Hello everyone, my name is Kate Padilla Raya. I am a junior at Elmhurst University. I am studying Criminal Justice and Theology. I hope to practice law one day with a focus on disability rights. Since elementary school, I’ve had the opportunity to work with children with disabilities, which has shaped the way I see the world and inspired my commitment to inclusion. In high school, I joined Best Buddies and became even more aware of the daily barriers that people with disabilities face. These barriers go beyond physical spaces and show up in education, employment, and access to justice. That is why I want to pursue a career in ADA law. I believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and have the chance to succeed. Outside of school, I enjoy baking, working with animals, and creative writing. Each of these gives me a different way to express myself. One of my proudest moments was having a poem published because it reminded me that my voice matters. I am also a regular blood donor, as I possess the universal blood type. I consider it an honor to be able to help people who need it most. A random goal of mine is to give a TED talk one day; that is when I'll know I made it. I am a first-generation student who has dreams bigger than life's barriers. I want to secure my future, love what I do, and most importantly, make my immigrant parents proud.