn't know how to pronounce things which made my education hard. My parents were always behind my back and always wanted me to do my best. We had many challenges that we had to overcome like having to move houses when COVID hit and saw my dad worry if we were going to be able to afford the rent of the new house. After living in the new house the rent would get higher each year we lived in the house and the bills would get higher, but my dad has been able to still provide for me and my family. Later on my mom’s retina detached and we struggled finding the help she needed. We went to the recommended doctor's office my mom was given from the hospital. We didn't have insurance and had to pay for one, which was hard since my dad is in charge of the payments. The only way I was helpful was to continue doing well in my studies and to do my best. I've graduated from high school with a good GPA and gotten into a college that is near me with the major I want. So my studies, I cherish them because I have the opportunity they couldn't have and I am a hard worker. If I'm continuing my studies is because I want to have a job and be someone in the future who my parents can rely on. I want to continue working hard to have money and be able to help pay any bills my parents have, but most importantly I want to take care of them. I want to continue to strive which is why I'm pursuing college to have my bachelor's. I'm continuing because I want to use my talents and become a person people can see it's possible to accomplish your dreams. My studies are a gift my parents gave me and I want to use my gift to give back to other people. I am going to major in architecture and have many goals in mind after I graduate. I hope I can get an internship to get the preparation and the skills I need. I want to continue my studies to get my master's, but in the meantime I want to go to Mexico. I want to help make new schools in the small villages to get the opportunity of an education. Also I want to build more homes or rebuild the homes for the people. Most importantly I want to make hospitals closer to the people who live far from the city. These are my goals and which I'm interested in majoring in the STEM field because we are given the opportunity to give back to our community, but also to the whole world. By one person we can make a change for the better which the STEM field is all about.

When growing up I was the first child and I struggled in communicating which was a concern for my parents. My dad has always been working to provide the best for me and my family, while my mom was more in charge of our education. When starting school I didn't know English due to the fact that in my house my parents speak to me in Spanish. I was slow in school and wasn't as advanced, so my mom would look for help from the school to help me get the help I need. I got speech classes to be able to communicate and reading interventions to help grow my reading skills. My parents were strict about my education and would always let the teachers know to pressure me to do my best. With that I was able to reclassify and become proficient in English. Throughout my education both parents were there to support me which I work hard to do well because I value my education and thank the opportunity I had. As the oldest I was taught to also learn quickly in doing things in the house like chores and look after my sibling's because the real world isn't easy. I am my mom's right hand and as well as my dad's right hand when it comes to translating or doing the bills when they can't. Not too long ago my mom's retina detached and needed multiple surgeries, so I had to put my mother's role on and do what my mom did while maintaining my education. It was hard when I had my downs, but it did teach me lessons because I learned to be more mature in how to handle challenges when you're faced with one. I was able to see a new perspective that you can't be stuck on yourself when something bad happens, but to stand firm. I figure that with everything that has happened to me I blame myself which is not my fault, things happen for a reason and it depends on how you want to interpret them. So what I can tell you about myself is I'm the oldest and I learn how to be happy, able to graduate from high school which I finished something my parents couldn't finish. I'm a first generation child, responsible, hard worker, multi-tasker, bilingual, communicative, and will give her best on everything. With my new start in the real world and being more independent by making my own choices by giving my best in college. I'm barely going to start and see a new perspective of a college student. I am majoring in architecture and when I get the chance I want to get an internship and get the skills I need to become a good architect. When graduating with my bachelor's I do want to continue my studies for my master's degree. But in the meanwhile I want to start looking for jobs and start my goals. My goals are to go to Mexico and start by helping on making schools in the small villages, so children get the opportunity to study. I want to also make more homes for the people in need and rebuild peoples houses. If everything turns out good I want to start in other countries and help them as well. That's why I'm very interested in this major because I want to combine both my talents to be able to help everyone. I'm interested because many of my family are construction workers which has led to me making this decision to become an architect.