For many people, learning a language is difficult and often challenging, especially when one does not understand their language growing up. In my case, learning a language is natural. I pick up new words very quickly and even pick up on the cultural customs just as fast, adapting to my "new environment" or a new way of living life. Not everyone is blessed with this talent and it's thanks to this skill that I will be able to succeed well in my career of translation and interpretation. Adding to the fact that not everyone has the privilege to learn a second language, those same people will not be able to communicate in the country's native language, either because they simply do not want to learn the language or don't care enough to adapt to their new environment. Whatever the reason may be, there will always be someone out there who needs assistance getting around places or simply understanding the concepts of documents and/or paper. I want to bridge the language gap between two people and help them out in any way that I can. It's my way of giving back to the community and building a more friendly environment for both the current and future generations to come. In a way, I am studying in two fields: translation being my priority while medicine and law are a close second to it. This is my way of giving back to the community, by helping them in more demanding areas and much higher needs. While I may not become a doctor, a lawyer, or any other kind of professional in those fields, I will still specialize in those two industries to help others out in any way that I can. I want to be able to give my services to those who need them the most and, to make sure I reach my full potential, I must continue studying in my field as a translator and interpreter to become familiar with the terminology and be informed with any specifics of the field at the same time. Once I complete these two goals, I will be able to help everyone who does not understand the languages that I speak and represent my clients to provide the best and fasted aid that they need and not have to wait for another translator to be available to help them. Due to the high demand, the wait time will be much longer than the average person, so I want to be able to cut down that wait time, even if it's just an hour difference, so they can get help in that exact moment.

When people think about social issues, a majority of them would think about political issues, such as healthcare or wage inequality. In my case, I think about the lack of access to public services among minorities. This can range from the inability to speak a language to the lack of access to public services that meet their corresponding needs. Being a translator meets those needs and helps out those who struggle with language barriers, which I consider to be a social issue due to the lack of access some people have, even US citizens themselves who speak American Sign Language (ASL). For as long as I can remember, learning a language is one of my favorite subjects to learn about, both at home and at school. I quickly pick up languages and dedicate a lot of time to studying the language I am studying at the time. It did not take long for me to realize that I have a talent for language learning and love anything that involves languages or being creative with words. At the age of 4, I remember seeing a Spanish-speaking woman asking for help from an English-speaking nurse, asking if she knew how to speak her language. The nurse simply shook her head and told her she doesn't speak Spanish, which meant the woman would have to wait a while until a Spanish-speaking nurse or translator is available for her. Since that day, I told my mom that I want to be a translator to help people like her get the assistance that she needs, and I have not changed my mind since then. Along with my love of languages, I love helping people in need, especially those who have a harder time getting it than the majority of people. I want to use my talent for the greater good and not have it go to waste on other things when I can help others out instead. This is the impact I would like to accomplish in my career as a translator. I want to change the lives of people and make it easier rather than harder to get the help that they need. People who fit into the "majority group" usually don't encounter setbacks when it comes to receiving aid when compared to "minority groups" since their problems can be easily addressed since a lot of people can relate and spread the word more easily. I want to be there for those who cannot have their voice heard and make sure they get the same attention as everyone else to get help.

Even though I believe there are a few things that need to be added and/or updated in the US Constitution, I would still defend it because it determines the rights that US citizens have at birth. It is a way to limit the power of the US government and not take full control of fellow Americans, which could violate their rights as human beings. Throughout my career, I plan to help those who need it when they do not understand the English language. I plan to be a translator and interpreter when I graduate from Kent State University, and living in a country like the United States made me realize that there are so many people out there who are not aware of the rights they hold simply because they do not speak English as their primary language. Many American citizens have no problem understanding the language since it is the most spoken language in households, but that simply does not ring true for the remaining families. This is a country of immigrants, which means that languages that minorities speak are in high demand when it comes to helping out people with any civic duties, which can include getting aid or assistance from the government. Since it will be written in English, someone would need to help the person out and translate what the documents are saying as well as what people are saying whenever they talk to them about any information they might need from them. While it is not completely certain that my career will solely focus on civil rights for a huge part of my career, I am still helping out others get the help they need by explaining to them the process in a language that they will understand. That alone is a civil right I am fighting in part for them: the ability to have access to programs and aids that minority families need and deserve to have. The stress of not knowing the English language is already enough for them to worry about, so unable to understand fully what they are signing themselves up for just adds unnecessary stress to their day-to-day lives. Providing them with this public service to them will mean the world to them and will be grateful for the help they were able to get from me since I will be the one to bridge the gap between two languages that I am fluent in.

Growing up in a Hispanic family gave me an interesting perspective when it comes to my ideals and values. For the most part, my family is very traditional and is less interested in changing how things are done as long as the system is not broken. That does not mean they have a closed mind, but getting the chance to see what the other side thinks about a certain topic made me question and challenge what I often hear from other people. Because of this, I can stand up to what I believe in and not back down, no matter how many times people try to change my mind about just about anything. Ever since I was a little girl, I was afraid to speak up and say something if I notice something is not right and/or needs improvement. The fear of rejection would lurk around me and swirl my head into a wave of negative thoughts simply because I only wanted to make people happy, which would naturally draw me to agree with everything I hear. I learned the hard way that I should not believe everything I hear and should be careful with what I say next time otherwise people will judge me for something I do not stand up to in the first place. Being able to think for me is a whole lot better than simply following the crowd and nodding my head to anything they say or believe in. My parents would constantly remind me that standing out is not always a bad thing and that it is okay to not always agree with everyone, even within our close family. They would tell me how everyone would think differently about everything, even my parents and sisters, and reassure me that it is healthy so long as we hear each other out and understand what the other is going through. While it is nice to be a part of the community and get a sense of belonging, they have taught me that being individualistic is equally as important and that I should not be ashamed of sticking out, even if I am the only one standing. After years of practice, I eventually figured out what I value and stand up to what I now believe to be right, which in turn helped me stand up for others who need it. This is why I believe that these values are what will help me in my future career since I plan to be a translator and interpreter, which grants me the opportunity to meet people of all kinds of backgrounds who need my help. I would have to understand where they are coming from and help them out in any way that I can.

I am a 25-year-old student attending my third year at Kent State University. I am originally from California, so moving to Ohio has been one of the most difficult challenges I have had to face in my life. My dream is to be a Spanish-English interpreter and translator and work in the fields of medical and law translations. I also would like to learn more languages as I speak intermediate French, beginner Italian and Japanese, and a few random words in ASL. Apart from financial resources, the lack of finding a stable job prevents me from building my dream future. A lot of places are hiring where I live, but no one seems to be interested in hiring me. I have been working since I was 16 years old, so I do not understand why they wouldn't be interested in someone who has experience already and has an idea of what to expect in the workforce. Despite this, I will keep being persistent and apply for more jobs, even if I must travel far to work. Giving up will get me nowhere to where I need to be, so staying determined and optimistic is the only way I can overcome this block in my road.

After graduating from high school, I did not know what to focus my studies on nor did I know which career I wanted to have. Most of my focus was being at home with nothing to do and expecting a degree to land on my hands the effortless way. The thing is, I wasn't even motivated to go to college, to begin with. Why would I need a college degree when plenty of job opportunities are out there for me? While that may be true, the fact of the matter is, it's not as easy as it sounds. The available jobs are jobs that almost no one wants to have for the rest of their lives. This is the excuse I hear my friends who don't go to college tell themselves. Filling their heads with sayings like, "I can get by." or "I'm fine with the job I have now." What they fail to realize is that, eventually, it becomes exhausting. The minimum wage isn't a living wage anymore, which is a growing problem. Before I'd say that they should do what they believe is best, but now, those ideals have shifted. Getting a college degree is now necessary and the pay is a whole lot better than the minimum wage since the worth of work increases the more education you have. This is what I remind my friends a lot whenever they tell me that college isn't for them and that they do not need a degree to live. It's true, college isn't for everyone. However, at least getting a general education at a college level is a whole lot more accomplishing than if one just has a high school diploma or a GED. Competition in the workforce gets harder by the year, and no one seems to notice nor care if they can work the minimum. What they don't realize either is that college is a whole lot easier than mandatory education. Every student, or at least the majority, is an adult. They have bills to pay and families to support, which professors understand. If there was a similar struggle going on during high school and college, it's a guarantee that you'll have an easier time getting work done in college than it has been in high school. This is what I would tell my friends who say college is not it. Constant reminders to keep working hard and to realize that life just gets harder the more they wait will hopefully encourage them to keep getting the education they want and deserve. They shouldn't be beating themselves up for petty working wages when they know, deep down, that they are worth more than just the minimum.