My faith has been a part of me for as long as I can remember, but it did not begin with me. It began with my godmother and godfather. From the day of my baptism, they took on the responsibility of guiding me in my relationship with God. As I grew up, they became more than just sponsors of my faith. They became the reason I understood it. Through their prayers, their words, and the way they lived, they showed me that faith is not just something you practice on Sundays, but something you carry with you every day. I was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, and at the age of five, my family made the life changing decision to move to Colorado in search of better opportunities, especially for my education. Leaving behind everything we knew was not easy, but my parents never let us lose sight of why we came. They constantly reminded me that our sacrifices had a purpose and that God had a plan for our lives. Even in moments of uncertainty, faith was always something we held onto. While my parents built that foundation, it was my godmother and godfather who truly shaped my understanding of what it means to live with faith. They believed in me before I fully believed in myself. They encouraged me to take school seriously, to stay focused, and to remember that my education was not just for me, but for my future and my family. Because of them, I began to see my goals differently. School was no longer just something I had to do. It became something I wanted to succeed in. Everything I do academically is for them. Every late night studying, every assignment, and every challenge I push through is driven by the desire to make them proud. When I feel overwhelmed or begin to doubt myself, I think about the faith they have always had in me. I think about the example they set and the expectations they hold, not out of pressure, but out of love. That is what pushes me forward. I carry their belief in me even in moments when I struggle to find it within myself. Their influence has shaped not only my faith, but my ambition and my drive. They taught me that with faith, discipline, and perseverance, I am capable of achieving more than I ever imagined. Because of them, I see my education as a blessing, an opportunity my family sacrificed for and one I refuse to take for granted. I want to succeed not only for myself, but to honor everything they have given me. As I prepare to attend college, I carry my faith and my family with me in every step I take. I am determined to continue working hard, to stay grounded in my beliefs, and to use my education to create a better future. Their impact on me is the reason I am who I am today. My ambition, my drive, and my purpose are all rooted in the faith they gave me, and everything I strive for is a reflection of them.

My faith has been the foundation of my life for as long as I can remember. I come from a Mexican family, and when I was five years old, my parents made the decision to leave Mexico and come to the United States with me and my sibling. They arrived with very little, but they carried something far more important: their faith, their values, and a strong determination to build a better future. From that moment on, faith was not just something we believed in, but something we lived out every single day through our actions, decisions, and the way we treated others. Growing up, attending church every Sunday was a constant in my life. It gave me structure and taught me discipline, commitment, and respect. Through my family and church, I developed strong morals centered on humility, integrity, perseverance, and compassion. I learned that faith is not just about praying, but about how you carry yourself, how you respond to challenges, and how you treat people even when it is difficult. These lessons shaped who I am and continue to guide me through both my education and personal life. My faith became even more meaningful last year when my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. That moment completely changed my perspective on life. It brought fear, uncertainty, and emotional pain into my family in a way I had never experienced before. Seeing someone so important to me face such a serious illness was overwhelming, and there were times when I felt lost and unsure of what to do or how things would turn out in the future. During that time, I turned to God more than ever before. I began to pray with purpose, asking not only for healing, but for strength, patience, and peace. I learned to trust God even when I did not understand what was happening. Instead of losing faith, I held onto it tighter. My relationship with God became personal and real, and it gave me the strength to support my family and stay hopeful even in the hardest moments we faced together. My family also leaned on faith as a source of strength. Through constant prayer and support from our church community, we found comfort and encouragement. My mom showed incredible courage throughout her journey, and her strength inspired me every day to stay positive and faithful. I truly believe that our faith helped us face this challenge with hope instead of fear. It brought us closer together and reminded us to trust in something greater than ourselves. As I prepare to complete all of my sacraments this May, I see it as a powerful milestone in my faith journey. It represents my commitment to continue growing spiritually and living a life guided by strong values. It is more than tradition to me; it is a promise to stay connected to God and carry these beliefs into my future. Looking ahead, I know my faith will guide me in my education and career. It will help me make ethical decisions, stay focused, and treat others with honesty and respect. No matter what path I take, I want to succeed while staying true to my values. Faith has shaped my life and helped me overcome one of the hardest challenges I have faced. I want my life to be a testimony of that faith, showing others that with God, strength and hope are always possible.

Selflessness, to me, is about showing up for others even when it’s inconvenient, and being willing to give your time and energy without expecting anything back. Growing up around Vale Vital Landscaping and watching my parent balance both military values and running a business has shaped how I understand this. I’ve learned that selflessness isn’t just about one big act—it’s about consistency, responsibility, and being dependable when people need you. One of the main ways I embody selflessness is by helping out with Vale Vital Landscaping whenever it’s needed. Running a business comes with a lot of pressure, and there have been times when my parent had more work than they could handle alone. Instead of focusing only on my own schedule, I stepped in to help with jobs, even when it meant giving up free time or working after a long day at school. Whether it was assisting with landscaping tasks, organizing equipment, or just being an extra set of hands, I understood that my help made a real difference. Those moments taught me that selflessness is sometimes about putting someone else’s needs ahead of your own comfort. Another way I’ve shown selflessness is by supporting my parent during stressful times, not just physically but mentally. Owning a business like Vale Vital Landscaping isn’t always predictable, and there are challenges that come with keeping everything running smoothly. I’ve made an effort to be someone they can rely on—whether that’s listening when they’re stressed, encouraging them, or helping them stay organized. Even though I’m still a student, I recognize that being there for someone emotionally is just as important as helping with work. I also carry this mindset into my school life. When classmates struggle with assignments or don’t understand something, I try to help them instead of just focusing on my own work. There have been times when I’ve taken extra time to explain things or work through problems with others, even if it meant spending more time than I planned. I do this because I know what it feels like to be stuck or overwhelmed, and I believe that helping others succeed matters just as much as my own success. Selflessness also shows in the small things I do without being asked. Growing up around a business taught me to take initiative—if something needs to be done, I don’t wait for someone to tell me. Whether it’s helping clean up after a job, preparing things ahead of time, or stepping in when I notice someone struggling, I try to be proactive. That mindset comes directly from watching how my parent operates Vale Vital Landscaping, always putting in extra effort not just for the business, but for the people they serve. Overall, I embody selflessness through my actions both at home and in my daily life. Helping with Vale Vital Landscaping, supporting my parent, and being there for others at school are all examples of how I try to put this value into practice. These experiences have taught me that selflessness is not about recognition—it’s about doing what needs to be done because it matters.

Growing up around Vale Vital Landscaping, I have had a front-row seat to what determination, discipline, and sacrifice really look like. My parent’s journey from military service to entrepreneurship has shaped not only how I see success, but also how I approach my own education and future career goals. Watching them build a business from the ground up while carrying the values they developed in the military has shown me that success is not given, it is earned through consistency, resilience, and a willingness to adapt. My parent’s transition from military life to owning and operating Vale Vital Landscaping was not easy. The structure and discipline learned through service became the foundation for running a business, but entrepreneurship brought a completely different set of challenges. There were long days, unpredictable income, and constant pressure to satisfy customers while growing the company. Even so, my parent never backed down from these obstacles. Instead, they approached each problem the same way they would in the military: with focus, strategy, and persistence. Seeing this mindset in action has inspired me to take my education more seriously. It has taught me that hard work over time leads to real results, even when progress feels slow. Because of this, I have developed stronger educational goals. I no longer see school as just something I have to complete, I see it as an opportunity to prepare myself for the future. My parent’s example has encouraged me to think about building something of my own one day, whether that is a business or a meaningful career. I understand now that education gives me the tools to succeed, just like the military gave my parent the tools to lead and manage under pressure. This motivates me to stay focused, improve my work ethic, and push through challenges instead of giving up. In addition, my parent’s military service has had a direct impact on my educational journey. The values of discipline, accountability, and respect were always emphasized in our household. These values have carried over into how I approach school. I have learned to manage my time better, take responsibility for my actions, and stay committed to my goals. Even when school becomes stressful, I remind myself of the level of dedication my parent showed during their service. Compared to that, my challenges feel more manageable. There have also been sacrifices that come with having a parent who served in the military. While I may not have experienced deployment directly in the same way as some families, I have still seen the lasting effects of that service. It has made me more aware of the importance of stability, hard work, and making the most of opportunities. It has also given me a deeper sense of respect for people who serve and the commitment they make to something bigger than themselves. That perspective has influenced how I view my own responsibilities as a student and as a future professional. Ultimately, Vale Vital Landscaping represents more than just a business to me, it represents perseverance, growth, and the ability to turn experience into opportunity. My parent’s journey has shown me that no matter where you start, you can build something meaningful if you stay disciplined and committed. Their military background and entrepreneurial success continue to motivate me to set higher goals for myself and to pursue a future where I can apply the same values in my own way.