I was born in Villa Nueva and was adopted at 8 months old. I have been given a great life and many opportunities that I would never have had growing up in a Guatemalan orphanage. I have always loved computers and putting together LEGO sets. I somewhat did both when I took robotics my junior and Senior year. I loved building the robot and programming it to do different tasks. I was the only female in the class both my junior and Senior year. Did not bother me at all. As a matter of fact, the boys picked me to operate the arm and claw over other boys in the class We went to State this past year! It was a great way to end my Senior year of high school. I will never forget it. I intend to get a degree in Cybersecurity at Southeast Missouri State University. It has one of the best programs in the country. They recently partnered with IBM to create a Cyber Range. I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony back in October of 2024. I can’t wait to be in there using the range to figure out how to stop cybersecurity attacks and help people fortify their software to protect their businesses. This Cyber Range is only one west of the Mississippi River and the only one in the country that uses it for education and allows companies to bring in their software and see where it’s vulnerable. Also, Southeast Missouri State has put up country flags in the lobby of the Cybersecurity building. Each flag represents the students that came from those countries. I noticed that the Guatemalan flag is not there. When I met the professor of Cybersecurity, I asked if I could put up a Guatemalan flag and he said most certainly! So I will be the first to do that! I plan to work for the NSA or FBI one day to help protect our country from cyberattacks and eliminate ransomware attacks. Hopefully I can become an ethical hacker! I think I could have a great impact on the world. I plan to work for the NSA or FBI one day to help protect our country from cyberattacks and eliminate ransomware attacks. I think I could have a great impact on the world. I have also given back to my birth country by raising funds to pay for Onil Stoves and water filters to help improve the health conditions in their homes and communities. I served hot chocolate over the winter at different locations around my town and in doing so raised around 360 dollars. I was able to provide two stoves and two water filters! Someone from Guatemalan charities on a mission trip over there sent me pictures of the stoves being carried into to the homes of two families. It was a very meaningful moment for me because I was able to see their living situations through the photos. Through my passion project I learned how blessed I am and do not take anything for granted. Maybe I can do something bigger when I get my degree! This scholarship would definitely help me achieve that!