My name is Karen Bahena, and I am 30 years old. I am a first-generation college student in my family and a laboratory science technician. I am the second oldest in a family of five girls and still working towards my bachelor’s degree. I do not have any kids, but I have nieces and nephews who look up to me. Growing up I knew that as a minority the chances of having a successful career were going to be a challenge, but I did not realize that being a woman made it even more difficult. I have always enjoyed math and science, but my initial career goal was to become a nurse. As the second oldest of four sisters and being Hispanic, I was taught my duties were to take care of everyone else. Our older sister had her first child at a very young age and that is why it was up to me to step up. I felt the pressure from the responsibility and couldn’t do well in school. A few years later I decided to do phlebotomy with nursing still in mind but instead found a career in science. Within 2 years in phlebotomy, I realized that I wanted to stay in the laboratory because that is what I have always enjoyed. Fortunately, I was able to receive an associate degree in that field. Working in this field I realized that it is a female-dominated field and so we do not get fairly compensated. Receiving a bachelor’s degree will open big opportunities and I will take those opportunities and help as many women as possible to get what they deserve. Women don’t have to just stay home and take care of others, we are just as capable, if not more, to get the job done. I would like to be able to take my skills and knowledge to change the views of women in this profession as well as any profession. I have started within myself by erasing what I was taught. Now, that does not mean we stop loving and caring for others it just means we have a choice just like any other person to decide where our place is in this world. Both my grandmothers came to the United States, leaving their children in Mexico, to provide a better life for their families. Both my grandfathers were not around for that, this showed me that women can do it all and more. In order to see the change that needs to happen, we have to start at the very top.