LISTEN! What were the first words, the first sounds, the first time you heard your heartbeat? Imagine you are just listening to a favorite song, to close friends and family, and all of a sudden you can't hear anymore. I was born into a family who physically couldn't hear. As I grew older, I started to truly see all the struggles and burdens thrown at my parents. Everywhere I went with my loved ones, I would look around and notice that we were the stars of the circus. Laughter, mockery, and snickers rang throughout my head, incapacitating my mind. Make it stop. I wish to no longer listen. WAIT! The show must go on. A silent voice can still move others. Silence can still make an impact. When I was younger I was a desolate child, desperate for connection and forced to mature; developing the mind of a young adult by the age of ten. As a Child of Deaf Adults, or CODA, As long as living in a Hispanic household I was forced to speak when I wished not to, leaving me to feel like an outcast; I truly never fit in anywhere. I became responsible for speaking for my parents, interpreting all the necessary information for them. Yet, I still couldn't explain what was needed from myself, which was freedom. I’ve been stuck in a consistent cycle of listening, gaining, informing, and speaking for appointments, bills, and even simple text messages. This cycle hasn't been broken today, but with struggles comes moments of peace. Through that silence, I became more attentive to my surroundings. I could hear birds chirping, the creek flowing, and the wind blowing against the leaves. I noticed the world is full of tiny miracles that are disguised as ordinary moments. The trees are like our lungs, rivers are our circulation, and the air our breath. We are all interconnected. I found my connection, which is derived from that silence: nature. Because of silence, I discovered my love of nature: the smell of summer air, feeling the sun on my skin, the sound of water flowing. I cherish it so much that I feel it deeply in my bones. I've been ignited by the sun’s heat to do what makes me happy. I started traveling, collecting and studying plants, and learning how to identify them. I take hikes and take risks to feel more interconnected with what I love. Nature truly opened my eyes to the perspective of living for myself, and realizing that happiness is never about getting everything I want but enjoying what I already have. This makes me think about this quote: “Life is not measured by time. It is measured by moments. Some are big, but most are small. I like to think about life this way and savor even the smallest moments, because that's all there is." All my life I mentally didn't want to hear; it was dead silent, like the bottom of the ocean. But then I heard something. I was scared and tried to go deeper, but I stopped. I embraced the sounds. I overcame it. I needed to keep pushing through it even if it makes my heart beat until it hurts. Today, I am still facing challenges as a Hispanic CODA, but through the silence, I discovered my passion for nature. I will dig my roots starting with college and pursuing a long-term career as a wildlife biologist. I will rely on the daily reminder of what I push myself to be. I found the will, the power, and finally, the ability to LISTEN!