In times of difficulty, I learned to make the most out of every experience. Attending my first year at DePaul University as a first-generation college student from my childhood bedroom in Miami, Florida was far from what I had imagined it to be. There were moments where I felt so disconnected and left out. The sense of frustration motivated me to find virtual activities that DePaul held and try to find a student organization that would bring me that sense of community and optimism I wished. This active effort brought me to the DePaul Activities Board (DAB). I gravitated towards this organization because of its initiative to create inclusive events that everyone can join from wherever. As time progressed, I became more involved by the day and met so many people who were not in the Chicago area, like me. I truly felt like I was a part of something bigger than myself, and it was great to witness this community in a virtual setting and see this growth in my character over time. The different skills learned through my involvement can be translated to any Accounting position. This past year and a half, the field of public accounting piqued my interest. I wanted to learn more about what different public accounting firms had to offer, so I attended many events hosted by the DePaul Career Center, the Big 4, and other regional public accounting firms. In doing so, it paved the way for a learning opportunity from different professionals in the field. In the effort to learn more about my career and create opportunities for myself, I received an offer to be a Start Intern at PwC for Summer 2022 and was granted a spot in the Frank K. Ross Leadership Institute program at KPMG and the Leadership Day at Cohen & Company. Even with all these accomplishments, I still face a large financial obstacle. That further reduces my chances of continuing my studies. I have also exhausted all the financial avenues to assist me in paying for my education. The financial documents filed for 2019 do not accurately reflect my current situation. That is why I need the necessary financial assistance to continue my studies in this resourceful institution. Being an accounting student at DePaul has opened many doors for me, and I am confident that it will only continue to do so through the years. It will continue providing me with the necessary skills and resources to succeed in future interviews and internships!

Going into a brand-new school environment from a different state has not been a walk in the park. Graduating from high school and going into my first year of university in a pandemic has been difficult, but that has not stopped me from getting involved with virtual campus activities. I decided to get involved in an event planning student organization called the DePaul Activities Board (DAB). Through this organization, I work with a creative group of students executing events for other students around the world. These events create virtual community engagement and interaction outside of the classroom setting that many students desire. As a Programming Assitant in DAB, I have made it my number one priority to make events accessible to all, especially if the student does not live near campus or in the Chicago area. These activities have complimented my educational experience while attending virtual classes from Miami, and I wish to share that experience with others who are struggling through these trying times. I am also a part of the Data and Assessment Team within the Education & Development Grant for Employability Program (EDGE). In this program, my team is in the process of developing and implementing a campus-wide survey on behalf of the Student Government Association to identify student needs related to Safety, Equity & Inclusion, and Academic Experience. Taking the initiative for early involvement in these activities has helped me feel normalcy in this virtual environment, meet new people, and develop many technological skills. My engagement has piqued the interest of two "Big 4" accounting firms: KPMG and PwC. I was offered a 2022 Start Intern position at PwC and a spot in the 2021 Frank K. Ross Leadership Institute program at KPMG. Even with all these accomplishments, I still face a financial obstacle. That is why I need the necessary financial assistance to continue my studies in this resourceful institution. Unfortunately, I am ineligible to receive the Pell Grant for the upcoming school year. The loss of funding further reduces my chances of continuing my studies. I have also exhausted all the financial avenues to assist me in paying for my education. The financial documents filed for 2019 do not accurately reflect my current situation. My father and mother work as electrical supplies distributors in the Caribbean. Even though they count as essential workers during this COVID-19 pandemic, their main buyers are not requesting supplies as their countries continue to be under tight curfews. This situation has affected the family as my parents are in debt because they have not been paid back. To make ends meet, they have defaulted to their savings account, which does not contain much. My family is on an extremely tight budget, and it is becoming hard to afford this luxury. Receiving this scholarship will assist me in my studies and focus on my future internships and programs. It will allow me to continue learning about the accounting industry and reach my goal as a Budget Analyst.

Music is powerful! It has the power to influence! It influenced me in the best way possible and I would not want it any other way. The admiration I have for music is beyond what words can describe. As an Afro-Latina, music has given me opportunities to express myself through a collection of sounds that complements the continuous flow of phrases. The song that is so special to me is ‘Color Esperanza’ by Diego Torres. ‘Color Esperanza,’ also known as ‘The Color of Hope,’ is the song that paved the way for a lifelong journey in vocal music. It was the song that first exposed me to vocal performance and allowed me to celebrate my culture through music. The first time I performed on stage was in the 3rd grade. At the time, I only spoke Spanish and was not fluent in English. My music teacher encouraged me to audition for a solo at the annual Hispanic Heritage Show. That year, the choir was going to perform a Soprano-Alto-Tenor (SAT) version of ‘Color Esperanza’ and needed a soloist. He was able to see my potential as a musician before I was able to identify it myself and the words to the song complemented my mother tongue. I ended up getting the part and it further piqued my interest in continuing music. I knew that this newfound interest was something that would become an essential part of who I am today. Although I am not currently majoring in vocal performance, it is still something that I continue practicing on my own time. I actively try to find ways to incorporate it into my work whenever the chance presents itself. Whenever I hear ‘Color Esperanza’ play on the radio, I always smile to myself. Not only is it a reminder of my Latin X culture, but it also reminds me of all the friends and music professionals I met along the way. Those who encouraged me to continue this passion, to constantly seek ways to improve my craft, and to continue inspiring others through music. I will always be grateful for all the musical experiences I have had in my life and this song will continue to be the beacon that lights the way for a musical future.