Upon graduating high school, I felt uncertain about my next steps. Wanting to support my family financially, I transitioned my part-time job as a retail associate at a donation goods processing company into a full-time role. This for-profit company resells donated items, giving them a second life. As the months passed, I watched my mom work tirelessly, sorting and pricing over 7,000 items ranging from electronics to toys. Determined to relieve her burden, I pursued a supervisory role. First, I became a retail supervisor, and a year later, I advanced to production supervisor. These roles taught me a great deal about the business, especially how our managerial decisions impacted sales. Managing a team of 20 associates with weekly sales targets between $100,000 and $200,000 during holidays was challenging, but rewarding. With growing confidence, I decided to further my education. I was scared at first, having thoughts of flunking or disappointing my dad, because I barely got by in High School. However, I took a leap of faith and attended Prince George’s Community College, earning an A.S. in Business Administration, becoming the first in my family to pursue higher education. Encouraged by my father, who always motivated me to get my bachelor's degree, I aimed to improve our financial situation. To earn more money, I gave a month's notice and joined my dad, working as a sheet metal mechanic on rooftops. The job was demanding, especially during hot summer days, lifting heavy structural components. Yet, it was an honor to work on prestigious buildings like the U.S. Naval Academy, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts in D.C. I cherished the moments atop roofs, witnessing beautiful sunsets and sharing drives home with my dad, discussing my future. I vividly remember the day I told my dad I was accepted to Bowie State University, the oldest HBCU in Maryland with an excellent business program in Finance. He expressed his pride and apologized for not being able to support me more financially. Despite his concerns about the physical demands and challenges of his job, I appreciated the time we spent together. Now, I am in my second year at Bowie State University, maintaining a 4.0 GPA. My goal is to become a financial advisor to help others, especially first-generation scholars, achieve their long-term financial goals and build generational wealth. Nothing will stand in my way of making my dream a reality.

Upon graduating high school, I felt uncertain about my next steps. Wanting to support my family financially, I transitioned my part-time job as a retail associate at a donation goods processing company into a full-time role. This for-profit company resells donated items, giving them a second life. As the months passed, I watched my mom work tirelessly, sorting and pricing over 7,000 items ranging from electronics to toys. Determined to relieve her burden, I pursued a supervisory role. First, I became a retail supervisor, and a year later, I advanced to production supervisor. These roles taught me a great deal about the business, especially how our managerial decisions impacted sales. Managing a team of 20 associates with weekly sales targets between $100,000 and $200,000 during holidays was challenging but rewarding. With growing confidence, I decided to further my education. I was scared at first, having thoughts of flunking or disappointing my dad, because I barely got by in High School. However, I took a leap of faith and attended Prince George’s Community College, earning an A.S. in Business Administration, becoming the first in my Mexicano family to pursue higher education. Encouraged by my father, who always motivated me to get my bachelor's degree, I aimed to improve our financial situation. To earn more money, I gave a month's notice and joined my dad, working as a sheet metal mechanic on rooftops. The job was demanding, especially during hot summer days, lifting heavy structural components. Yet, it was an honor to work on prestigious buildings like the U.S. Naval Academy, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts in D.C. I cherished the moments atop roofs, witnessing beautiful sunsets and sharing drives home with my dad, discussing my future. I vividly remember the day I told my dad I was accepted to Bowie State University, the oldest HBCU in Maryland with an excellent business program in Finance. He expressed his pride and apologized for not being able to support me more financially. Despite his concerns about the physical demands and challenges of his job, I appreciated the time we spent together. Now, I am in my second year at Bowie State University, maintaining a 4.0 GPA. My goal is to become a financial advisor to help others, especially first-generation scholars, achieve their long-term financial goals and build generational wealth. Nothing will stand in my way of making my dream a reality.

Upon graduating high school, I felt uncertain about my next steps. Wanting to support my family financially, I transitioned my part-time job as a retail associate at a donation goods processing company into a full-time role. This for-profit company resells donated items, giving them a second life. As the months passed, I watched my mom work tirelessly, sorting and pricing over 7,000 items ranging from electronics to toys. Determined to relieve her burden, I pursued a supervisory role. First, I became a retail supervisor, and a year later, I advanced to production supervisor. These roles taught me a great deal about the business, especially how our managerial decisions impacted sales. Managing a team of 20 associates with weekly sales targets between $100,000 and $200,000 during holidays was challenging, but rewarding. With growing confidence, I decided to further my education. I was scared at first, having thoughts of flunking or disappointing my dad, because I barely got by in High School. However, I took a leap of faith and attended Prince George’s Community College, earning an A.S. in Business Administration, becoming the first in my family to pursue higher education. Encouraged by my father, who always motivated me to get my bachelor's degree, I aimed to improve our financial situation. To earn more money, I gave a month's notice and joined my dad, working as a sheet metal mechanic on rooftops. The job was demanding, especially during hot summer days, lifting heavy structural components. Yet, it was an honor to work on prestigious buildings like the U.S. Naval Academy, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts in D.C. I cherished the moments atop roofs, witnessing beautiful sunsets and sharing drives home with my dad, discussing my future. I vividly remember the day I told my dad I was accepted to Bowie State University, the oldest HBCU in Maryland with an excellent business program in Finance. He expressed his pride and apologized for not being able to support me more financially. Despite his concerns about the physical demands and challenges of his job, I appreciated the time we spent together. Now, I am in my second year at Bowie State University, maintaining a 4.0 GPA. My goal is to become a financial advisor to help others, especially first-generation scholars, achieve their long-term financial goals and build generational wealth. Nothing will stand in my way of making my dream a reality.