At the age of 8 or 9, I was involved in a car accident in which I sustained the most significant injuries out of the five passengers. While my memory of the event is hazy due to blacking out, the accident left me with a prominent scar running from the middle of my forehead down to the side of my nose, close to the inner corner of my right eye. Despite the healing process, the scar served as a reminder of the impact of physical appearances. This prompted me to discreetly use my mother's makeup to conceal the scar, leading me to delve into learning how to cover my imperfections. However, my skin issues became more challenging as my body underwent changes and my hormones surged, resulting in facial flare-ups. This journey led me to experiment with skincare, during which I unintentionally impaired my skin barrier, used unsuitable products, and neglected considerations for infection control in my pursuit to conceal or address my acne. I went through a rough patch where my skin was in bad shape and I felt like I couldn't rely on makeup anymore. So, I switched to a simple skincare routine and focused on building confidence based on my ideas and personality. Despite my struggles, my passion for skincare and makeup only grew stronger, especially as I was about to graduate from school and had to choose a career path. Initially, I wanted to pursue a career in the beauty industry, but I hesitated because I didn't feel confident enough in my own appearance. Influencers were just rising in popularity, and I didn't feel like I could relate to them with my acne-prone skin, hairy body, brown skin, and being Latina. It made me question if I really belonged in the beauty industry. While working, I made the life-changing decision to enroll in beauty school. I unexpectedly lost my job at the firm and this only added to my existing insecurities at the age of 25. However, I realized that even at this age, I still had a chance. My school is predominantly made up of African American students with a few Hispanics, and from the moment I took a tour, I felt welcomed. The director, a talented black businesswoman, opened this school to give people like her a chance. Both my instructors and classmates taught me that instead of bringing myself down, I have the chance to make a positive impact. I got into this industry not only because of my love for it, but also to make others feel beautiful and confident. Learning the anatomy of the body and realizing how perfectly we were made gave me a sense of how beautiful and unique we each are. Similar to the school's director, despite her hardships, I have been given the chance to help others see their potential. Being awarded this scholarship is another opportunity for me to help others see their beauty, just as my peers helped me to realize mine.