My name is Lara Nascimento da Silva, and I am a freshman at Florida International University, majoring in International Relations. I was born in São Paulo, Brazil and moved to the United States with my mother and brother when I was eight years old. We moved here seeking asylum after escaping an abusive household. Since then, my mom has worked hard to build a better life for us. As someone with a pending asylum case, I have faced many obstacles in my life that have shaped who I am and my compassion towards others. I learned from an early age how important good public service is, especially in areas like justice, security, and diplomacy that serve many immigrants like myself. My family lived through a system that failed to protect us in various ways, and that experience is what continues to inspire me to one day help others and be part of the solution. I hope to one day build a career in federal public service, ideally as a diplomat or in a role that helps improve international cooperation and protects human rights. Now that I’m a student at FIU, I continue to focus on developing the skills needed for serving my community in the future. I am fluent in 3 languages, including English, Portuguese, and Spanish, and I plan to use my fluency skills to bridge cultures and advocate for peace and fairness globally. My dream is to in the future work in a federal agency like the Department of State or Homeland Security, where I can positively impact immigrants like myself. During High School, I was also involved in many leadership and service roles. I tutored for low income families, helped raise over $30,000 for my local children’s hospital through Dance Marathon, and served in my schools student government association. I also volunteered in youth sports and at my church. Helping me reach my goal of giving back to those who need it. Even after working hard all 4 years of high school, my path to higher education has been faced with various setbacks. As an asylum-seeking student, I learned that I am not eligible for FAFSA, even though I have a valid work permit and SSN. I still do not qualify for most scholarships and aids. Thanks to these setbacks, It has been incredibly difficult to cover my tuition and to continue my education without financial aid. Which is why this scholarship would make a major difference in my academic journey. It would allow me to continue my higher education and stay focused on my goal of entering public service. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my application.