Hi! My name is Marisol Borrero—third child, unofficial family comedian, and soon-to-be freshman at the University of Kentucky. I’m majoring in architecture with a minor in interior design, and no, I won’t be building castles, but yes, I do hope to create spaces that feel like home. My design journey started when I was little—my older brother used to binge-watch this couple on YouTube: the wife was an interior designer, and the husband was a contractor. Together, they transformed people’s homes and lives. Watching those episodes, I didn’t just see paint and furniture—I saw joy, relief, and a sense of belonging. And I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to make people feel that kind of happiness through the spaces they live in. Now I’m stepping into the next chapter—college. When I tell people I’m going to the University of Kentucky, the response is almost always: “Girl, that’s far.” (358 miles, to be exact—not that I’ve Googled it ten times or anything.) And yes, I’ll miss my family. I've never been apart from them before. But part of me knows that to grow, I have to go. I need the space to discover who I am outside of the bubble of home. I need to learn, explore, stumble, get back up—and maybe eat a few too many bowls of ramen along the way. It won’t be easy, but my parents raised me to be strong. My mom especially never sugarcoated anything. She always told me, “The world isn’t easy, especially not for a Black and Hispanic woman. Some people will judge you by your name alone. You’ll have to work twice as hard to get half as far—but do it anyway.” That’s always stayed with me. It’s why I’ve pushed myself in school, taken on leadership roles, worked jobs, and balanced a pretty full plate. I have expensive taste—but that's okay because I also have a strong work ethic to match. I don't wait around for someone to hand me what I want; I go after it. My ultimate goal? To open my interior design firm. I want to be a successful designer who not only creates beautiful spaces but also provides for her future family. I want to be the woman who walks into a room full of people who doubt her and says with her work, "This is what I'm capable of." I want to be a creator of comfort, a problem-solver with a pencil behind her ear and a floor plan in her bag. College, for me, isn’t just about a degree—it’s about finding the tools to build the future I’ve always dreamed of. I know the road will be long (and filled with more all-nighters than I’d like to admit), but I’m ready. I’m ready to learn, to design, to grow, and to prove to myself that the girl who watched YouTube dream homes can one day design them, too. So that’s me—Marisol. Future architect. Interior designer in the making. Forever proud daughter, sister, and student. And someone who’s not afraid to take the long road (even if it’s 358 miles away) to chase what she loves.

Every summer, while many kids are enjoying time off from school, some face a very different reality—one where regular meals aren't guaranteed. For many students, school lunches are their most reliable source of food. When summer break arrives, that support disappears, leaving families to struggle with feeding their children. This is a social issue that has become especially personal to me: food insecurity. Although I'm just one person, I'm doing what I can to help address the issue. Each summer, my family and I volunteer with the Forever Fed food pantry through our church. One of our main roles is building lunches for kids who may not have access to daily meals otherwise. It’s something we do quietly and consistently. We gather ingredients, assemble lunches, pack them into bags, and help with distribution. It might sound like a small act, but I’ve come to realize how much of a difference even one meal can make to a child who might otherwise go without. Food insecurity is a big problem, and I used to think that helping in such a small way wouldn't matter. But I've learned the opposite. Every sandwich we make, every piece of fruit we pack, every juice box we include—it all adds up. When I hand over lunch to a child or a parent picking up food, and they smile with relief or say a quiet thank you, I know I'm doing something meaningful. It's not just food we're giving—it's dignity, comfort, and a reminder that someone cares. Volunteering with Forever Fed has taught me that addressing social issues doesn’t always have to mean organizing a huge event or creating a massive nonprofit. Sometimes, it means showing up regularly and doing the work that needs to be done, even if it seems simple. Food insecurity is complex, but feeding hungry children is a clear and direct way to start helping. Through this mission, I’ve also learned about the value of community. I’ve seen how families, churches, and volunteers come together to support each other. Being part of this effort has shown me that solutions to social problems often start with people who care enough to act. I want to continue being one of those people. Whether it’s helping with lunch prep, raising awareness, or simply encouraging others to volunteer, I want to be part of the solution. I know I’m not ending food insecurity on my own. But I also know that every meal matters. Every hour I spend helping matters. And every child who eats lunch because of what we do is a reminder of why this work is so important. It’s a small act—but small acts, done consistently, can lead to big changes. Which is how I am impacting and addressing a social issue in MY community.