I found myself in a strange country, not knowing the language, with a new family, not having any friends, and feeling out of place; that's how I felt when I came back to the United States, a home that had not been mine since my departure as a four-year-old. The challenge that altered my course completely occurred when I was only eight-years-old. I remember that day as if it just happened moments ago. For the past few months, we had been traveling to a local clinic in Mexico because my mother wasn´t feeling well; the doctors said that there was nothing more that they could do for her, the feeling of uncertainty of what was going to happen after discovering that my mother had cancer crippled me. Up to that instance, we were financially stable; we had enough money to cover our basic necessities and because of that, I had never worried about how we were going to pay for my schooling. It had always just been the two of us ever since my parents divorced. Due to their separation, my mother decided to relocate to Mexico when I was just four-years-old. Arriving in Mexico, we had nothing, but we found a way to created a life we felt proud of. And cancer started becoming like a thief in night and robbing my mother of her life; how could I come to grips with the news that my mother would probably leave me in two months; I didn´t know what to do or how I was supposed to act because I was losing the most important person in my life. Without siblings, most of my extended family living in the United States, and not having any communication at all with my father, I felt devastated. Soon, I would find myself alone and no longer being able to lean on the woman that gave me a reason to live. Despite the diagnosis, she was still with me for 7 more years. During that time, I did my best at school; I was pretty engaged. I even got a full scholarship for my middle school and high school, because in Mexico education is not free. That scholarship was given to very select students. I felt I was on the path to success, but when my mother died in 2018, everything collapsed. I had to come back to the United States, and even though I was born here, I did not know anything about the culture nor a single word of English. Many people went to believe that I would be interested in the medical field due to my mother losing the battle cancer. However, she always taught me to pursue my goals no matter what; that’s why I wish to obtain a career in the field of International Business. When I first arrived in Washington State, I was terrified of what was going to happen, but as time passed by, I made new friends. I tried to be engaged at school by joining the Art Club at my high school and eventually becoming the vice president in my sophomore year. I also joined FBLA and placed in the top four during our regional competition. The determination my mother taught me served me well and continues to do so now. Losing my mother, starting a life in a different country, helped me to evolve into the woman I am today. It forced me to be as mature as I am and inspired me to pursue a career that allows me to help others as they too navigate the difficulties of life.