My mom became a single parent when I was four years old and we first moved to Chicago from Panama. She was an inspiration to me as she has worked hard and dedicated her life to providing for me while putting herself on the back burner, something I hope to repay her for someday. I don't believe it was easy for her to leave her home and family just to offer me a better life and yet she did. She loved and cared for me enough to make that change and give me my best chance. The best part of all? She did just that. I did have the life she wanted me to have. I went to good schools, had plenty to eat, played many sports, and made incredible friends. She always wanted to be a nurse and I seem to have inherited that from her though I aspire to go one step further and become a PMHNP-DNP. Mental health is extremely important to me as I'm someone who has battled ADHD and Bipolar disorder and become successful despite it. I've taken my time seeking treatment and therapy to ensure I am the best version of myself. My mother's perseverance helped me choose the path of seeking treatment and bettering myself. Though mental health is still extremely misunderstood in Latino culture, I strive to be half the person she is and thus push myself to do better every day. Making her proud is one of my personal goals in life. I want her sacrifices to mean something. As a mother now myself, I take her teachings and sacrifices even more to heart. I hope that I'm raising my children as well as she raised me. I hope that my children see that although I may not be perfect, I do everything I can to make them happy just as she did. She gave up many of her dreams, such as nursing, to provide for her and me just as I've given up many things to give my children many of the things I had. She not only gave me my best chance by coming here, she gave the same to my children. Seeing my mother struggle has made it evident to me that my passion and calling in life is simply to help humanity. I have extreme empathy for people and hope that a career in nursing - MHPNP will allow me to help. I specifically aim to help the underserved Hispanic/Latino community as there is an extreme shortage of qualified bilingual mental health providers. I hope to offer people the same chance my mother and many others have given me. Everyone deserves a second chance at life.

My name is Madelaine Landeros and I've been working in the finance and accounting field since my high school graduation in 2013. I am a first-time college student from a minority family, so to say finances have hindered my education is an understatement. I've attempted to finish my degree in the past but due to financial strains and a growing family, it hasn't been possible for me to finish. Today I am an Office Manager and AR specialist for a company called Mobile Auto Solutions. While I love my job, I know that I am capable of doing much more. My goal is to get a bachelor's in accounting as well as an MBA in the future. This will enable me to get my CPA license and open up the business I've had in mind for years. Within this business, I hope to incorporate free workshops on financial literacy and provide financial resources tailored to my underrepresented Latino community. While my city of Chicago is very welcoming to immigrants, it isn't a secret that minority groups still lack many resources. A lot of the Latino community lives paycheck to paycheck, have no savings, live in the more rundown areas of the city, and have to enroll their children in the more underfunded schools. It is extremely important to me that I'm able to provide some sort of assistance in the form of helping people balance their finances and learn strategies that can create some sort of generational wealth cushion. Some people make it out of the loop of poverty but the reality is that resources are needed for most to stand a chance. I have 3 children who I'm raising to express kindness and empathy for others. To give to those who don't have much because while we're not rich, I acknowledge that my husband and I can provide them a rather privileged life compared to many others. It is my goal to be a role model to my children not only through my accomplishments but through teaching that helping others is the best way to live a fulfilling life. I thoroughly believe that when everyone is given the resources they need, we all win together. This scholarship will help me reach my goals because it will provide me with the monetary assistance I need to help complete my degree. As much work experience as I have in the field, I am unable to continue to pursue further certifications due to a lack of a bachelor's degree. A CPA license alone requires a bachelor's degree and, I'm told, even a master's degree in some states. I hope the above properly outlines my goals and ambitions. Thank you for your time, -Madelaine Landeros

My name is Madelaine Landeros and I've been working in the finance and accounting field since my high school graduation in 2013. I am a first-time college student from a minority family, so to say finances have hindered my education is an understatement. I've attempted to finish my degree in the past but due to financial strains and a growing family, it hasn't been possible for me to finish. Today I am an Office Manager and AR specialist for a company called Mobile Auto Solutions. While I love my job, I know that I am capable of doing much more. My goal is to get a bachelor's in accounting as well as an MBA in the future. This will enable me to get my CPA license and open up the business I've had in mind for years. Within this business, I hope to incorporate free workshops on financial literacy and provide financial resources tailored to my underrepresented Latino community. While my city of Chicago is very welcoming to immigrants, it isn't a secret that minority groups still lack many resources. A lot of the Latino community lives paycheck to paycheck, have no savings, live in the more rundown areas of the city, and have to enroll their children in the more underfunded schools. It is extremely important to me that I'm able to provide some sort of assistance in the form of helping people balance their finances and learn strategies that can create some sort of generational wealth cushion. Some people make it out of the loop of poverty but the reality is that resources are needed for most to stand a chance. I have 3 children who I'm raising to express kindness and empathy for others. To give to those who don't have much because while we're not rich, I acknowledge that my husband and I can provide them a rather privileged life compared to many others. It is my goal to be a role model to my children not only through my accomplishments but through teaching that helping others is the best way to live a fulfilling life. I thoroughly believe that when everyone is given the resources they need, we all win together. This scholarship will help me reach my goals because it will provide me with the monetary assistance I need to help complete my degree. As much work experience as I have in the field, I am unable to continue to pursue further certifications due to a lack of a bachelor's degree. A CPA license alone requires a bachelor's degree and, I'm told, even a master's degree in some states. I hope the above properly outlines my goals and ambitions. Thank you for your time, -Madelaine Landeros

My name is Madelaine Landeros and I've been working in the finance and accounting field since my high school graduation in 2013. I am a first-time college student from a minority family, so to say finances have hindered my education is an understatement. I've attempted to finish my degree in the past but due to financial strains and a growing family, it hasn't been possible for me to finish. Today I am an Office Manager and AR specialist for a company called Mobile Auto Solutions. While I love my job, I know I am capable of doing much more. My goal is to get a bachelor's in accounting as well as an MBA in the future. This will enable me to get my CPA license and open up the business I've had in mind for years. Within this business, I hope to incorporate free workshops on financial literacy and provide financial resources tailored to my underrepresented Latino community. While my city of Chicago is very welcoming to immigrants, it isn't a secret that minority groups still lack many resources. A lot of the Latino community lives paycheck to paycheck, have no savings, live in the more rundown areas of the city, and have to enroll their children in the more underfunded schools. It is extremely important to me that I'm able to provide some sort of assistance in the form of helping people balance their finances and learn strategies that can create some sort of generational wealth cushion. Some people make it out of the loop of poverty but the reality is that resources are needed for most to stand a chance. I have 3 children who I'm raising to express kindness and empathy for others. To give who those who don't have much because while we're not rich, I acknowledge that my husband and I can provide them a rather privileged life compared to many others. It is my goal to be a role model to my children not only through my accomplishments but through teaching that helping others is the best way to live a fulfilling life. I thoroughly believe that when everyone is given the resources they need, we all win together. This scholarship will help me reach my goals because it will provide me with the monetary assistance I need to help complete my degree. As much work experience as I have in the field, I am unable to continue to pursue further certifications due to a lack of a bachelor's degree. A CPA license alone requires a bachelor's degree and, I'm told, even a master's degree in some states. I hope the above properly outlines my goals and ambitions. Thank you for your time, -Madelaine Landeros