Growing up in a low-income household I witnessed firsthand the barriers of being the child of immigrant parents and being limited to economic resources. It is because of these personal experiences I have developed a passion for being involved in my community. Throughout my high school journey, I have committed to helping my community in various ways. As a member of the Student Voter Empowerment Club (SVEC), I have committed to educating other students like myself on the importance of voting and helping them register to vote. In addition, in my freshman year of high school, I helped fundraise over $700 for our local homeless shelter. The more I became involved in my community I began developing a humanitarian passion for helping those around me. Today in my junior year of high school I founded Ambassadors of Cause, a student-led organization to provide students with community involvement opportunities to help foster their passion for helping others. We had a successful turnout by gaining the interest of over 100 students from grades 9th-12th. I will soon be in my last year of high school and I would like to continue my passion beyond the school campus. I aspire to become an immigration lawyer after witnessing the struggles of being an immigrant. The sad reality I grew up around was my parents not receiving any education past elementary school. I want to be able to help students who not only want to pursue higher education but also break the generational barriers. Hispanic immigrants are more likely than other immigrant groups to have limited English proficiency, be noncitizens, have lower incomes, lack health insurance, and have lower levels of educational attainment. 24% of Latino students graduate with a bachelor's degree or more. Among Latinos ages 25 and older, 7% held a graduate degree as of 2021 and 1% have attained a doctoral degree. I would like to start a non-profit organization to help first-generation students of low-income households by providing resources to pursue higher education. By providing students with the opportunity to pursue higher education by providing the necessary resources I hope to make a positive impact in my Latino community. Providing resources such as how to apply for college, receive financial aid, help attain financial literacy, and fee waivers. I want to make education more accessible for the Latino community as well as positively impact the lives of other students. Not only do I want to provide students with the resources necessary but also inspire future generations.

Throughout my high school journey and stressful and sleepless nights I developed a passion for baking. Baking was a form of art that I used to cope and relieve my stress. While my first few attempts at baking everything from scratch was quite a sore to the eye it became a consistent hobby. What went from a mediocre banana bread or questionable looking cookies, I began to improve. It was in those moments that I discovered my profound passion for the art of cooking, a passion that has only grown stronger with time. My family was always there to support me every step of the way. I would gift my baked goods to my friends and family. Seeing a smile light up on their face was always satisfying. After gaining more practice and a few years of experience I was strongly encouraged to sell my baked goods to earn extra money. As a student in the business management program we work in the Enterprise Business District where students have the opportunity to start up their own businesses. I had the opportunity present my business pitch. It was through this passion I decided to receive my food handler's license and start a business. I started my business named Sweetheart Bakery where I sell a variety of baked goods and custom designed cakes. I participate in my schools and local community events to gain exposure and clientele. As a young entrepreneur and baker I track my business revenue as well as consistently marketing my business. I would like to further develop my culinary skills to give back to my community. Through my culinary goals, I plan to establish a community kitchen that serves for those in need. I will not only provide delicious baked goods but also offer cooking classes and workshops. It would allow a fostering and collaborative environment where individuals can learn, share, and empower themselves through the art of baking. By equipping others with culinary skills and knowledge, I aim to promote self-sufficiency and inspire a deeper appreciation for the joys of baking. In addition, I aspire to utilize the culinary arts as a platform for cultural exchange and understanding. As a Hispanic culinary artist, I am determined to celebrate my cultural heritage by gaining appreciation for traditional desserts and cuisines, especially from underrepresented communities. I can encourage an appreciation for the richness of global cuisines while creating opportunities for cross-cultural dialogue and connection.