When I was in elementary school, the thing that made me stand out was a mole right in the middle of my forehead. It was impossible to miss, and my classmates definitely didn't. They started calling it my "self-destruct button," and every now and then someone would pretend they were going to press it. They thought it was hilarious. I usually laughed along because I didn't want to seem upset, but the truth was that it bothered me more than I ever admitted. When you're a kid, something that seems small to everyone else can feel like the biggest thing in the world. I remember wondering if people noticed me first or the mole first. It made me more self conscious than I probably needed to be, and I remember wishing I could just wake up one day without it. I became more aware of how I looked, and even convinced my mom to let me get bangs, trying to hide that part of my face. As I got older, the mole actually started changing. It changed color and became star shaped, so my doctor recommended having it removed. The procedure wasn't anything too crazy, and afterward I was left with a small scar in the exact same place. I remember looking in the mirror afterward and realizing that although the mole was gone, there was still something on my forehead that made me look a little different. The funny part is that somewhere along the way, I stopped caring so much. The scar doesn't bother me the way the mole once did. If anything, it's a reminder of how much I've changed. Instead of seeing something to hide, I see a story that has been with me since I was little. Everyone has something that makes them feel awkward growing up, mine just happened to be right on my face. That experience taught me a lesson I didn't appreciate at the time. People will always notice the things that make you different, but you get to decide whether those differences become insecurities or simply part of who you are. Today, the scar on my forehead isn't something I'm embarrassed by. It's a small reminder that I've outgrown the comments that once felt so important, and that confidence comes from accepting yourself, even the parts that make you stand out. Looking back, I'm almost grateful for the experience because it taught me empathy. I know how much a simple joke can affect someone, and that's made me more mindful of how I treat the people around me.

When I was younger, I remember we lived in an apartment complex. The people in that apartment complex were more than just neighbors, they were our resources to navigating this new world. It was the neighbors who taught me to ride a bicycle, speak English, and fill out my first job application. After high school, I thought I couldn’t afford community college, until a neighbor told me about AB540, the California Assembly bill that made it possible for non-citizens to pay in state tuition. It was a neighbor who had taken a DACA workshop who taught me to fill out my renewal forms, for free so we wouldnt have to pay lawyer fees. They told me that it was our job to make sure our access was shared. For so long, knowledge and community were words that were almost synonymous in my mind. I knew that if I didnt have an answer, I could knock on someones’ door who would. In 2022, I worked at starbucks. We heard about partners in Buffalo, New York unionizing, and wanted to know how they did it and what obstacles they faced during the process. We had the idea to reach out to them via Twitter, and before we knew it we had group chats and zoom calls set up, sharing information from one side of the country to the other. With their help and the help of local community organizers, we were able to win our union election, unanimously. Growing up in this country, doors are closed on us every day. For a single person, it can be made impossible to force that door open and slide through. When you have your community pushing with you, your strength is magnified. Each obstable becomes lighter when the weight is shared. It’s important to realize that with community the gain is magnified as well, because one persons’ sucess spreads into the success of the community. I want to get my degree in Sociology and find my niche in community organizing, to give back into the knowledge that has built me into the person I am today. I know that the path I have been on is unconventional, but I’m grateful for every speed bump and renavigation I had to do, because they led me to opportunities to grow and learn to rely on and trust others. I know as I get older and gain more knowlege my role in my community will change, and I am excited to have more to give back with every lived experience.