To the firm palms smudged and calluses like sandpaper so, mine could be used to write. Learning a new dialect that leaves my tongue bitter. To now walk on the same steps my determined parents went on for me. Built from tough genes, I knew to be proud of my heritage. My parents' efforts have motivated me to try for my future because I won’t ever claim this country. The same country that tries to discourage us to stand up and reach for new opportunities. This only inspired me more to confront the bigotry of my people and stay true to reaching my dream. Because I am the youngest child in my family, my parents encouraged me to pursue education. My older siblings stopped their education after high school, so I have been growing out of this adolescent stage to become a first generation college student. My whole family, immediate and extended, are constantly asking about my future, along with saying I have to be the one to go to college. I have learned to build discipline by organizing my schedule around family responsibilities and academic goals. This commitment to balancing obligations to my studies prepared a clear determined path to help me thrive for a rigorous academic environment. This also positions me to become a leader who takes initiative, speaks out in group settings, guides discussions, and has strong communication skills. Both collaboration and taking independent roles are essential to support not only my success but also the success of others around me. By being involved in volunteer work where I serve others and uplift my community. Through joining the National Honor Society at my school, I discovered the love of giving to those less fortunate. I saw firsthand the power to give back and how acts of service can make a real difference. These experiences strengthened my desire to continue aiding others, and helped me feel more determined to serve those in my community. Learning civic engagement is not only just participating in community projects, but understanding from others like my family and leading with compassion. My responsibility, leadership, and civic engagement align with investing in the Ohio mission by preparing me to use education to push for community growth and engagement. Through the balance of responsibility, succeeding academically, and serving others, I fully know the value of creating and being able to share my knowledge to improve this community. It makes me happy to engage with an organization that promotes equity, mentorship and service, where I could collaborate with peers and faculty, committed to solving real-world challenges through leadership. By contributing my experiences, cultural perspective and my dedication to service, qualities that reflect the commitment to educating others, I will foster the culture of engagement that uses compassion, inclusivity, and action. My journey teaches that learning and service go hand in hand, and through the opportunity from the Morrill program, I will champion that mission of turning knowledge into impact and empower others to do the same.

To the firm palms smudged and calluses like sandpaper so, mine could be used to write. Learning a new dialect that leaves my tongue bitter. To now walk on the same steps my determined parents went on for me. Built from tough genes, I knew to be proud of my heritage. My parents' efforts have motivated me to try for my future because I won’t ever claim this country. The same country that tries to discourage us to stand up and reach for new opportunities. This only inspired me more to confront the bigotry of my people and stay true to reaching my dream. Being in this country showed two sides of where I was coming from then and now. To see others given luxurious lives who complain about their middle-class house. While in my childhood my family was financially struggling to just afford rent for one apartment. Constantly eating the same meals and in an unsanitary environment. Walking down cracked sidewalks to my elementary classes, having a hard time trying to understand others. During the summer, I visibly remember asking to sell lemonade on the side of the apartment complex, just so I could afford to buy myself an ice cream. With the bliss of finally tasting an ice cream cone after growing up not knowing, made me want to work for more. My parents had little to no education, so I can imagine how content they were to see me work so hard, leading me to my path to love where I came from and let them know that I was listening. To persevere through the hardships and achieve my college goal. Yet, to never forget that my parents were the ones to give me this opportunity. Realizing that I would be the first of all my adult siblings to get into college was a scary realization. However, I knew it would be worth it in the end. Coming back to ask myself, “where would I be without them?” Mis Padres, who works very hard to financially support the family, knows that relaxing is not an option, especially with my parent's hard work. It shifted my mindset of perspective on life, that being a first generation in my family would matter so much. I would now come to appreciate my parents more and my culture. I learned to personally grow from my past attitude and stay on a steady mindset to succeed. I would try to learn my language better, that missing part of me, I missed. Where I could benefit from more job opportunities, like my mom would always say. To see our struggles lifted and to quit constant hatred for my culture is a desire of mine as an educated daughter from immigrant parents. A college education will make me face my challenges and remain focused on repaying the love my parents gave, as well as being a leader and a stepping stone to demonstrate to the future generations. That even if I'm not blessed with wealth, I'm rich in all the depths of my culture. I wouldn’t be me without it.