Unity is a critical yet basic human need: it is the reason why humanity has survived up to now. Charity and selflessness are key characteristics involved with unity. Lending a hand wherever it’s needed, consuming your free time helping others– actions like these define unity and community service. Being a volunteer takes passion: passion to continue to help those around you and keep what makes us human alive. As a volunteer, I’ve helped at countless events doing a variety of different things: translating for families, wrapping gifts for underprivileged children, waitressing at a food spot where the profits went towards scholarships, and many more compose my list of community service. When I serve my community, the reward is knowing that my actions have made someone’s life easier through connection– it’s not tangible or monetary. Encouraging my peers to volunteer is another aspect of what it means to serve my community. It all goes back to unity; when we help one another, we strengthen our community and encourage growth. Whenever I volunteer, I always bring a friend or two with me. Doing this goes a long way– they’ll persuade their friends to volunteer, and the message spreads among my peers. Volunteering has also taught me the value of empathy and morality, as well as the power of support systems. After watching my drunk uncle weave between lanes of speeding traffic last year, I realized that many mental health struggles derive from a lack of community and understanding; specifically, the demeaning stereotypes and stigma that surrounds mental health in the Hispanic community. My uncle’s substance abuse is what ignited my interest in psychiatry; it feels wrong to admit, but I’m fascinated by his mind. Why has alcohol consumed his entire being? How did his addiction begin? What can my family and I do to gradually push him towards seeking help? My junior year, I took an introductory psychology class to understand how we humans behave and think. The complexities of the human mind fascinated me, but most importantly, it made me realize that my uncle’s issues stemmed from his childhood trauma. If my uncle had felt comfortable sharing his struggles with his family, maybe he would’ve never turned to alcohol. The lack of Hispanic psychologists and psychiatrists also contributes to the Hispanic community’s ignorance towards mental health. The stigma that currently blinds my culture regarding mental health has hurt not just my uncle, but all Hispanics as well. Being raised in a culture that disregards mental health is the motivation I need to destroy the hurtful stigma that hinders any progress towards unity. As a current high school senior, I’m taking AP Psychology to emerge myself further into understanding the causes of mental health struggles. This class is the boost I needed to enter the University of Michigan this fall as a psychology major. The growth in knowledge and experience I’ll acquire as a college student will bring me closer to attending medical school; from there, I’ll finally become a psychiatrist. After vicariously experiencing the difficulties of mental health issues through my uncle, I believe action is necessary to combat the stigma that clouds mental health in the Hispanic community. Pursuing psychiatry will allow me to serve my community for decades to come. With the knowledge and expertise I’ll gather in my studies, I will play a part in facilitating substance abuse recovery and normalizing conversations regarding mental health.

Watching my drunk uncle weave between lanes of speeding traffic was terrifying, to say the least. After my mom cornered him at the Krogers down the street and sat him in our car, he began to scream about how awful he felt about being an alcoholic. “I need help so badly!” he repeated over and over. Funny thing is, when my parents found a rehab center for him, he refused to go. This happened last year, and to this day his mind continues to contradict his actions. How can he recognize he needs intervention, but when the opportunity presents itself, he refuses to take it? Witnessing my uncle hit his lowest point was surreal for me. I wanted nothing more than to understand why he shifted from a loving uncle to an alcoholic. I asked God to guide my uncle towards rehabilitation whilst my mother and father attempted to help him quit drinking. However, all attempts made to alleviate my uncle’s substance abuse issues led nowhere, and after seeing my mother’s wellbeing falter a bit, I realized that nothing would change until the root of his issues was addressed: his mental health. My uncle’s condition is what ignited my interest in psychiatry; it feels wrong to admit, but I’m fascinated by his mind. Why has alcohol consumed his entire being? How did his addiction begin? What can my family and I do to gradually push him towards seeking help? As a current high school senior, I’m taking AP Psychology to emerge myself further into understanding the causes of mental health issues. I declared myself a psychology major to the University of Michigan, the school I’ll be attending this fall; however, psychology is a social science. After contemplating this, I realized the diagnosis and medicine aspect of psychology is where my passion lies. Once I graduate with my Bachelor’s degree in psychology, I will attend medical school to become a psychiatrist. From there, I will be able to treat individuals who suffer from substance abuse disorders– just like my uncle. After vicariously experiencing the difficulties of mental health issues through my uncle, I believe prayer and action is necessary to combat the growing concerns regarding addiction. Pursuing a career in STEM will allow me to achieve my goal: treating and humanizing addiction. With God’s grace, I will play a part in facilitating substance abuse recovery and normalizing conversations regarding mental health within my community.

Unity is a critical yet basic human need: it is the reason why humanity has survived up to now. Charity and selflessness are key characteristics involved with unity. Lending a hand wherever it’s needed, consuming your free time helping others– actions like these define unity and community service. Being a volunteer takes passion: passion to continue to help those around you and keep what makes us human alive. As a volunteer, I’ve helped at countless events doing a variety of different things: translating for families, wrapping gifts for underprivileged children, waitressing at a food spot where the profits went towards scholarships, and many more compose my list of community service. When I serve my community, the reward is knowing that my actions have made someone’s life easier through connection– it’s not tangible or monetary. Encouraging my peers to volunteer is another aspect of what it means to serve my community. It all goes back to unity; when we help one another, we strengthen our community and encourage growth. Whenever I volunteer, I always bring a friend or two with me. Doing this goes a long way– they’ll persuade their friends to volunteer, and the message spreads among my peers. Volunteering has also taught me the value of empathy and morality, as well as the power of support systems. After watching my drunk uncle weave between lanes of speeding traffic last year, I realized that many mental health struggles derive from a lack of community and understanding; specifically, the demeaning stereotypes and stigma that surrounds mental health in the Hispanic community. My uncle’s substance abuse is what ignited my interest in psychiatry; it feels wrong to admit, but I’m fascinated by his mind. Why has alcohol consumed his entire being? How did his addiction begin? What can my family and I do to gradually push him towards seeking help? My junior year, I took an introductory psychology class to understand how we humans behave and think. The complexities of the human mind fascinated me, but most importantly, it made me realize that my uncle’s issues stemmed from his childhood trauma. If my uncle had felt comfortable sharing his struggles with his family, maybe he would’ve never turned to alcohol. The lack of Hispanic psychologists and psychiatrists also contributes to the Hispanic community’s ignorance towards mental health. The stigma that currently blinds my culture regarding mental health has hurt not just my uncle, but all Hispanics as well. Being raised in a culture that disregards mental health is the motivation I need to destroy the hurtful stigma that hinders any progress towards unity. As a current high school senior, I’m taking AP Psychology to emerge myself further into understanding the causes of mental health struggles. This class is the boost I needed to enter the University of Michigan this fall as a psychology major. The growth in knowledge and experience I’ll acquire as a college student will bring me closer to attending medical school; from there, I’ll finally become a psychiatrist. After vicariously experiencing the difficulties of mental health issues through my uncle, I believe action is necessary to combat the stigma that clouds mental health in the Hispanic community. Pursuing psychiatry will allow me to serve my community for decades to come. With the knowledge and expertise I’ll gather in my studies, I will play a part in facilitating substance abuse recovery and normalizing conversations regarding mental health.

Watching my drunk uncle weave between lanes of speeding traffic was terrifying, to say the least. After my mom cornered him at the Krogers down the street and sat him in our car, he began to scream about how awful he felt about being an alcoholic. “I need help so badly!” he repeated over and over. Funny thing is, when my parents found a rehab center for him, he refused to go. This happened last year, and to this day his mind continues to contradict his actions. How can he recognize he needs intervention, but when the opportunity presents itself, he refuses to take it? His substance abuse struggles have affected my entire family, especially my mother. She’s constantly calling him, sending him money, and stressing over whether he’s eaten dinner or not. It’s very difficult to see my mother carry the weight of his substance abuse on her back– she’s a strong lady, but she can only do so much to help him. I asked God to guide my uncle towards rehabilitation whilst my mother and father attempted to help him quit drinking. However, all attempts made to alleviate my uncle’s substance abuse issues led nowhere, and after seeing my mother’s wellbeing falter a bit, I realized that nothing would change until the root of his issues was addressed: his mental health. My uncle’s condition is what ignited my interest in psychiatry; it feels wrong to admit, but I’m fascinated by his mind. Why has alcohol consumed his entire being? How did his addiction begin? What can my family and I do to gradually push him towards seeking help? Mental health is foreign territory in Mexican culture– it’s rarely acknowledged. Any struggles with mental health are regarded as “exaggerations” or “fake.” Being raised in a culture that diminishes mental health has shown me that it is crucial to destroy the stereotypes that blind the Mexican community. Additionally, the lack of Hispanic psychologists and psychiatrists is a problem that arises from the same stigma. After seeing my uncle’s condition hit its all-time low, I knew I wanted to bring the Mexican community closer to treating mental health with respect. However, I was still a novice in the realm of psychology; therefore, I decided to expand my knowledge further. As a current high school senior, I’m taking AP Psychology to emerge myself further into understanding the causes of mental health issues. This class is the boost I needed to enter the University of Michigan this fall as a psychology major. The growth in knowledge and experience I’ll acquire as a college student will bring me closer to attending medical school; from there, I’ll finally become a psychiatrist. I’ve also dedicated over eighty hours to community service, which has allowed me to build empathy and fuel the drive I have for helping others. After vicariously experiencing the difficulties of mental health issues through my uncle, I believe prayer and action is necessary to combat the stigma that clouds mental health in the Hispanic community. With God’s grace, I will play a part in facilitating substance abuse recovery and normalizing conversations regarding mental health.

Watching my drunk uncle weave between lanes of speeding traffic was terrifying, to say the least. After my mom cornered him at the Krogers down the street and sat him in our car, he began to scream about how awful he felt about being an alcoholic. “I need help so badly!” he repeated over and over. Funny thing is, when my parents found a rehab center for him, he refused to go. This happened last year, and to this day his mind continues to contradict his actions. How can he recognize he needs intervention, but when the opportunity presents itself, he refuses to take it? His substance abuse struggles have affected my entire family, especially my mother. She’s constantly calling him, sending him money, and stressing over whether he’s eaten dinner or not. It’s very difficult to see my mother carry the weight of his substance abuse on her back– she’s a strong lady, but she can only do so much to help him. I asked God to guide my uncle towards rehabilitation whilst my mother and father attempted to help him quit drinking. However, all attempts made to alleviate my uncle’s substance abuse issues led nowhere, and after seeing my mother’s wellbeing falter a bit, I realized that nothing would change until the root of his issues was addressed: his mental health. My uncle’s condition is what ignited my interest in psychiatry; it feels wrong to admit, but I’m fascinated by his mind. Why has alcohol consumed his entire being? How did his addiction begin? What can my family and I do to gradually push him towards seeking help? My junior year, I took an introductory psychology class to understand how we humans behave and think. The complexities of the human mind fascinated me, but most importantly, it made me realize that my uncle’s issues stemmed from his childhood trauma. Because mental health is foreign territory in Mexican culture, my uncle suppressed his emotions with beer bottles. In other words, the stigma that currently blinds my culture regarding mental health is damaging not just my uncle, but all Mexicans as well. In a world so disconnected, we need to empathize with one another and destroy the awful stereotypes that surround mental health. However, I was still a novice in the realm of psychology; therefore, I decided to expand my knowledge further. As a current high school senior, I’m taking AP Psychology to emerge myself further into understanding the causes of mental health struggles. This class is the boost I needed to enter the University of Michigan this fall as a psychology major. The growth in knowledge and experience I’ll acquire as a college student will bring me closer to attending medical school; from there, I’ll finally become a psychiatrist. After vicariously experiencing the difficulties of mental health issues through my uncle, I believe prayer and action is necessary to combat the stigma that clouds mental health in the Hispanic community. With God’s grace, I will play a part in facilitating substance abuse recovery and normalizing conversations regarding mental health.

Unity is a critical yet basic human need: it is the reason why humanity has survived up to now. Charity and selflessness are key characteristics involved with unity. Lending a hand wherever it’s needed, consuming your free time helping others- actions like these define unity and community service. Being a volunteer takes passion: passion to continue to help those around you and keep what makes us human alive. As a volunteer, I’ve helped at countless events doing a variety of different things: translating for families, wrapping gifts for underprivileged children, waitressing at a food spot where the profits went towards scholarships, and many more compose my list of community service. When I serve my community, the reward is knowing that my actions have made someone’s life easier through connection- it’s not tangible or monetary. Encouraging my peers to volunteer is another aspect of what it means to serve my community. It all goes back to unity; when we help one another, we strengthen our community and encourage growth. Whenever I volunteer, I always bring a friend or two with me. Doing this goes a long way- they’ll persuade their friends to volunteer, and the message spreads among my peers. No matter where I end up living or who I’m surrounded with, the urge for unity will never cease to exist. Whether it’s through volunteering or encouraging others to volunteer, the dedication I put into community service will thrive within me regardless of my circumstances.

"Why do you think we came to this country? To give you the opportunity to be more than what we are." My parents have been saying this since I entered preschool. As time passed, the power behind their words gradually began to become obvious: they exposed themselves to a foreign culture, language, and location for my sake. They’ve worked long, tiresome shifts to provide for themselves and their children all whilst sacrificing their own desires. All along, they've been teaching me to be ambitious, determined, and confident in every journey I pursue. I carried my parents' lessons with me as I entered high school in 2021. As a freshman, I dabbled into foreign territory— community service. I became a member of my school's Key Club chapter with hopes to provide a helping hand to my community. Although my town is small, help is always needed somewhere. From food drives to wrapping gifts, community service is a core value to my identity. I've served over eighty hours of community service throughout these past four years. However, my reach goes beyond the hours I have volunteered— as my school's Key Club president, I have expanded the club to 120 members and have provided more volunteer opportunities for the club. As a result, our club is known for providing reliable volunteers for all community events. On top of this, I'm also active in my school's student government. Alongside ten students, I organize and executive various school events like school dances and spirit weeks. Working in a small group has taught me the value in effective communication and reliability; since the decisions we make impact the entire school, we ensure that our plans reflect everyone's ideas. In addition, I'm a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society. Psychology and community service revolve around the passion for unity, which inspired me to declare psychology as my major. Volunteering has shown me that community service is what unites us. Studying psychology, human behavior and thinking, will allow me to help others on an individual scale, furthering my service to my community. With this combined passion for psychology and community service, I’ll impact my community both physically and mentally. After graduating college, I'll enter medical school to achieve my goal of becoming a psychiatrist. Unity also revolves around understanding one another. Because of this, I would love to begin a community-led movement to teach English to underserved communities, specifically Hispanic immigrant communities. Alongside others who have earned their Seal of Biliteracy, I would host two one-hour sessions a week in a common building for immigrants, like churches. In these sessions, we would begin by teaching basic phrases such as "My name is..." After showing mastery in the basics of English, I would move on to conversational English. I would continue until each individual feels comfortable with their new skills. As a result, the communities we'd help would become more united and spread the word so that, eventually, the impact will be felt on a larger scale. Through my goals and ambitions, I'll honor my parents' sacrifices and continue my parents' legacy: perseverance towards a better future.