Embarking on the journey toward higher education as a college-bound student from an immigrant family has been both a challenging and deeply rewarding experience. My roots are woven into the tapestry of resilience and determination that characterize the immigrant narrative, a narrative that has instilled within me a profound sense of gratitude, responsibility, and ambition. As the child of an immigrant from Trinidad and Tobago, the pursuit of education has been a beacon of hope and a testament to the sacrifices made by my mom who raised my six siblings and me on her own. Her journey, marked by selflessness and tenacity has shaped my perspective on the power of education and the will to learn. It's not merely a means to an end but a vehicle for change, a catalyst for breaking the cycle of limitations and proving that dreams are not bound by borders. My path to higher education has been paved with late-night study sessions, the balance of a job and full-time classes, and stressful financial constraints. Yet, with each obstacle, I have found strength in my family's story, a story that fuels my determination to succeed. The sacrifices my mom made, leaving behind familiarity and embracing the unknown for the sake of opportunity, working multiple jobs and excessive hours just to provide for us are a reminder that our shared dreams were worth every sacrifice, that I must succeed not just for me but for her and every one of my siblings. I think back to when all we had was each other when they would cut off our EBT benefits or we wouldn't be able to make rent when a McDonald's meal for two would be our dinner for eight and I gained a profound appreciation for the power of solidarity within a low-income immigrant family. It was not just about financial struggles; it was about facing the unknown with unwavering support from those who understood the magnitude of the obstacles we confronted. In my journey, I have come to realize that education is not just a personal pursuit; it is a responsibility to contribute positively to the world. I am committed to leveraging my educational experience to make a meaningful impact, not only for myself but for those who share similar backgrounds. I aspire to be a bridge between cultures, breaking down barriers and fostering understanding. Through my studies, I plan to immerse myself in fields that address societal challenges, such as inequality, immigration, and cultural integration. As an international relations major I want to work for the people to ensure equity and equality throughout the world. I see education as a powerful tool for change, one that equips individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to build bridges, foster empathy, and create a more inclusive world. Whether through community outreach, advocacy, or innovative solutions, I am determined to leave an indelible mark that transcends borders. As a college-bound student from an immigrant family, I carry the weight of the dreams and sacrifices of those who came before me. I am driven by the belief that education is not just a privilege but a responsibility—one that I am eager to embrace with open arms. My journey is a testament to the unwavering spirit of immigrants, and through my experiences and education, I am poised to make a positive impact, leaving an enduring legacy that transcends borders and empowers others to reach for their dreams.

Since I was young my aunt was like a second mother to me. As someone who could not have children of her own, she cherished her nieces and nephews treating them as if she were the one who carried them for nine months. She was a loving, selfless and extremely bubbly person, but not even the happiest and most secure individual could avoid the reality of mental health and illness. The heart-wrenching cries of my mother still echo in my mind even after a year. Of course, I had just lost my aunt but she had just lost her little sister. Nothing was more heartbreaking than watching her desperately cry out for her sister who had been found dead by suicide just hours earlier. Maybe if we were proactive we could've prevented it. Maybe if we got to her before she got to herself we could've stopped her. So many maybes and what if's pollute a person's mind when they think they could've prevented the death or suicide of someone else, however, most people fail to realize that sometimes there is nothing you can do. After taking a week's leave off from my senior year of high school to attend my aunt's funeral, my emotions consumed me, I lost all the motivation that I built in the last three years of high school. To me, nothing mattered anymore if your life could just be over so quickly. I started attending school less often, skipping my first few periods thinking it would not harm me. I could feel myself falling victim to depression as I began to get more lethargic and negligent. I was once someone with dreams bigger than myself, yearning to attend an ivy league to study Astronomy. I was once someone who had plans for the next ten years of their life but now no longer saw myself attending college. I convinced myself that planning for the future was a waste of time when you were a ticking time bomb whose detonation was undetermined. Constantly I relived that terrible feeling of finding out and consoling my mother. Holding her as she cried as I had never seen her cry before. As time passed I realized just how lucky I was to have my mother and how selfish I was to let myself deteriorate when worse things were happening to better people in the world. The mental illness that consumed my aunt pushed my family into a depressive period that we worked to get out of by communicating with each other and educating ourselves on mental illness symptoms and resolutions that we had ignored previously. Too often I imagine what she would be like now, what new makeup she would wear, what new perfume she would share with us, and what new piece of clothing she would wear to our Christmas gathering and then inevitably gift to someone when they said they liked it because she was just that giving. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her. Constantly reminding myself to be kind and conscious to people even if I don't know them because you never know what could be going on and Mental Illness is often a silent killer that only shows after the damage has been done.

Growing up in a low-income family and with an immigrant single mother I was never provided with the time or money to be able to watch what or how I eat. My family was never the kind to value healthy eating or living a healthy lifestyle full of exercise, especially when eating greasy fast food was the quicker and cheaper option for us and we couldn't find the time to exercise. As I've grown however I have broadened my views on exercise and health culture, trying to focus on how I can reap both the benefits of a healthy and a frugal lifestyle. I remember a specific time when my mom's bank account was so low that we couldnt afford to go to the grocery store to get a meal for the eight of us to share. That night for dinner it was cheaper to split two twenty-piece McNuggets and two large fries between us. I think about this experience a lot and how it shaped me into the person I used to be. I also know that many impoverished Americans go through the same experience, so with this essay, I wanted to show people that even though you may not be the richest you can still live a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. When I entered college I began going to the gym for the first time in my life. It was extremely nerve-racking as a self-conscious person, but I learned to love it. I also learned to make time for it even if don't want to go because I know that it's for my greater good as staying in shape now will be great for me in the future when I won't be able to move around as much. I also started watching what I eat, this is because it's easy for blood pressure and sugar to go out of control if you aren't fully conscious of how much sugar and sodium you're intaking. Making sure your diet is balanced and providing you with the energy and nutrients you need in order to make it through your day. Lastly, I began meditating, there is something so calming and refreshing about sitting down outside in the cold breezy weather and just breathing. All of these changes that I've adopted are helping to shape me into a drastically different person, not just when it comes to physical health but also mental health.

I wanted to start by thanking Cat Zingano for allowing me to share my story on how I overcame one of the most traumatic experiences of my life during what would seem like one of the most crucial periods in my life and although my life may never be the same I like to think that everything happens for a reason. Since I was young my aunt was like a second mother to me. As someone who could not have children of her own, she cherished her nieces and nephews treating them as if she were the one who carried them for nine months. She was a loving, selfless and extremely bubbly person, but not even the happiest and most secure individual could avoid the reality of mental health and illness. The heart-wrenching cries of my mother still echo in my mind even after a year. Of course, I had just lost my aunt but she had just lost her little sister. Nothing was more heartbreaking than watching her desperately cry out for her sister who had been found dead by suicide on November 2nd, 2021. Days before life seemed normal, I celebrated Halloween with my friends and the rest of my family. Even though my aunt had been declared a missing person earlier in the week we thought nothing of it, assuming this was her normal "manic bipolar behavior". Life seemed great at the time, but I suppose we should've had hindsight. Maybe if we were proactive we could've prevented it. Maybe if we got to her before she got to herself we could've prevented it. So many maybes and what if's pollute a person's mind when they think they could've prevented the death or suicide of someone else, however, most people fail to realize that sometimes there is nothing you can do. Too often I imagine what she would be like now, what new makeup she would wear, what new perfume she would share with us, and what new piece of clothing she would wear to our Christmas gathering then inevitably gift to someone when they said they liked it. After taking a week's leave off from my senior year of high school to attend my aunt's funeral, my emotions consumed me, I lost all the motivation that I built in the last three years of high school. To me, nothing mattered anymore if your life could just be over so quickly. I started attending school less often, skipping my first few periods thinking it would not harm me. I could feel myself falling victim to depression as I began to get more lethargic and negligent. I was once someone with dreams bigger than myself, yearning to attend an ivy league to study Astronomy. I was once someone who had plans for the next ten years of their life but now no longer saw myself attending college. I convinced myself that planning for the future was a waste of time when you were a ticking time bomb whose detonation was undetermined. Constantly I relived that terrible feeling of finding out and consoling my mother. Holding her as she cried as I had never seen her cry before. As time passed I realized just how lucky I was to have her and how selfish I was to let myself deteriorate when worse things were happening to better people in the world. During Christmas break, my family bonded more than I had ever seen before as we healed with one another. We started having conversations about things we never thought to discuss with each other. Through my aunt's death, we became more conscious of how our words and actions affected others and their mental health. Though my major is no longer Psychology I dreamt of helping people like her throughout my career and trying to assure that fewer people succumb to mental health the way that she did. As a first-Generation American and college student I knew that I owed it to my single mother to accomplish my goals and dreams no matter how big and unattainable they may seem. Growing up I was impoverished and yet my mother never let me feel the affects of it. Losing my aunt provided me with a realistic perspective on life. Although I had used that point of view previously as an excuse to be angry and bitter it was now a newly found motivation to help me "fight" to achieve greatness. I know now that I WILL graduate college no matter what it takes and focus on getting a stable job to provide my mother with a life where she could live comfortably and never have to worry about financial shortcomings. My aunt is a reminder to me that everything happens for a reason, and because of her, I'll never give up.