First responders have chosen a difficult but important career.  They have chosen to serve their communities which in turn gives them a sense of pride. My dad, Eduardo, is a first responder.  He has been in law enforcement since 1993.  He was a police officer for six and a half years in Del Rio, Texas.  He was then hired by the U.S. Border Patrol and moved to the Rio Grande Valley, before I was born, where he is still employed with them. Growing up I would see my dad putting on his uniform, getting ready for work.  I remember trying on his vest and belt many times. As I got older and started to understand what law enforcement was and what my dad did, I became interested in law enforcement.   My dad talked a lot about a major flood that happened in Del Rio when he was a police officer.  Many did not take the warnings and did not leave their homes.  Night time is when the heavy rain started followed by the flooding.  My dad talks about being assigned alone that night and going to different areas helping people out of their homes, many were elderly.   Many times as first responders, the community expects you to act and help.  Sometimes that’s not possible.  That night, my dad said he saw a large family on top of the roof of their business screaming for help. He said they were completely surrounded by water and it was rising and he couldn’t get close to them because the flood water was raging between him and them.  He said he felt helpless and had to move to other areas as he told the that they were safer on top of the roof as he didn't have the resources to get them off.  My dad said that it was a long night and they were able to help many many people.  Unfortunately, several people drowned. As a Border Patrol Agent, he has been involved in catching drug smugglers.  We hear about drug seizures, but we might not necessarily think of that as helping the community, but I do believe that those seizures help the community.  Also, many times Border Patrol Agents are the first ones at vehicle accidents and begin to administer first aid.   My dad has also been involved as a community liaison with the Border Patrol.  He said that assignment was very satisfying as he was able to talk to thousands of elementary, middle school and high school students in Mercedes, Elsa, Weslaco, Donna, Alamo, San Juan and Pharr.  He spoke to them about drug awareness and talk to them about the negative consequences of being involved in drug and smuggling of persons illegally in the U.S.  He said he felt the biggest satisfaction when middle school and high school students would talk to him alone.We have had law enforcement talk at my schools and its hard to make students take their talks seriously, so I believe those presentations do help our communities if it keeps some students from breaking the law.   Though I had said I was interested in law enforcement, I still am, but I began to like the nursing field more. I like that I would be able to help people on a daily basis,  People come Drs. offices, clinic or hospitals for help and I would like to be there.  I lost both my grandmothers in 2020, which made me think a lot of the medical field and if I was granted this scholarship it would greatly assist me in becoming a RN.  Thank you for your consideration.