As a first-generation Latina who has decided to pursue a master's degree in Social Work, I find it an honoring but lonely process. Being proud of my roots and heritage, I came to embody a part of my culture, representing the community and serving others. Therefore, being away from my family and pursuing a dream is difficult. However, due to my experiences working at nonprofits, I began to experience internalized oppression along the way. I started doubting myself and acting out of fear, feeling like I didn't belong there and criticizing myself. When I started working with Latino Youth, I observed that many were also experiencing internalized oppression, which has manifested into symptoms of depression, anxiety, self-harming, and physical fights. These youth often feel detached from their parents and culture due to confusion about their identity. I noticed that this issue was not always consciously done but unconsciously exhibited due to Latinos in the United States adopting beliefs and customs to fit in and assimilate into the dominant social group for reasons like feeling accepted and meeting one of the most fundamental needs. I started to notice that Latinos encounter internalized oppression when they believe, act, and apply certain beliefs of the dominant group to themselves when they adopt the ideological beliefs of the privileged group, conscience or unconsciously, they accept the condition of subordination as something natural, which becomes in self-hatred, judgment, and criticism toward themselves, and having fear-based reactions. The experiences of each generation related to systemic racism often shape and have critically shaped the beliefs and self-image of people who are oppressed by the policies, institutions, and interpersonal interactions that perpetuate racism and harm people of color.  It is an aggravating and impotent situation that due to our history around segregation of groups (in this case, the oppression of Latinos), we currently have to not only fight for the equity of the systems here in the United States but also fight with our own beliefs and our own internalized oppression. Since I am a Latina, I can also relate to the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result from the challenges listed above. This scholarship will enable me to finish my studies and have a more significant impact on my community by addressing these beliefs individually and continuing to work with Latino and Latino youth. I will be able to empower Latinos through mental health treatment and psychoeducation and by helping the Latino community recognize the strength and healing power of their culture. Everyone can change this belief system by claiming their place and feeling proud of their heritage, history, culture, traditions, and values.

The social challenge that I found concerning is Latinos in the United States who are experiencing internalized oppression by denying their heritage. The underlying social challenge that is concerning is that Latinos are experiencing internalized oppression because they deny part of their origins due to this system of racism in the United States called white supremacy. This is not always consciously done but is often unconsciously exhibited, which results in Latinos in the United States adopting beliefs and customs to fit in and assimilate into the dominant social group for reasons like feeling accepted and meeting one of the most fundamental needs, which is this sense of belonging. Latinos face internalized oppression when they believe, act, and apply certain beliefs of the dominant group to themselves; when they adopt the ideological beliefs of the group that is privileged, conscience or unconsciously, they accept the condition of subordination as something natural, which becomes in self-hatred, judgment, and/or criticism toward themselves, and having fear-based reactions, they create this space place of denial embarrassment of the culture, heritage and in some way denying themselves and allowing ideations of inferiority. This then leads to the sense of not belonging, not feeling worthy enough, self-hatred, and criticism. If these negative beliefs continue, it can lead to mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. Throughout my work serving Latino children and youth, I have observed that many of these youth have experienced internalized oppression which has manifested into symptoms of depression, anxiety, self-harming, and physical fights with parents, friends, and/or in school. These youth often feel detached from their parents, related to confusion related to their own identity. The experiences of each generation related to systemic racism often shape and have critically shaped the beliefs and self-image of people who are oppressed by the policies, institutions, and interpersonal interactions that perpetuate racism and harm people of color. It is an aggravating and impotent situation that due to our history around segregation of groups (in this case, the oppression of Latinos), we currently have to not only fight for the equity of the systems here in the United States but also fight with our own beliefs and our own internalized oppression. Since I am a Latina as well, I can also relate to the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that come as a result of the challenges listed above. I have decided to study social work and pursue a career in this field to identify, not only on a personal level, how to modify those beliefs individually by continuing to work with Latinos and Latino youth so that I can make a larger impact in addressing this social issue by empowering Latinos through education, mental health treatment and supporting the Latino community to understand the healing power of culture and embracing the strengths of our culture. I am a firm believer in being able to modify this belief system individually by claiming your place of origin and feeling proud of your roots, history, your culture, traditions, and values ​​as a way of healing from this internalized oppression, which is one of the solutions that I find most effective.