As a child born into a family of Salvadoran immigrants, I grew up in a household where the possibilities of higher education were more a distant dream than an achievable reality. My parents, who fled a civil war with little formal education, settled in the United States with hopes for stability but were met with relentless obstacles. Despite these challenges, or perhaps because of them, they instilled in me a profound appreciation for the opportunities they never had. This foundation of resilience and hope inspired me to become the first in my family to pursue higher education. My journey towards higher education began in earnest after witnessing the severe injuries my parents sustained in workplace accidents, which nearly cost them their livelihoods. These incidents underscored for me the fragility of a life without educational security. I saw education not only as a pathway to a more stable career but as a means of altering the course of my family’s story—transforming a legacy of hardship into one of empowerment. At California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), where I am currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Systems & Technology, my career goals have crystallized. My background, characterized by economic constraints and cultural hurdles, has shaped my aspirations to fuse technology with entrepreneurship. I am driven to develop innovative solutions that enhance educational and business practices, making them more accessible to underserved communities. My commitment extends beyond my immediate academic pursuits. At CSUSB, I actively participate in the Associated Students Incorporated (ASI), where I leverage my role to advocate for resources that support the success of all students, particularly those from backgrounds like mine. This role allows me to influence policies and initiate programs that can change the educational landscape for future generations of first-generation students. In addition, my extensive volunteer work, including over 1000 hours dedicated to community service initiatives, has given me a firsthand look at the challenges and potential within our communities. Working with OneFuture Coachella Valley’s Gents Alliance program, I mentor high school students, helping them to navigate their paths and encouraging them to pursue their educational and career goals despite any obstacles. These experiences have not only reinforced my commitment to education but have also informed my career goals. I am determined to further my education with a Master’s in Entrepreneurship and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. My ambition is to become a professor and a serial entrepreneur, where I can directly impact educational policies and create employment opportunities through innovative business solutions. My ultimate goal is to build platforms that bridge gaps in education and employment, inspired by my own journey as a first-generation college student. Receiving this scholarship would be instrumental in my pursuit of these goals, allowing me to continue my education and expand my ability to serve as a catalyst for change within my community. It would affirm my family’s belief in the transformative power of education and my commitment to extending that power to others.

My mental health healing journey started about 6 months ago. At the time I was working as an insurance agent working as much as I could to make as much money as fast as possible. I was not taking care of myself at all. I lived a stagnant lifestyle and I would drink in order to “destress” myself. I quickly learned that this was not a good idea. As I lost my health and it forced me to rethink my whole life. I was on a rat race to killing myself through overwork and over stressing. I knew something had to change. I immediately stopped drinking. Because my body had gotten so stiff from stagnation it was difficult for me to workout. I slowly started my healing journey by doing simple stretches and rolling out. Slowly that progressed to me being able to do some sort of physical exercise. I started off by riding a stationary bike, then moved to walking long distances, then running, then jumping rope, and finally I now am training in Brazilian-Jiu. As of today my days are as follows. I start of my day with 10-20 minute guided meditation. I then do a 5 minute dead-hang to decompress my back and improve my grip strength. I then go to stretch and roll out for about 30 minutes. After that, I make my self a smoothie composed of about 80% vegetables and 20% fruits. I then try to make it to at least one Brazilian Jiu Jitzu training class. After the class I stretch and roll out. Then depending on the day I will either take a hot bath with bath salts, or an ice bath if I’m really beat up. Then to end my day I do another 15-20 minute meditation.

1. I became interested in pursuing a degree in computer science after I got sick from overworking myself. I got so sick I could no longer work. This started my healing journey. I am interested in computer science because I want to create a community where people can heal together. 2. My goal after receiving my degree is to create applications and programs that help people heal themselves. It will give them recipes and videos on how to make food to treat the specific condition they are facing ( gastritis, fatty liver disease…, etc. Doctors typically tell you what you can’t eat but they do not tell you how to make healthy food delicious. I want to create a free program where people can log-in and learn how to heal themselves by stretching, rolling out, meditation, yoga , physical exercise, and eating healthy/nourishing meals . I also want to create a community where practitioners and sick people can meet and trade tips and tricks on how to heal themselves. So that sick people do not have to wait until their doctor says they are sick enough to get advice from someone like a nutritionist, physical therapist, occupational therapist .., etc. 3. I believe I am the best candidate to receive this scholarship because I want to change the world! I want to live in a world where people don’t have to suffer silently because there is no way for them to get help. I want to bridge the gap between a sick person and the education necessary for them to heal themselves. I want to live in a world where everyone is living their best life and feeling wonderful about themselves and the people around them. A world where everyone supports each other to be their best selves and heal together as a community.