I am a first-generation Mexican American graduate student at the University of California, Los Angeles, specializing in library and information science for my master’s degree. With a deep commitment to personal and community advancement, I hope to create positive lasting change through my work. To that end, my chosen path as an archivist aims to actively preserve the invaluable historical wealth and cultural heritage of the Mexican American community in Los Angeles. My bachelor’s degree in sociology has provided me with crucial insights into community dynamics and the importance of cultural heritage preservation. By combining this knowledge with my own experiences as a Mexican American, I have a more comprehensive understanding of the nuanced social issues that impact marginalized communities. Furthermore, my current studies have highlighted the critical role of an archive as a tool for documenting and shaping our understanding of history. After graduating from the University of La Verne, I completed a year of service with Reading Partners, a program that provides students with one-on-one tutoring for reading, as an AmeriCorps member. I worked closely with community members, such as volunteers, parents, and school staff as a program coordinator to foster a collaborative and inclusive learning environment. Witnessing the remarkable transformation that personalized instruction and community involvement brought to my students, including enhanced confidence and improved academic performance, further fueled my desire to work with the experiences, voices, and historical narratives in Los Angeles. I have also spent some time working at the Chicano Studies Resource Center at UCLA. This position as a graduate student researcher has enriched my journey of service to my community. I’ve had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with other graduate student researchers and contribute to the center's initiatives and projects, which aim to preserve, maintain, and document the various experiences of the Mexican American community in Los Angeles. Similarly, as an active member of the student chapter of the Association of Moving Image Archivists (AMIA) at UCLA, I’ve had the chance to spotlight the Chicano Cinema movement in Los Angeles. For example, during one of our meetings, program organizers requested member input for the upcoming orphan film screening event on campus. I recommended Chicano artist and filmmaker Harry Gamboa Jr. as some of his work is archived at UCLA and he was influential during the Chicano Art Movement. As a result, the community at UCLA was introduced to his incredible work and experience as a Chicano artist that truly had an impact on the Los Angeles community. Being able to pay off my student loan debt will without a doubt change my life for the better. I will have the freedom to devote myself to pursuing my career aspirations and active involvement in the community. I intend to use the money that I save by paying off my student loans to further my professional development by attending film archiving and preservation conferences and workshops, as well as investing in resources that will enhance my ability to contribute to the preservation of the Mexican American community in Los Angeles. Additionally, I plan to donate a portion of the saved funds to community efforts, such as donating to organizations that are currently working to empower and uplift the Mexican American community in Los Angeles. Overall, my goals include becoming an adept archivist, actively participating with my community, and making a lasting contribution to the preservation of the Mexican American heritage.