I wasn't always set on pursuing film. My peers would tell stories about how as children they dreamed of becoming doctors or dancers. Unlike them, I didn’t think so far ahead at that age. I was raised by two immigrant parents that didn't get the opportunity to go to college. I mostly focused on getting good grades and playing sports as most people my age would do, but I was always drawn back to one thing. My fascination for filmmaking started when I was about 5 years old. My dad had an old camcorder and I would stand behind him in awe as he recorded family events. I then got my own phone that I would use to record silly videos with my friends or watch the behind-the-scenes of movies I enjoyed. I thought of all of this as a hobby, nobody in my family had pursued a career in the arts so I settled for wanting to be a doctor instead for a while. I didn't think filmmaking would get me very far, my mind was set on making the most money I could to provide for my family at the time. I kept changing my mind and going back to my fascination for film. Studying the different camera transitions and faces on the screen. The lack of representation of people of color in the shows I was watching slowly started to bother me more and more as time went on. My parents always reminded me that I didn't have to follow in someone else's footsteps, it was okay to be the first. So I decided I wanted to be the first to major in filmmaking. I got accepted into my dream school, Cornish College of the Arts. I was a step closer to being able to complete this dream of mine. Being surrounded by fellow artists and members of the LGBTQ+ community felt amazing, I finally felt like I belonged somewhere and was heading in the right direction. That was until I realized I was the only Chicanx student in the majority of my classes. The constant struggle of not seeing people like me continued to nag at my mind. A part of me still felt out of place and the determination to create a space only grew. Being the first in my family to navigate the art world isn't always the easiest thing. There are times I question my place in an industry with primarily white men. But I remind myself that even if I don't make a huge impact on the world, I am still making an impact by trying. At a family event, the older cousins were asking the younger ones what they wanted to be when they grew up. Out of the vets and psychologists, I heard one answer that made my heart stop. "A movie editor, I want to go into the arts too." Being able to inspire others and see the future generations say they want to be artists without fear is something I wish to continue doing. To continue having people succeed in their own way.