Deep breath in. Deep breath out. With the presence of stale air and the hot Texas sun bearing down on me, I could feel a drip of sweat slide down my temple as I thought about where the next play was happening. I was thinking about where I would throw the ball if it came to me, when all of a sudden, there it was. I bobbled and threw it a little off centered to my first baseman, but I got the out. That was the first out of the inning, 2 were left. My team and I managed to get the rest of the outs to close the inning, but not after 3 more runs were scored. After the game ended, all I could think about was how I poured my heart out on the field that night, only to loose, get home late, and have to wake up early the next morning for school. That sucked, but I knew I played for the love of the game because win or lose, playing softball was so much fun and it taught me many necessary life skills such the value of hard work, a good balance, and the importance of communication. In order to get outs and win a game, teams must work together and communicate with one another. Perfect example: two infielders running for the same pop-up without calling for it often ends up with them running into each other and missing the ball completely, allowing runs from the other team to come in. Likewise, not communicating with teachers about absences can create misunderstandings, and they may not realize that you need extensions on your work, which can negatively impact your grades. Playing softball, showing FFA animals, and juggling school was not easy for me. I was constantly missing classes and practices, but with communication among my teammates and teachers, I was able to successfully complete all of my tasks while remaining in the top 5% of my graduating class. Similarly, working hard to get better at your sport will ensure your skills improve and you continuing to get playing time, while people who get comfortable with their skill and stop working and get passed by others who are working hard toward their goals. This is like in school, when people become okay with getting mediocre grades there will always be others working towards being better and passing them. Hard work will win you tournaments just like good grades can earn you good grades to get into a good school with countless opportunities. Fortunately, I was able to practice hard to improve my skills and learn how to be my team's best 2nd baseman and starting catcher. While managing practices, school, and FFA, I was able to keep up my A+ grades and get into Texas A&M, where I cannot wait for all the opportunities waiting for me in this new chapter of my life. In the end, balancing my sport with schoolwork wasn't the easiest, but I was able to push through everything and come out successful in both aspects. I was able to become the best 2nd baseman my team had while learning a whole new skill, catching, juggling FFA, and keeping up my good grades.

25 years ago, my grandparents opened up a lighting company and called it Illuminations. Just last month, we celebrated Illuminations' 25th birthday in a combined celebratory Christmas party with all of its employees and collaborators. Soon, I have a goal of being able to continue this family business just as my parents did with my grandparents. In order to do so, I plan on going to Texas A&M University in pursuit of a Business Management degree under Mays School of Business and am currently applying for scholarships to fund my education. I want to contribute as much of my knowledge as I can to Illuminations to help it be as successful as it can for as long as possible, allowing it to be passed down from generation to generation later on. Scholarships are the only way I will be able to afford college as I am ineligible for most grants or other forms of student aid because my parents’ income is too high, but they aren't the ones paying for my college education, I am. College is expensive, and although it may look like my parents make a lot of money on paper, the truth is, they really don't. Most of their income is invested in their multiple custom home businesses, and they cannot take out any funds from those companies or the businesses will risk crashing. So, if I want to go to Texas A&M and earn a degree, it is up to me to make it happen and continue Illuminations with a new, younger mind full of information to enhance the family company. To start off, Texas A&M University is my top college choice because it contains one of the top business schools in the nation: Mays Business School. During my studies at Mays, I plan on learning as much as I can to benefit Illuminations in the long run. I will learn about how a business runs, necessary daily operations, and how to better a company from within. I hope to come back with fresh ideas that will help Illuminations bloom in these modern times, as it is honestly a little outdated. Not to mention, Texas A&M is known for its amazing Aggie networking system. Aggies all over are able to connect often and stay in touch over long periods of time, which will help me in my journey to enhance Illuminations. How will Aggie networking help you, may ask? Well, for starters, I will get to know people from all over who can do all sorts of things in all types of careers, and should I ever run into trouble, I can simply call upon someone for help or ask any questions I may have in the business field. I will find new trade and sale partners and meet potential collaborators or buyers. Texas A&M provides many other bonuses as well, such as deeply rooted traditions, immense school spirit, and amazing people who are all focused on a common goal: earning our well-deserved degrees, and I wouldn't want it any other way in any other college. Likewise, I wish to keep my family's company alive and continue its legacy for my children and their children in the future. Most businesses collapse before they hit their 2-year mark, so Illuminations just passing its 25th anniversary is a blessing that I hope I have the honor to continue. I wish to expand Illuminations first out of the Rio Grande Valley, then out of Texas, making it a nationwide lighting retailer. Over time, I feel it is possible, especially if the company stays successful. In addition, I will afford college by applying for scholarships to lower my education payments. I will be paying for college on my own, so I have to apply for scholarships to earn hopefully the better half of $32,000, which is the average cost for everything I am looking into studying per year. I do not qualify for most grants or scholarships because of how much my parents make, but that is their money, not mine. I hope this factor is taken into consideration when this application undergoes its grading and I am able to win my first scholarship. I have applied for about 90 scholarships to date and have won nothing in return yet. However, I have faith that if I continue applying, I will be able to win enough to make college affordable for myself so as not to be in debt the rest of my life. Ultimately, refining and adding to Illuminations is my long-term goal as I want it to be successful in the future, and Mays Business School will help me learn new techniques and important knowledge on how to run a business. Mays Business School at Texas A&M University will be a massive step in my business career, and I hope you choose me to invest this scholarship in. You will not regret it.

25 years ago, my grandparents opened up a lighting company and called it Illuminations. Just recently, we celebrated Illumination's 25th birthday. Soon, I have a goal of being able to continue this family business just as my parents did. In order to do so, I plan on attending Texas A&M in pursuit of a Business Management Degree under Mays Business School, one of the top business schools in the nation. So far, I have interned at Illuminations over the past two summers as a sales representative, where I've had the opportunity to meet long time customers and connect with people my family has worked with for years. Currently, I am applying for scholarships to fund my education so I can contribute as much of my knowledge as possible to Illuminations and my family's other businesses. My goal is to help ensure these companies remain as successful as possible, allowing them to be passed down from generation to generation in the future. To start off, I would like to state that Illuminations is a family company. Although my grandpa owns it, he collaborates with some other family another on decisions and have created multiple other businesses that branch out from Illuminations, such as Monarch Homes, MDG, and Ironwood Construction. All of these companies work with one another and I wish to come into this family company by working my way up from Illuminations. I will start off by helping customers find lighting for their homes as a sales representative like I have as an intern and continue meeting important co-workers of Illuminations. From there, I hope to move up in rank and eventually become Illumination's manager, proving all of my skills are of use. Ultimately, my goal is to join Ironwood and work alongside my parents building people's dream homes. I will use my previous knowledge gained from school, my sales experience, and people skills built from my time at Mays Business School and Illuminations to help me be successful working within family businesses. In addition to interning at Illuminations the past couple of summers, I take every chance I get to listen to the conversations my family has regarding business. I listen to the problems they face and how they overcome those obstacles, whether it's picky customers they need to please or untrustworthy business partners, my family has always been able to stay one step ahead. I've been able to pick up on various things people try to get away with over the years and have learned how to handle sticky situations, so I will know exactly what to look for or avoid when I come into the companies later on. Currently, though, I have been admitted into Mays Business School and am applying for scholarships to fund my education there. Mays is great for people like me who want to get into business and has created many great business people such as the founder of Buc-ee's, an extremely successful Texas franchise. During my time at Mays Business School, I hope to master the same skills other successful people have down, such as smart decision making, networking, and finance to bring it home for Illuminations and all our other family companies, allowing the businesses to become even better than they already are, enhancing them. As you can see, I have my future clearly mapped out and I am working eagerly toward my plans. I can’t wait to come back home and help Illuminations benefit from all the skills I learned at Mays Business School, allowing the family companies to truly flourish and grow for our future generations to come.

Mental health is really important for me as a student because it affects almost every part of my life, especially how I do in school and how I feel day to day. Being a student can be stressful with things like homework, tests, deadlines, and even social pressure. If my mental health isn’t in a good place, it makes all of those things feel way harder than they actually are. Recently, mental health has felt even more important because someone from my school took their own life. That situation made everything feel more real and serious. It showed me that mental health struggles aren’t just something people talk about—they actually affect people around me. It also made me realize how important it is to check in on others and not ignore warning signs, because you never fully know what someone else is going through. One big reason mental health matters is because it affects my ability to focus and learn. When I feel stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed, it’s hard to pay attention in class or stay motivated to do my work. Even simple assignments can feel exhausting, and I might procrastinate or avoid them completely. On the other hand, when my mental health is better, I can think more clearly, stay organized, and actually understand what I’m learning instead of just trying to get through it. Mental health also affects my motivation. As a student, I’m expected to set goals and work toward them, whether it’s getting good grades or planning for the future. But if I’m feeling mentally drained or burned out, it’s hard to care about those goals. I might lose interest in school or stop trying as much as I should. Taking care of my mental health helps me stay motivated and reminds me why my education is important. Another thing I’ve learned is that mental health can sometimes be influenced by genetics. Some people may be more likely to struggle with things like depression or anxiety because of their family history. That doesn’t mean someone is “weak,” but it does mean they might need more support or understanding. It shows that mental health isn’t always a choice, and it’s something that should be taken seriously. Mental health is also connected to physical health. When I’m stressed or anxious, it can affect my sleep, energy levels, and even my appetite. I might feel tired all the time or get sick more often. This makes it even harder to keep up with school responsibilities. By taking care of my mental health, I’m also taking care of my body, which helps me feel more balanced overall. Finally, focusing on mental health helps me handle challenges better. School is full of ups and downs, like failing a test, dealing with pressure, or trying something new. If I have good mental health, I’m more likely to bounce back from these situations instead of feeling stuck or giving up. It helps me stay more positive and confident, even when things don’t go perfectly. Overall, mental health is important to me as a student because it affects my focus, motivation, relationships, and overall well-being. When I take care of my mental health, I give myself a better chance to succeed in school and feel good while doing it. It’s also something I now see as more serious than ever, not just for me but for everyone around me.

Reality TV is popular because it creates drama and shows real emotions, and *Love Island* is one of the best examples of this. The show already has fun challenges and dramatic moments, but adding a new challenge called “Heart Sync” would make it even more interesting. This challenge would test how well couples actually understand each other, while also creating both cute and chaotic moments for viewers. The “Heart Sync” challenge would start by separating each couple. Each person would be taken to a private area and asked questions about their partner. These wouldn’t just be basic questions, but more personal ones, like what their partner’s biggest insecurity is, who they trust the most in the villa, or if they would be interested in someone new. This part is important because it shows whether contestants are really paying attention to their partner or just going along with things. What makes this challenge different is the prediction twist. Before answering each question, each islander would have to guess what their partner is going to say. This adds another level to the challenge because it’s not just about knowing your partner, but also understanding how they think. In real relationships, this kind of emotional understanding is actually really important, so it makes the challenge feel more real and not just like a game. The most exciting part would be the reveal. Everyone would gather around the firepit, and the answers would be shown in three steps: what one person said, what their partner predicted, and then what the partner actually said. This would build suspense and lead to a lot of reactions. If the answers match, it would be a really sweet moment and show that the couple is strong. But if they don’t match, it could cause arguments, jealousy, or awkward situations. For example, if someone says they would stay loyal, but their partner thought they wouldn’t, that could lead to a lot of tension. There would also be a scoring system to make it more competitive. Couples would get points for matching answers or close predictions, and no points if they are completely off. The couple with the most points would win a special romantic date, which gives them time to grow closer. On the other hand, the couple with the lowest score would be labeled “Out of Sync” and could be sent on dates with new people. This would definitely create more drama and test how strong their relationship really is. Overall, the “Heart Sync” challenge would be a great addition to *Love Island* because it mixes real emotions with entertainment. It doesn’t feel forced, and the drama comes naturally from the couples themselves. It would help viewers see which relationships are actually strong and which ones might fall apart. At the same time, it would still be fun to watch, with a mix of sweet moments and unexpected drama.

25 years ago, my grandparents opened up a lighting company and called it Illuminations. Just recently, we celebrated Illumination's 25th birthday. Soon, I have a goal of being able to continue this family business just as my parents did with my grandparents. In order to do so, I plan on attending Texas A&M University in pursuit of a Business Management Degree under Mays Business School, one of the top business schools in the nation. So far, I have interned at Illuminations over the past two summers as a sales representative, where I've had the opportunity to meet long time customers and connect with people my family has worked with for years. Currently, I am applying for scholarships to fund my education so I can contribute as much of my knowledge as possible to Illuminations and my family's other businesses. My goal is to help ensure these companies remain as successful as possible, allowing them to be passed down from generation to generation in the future. To start off, I would like to state that Illuminations is a whole family company. My grandpa's partners are my mom, tia, and tio. They collaborate with one another on decisions and have created multiple other businesses that branch out from Illuminations. These companies work with one another and use Illuminations products to illuminate their custom homes and other buildings. I wish to come into this family company by working my way up from Illuminations. I will start off by helping customers find lighting for their homes as a sales representative and continue meeting important co-workers of Illuminations. From there, I hope to move up and eventually become Illumination's manager, proving all of my skills are of use. Ultimately, my goal is to join Ironwood and work alongside my parents building people's dream homes. I will use my previous knowledge gained from school, my sales experience, and people skills built from my time at Mays Business School and Illuminations to help me be successful working within family businesses. In addition to interning at Illuminations the past couple of summers, I take every chance I get to listen to the conversations my family has regarding business. I listen to the problems they face and how they overcome those obstacles, whether it's picky customers they need to please or untrustworthy business partners, my family has always been able to stay one step ahead. I've been able to pick up on various things people try to get away with over the years and have learned how to handle sticky situations, so I will know exactly what to look for or avoid when I come into the companies later on. Currently, though, I have been admitted into Mays Business School and am applying for scholarships to fund my education there. Mays is great for people like me who want to get into business and has created many great business people such as the founder of Buc-ee's, an extremely successful Texas franchise. During my time at Mays Business School, I hope to master the same skills other successful people have down, such as smart decision making, networking, and finance to bring it home for Illuminations and all our other family companies, allowing the businesses to become even better than they already are, enhancing them. As you can see, I have my future clearly mapped out and I am working eagerly toward my plans. I can’t wait to come back home and help Illuminations benefit from all the skills I learned at Mays Business School, allowing the family companies to truly flourish and grow for our future generations to come.

Serving my Hidalgo county community has blessed me with countless opportunities to grow. Through volunteering, I have witnessed people living in conditions I never would’ve thought of, opening my eyes to realities outside my own. These experiences reshaped the way I see life and taught me the importance of empathy, compassion, and generosity. Volunteering showed me how big of a difference these qualities can make, no matter the size of their gesture. I walked down a weathered road handing out toys last Christmas, and I realized that most people, including myself, often take comfort for granted. I noticed that most homes we passed resembled shacks and that the families we passed out gifts to had struggles a lot of people wouldn’t understand. Fortunately, every child I approached was appreciative of their Christmas presents and their gratitude reminded me that happiness is determined by one’s outlook on life. It was amazing to see that despite their circumstances, the children were happy. Recently, I had the chance to work with the Edinburg Beef Club to help children with disabilities learn how to show goats. We had bi-monthly practices where myself and other volunteers taught the kids how to bathe, walk, and brace our goats. During our practices, we worked on show skills while also building connections with their families, helping us grow our network within our community. Getting to know these families again opened my eyes to other people’s realities, reinstating the fact that kindness goes a long way. By the time the show ended, everyone was able to leave with memories we can cherish, and buckles to be reminded of said memories. Seeing the kids so happy to accomplish something like winning a buckle was amazing. The moments we shared during this program helped me better understand the people in my community, the different challenges they face, and inspired me to approach others with a more open mind. Through serving my community, I’ve learned that although everyone’s circumstances may be different, generosity, love, and compassion really can create change. Small gestures of kindness create so much more positivity than people think, and simply caring about others is a great place to start serving others. Volunteering in my community has not only shown me the power that acts of kindness can have, but has also inspired me to continue making a difference however I can.

Howdy! My name is Kara Torres, and I am from Edinburg, Texas. I am someone who prioritizes her relationship with the Lord, loves her family, friends, animals, and all things nature. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, reading, and spending time outdoors, and a fun fact about me is that goats are my favorite animal! This fall, I plan on attending Texas A&M University in College Station to pursue a business degree through Mays Business School. With that degree, my goal is to continue my family’s lighting company, Illuminations, and strengthen it using the knowledge and experience I gained in college. I also hope to build strong connections and create a network of people I can trust in the future, whether for business or personal guidance. Since I was little, I have always loved the outdoors. I enjoy off-shore fishing just as much as I love family barbecues for special events. I find lakes and mountains to be some of the most beautiful things on Earth, and it amazes me that the same God who created them also created us. Science has easily become my favorite subject in school because I am fascinated by what can happen when different substances are mixed together and something completely new is formed. I especially love my environmental science class because I get to learn more about our planet and the impact humans have on it. Currently, I am just beginning to learn how to weld and I love it! Welding is almost like using a hot glue gun, only 10 times hotter. So far, I am one of the best beginner welders in my class, but I am sure we will all be great by the time we finish learning. Honestly, I regret not taking a welding class sooner, but the floral and other agriculture classes I took in previous years allowed me to gain knowledge in different areas and connect with people I might not have talked to otherwise. I have been able to become livestock judging and floral certified, which I am very proud of. I love my agriculture classes, and I love my FFA community even more. They have helped me grow as a person, bringing me out of my shell more each year. When I graduate, every lesson I have learned will carry with me into the real world, and I will always cherish my time in high school FFA. A few years back, my grandmother got sick with cancer. I wasn't able to do everything I love to do, and instead, had to help my family take care of her. In the end, she went through treatment and was able to kill the tumor, but not after a lot of sacrifice from the entire family. Finally, I am nervous about my future finances. My parents make a good living, but they will not help me pay for college unless I attend my local university. However, my dream is to step outside of my comfort zone and experience life in a completely new environment. I want to build meaningful connections and create a strong network for both business and personal growth during my time there. Even though the financial responsibility is intimidating, I know growth does not come from staying comfortable. I am ready to trust God, work hard, and take the next step toward the future I want to build.

Serving my Hidalgo county community has blessed me with countless opportunities to grow. Through volunteering, I have witnessed people living in conditions I never would’ve thought of, opening my eyes to a lot of realities outside of my own. These experiences reshaped the way I see everyday life and taught me the importance of empathy, compassion, and generosity in today’s world. Volunteering showed me just how big of a difference these qualities can make no matter the size of their gesture. As I walked down the weathered road handing out toys last Christmas, I realized that most people, including myself, often take comfort for granted. I noticed that most homes we passed resembled shacks more so than houses and that all the families we passed out gifts to had struggles a lot of people wouldn’t understand. Fortunately, every child I approached was extremely grateful and appreciative of their Christmas presents and their gratitude reminded me that happiness is not simply determined by material wealth, but by one’s outlook on life. It was amazing to see that despite their circumstances, the children were happy with everything they had. Their gratitude inspired me to be more mindful of my life’s blessings and motivated me to make a bigger impact benefiting my community. Recently, I had the chance to work with the Edinburg Beef Club to help children with disabilities learn how to show goats. With the Lead With Love Showdown coming up, we had bi-monthly practices where myself and other volunteers taught the kids how to bathe, walk, and brace our goats. During our practices, we worked on show skills with the kids while also building connections with their families, helping us grow our network within the Hidalgo County community. Getting to know these families once again opened my eyes to other people’s realities, reinstating the fact that kindness truly does go a long way. By the time the show ended, every participant was able to leave with memories we can cherish forever, and the children we helped won buckles to remind them of said memories. Seeing the kids so happy to accomplish something like winning a buckle was amazing. The moments we shared during this program helped me better understand the people in my community, the different challenges they face, and inspired me to approach others with a more open mind, as you never know what problems they may be facing. Through serving my community, I’ve learned that although everyone’s circumstances may be different, generosity, love, and compassion really can create change. Small gestures of kindness add up and create so much more positivity than people think, and simply caring about others puts one in a great place to start serving those around them. Volunteering in my community has not only shown me the power that acts of kindness can have, but has also inspired me to continue making a difference wherever and however I can.

Serving my Hidalgo county community has blessed me with countless opportunities to grow. Through volunteering, I have witnessed people living in conditions I never would’ve thought of, opening my eyes to a lot of realities outside of my own. These experiences reshaped the way I see everyday life and taught me the importance of empathy, compassion, and generosity in today’s world. Volunteering showed me just how big of a difference these qualities can make no matter the size of their gesture. As I walked down the weathered road handing out toys last Christmas, I realized that most people, including myself, often take comfort for granted. I noticed that most homes we passed resembled shacks more so than houses and that all the families we passed out gifts to had struggles a lot of people wouldn’t understand. Fortunately, every child I approached was extremely grateful and appreciative of their Christmas presents and their gratitude reminded me that happiness is not simply determined by material wealth, but by one’s outlook on life. It was amazing to see that despite their circumstances, the children were happy with everything they had. Their gratitude inspired me to be more mindful of my life’s blessings and motivated me to make a bigger impact benefiting my community. Recently, I had the chance to work with the Edinburg Beef Club to help children with disabilities learn how to show goats. With the Lead With Love Showdown coming up, we had bi-monthly practices where myself and other volunteers taught the kids how to bathe, walk, and brace our goats. During our practices, we worked on show skills with the kids while also building connections with their families, helping us grow our network within the Hidalgo County community. Getting to know these families once again opened my eyes to other people’s realities, reinstating the fact that kindness truly does go a long way. By the time the show ended, every participant was able to leave with memories we can cherish forever, and the children we helped won buckles to remind them of said memories. Seeing the kids so happy to accomplish something like winning a buckle was amazing. The moments we shared during this program helped me better understand the people in my community, the different challenges they face, and inspired me to approach others with a more open mind, as you never know what problems they may be facing. Through serving my community, I’ve learned that although everyone’s circumstances may be different, generosity, love, and compassion really can create change. Small gestures of kindness add up and create so much more positivity than people think, and simply caring about others puts one in a great place to start serving those around them. Volunteering in my community has not only shown me the power that acts of kindness can have, but has also inspired me to continue making a difference wherever and however I can.

Obstacles are inevitable. People will always face all kinds of problems throughout their lifetime, but the way they choose to react to those obstacles will ultimately determine who they become in the future. For example, college is the beginning of a transition from childhood to adulthood for most people, and that transition is bound to come with plenty of obstacles for adolescents to face. These same teens who were just living at home worry-free are now living on their own, paying for their own things, making their own decisions, and so on. I am soon to be one of those people, and I have a lot of questions, worries, and anxious thoughts, but I also believe that everything will work out in time. I have good faith in myself and know I will be able to work everything out. All I have to do is keep my priorities in line, be smart with my decision making, and surround myself with the right people to stay in check. For example, I know just how easy it is to get swept away by waves of procrastination, laziness, and distractions. These behaviors are all about mentality. They are a result of a weak mindset that simply needs to be turned around. All it takes to get rid of these challenges is a simple, meaningful affirmation to yourself such as, “I will finish this assignment today.” You just have to mean it, and that’s truly all it takes to get yourself back on track. Procrastination and distraction are two huge problems for college students when it comes to living on their own, as there is no one to tell them when to do their laundry, when to finish their homework, or not to stay out too late so they can study for their final the next day. I plan on overcoming these bad habits by planning out my day to day actions. I will be strictly managing my time, allotting myself time to workout, study, work, and have fun with friends and family throughout my week. Likewise, working and financial planning are other big things adolescents struggle with when living on their own. Most need to pay off their tuition, living expenses, and other college bills, but also deal with a very low pay with a bad spending to saving ratio. Younger people tend to spend more on unnecessary things and end up with hardly anything to put into their savings or to pay off important bills. Fortunately, I am pretty good at saving at least 30% of my income as I have no bills to pay right now. When I am on my own, I plan on saving 10%-15% of my income, paying any college payments I owe, and spending anything I have leftover. As far as working, I know I must show up on time, present myself well, and treat everyone with manners and respect to keep my job. The only thing I might struggle with is finding a job in the first place, as I have a lot of competition with all the other college students also looking for work, but I will apply early and apply to a lot of places to secure a good job for myself. Lastly, there are plenty of different kinds of people to meet in college. You have country people, lazy people, Godly people, animal loving people, and much more. A lot of times, it is easy for good people to fall into the wrong crowd and get influenced to build bad habits that become normalized. After a bad habit gets normalized, it becomes very hard to break, but not impossible. Again, though, overcoming bad habits is all about mentality. If you truly believe you can overcome it, you can definitely do it. When I go to college and live on my own, I am planning on joining a religious group, animal loving club, and education oriented club. I aim to fall into the right crowd that believes in Christ, puts studies before distractions, and loves animals the way I do, and at Texas A&M University, there are over 1,300 student organizations where everyone is bound to fit in somewhere. In conclusion, there are many different obstacles that I may face living on my own, but with confidence and keeping my priorities in check, I can overcome them easily. Having a strong mentality and believing in myself will allow me to become successful in college and prepare me for beyond.

25 years ago, my grandparents opened up a lighting company and called it Illuminations. Just recently, we celebrated Illumination's 25th birthday. Soon, I have a goal of being able to continue this family business just as my parents did with my grandparents. In order to do so, I plan on attending Texas A&M University in pursuit of a Business Management Degree under Mays Business School, one of the top business schools in the nation. So far, I have interned at Illuminations over the past two summers as a sales representative, where I've had the opportunity to meet long time customers and connect with people my family has worked with for years. Currently, I am applying for scholarships to fund my education so I can contribute as much of my knowledge as possible to Illuminations and my family's other businesses. My goal is to help ensure these companies remain as successful as possible, allowing them to be passed down from generation to generation in the future. To start off, I would like to state that Illuminations is a whole family company. My grandpa's partners are my mom, tia, and tio. They collaborate with one another on decisions and have created multiple businesses that branch out from Illuminations. All of these companies work with one another and use Illuminations products to illuminate their custom homes and other buildings. I wish to come into this family company by working my way up from Illuminations. I will start off by helping customers find lighting for their homes as a sales representative and continue meeting important co-workers of Illuminations. From there, I hope to move up and eventually become Illumination's manager, proving all of my skills are of use. Ultimately, my goal is to join Ironwood and work alongside my parents building people's dream homes. I will use my previous knowledge gained from school, my sales experience, and people skills built from my time at Mays Business School and Illuminations to help me be successful working within family businesses. In addition to interning at Illuminations the past couple of summers, I take every chance I get to listen to the conversations my family has regarding business. I listen to the problems they face and how they overcome those obstacles, whether it's picky customers they need to please or untrustworthy business partners, my family has always been able to stay one step ahead. I've been able to pick up on various things people try to get away with over the years and have learned how to handle sticky situations, so I will know exactly what to look for or avoid when I come into the companies later on. Currently, though, I have been admitted into Mays Business School and am applying for scholarships to fund my education there. Mays is great for people like me who want to get into business and has created many great business people such as the founder of Buc-ee's, an extremely successful Texas franchise. During my time at Mays Business School, I hope to master the same skills other successful people have down, such as smart decision making, networking, and finance to bring it home for Illuminations and all our other family companies, allowing the businesses to become even better than they already are, enhancing them. As you can see, I have my future clearly mapped out and I am working eagerly toward my plans. I can’t wait to come back home and help Illuminations benefit from all the skills I learned at Mays Business School, allowing the family companies to truly flourish and grow for our future generations to come.

When I was in 3rd grade, I hated math. I didn't understand dividing, and for the life of me, I couldn't multiply fractions. It took me a long time to grasp most concepts, but when I finally did, it was game over. As soon as I was able to start solving problems, the math part of my day flew by, and I even began helping classmates learn how to figure out the problems we were given. By the time middle school came around, I was placed in advanced high school classes where I learned junior year curriculum while I was in 8th grade! Aside from putting me 2 years ahead of everyone else in my class, math also provided me with an outlet for my efforts in school. I am a smart individual, so often times, classes don't challenge me, but I enjoy the moments when I actually need to solve and work to earn an answer. I absolutely thrive when challenged. I, personally, think this is why I love math. Math provides with challenges that need solving everyday, and being able to solve equations only motivates me to do more and continue being productive. Like I said before, school often moves too slow for me, so I like doing productive things to feel successful, and solving math equations is the perfect thing for me to feel good.

Mary Jane Sanders’ story shows how the strength of family can carry people through unimaginable challenges. My own family experienced that strength through my mom’s battle with ALS. Watching the person who had always been my source of comfort and encouragement face such a devastating disease changed the way I see perseverance, family, and the importance of pursuing my dreams. Before ALS affected her, my mom was always someone who worked hard and stayed busy. One of the things she loved most was baking, especially bread. The smell of fresh bread in our home became something special to me because it reminded me of the care she put into everything she did for our family. She also loved being outside in the garden. Even something as simple as pulling weeds was something she took pride in because she believed in taking care of the things she loved. Those small moments showed me the kind of person she was—someone who put effort, patience, and heart into everything. When ALS entered our lives, things slowly began to change. The disease started taking away the physical abilities that had once come so naturally to her. Watching that happen was incredibly difficult. But what amazed me most was that even as she began to feel worse, she still pushed herself to keep going. My mom continued to work hard, even on days when she felt horrible. She refused to let the disease define her or take away her role in our family. Her determination taught me what real strength looks like. It wasn’t loud or dramatic... it was quiet persistence. It was waking up every day and choosing to keep going, even when things were painful or exhausting. Even as ALS made life harder for her, she continued to encourage me and remind me to work hard toward my goals. Knowing that she was still thinking about my future while facing such a difficult battle showed me just how selfless and strong she truly is. There were moments when everything felt overwhelming. Watching someone you love struggle with ALS brings fear, sadness, and a feeling of helplessness. But my mom showed our family how to face those moments with courage. She reminded us that even in hard times, there is still love, strength, and purpose. Because of her, I approach my dreams differently. When I feel discouraged or think about giving up, I remember my mom baking bread in the kitchen or working in the garden even when she didn’t feel her best. Those memories remind me that success comes from persistence and heart. If she could continue showing that kind of strength in the face of ALS, then I can push myself to work harder and never give up on my goals. My mom’s battle with ALS has shaped who I am today. It has taught me compassion, resilience, and the importance of appreciating every moment with the people you love. Most importantly, it has given me a powerful reason to pursue my dreams—to honor the strength, love, and determination that my mom showed every single day.

Serving my Hidalgo county community has blessed me with countless opportunities to grow. Through volunteering, I have witnessed people living in conditions I never would’ve thought of, opening my eyes to a lot of realities outside of my own. These experiences reshaped the way I see everyday life and taught me the importance of empathy, compassion, and generosity in today’s world. Volunteering showed me just how big of a difference these qualities can make no matter the size of their gesture. As I walked down the weathered road handing out toys last Christmas, I realized that most people, including myself, often take comfort for granted. I noticed that most homes we passed resembled shacks more so than houses and that all the families we passed out gifts to had struggles a lot of people wouldn’t understand. Fortunately, every child I approached was extremely grateful and appreciative of their Christmas presents and their gratitude reminded me that happiness is not simply determined by material wealth, but by one’s outlook on life. It was amazing to see that despite their circumstances, the children were happy with everything they had. Their gratitude inspired me to be more mindful of my life’s blessings and motivated me to make a bigger impact benefiting my community. Recently, I had the chance to work with the Edinburg Beef Club to help children with disabilities learn how to show goats. With the Lead With Love Showdown coming up, we had bi-monthly practices where myself and other volunteers taught the kids how to bathe, walk, and brace our goats. During our practices, we worked on show skills with the kids while also building connections with their families, helping us grow our network within the Hidalgo County community. Getting to know these families once again opened my eyes to other people’s realities, reinstating the fact that kindness truly does go a long way. By the time the show ended, every participant was able to leave with memories we can cherish forever, and the children we helped won buckles to remind them of said memories. Seeing the kids so happy to accomplish something like winning a buckle was amazing. The moments we shared during this program helped me better understand the people in my community, the different challenges they face, and inspired me to approach others with a more open mind, as you never know what problems they may be facing. Through serving my community, I’ve learned that although everyone’s circumstances may be different, generosity, love, and compassion really can create change. Small gestures of kindness add up and create so much more positivity than people think, and simply caring about others puts one in a great place to start serving those around them. Volunteering in my community has not only shown me the power that acts of kindness can have, but has also inspired me to continue making a difference wherever and however I can.

I want to make a change in my life because I believe education is the most powerful tool to improve not only my future but also the lives of the people around me. Growing up, I learned that opportunities do not always come easily, and if I wanted a different future, I had to work hard to create it. My goal is to pursue higher education so I can build a stable career, support my family, and make a positive impact in my community. One of my biggest motivations for continuing my education is my family’s lighting company, Illuminations. I hope to continue the business as a third-generation owner and build upon the foundation that my family has worked so hard to create. By earning a degree in business, I will gain the knowledge and skills needed to help the company grow, adapt to new opportunities, and continue serving our community for many years to come. I have already taken several steps toward this goal. In school, I work hard to maintain strong grades and stay involved in organizations that build leadership and service skills. As a member of FFA, NHS, and Leo’s Club, I participate in many community service events and leadership activities that have helped me learn responsibility, teamwork, and the importance of giving back. Through FFA, I have developed leadership abilities and learned the value of dedication and hard work. NHS has challenged me to maintain high academic standards while also demonstrating character and service. Leo’s Club has allowed me to actively contribute to my community through volunteering and service projects that make a difference in the lives of others. These experiences have shaped my work ethic and strengthened my desire to contribute to both my community and my family’s business. They have taught me that success is not only measured by personal achievements, but also by the positive impact we have on others. The leadership, responsibility, and teamwork skills I have developed will help prepare me for the challenges of college and for eventually taking on a leadership role within my family’s company. Receiving this scholarship would help reduce the financial burden of college and allow me to focus on gaining the knowledge and skills needed to successfully manage and grow our family company. With a business education, I will be better prepared to introduce new ideas, expand opportunities, and continue the tradition my family started while adapting to changes in the modern business world. In the future, I plan to pay it forward by mentoring younger students who are interested in business and entrepreneurship, supporting local community initiatives, and continuing to give back through service just as I have through FFA, NHS, and Leo’s Club. I believe that helping others succeed is one of the most meaningful ways to give back. By sharing my experiences, offering guidance, and supporting my community, I hope to create opportunities for others just as this scholarship would help create opportunities for me.

Deep breath in. Deep breath out. With the presence of stale air and the hot Texas sun bearing down on me, I could feel a drip of sweat slide down my temple as I thought about where the next play was happening. I was preparing myself for where I would make a play if the ball came to me, when all of a sudden, there it was. I bobbled and threw it a little off-centered to my first baseman, but I still got the out. That was the first out of the inning, 2 were left. My team and I managed to get the rest of the outs to close the inning, but not after 3 more runs were scored. After the game ended, all I could think about was how I poured my heart out on the field that night, only to loose, get home late, and have to wake up early the next morning for school. That sucked, but I knew I played that night for the love of the game because win or lose, playing softball was so much fun and it taught me many necessary life skills such the value of hard work, a good balance, and the importance of communication. In order to get outs and win a game, teams must work together and communicate with one another. Perfect example: two infielders running for the same pop-up without calling for it often ends up with them running into each other and missing the ball completely, allowing runs from the other team to come in. Likewise, not communicating with teachers about absences can create misunderstandings, and they may not realize that you need extensions on your work, which can negatively impact your grades. Playing softball, showing FFA animals, and juggling school was not easy for me. I was constantly missing classes and practices, but with communication among my teammates and teachers, I was able to successfully complete all of my tasks while remaining in the top 5% of my graduating class. Similarly, working hard to get better at your sport will ensure your skills improve and continued playing time, while people who get comfortable with their skill get passed by others who are working hard toward improvement. This works similarly to school. When people become okay with getting mediocre grades there will always be others working towards being better and passing them. Hard work will win you tournaments just like good grades can earn you a chance to get into a good school with countless opportunities. Fortunately, I was able to practice hard, become my team's best 2nd baseman, while learning a whole new skill: being a catcher. While managing practices and school, I was able to keep up my A+ grades and get into Texas A&M, where I cannot wait for all the opportunities waiting for me in this new chapter of my life. In the end, balancing my sport with schoolwork wasn't the easiest, but I was able to push through everything and come out successful in both aspects. I was able to become a utility player on my team while juggling FFA and keeping up my good grades. Although it was hard, it was amazing to able to do everything I love while having good grades as well.

Serving my Hidalgo county community has blessed me with countless opportunities to grow. Through volunteering, I have witnessed people living in conditions I never would’ve thought of, opening my eyes to a lot of realities outside of my own. These experiences reshaped the way I see everyday life and taught me the importance of empathy, compassion, and generosity in today’s world. Volunteering showed me just how big of a difference these qualities can make no matter the size of their gesture. As I walked down the weathered road handing out toys last Christmas, I realized that most people, including myself, often take comfort for granted. I noticed that most homes we passed resembled shacks more so than houses and that all the families we passed out gifts to had struggles a lot of people wouldn’t understand. Fortunately, every child I approached was extremely grateful and appreciative of their Christmas presents and their gratitude reminded me that happiness is not simply determined by material wealth, but by one’s outlook on life. It was amazing to see that despite their circumstances, the children were happy with everything they had. Their gratitude inspired me to be more mindful of my life’s blessings and motivated me to make a bigger impact benefiting my community. Recently, I had the chance to work with the Edinburg Beef Club to help children with disabilities learn how to show goats. With the Lead With Love Showdown coming up, we had bi-monthly practices where myself and other volunteers taught the kids how to bathe, walk, and brace our goats. During our practices, we worked on show skills with the kids while also building connections with their families, helping us grow our network within the Hidalgo County community. Getting to know these families once again opened my eyes to other people’s realities, reinstating the fact that kindness truly does go a long way. By the time the show ended, every participant was able to leave with memories we can cherish forever, and the children we helped won buckles to remind them of said memories. Seeing the kids so happy to accomplish something like winning a buckle was amazing. The moments we shared during this program helped me better understand the people in my community, the different challenges they face, and inspired me to approach others with a more open mind, as you never know what problems they may be facing. Through serving my community, I’ve learned that although everyone’s circumstances may be different, generosity, love, and compassion really can create change. Small gestures of kindness add up and create so much more positivity than people think, and simply caring about others puts one in a great place to start serving those around them. Volunteering in my community has not only shown me the power that acts of kindness can have, but has also inspired me to continue making a difference wherever and however I can.

My biological dad stopped coming around when I was about 10, a mere 5th grader. He never saw me go into middle school or grow up past 5th grade. My 8th grade year, my step dad adopted me from my biological father, but nothing really changed because he was always more of a father figure than my biological dad was. The only difference was that I took my step dad's last name and became Kara Torres, when my whole life I had been Kara Pena. I was conflicted over my biological father's death. He was not a good person, he had lots of bad habits and got into trouble with the law a lot, but after all, he was still my dad. I felt like I should've been sad, but I didn't feel sad. I was more disappointed and upset I never got to resolve our conflicts or get the opportunity to see to him again. All I wanted was one more talk with my dad, but he was gone and there was nothing I could do to change that. For a little bit, I thought about my dad and the life he created for himself. He had everything he could ever ask for: a wife, a baby on the way, a great career, and an education, but he threw it all away for drugs and other bad things. I don't know why he did so, but I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason. If he wasn't a bad person, my mom never would've met my now dad and I wouldn't have grown to be who I am today. After my dad's passing, I figured out that I began tending to close people out, that it is hard for me to let people in to get to know me due to the fear of being left or hurt again. To this day, I still struggle with letting people in, but I am trying to get better, and I have! To figure out everything I was feeling, I began to write my thoughts down. I started journaling in my phone journal because I didn't have a paper one, but that didn't last very long. I did daily journal entries for a little bit, but forgot about it after probably a week. It's been years since I did any journal entries, but lately I have been feeling kind of lonesome and I have been meaning to buy a journal to start writing in. I remember how emptying my brain by writing my thoughts down made me feel: peaceful, and I am seeking that feeling again. Recently, I have been stressed about college and being able to afford it, but I also think everything will work out in time. For my future, I plan on attending Texas A&M University in pursuit of a business degree under Mays Business School. Mays is one of the top business schools in the nation and my goal is to learn as much as I can during my time there to bring back knowledge that will help my family's businesses. We have various companies in a few different fields such as Ironwood Construction, Monarch Homes, MDG Investment Group, Peacocks Shot Bar, and Illuminations Lighting. Ultimately, I want benefit the businesses with new knowledge that will help them flourish and continue being successful to pass them down to our future generations like my kids and grandchildren, just as my grandfather was able to do. My grandparents are my biggest influences with their loyal dedication to their work and amazing work ethnic, they inspire me endlessly.

Giving back to my amazing community has always been important to me, and entrepreneurship is the way I plan to continue doing just that in the future. I hope to work within my family’s lighting company, Illuminations, which is a very community friendly business. Illuminations is more than just a company that sells lighting; it is a local business that truly believes in supporting the people around us. Through entrepreneurship, I want to help improve our mission of helping the people who help us and create even more opportunities to give back to the communities in McAllen and Brownsville that support our business. Illuminations participates in many local events and programs that support families in need throughout the year. For example, every year the company takes part in canned food drives and the Adopt an Angel program, which helps provide support and gifts for less fortunate families during the holiday season. These events allow Illuminations to positively impact people and play an important role in helping others within our community. Illuminations is also able to support McAllen and Brownsville locals by buying sports posters, selling goods, and contributing to fundraising efforts for different causes. Seeing how these small actions can make a big difference has inspired me to pursue entrepreneurship with a purpose rather than focusing only on profit. I have already given back to my community by helping with these events and supporting the company’s involvement in local fundraisers and programs. Being part of these efforts has taught me the value of service, teamwork, and responsibility. It has also shown me how businesses can bring people together and create positive change. These experiences have shaped my desire to continue serving my community through my future career and personal goals. My academic and career goals as an entrepreneur are focused on learning how to successfully run and promote a business while staying connected to the community. I plan to gain knowledge in business, marketing, and communication so I can help Illuminations grow and reach more people. One of my main goals is to eventually manage Illuminations’ social media. By sharing what the company is doing, I want to draw more attention to our events, encourage community involvement, and inspire others to support local causes. Through entrepreneurship, I plan to give back by strengthening community connections, promoting meaningful causes, and helping my family’s business continue making a positive impact for years to come.

Showing goats has been one of the most challenging experiences I've ever faced in my life, but also one of my favorite. It has allowed me to make memories I never could've made without FFA and meet people I love to call my friends. I began showing goats my sophomore year of high school with no experience, very little success, and the goal of winning a buckle. My first year, I only had my market goat, Paco, and a lot of knowledge I had yet to learn. I spent most of my time outside feeding, cleaning, and watching videos on how to properly fit and brace my goat in the show ring. Despite all my hard work, I rarely won any ribbons. Whenever I did win a ribbon, they were all low placings. That year was discouraging, but I was still optimistic and looking forward to the upcoming years because I knew by the time the next years rolled around, I would've gained some experience under my belt. Fortunately, I also made another goal to improve my showing skills every year, even if the results didn’t show automatically. I asked questions, watched my competitors in the ring, listened to every judges' feedback, and learned from every mistake I made. By my junior year, my hard work began to pay off. That year, I showed one market goat and one breeding goat. With my breeding goat especially, I started winning ribbons and making it to division drives consistently. Those wins weren’t buckles yet, but they proved that all the time and dedication I put into improving my skills were beginning to make a difference. My senior year brought both heartbreak and success. I was supposed to show two breeding goats, but one of them, Tinky, passed away from parasites as a baby. Losing Tinky was devastating, and it made my final year even more personal. Loosing Tinky only motivated me to keep pushing forward with the one market and one breeding goat I had left. I set a personal goal to go out with a boom and win at least one buckle for myself and for Tinky. I started working harder than ever, paying close attention to perfecting my bracing, conditioning my goats, and improving my showmanship. This year, everything came together. So far, I have won Grand Champion Market Goat, Senior Champion Showman, and have earned many ribbons with both my market and breeding goats. Most importantly, I have been able to achieve the goal I had been working toward since sophomore year; winning a buckle. Beyond the awards, the friends and experiences I have gained through my years of being in FFA mean even more to me. Because of what I’ve learned, I can now help my little sister learn how to show goats, passing on the knowledge I once struggled to gain. I am hoping to be able to continue using the skills, responsibility, and perseverance I gained from showing goats to succeed in future job and potential leadership opportunities. The buckles symbolize success, but the journey to get them taught me the values staying positive, working for what you want, and never giving up.

For me, starting to play soccer was like opening a new chapter book. The fresh blades of grass on a field were just like the crisp pages in a new book, both signs of a new beginning. For me, that new beginning was the start of my sports career, a chapter of my life I had yet to unlock. Up until I was about 10, I had never played any sports or known the importance of teamwork on the journey to success. It was on my first team ever that I faced challenges and learned how to work with my teammates to make plays work, set goals, and focus on what needs to be done. Since then, these skills have only grown in me as I utilized them to join new sports and other organizations. I went into playing soccer inexperienced, but left with the best things I could've asked for: learning experiences, growth, and a newfound confidence. The best thing about soccer was that it ignited a spark inside me fueled by determination, improvement, and ardor, and that spark only continues to grow after every challenge I face. I will say, sports were never really my thing. As a kid, I was always into Barbies, horses, and anything pink. The most I did sports-wise was ballet lessons in a private studio off 10th Street. It wasn't until my tia introduced my sister and I to soccer that I played any real sports and trained my body. Training to run faster and longer was the hardest part of my soccer career as I had to not only run for an hour and a half, but sprint too. I used to run laps around my neighborhood with my mom in the afternoons and take every practice seriously to improve my dribbling and defensive skills. I knew I needed to get myself into shape and then some, but there were many times that I wanted to skip a day of running or miss a practice, but my parents encouraged me to keep getting better by telling me daily that I could do it. "What is 20-30 minutes of running or a 2 hour practice compared to the 24 hours a day?" In turn, this led to me being stronger physically and mentally, with a new mindset of "I can do it." This confidence carried into high-school, where I joined softball, volleyball, and FFA. I was able to help my teammates win and become an officer for my FFA organization. Working together, we solve all sorts of problems and grow together, just as we did on my original team, my soccer team. On the other hand, playing soccer opened my eyes to a whole new way of looking at everything. I used to have a more negative mindset, but after playing soccer, I learned that most things are all about having a positive attitude. If you don't think you will be able to do something like me not thinking I could run a whole soccer game, you won't go anywhere. I started telling myself that we would win our games, that I would finish my run, and after that change in the way I looked at things, life was so much better. In conclusion, I learned that life is all about perspective, the way you look at things, and I thank soccer for allowing me to see that. Personally, I believe this eye opening and the growth I talked about before are the best things I took away as I walked past my soccer career into the new chapters of my life.