When I was only a five-year-old Latina beginning elementary school, I remembered asking my mama a question after arriving home from school. I raised my head to my mama, asking, “Why do I have to take ‘ESOL classes’ when some of the other kids in my class do not?” My mama, staring down at me, replied, “Well, those kids are not like you. As you mature, you will realize why you had to take those ESOL classes. Then you will understand what made you exceptional.” In elementary school, and to this day, I’m recognized for my work ethic and discipline. I always preferred having quality work - representing my dedication to education. This came at the cost of having to sacrifice my social life. I’d hear my friends gossip about me. They criticized how I wasn’t genuinely Hispanic, as I didn’t speak Spanish well. When I couldn’t handle my friends’ criticisms anymore, I broke down, releasing every tear I’d suppressed. My mama noticed this. When I heard her open the doorknob, I couldn’t conceal the mental agony I’d been enduring for so long. She looked into my eyes and stated, “You’re capable of having better, deserving better. Don’t feel regretful by the choice you make. Your family and I will always be by your side despite the befall you face.” Despite allowing my experience to traumatize me throughout high school, I’ll recall my mama’s words as a friendly reminder of what I’ll not tolerate after everything I’ve gone through.

As a Latina raised in the United States where minorities don't have the same equal rights as someone who is White, I had to learn an invaluable life lesson. At the age of only five years old, I had to comprehend how having Hispanic friends didn’t guarantee their support of who I am. In actuality, the majority of my Hispanic friends discouraged and manipulated me from pursuing my educational ambitions. But having to accept that reality, I endured racism from other students in Honors and AP classes within my high school. This became a distraction and started hurting my self-confidence. As a consequence, this affected the perspective of what I am worth. Thus, this became the perfect recipe for developing imposter syndrome. Yet, despite mentally maturing faster at a younger age as a byproduct of manipulative friendships and the racist environment that surrounded me, I had to overcome an obstacle that haunted me for years. Trauma. Although those events occurred in my early developmental years, my childhood memories were painful to bear. From elementary to high school, I had mentally blocked many of the agonizing moments I faced. Fear of rejection. Being bullied for standing out. Facing racism from other students. As I had continued to remember what I went through, it became difficult for me to focus on schoolwork or communicate with my loved ones. I became too stuck in my past, and it controlled for far too long. Now that I am approaching graduation from high school, I knew I needed a change. But, it had to be in me. My mindset. My worth. My health. When quarantine for COVID-19 was mandated back in March 2020, I spent a lot of time educating myself on health and Mexican culture. From watching documentaries to television shows, I began appreciating who I am becoming. When I found this quote from Gina Rodriguez, it completely changed my perspective of who I am. “Now I can talk to more girls and tell them that any skin color, any economic background, any shape they were born into is perfect and right and strong and beautiful enough because I’m sitting here not the stereotype.” This quote enlightened me with the opportunity to prove to those who discriminated against my ethnicity that representing the Latina community is more than a gender stereotype. My passion for pursuing a STEAM career has never diminished. Despite receiving discouragement for being a part of the Hispanic community, I know I am capable of achieving my aspirations of pursuing biomedical engineering medical sciences. Regardless of what I had faced in the early stages of my life, that does not define who I can become.

As a Latina raised in the United States where minorities don't have the same equal rights as someone who is White, I had to learn an invaluable life lesson. I had to comprehend at the age of only five years old how having Hispanic friends didn’t guarantee their support of who I am. In actuality, the majority of my Hispanic friends discouraged and manipulated me from pursuing my educational ambitions. But having to accept that reality, I endured racism from other students in Honors and AP classes within my high school. This became a distraction and started hurting my self-confidence. As a consequence, this affected the perspective of what I am worth. Thus, this became the perfect recipe for developing imposter syndrome. Yet, despite mentally maturing faster at a younger age as a byproduct of manipulative friendships and the racist environment that surrounded me, I had to overcome an obstacle that haunted me for years. Trauma. Although those events occurred in my early developmental years, the memories of my childhood were painful to bear. From elementary to high school, I had mentally blocked many of the agonizing moments I faced. Fear of rejection. Being bullied for standing out. Facing racism from other students. As I had continued to remember what I went through, it became difficult for me to focus on schoolwork or communicate with my loved ones. I became too stuck in my past, and it controlled for far too long. Now that I am approaching graduation from high school, I knew I needed a change. But, it had to be in me. My mindset. My worth. My health. When quarantine for COVID-19 was mandated back in March 2020, I spent a lot of time educating myself on health and Mexican culture. From watching documentaries to television shows, I began appreciating what I inherited. Applying for this scholarship would aid my secondary education. I am responsible for my college expenses, becoming a financial burden that I have to think about. Throughout my childhood, my family had to move around and live with other family members. My parents did not have enough money to support my siblings and me on their own. When my parents had immigrated to the United States from Michoacán, México, they sacrificed almost everything. They left behind their families, so they could provide better living conditions for their future children. Although my family now has an improved standard of living in comparison to the past, my parents would still not be able to afford my college expenses. Knowing the obstacles they faced to provide the life I cherish now, I could not burden them with the task of funding my college education. Therefore, with this opportunity, I can prove to those who discriminated against my ethnicity that representing the Latina community is more than a gender stereotype. My passion for pursuing a STEAM career has never diminished. Regardless of what I'd faced in the early stages of my life, that doesn't define who I can become.

When the two-week quarantine in mid-March became mandated of everyone in the US, no one could have prepared for what this implied. Does my family have enough food? Sanitary products? Money? During the pre-stages of COVID-19, my high school did what it could for families in need. In my agriculture class, we spent days in advance gathering and preparing food items. Before the lockdown began, my high school contacted every family mentioning the donations of food offered. My class took charge of ensuring that each family passing by received as much sustenance as they needed. Then, the time for the lockdown began. After months of being quarantined, past the initial two-week duration, class time began. Before the pandemic, I had started participating more in the JROTC program at Wheeler. But, with the pandemic, I haven't been able to take part as much as I would've preferred. With the restrictions of COVID, I did what I could throughout my junior year. As part of community service, the program offered the opportunity to donate canned goods, which are then delivered to families in need. Through that opportunity, I donated at least two canned goods every other week. Even if canned goods aren't beneficial in nutrients and vitamins, I knew that a family would be well-fed during these strenuous times. Along with donating canned goods, I participated in honor guards for football and basketball games. During these school events, cadets check and ensure the safety of the people. We answer any questions faculty may have for us or accommodate newcomers around the building. The cadet could guide or inform them of important locations around Wheeler or direct them to an administrator. If any suspicious activity is occurring around our posted area, we report the incident to our officer in charge. Immediate action will follow as JROTC’s mission statement is to “develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community.” From dedicating many hours to the program, I took the initiative to apply for a staff position. In January 2021, I became an Educational, Function, and Academic NCO. The Academic NCO position suited me as I had the opportunity to regulate and plan activities for the Academic Team of JROTC. Along with organizing academic team activities, I also assisted the Academic Team Commander. With the new staff jobs I received, I became promoted to a technical sergeant, from before being an airman. With the new position I had, I could now have a greater impact by assisting in bettering the JROTC program. This year became a strenuous experience for many 1st-year cadets as they didn’t get to have the full JROTC experience. Thus, through my position, I developed a better understanding of the guidance 1st-years needed. With this knowledge in mind, in April 2021, I applied for a Summer Leadership School (SLS) staff position. I became joyful when the SLS staff positions announced I became promoted to an Alpha Flight Sergeant, holding a Master Sergeant rank. With this SLS job, I would earn the experience of assisting the Alpha Flight Commander. I would be overseeing Alpha flight cadets (most being 1st-year cadets). With this opportunity, I can offer my knowledge and experience to 1st-year cadets. I would be able to share the advice I’d wished I knew before starting high school, of planning out the next 4 years in preparation for college. I know I can’t redo high school, but I can ensure the incoming and past 1st-year cadets know to not repeat the same mistakes I made.

When I was only a five-year-old Latina beginning elementary school, I remembered asking my mama a particular question after arriving home from school. I raised my head to my mama asking, “Why do I have to take ‘ESOL classes,’ when some of the other kids in my class do not?” My mama, staring down at me, replied, “Well, those kids are not like you. As you mature, you will begin to realize why you had to take those ESOL classes. Then you will understand what made you exceptional. Now, go eat your tamales.” I nodded, ate my precious tamales, and did as my mama asked. The next day at school, I tried to follow the teachers’ instructions. I read the assigned picture book and practiced memorizing the number table. After finishing the assignments, my teachers would compliment how well I read. They would praise my mama for how articulate I was, despite English being my second language. After graduating from the ESOL program, I began taking normal classes. I recall that joyous feeling I had felt, running around my home and shouting, “I did it, mom!” It brings a smile to my face. Although my younger self didn’t realize the mental struggles I would face in the upcoming years. My girl “friends” from the ESOL program being one of those reasons. I remember the day as it was yesterday, as I sat in class and paid attention when some friends of mine asked if they could see the homework from the previous day. As I was paranoid of not being “accepted” since I appeared reserved and quiet which isn’t the norm for many Latinas, I lend them the homework. At first, I thought it was normal to lend your friends your work. However, after months since it’d become a routine, I began to question their intentions. In elementary school, and to this day, I’m recognized for my work ethic and discipline. I always preferred having original quality work - to represent my dedication to my education. This came at the cost of having to sacrifice a bit of my social life. Therefore, were my friends picking on me because I work too hard? This wasn’t the worse part, as I would hear them snicker and gossip about me. They often criticized how I wasn’t truly Hispanic, as I didn’t speak Spanish that well. I also didn’t suit the norm of Latinas. The unfortunate part about everything was how I felt guilty for having the characteristics and habits that make me who I am. When I couldn’t handle my friends’ criticisms anymore, I broke down, releasing every tear I’d suppressed. My mama somehow noticed this. When I heard her turn and open the doorknob, I couldn’t conceal the mental agony I’d been enduring for so long. I revealed to my mama what’d occurred for the past few months. After sobbing and choking on my words for the next hour, she’d grasped what I’d experienced. My mama smoothed my hair, patting my back while holding me. Once I had control over myself, she looked into my eyes and stated, “You’re capable of having better, deserving better. Don’t feel regretful by the choice you make. Your family and I will always be by your side despite the befalls you face.” My mama wiped away the rest of my tears and remained by my side. The next morning, I dreaded school. I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle the criticism from my friends of not being “Hispanic enough.” I knew how they condemned the way I behaved and talked, claiming it was too “American.” However, I knew that didn’t give my “friends” the right to treat me in the manner that they’d been. Thus, I forced myself out of bed and proceeded to ready myself for school. When class started, I confronted my friends. I explained how I didn’t appreciate their behavior or actions towards discriminating against me. I wouldn’t be deceived, betrayed, or used anymore. I refused to lose any precious friendships I made because they didn’t approve of it if my friend isn’t Hispanic. Despite some of their nasty remarks directed at my self-esteem, I never stuttered. From there on, our friendship broke off. Starting my freshman year at Wheeler High School, I began to have a better social group of friends. After my elementary and middle school experience, I had few Hispanic friends during this time. Although, this became any adversity despite how I’d wanted to put away the past. In the courses I took, I challenged myself to take a majority of Honors and AP courses. In those specific classes, the diversity of students is minimal. The majority were either White or Asian. An occasional Hispanic or Black student would appear, but rarely. As a result of the lack of diversity, sometimes I would hear inappropriate racial jokes from the White students. I would often hear, “I’m surprised that Hispanic girl is taking this class. Aren’t all Hispanics dumb?” The worst I heard, “Hispanic girls have a reputation of always dating a boy. When will she start to act like that, it is her legacy after all.” Having to listen to these statements made my blood boil, but luckily I had my friends who would try to calm me down. The worst part of that despicable experience was that I was not the only ethnic group they made racist jokes about. However, regardless of the racism, I never allowed that experience to interfere with my academic ambitions. My experience as the first generation of my family who’ll go to college has offered me an invaluable life lesson. I had to mentally mature faster at a younger age as a byproduct of manipulative friendships and a racist environment. Despite allowing my experience to traumatize me throughout high school, I’ll recall my mama’s words as a friendly reminder of what I’d tolerated in the past. That’s why I will not tolerate it again after everything I had to go through.

Some of the loneliest moments in my life occurred throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic. Although not every moment consisted of feeling isolated as if it was not for my puppy Chanel, I would have felt numb as the days passed by in quarantine. On June 17th, 2020, my brother blessed me with the news that he adopted a miniature schnauzer. She was only two months old, and minuscule in my arms. I had felt an urgency to protect this new puppy, now part of the Lopez family. Each passing day I spent hours playing with Chanel, trying to accustom her to the new home she had. As months drifted by, she became my companion through the difficult times of my life. I felt joyous with her presence despite having days where I felt desolate or melancholic. As an introvert, I never had a large group of friends. With the small amount that I do have, I always had difficulty communicating my thoughts and feelings. But, Chanel made the process gracious for me to socialize with my friends better, as her serene presence brought solace into my days. Since the pandemic began, my interactions with others have decreased. Attempting to socialize with different people became strenuous. As months passed by, I started to feel enlightened again. I began to feel more confident in my ability to communicate with others, despite days where I did not bear any compulsion to socialize. The friends I had never discriminated against my heritage. Except, they could not comprehend the struggles I faced. They have the privilege of never having to experience those circumstances. The stereotypes and racism of my Hispanic culture are very prevalent throughout my daily life, and it is not something that I can be oblivious to. I dealt with criticism in elementary school from the Hispanic friends I had. They condemned how I behaved and talked, claiming it was too “American.” Although, that did not give my “friends” the excuse to use me for homework answers, or even quizzes or tests we took. Sometimes, they would force me to do their work as they felt “too lazy” to do it themselves. With recalling these memories, it felt atrocious to learn how some of my “friends'' were not my friends. They only felt obligated to as I was the “quiet kid.” Thus, in my Sophomore year, I ended the majority of my friendships. I only kept a handful of friends who understood who I am. These friends were part of the AVID (Advanced Via Individual Determination) program at Wheeler. I am grateful for not quitting this program as I would have never realized who my true friends are. Currently, I am a Junior, proceeding to become a Senior in August 2021. Without Chanel and my new friends, I would not have the mentality and confidence I do now. Thus, I would like to thank the COVID-19 Pandemic for offering the insight I needed to understand the choices I made are valid. I should move forward into the future, without reflecting on the past mistakes of my life. Applying for this scholarship would aid my secondary education. I am responsible for my college expenses, becoming a financial burden that I have to think about. My family had to move around and live with other family members throughout my childhood. My parents did not have enough money to support my siblings and me on their own. When my parents had immigrated to the United States from Michoacán, México, they sacrificed almost everything. They left behind their families to provide better living conditions for their future children. Although my family now has an improved standard of living in comparison to the past, my parents would still not be able to afford my college expenses. Knowing the obstacles they faced to provide the life I cherish now, I could not burden them with the task of funding my college education. In addition to that, this scholarship would provide me with the opportunity to prove to those who discriminated against my ethnicity that representing the Latina community is more than a gender stereotype. My passion for pursuing a STEAM career has never diminished. Despite receiving discouragement for being a part of the Hispanic community, I know I am capable of achieving my aspirations of pursuing biomedical engineering or medical sciences. Regardless of what I had faced in the early stages of my life, that does not define who I can become.

Some of the loneliest moments in my life occurred throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic. Although not every moment consisted of feeling isolated as if it was not for my puppy Chanel, I would have felt numb as the days passed by in quarantine. On June 17th, 2020, my brother blessed me with the news that he adopted a miniature schnauzer. She was only two months old, and minuscule in my arms. I had felt an urgency to protect this new puppy, now part of the Lopez family. Each passing day I spent hours playing with Chanel, trying to accustom her to the new home she had. As months drifted by, she became my companion through the difficult times of my life. I felt joyous with her presence despite having days where I felt desolate or melancholic. As an introvert, I never had a large group of friends. With the small amount that I do have, I always had difficulty communicating my thoughts and feelings. But, Chanel made the process gracious for me to socialize with my friends better, as her serene presence brought solace into my days. Since the pandemic began, my interactions with others have decreased. Attempting to socialize with different people became strenuous. As months passed by, I started to feel enlightened again. I began to feel more confident in my ability to communicate with others, despite days where I did not bear any compulsion to socialize. The friends I had never discriminated against my heritage. Except, they could not comprehend the struggles I faced. They have the privilege of never having to experience those circumstances. The stereotypes and racism of my Hispanic culture are very prevalent throughout my daily life, and it is not something that I can be oblivious to. I dealt with criticism in elementary school from the Hispanic friends I had. They condemned how I behaved and talked, claiming it was too “American.” Although, that did not give my “friends” the excuse to use me for homework answers, or even quizzes or tests we took. Sometimes, they would force me to do their work as they felt “too lazy” to do it themselves. With recalling these memories, it felt atrocious to learn how some of my “friends'' were not my friends. They only felt obligated to as I was the “quiet kid.” Thus, in my Sophomore year, I ended the majority of my friendships. I only kept a handful of friends who understood who I am. These friends were part of the AVID (Advanced Via Individual Determination) program at Wheeler. I am grateful for not quitting this program as I would have never realized who my true friends are. Currently, I am a Junior, proceeding to become a Senior in August 2021. Without Chanel and my new friends, I would not have the mentality and confidence I do now. Thus, I would like to thank the COVID-19 Pandemic for offering the insight I needed to understand the choices I made are valid. I should move forward into the future, without reflecting on the past mistakes of my life. Applying for this scholarship would aid my secondary education. I am responsible for my college expenses, becoming a financial burden that I have to think about. My family had to move around and live with other family members throughout my childhood. My parents did not have enough money to support my siblings and me on their own. When my parents had immigrated to the United States from Michoacán, México, they sacrificed almost everything. They left behind their families to provide better living conditions for their future children. Although my family now has an improved standard of living in comparison to the past, my parents would still not be able to afford my college expenses. Knowing the obstacles they faced to provide the life I cherish now, I could not burden them with the task of funding my college education. In addition to that, this scholarship would provide me with the opportunity to prove to those who discriminated against my ethnicity that representing the Latina community is more than a gender stereotype. My passion for pursuing a STEAM career has never diminished. Despite receiving discouragement for being a part of the Hispanic community, I know I am capable of achieving my aspirations of pursuing biomedical engineering or medical sciences. Regardless of what I had faced in the early stages of my life, that does not define who I can become.

Despite some of the loneliest moments in my life spent during the COVID-19 Pandemic, not every moment consisted of feeling isolated. If it was not for my puppy Chanel, as the days passed by in quarantine, everything would’ve felt dire. On June 17th, 2020, I was blessed with the news of my brother adopting a miniature schnauzer. She was only two months old, and minuscule in my arms. I had felt an urgency to protect this new puppy, now part of the Lopez family. Each passing day I spent hours playing with Chanel, trying to accustom her with the new home she had. As months drifted by, she became my companion through the difficult times of my life. Just with her presence, I felt joyous despite having days where I felt desolate or melancholic. As an introvert, I never had many friends, and with the small amount that I do have, I always had difficulty with communicating my thoughts and feelings. However, Chanel made the process gracious for me to socialize with my friends better, as her serene presence brought solace into my days. Since the pandemic began, my interactions with others have decreased significantly, and attempting to socialize with different people became remarkably strenuous. For months, I felt dread accompanying my family to go out for grocery shopping, even adventuring to the post office in my apartment complex felt like a hassle. However, with having a new puppy, I was forced to take her out for walks. Seeing her adoring puppy eyes gaze at me, I could not resist the urge to ignore her clear desire for a walk to the park. As months passed by, I started to feel enlightened again. I began to feel more confident and motivated in my ability to communicate with others, despite the days where I did not bear any compulsion to socialize. Before the pandemic, I dreaded each day going to school. It began in my Sophomore year at Wheeler High School. During this period of my life, I had made numerous mistakes with past friendships I had made. I associated with people who did not understand my cultural heritage as a Hispanic Latina, growing up bilingual in the country of the United States where the color of your skin is more important than the ethnicity of who you are. The friends I had never discriminated against my heritage, but they did not comprehend the struggles I faced that they have the privilege of never having to go through. The stereotypes and racism of my Hispanic culture is prevalent throughout my daily life. I dealt with criticism in elementary school from some of the Hispanic elementary friends I had, condemning how I behaved and talked, claiming it was too “American.” I have always spoken with a stronger American accent as I speak more fluently in English than Spanish. However, that did not give my “friends” the right to use me for answers to homework, or even quizzes or tests we took. Sometimes, they’d force me to do their work as they felt “too lazy” to do it themselves. With recalling these memories, it felt atrocious to learn some of my “friends'' weren’t really my friends, they only felt obligated to as I was the “quiet kid.” Therefore, in Sophomore year, I ended the majority of my friendships, and only kept a handful of friends who understood who I am. These friends were part of the AVID (Advanced Via Individual Determination) program at Wheeler, and I’m eternally grateful for not quitting this program as I would’ve never realized who my true friends are.

Despite some of the loneliest moments in my life spent during the COVID-19 Pandemic, not every moment consisted of feeling lonesome or isolated. If it was not for my puppy Chanel, as the days passed by in quarantine, everything would have felt dire. On June 17th, 2020, I was blessed with the news of my brother adopting a miniature schnauzer. She was only two months old, and minuscule in my arms. I had felt an urgency to protect this new puppy, now part of the Lopez family. Each passing day I spent hours playing with Chanel, trying to accustom her with the new home she had. As months drifted by, she became my companion through the difficult times of my life. Just with her presence, I felt joyous despite having days where I felt desolate or melancholic. As an introvert, I never had many friends, and with the small amount that I do have, I always had difficulty with communicating my thoughts and feelings. However, Chanel made the process gracious for me to socialize with my friends better, as her serene presence brought solace into my days. Since the pandemic began, my interactions with others have decreased significantly, and attempting to socialize with different people became remarkably strenuous. As months passed by, I started to feel enlightened again. I began to feel more confident and motivated in my ability to communicate with others, despite the days where I did not bear any compulsion to socialize. The friends I had never discriminated against my heritage, but they did not comprehend the struggles I faced that they have the privilege of never having to go through. The stereotypes and racism of my Hispanic culture is prevalent throughout my daily life. I dealt with criticism in elementary school from some of the Hispanic elementary friends I had, condemning how I behaved and talked, claiming it was too “American.” I have always spoken with a stronger American accent as I speak more fluently in English than Spanish. However, that did not give my “friends” the right to use me for answers to homework, or even quizzes or tests we took. Sometimes, they would force me to do their work as they felt “too lazy” to do it themselves. With recalling these memories, it felt atrocious to learn that some of my “friends'' were not really my friends, they only felt obligated to as I was the “quiet kid.” Therefore, in Sophomore year, I ended the majority of my friendships, and only kept a handful of friends who understood who I am. These friends were a part of the AVID (Advanced Via Individual Determination) program at Wheeler, and I am eternally grateful for not quitting this program as I would have never realized who my true friends are. Currently, I'm a Junior, proceeding to become a Senior in August 2021. Without Chanel and my new friends, I wouldn't have the strengthened mentality and confidence that I do now. Therefore, I would like to thank the COVID-19 Pandemic for offering the insight I needed to understand that the choices I made are valid, and that I should move forward into the future, without reflecting on the past mistakes of my life. Therefore, applying for this scholarship to aid with my secondary education would support my financial issues as I’m responsible for my college expenses. Throughout my childhood, my family had to constantly move around and live with other family members as my parents did not have enough money to support my siblings and I on their own. When my parents immigrated into the United States, they had sacrificed almost everything to provide better living conditions for their future children. Despite having an improved standard of living, my parents would not be able to afford my college expenses, and I could not burden them with that task knowing the obstacles they faced to provide the life I cherish now. In addition to that, this scholarship would provide me with the opportunity to prove to everyone who discriminated against me that representing the Latina community is more than a gender stereotype. I'm more than capable of achieving my aspirations of becoming either a biomedical engineer or wildlife veterinarian.

I raised my head to my mama asking, “Why do I have to take ‘ESOL classes,’ when some of the other kids in my class do not have to?” My mama, staring down at me, replied, “Well, those kids are not like you. As you grow and learn, you will start to realize why you had to take ESOL classes, and instead learn to be grateful for them. You will understand what made you exceptional. Now, eat your tamales.” I nodded, ate my precious tamales, and did as my mama asked. The next day at school, I tried to comply with the teachers’ instructions. I read my assigned picture book, practiced memorizing the number table, and tried to talk to other Hispanic kids in ESOL, as I was paranoid of not being “accepted” since I'm reserved and quiet, which is not the "norm" for Hispanic girls. After finishing my assignments, my teachers would compliment how well I read, praising to my mama how I understood English extraordinarily. When the report card arrived at the end of kindergarten, I scored mostly 2s and 3s, equivalent to an A or B. My mama was proud of my exemplary work, but I remained in ESOL classes until 4th grade. After graduating from ESOL, I integrated into normal classes. I remember the day as it was yesterday, as I sat in class and paid attention, my friends had asked if they could see the previous homework. Wanting to be valued as a good friend, I lend the homework, as it was the first time they had asked. However, with the days to follow, it became a repetition. At first, I thought it was normal for your friends to ask for your work, but after some time, I began to question their intentions. Were my friends using me because of my intelligence? Are we actually friends? Not only were they potentially using me for my work, but I would also hear them snickering and gossiping behind my back. I would often hear some of them saying to multiple kids in our class how bad of a friend I am, explaining how I always got them in trouble, despite it being the other way around. I would get in trouble for something I did not cause, such as creating rumors of our teachers dating, then some of the blame would be put on my shoulders. I felt guilty afterwards, and when I arrived home, I would lock myself in my room and sob. After I arrived home from school one day, I physically broke down, releasing every tear I had suppressed. My mama noticed how I had been distant from her, more than usual, and she decided to check on me while I had isolated myself in my room. When I heard her turn and open the door knob, I could not conceal the mental agony I had been enduring for so long. I revealed to my mama what had occurred for the past few months. After sobbing and choking on my words for the next hour, she had a grasp of understanding of what I had experienced. My mama smoothed my hair, patting my back while holding me. Once I had control over myself, she calmly explained to me how I did not deserve that treatment from the friends I had since I was only five years old. When class started, I confronted my friends about how they had been treating me and how I did not appreciate their behavior or actions towards discriminating against me. I would not be lied to, betrayed or used anymore. I refused to lose any precious friendships I made because they do not approve of it if my friend is not Hispanic. Despite some of their nasty remarks directed at my self-esteem, I never stuttered. From there on, our friendship broke off. As of now, I do not talk with any of them in high school. Starting off my freshman year at Wheeler High School, I challenged myself to take a majority of Honors and AP courses. In those classes, the diversity of students is minimal, mostly either White or Asian students. An occasional Hispanic or Black student would appear, but not often. As a result of the lack of diversity, when I focused on completing my work during class, sometimes I would hear inappropriate racial jokes being made from some of the White students. I would often hear, “I’m surprised that Hispanic girl is taking this class. Aren’t all Hispanics dumb?” The worst I heard, “Hispanic girls have a reputation of always dating a boy. When will she start to act like that, it is her legacy after all.” Dealing with racism from other students of how I don’t “act” like a Hispanic person should, reminded me of my past in elementary school from my previous Hispanic friends. However, I realized why that experience traumatized me. I had not overcome my fear of not being accepted by others, even if their friendship was controlling or manipulative. Although, despite having to mature faster at a younger age as a byproduct of the manipulative friendships and the racist environment I was surrounded by, my trauma taught me that I can never please anyone about who I am or how I present myself. I hold on to my mama’s words that she spoke years ago. Despite the difficulties with questioning my self-worth, I remind myself what I had tolerated in the past, and why I will not tolerate it again after everything I had to go through. A quote that I cherish is from Gina Rodriguez, “Now I can talk to more girls and tell them that any skin color, any economic background, any shape they were born into is perfect and right and strong and beautiful enough because I’m sitting here not the stereotype.”

Despite some of the loneliest moments in my life spent during the COVID-19 Pandemic, not every moment consisted of feeling lonesome or isolated. If it was not for my puppy Chanel, as the days passed by in quarantine, everything would have felt dire. On June 17th, 2020, I was blessed with the news of my brother adopting a miniature schnauzer. She was only two months old, and minuscule in my arms. I had felt an urgency to protect this new puppy, now part of the Lopez family. Each passing day I spent hours playing with Chanel, trying to accustom her with the new home she had. As months drifted by, she became my companion through the difficult times of my life. Just with her presence, I felt joyous despite having days where I felt desolate or melancholic. As an introvert, I never had many friends, and with the small amount that I do have, I always had difficulty with communicating my thoughts and feelings. However, Chanel made the process gracious for me to socialize with my friends better, as her serene presence brought solace into my days. Since the pandemic began, my interactions with others have decreased significantly, and attempting to socialize with different people became remarkably strenuous. As months passed by, I started to feel enlightened again. I began to feel more confident and motivated in my ability to communicate with others, despite the days where I did not bear any compulsion to socialize. The friends I had never discriminated against my heritage, but they did not comprehend the struggles I faced that they have the privilege of never having to go through. The stereotypes and racism of my Hispanic culture is prevalent throughout my daily life. I dealt with criticism in elementary school from some of the Hispanic elementary friends I had, condemning how I behaved and talked, claiming it was too “American.” I have always spoken with a stronger American accent as I speak more fluently in English than Spanish. However, that did not give my “friends” the right to use me for answers to homework, or even quizzes or tests we took. Sometimes, they would force me to do their work as they felt “too lazy” to do it themselves. With recalling these memories, it felt atrocious to learn that some of my “friends'' were not really my friends, they only felt obligated to as I was the “quiet kid.” Therefore, in Sophomore year, I ended the majority of my friendships, and only kept a handful of friends who understood who I am. These friends were a part of the AVID (Advanced Via Individual Determination) program at Wheeler, and I am eternally grateful for not quitting this program as I would have never realized who my true friends are. Therefore, thank you COVID-19, for offering the insight I needed to understand that the choices I made are valid, and that I should move forward into the future, without reflecting on the past mistakes of my life.

If I had been asked to define what a legacy meant as a child, I would have given the most generic definition: something handed down through generations. Although, throughout my individual experiences as a Latina, I have developed a distinct interpretation of what a legacy means. A legacy means you made an imprint on society, and future generations will be able to view that legacy and admire the accomplishments that an individual made. Legacies can inspire anyone, ranging from those who are impoverished, may have lost everyone they loved, or does not feel like they are capable of achieving greatness as a result of their birth conditions, ethnicity or heritage, in addition to disabilities. However, someone’s legacy can potentially change the future of just one person or generation from their perseverance and actions they took to arrive at the destination they are now. As Irish poet Oscar Wilde has said “What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.” My exposition of what a legacy means is not the only analysis of having a legacy. It could be a will handed down from an ancestor to a predecessor, or a company heritage through familial ancestry. Nevertheless, the legacy I aspire to leave behind involves the perspective I adapted. When I was only five years old beginning elementary school as a Hispanic Latina, I remembered asking my mama a particular question one day after arriving home from school. I raised my head to my mama asking, “Why do I have to take ‘ESOL classes,’ when some of the other kids in my class do not have to?” My mama, staring down at me, replied, “Well, those kids are not like you. As you grow and learn, you will start to realize why you had to take those ESOL classes, and instead learn to be grateful for them. You will understand what made you exceptional. Now, go eat your tamales.” I nodded, ate my precious tamales, and did as my mama asked. As a reflection years later, presently a Junior at Wheeler High School, I cultivated an immeasurable comprehension from my past experiences in elementary and middle school. The experience of being raised as the first generation who will go to college has enlightened me from a young age how despite having friends who share the same ethnic background of being Hispanic, it did not guarantee they would be by my side during the most difficult parts of my life. I had to endure racism from other students in Honors and AP classes, becoming a distraction and hurting my self-confidence. Dealing with racism from other students of how I don’t “act” like a Hispanic person should, reminded me of my past in elementary school from my previous Hispanic friends in the ESOL program. However, I realized why that experience traumatized me. I had not overcome my fear of not being accepted by others, even if their friendship was controlling or manipulative. Although, despite having to mature faster at a younger age as a byproduct of the manipulative friendships and the racist environment I was surrounded by, my trauma taught me that I can never please anyone about who I am or how I present myself. I hold on to my mama’s words that she spoke years ago. Despite the difficulties with questioning my self-worth, I remind myself what I had tolerated in the past, and why I will not tolerate it again after everything I had to go through. With the wisdom and insight I gained from some of the most troubling times in my life as a young child, I will pass it on to those I might mentor along with who I befriend. As part of the legacy I desire to leave behind, I will do what I can to counsel those who need guidance after confronting personal struggles that are significant to them. I understand how excruciating it can be to move forward when you sense there is a hindrance preventing the reach of your potential. A quote that I cherish is from Mexican-American actress Gina Rodriguez where she says, “Now I can talk to more girls and tell them that any skin color, any economic background, any shape they were born into is perfect and right and strong and beautiful enough because I’m sitting here not the stereotype.”

When I was only five years old beginning elementary school as a Latina, I remembered asking my mama a particular question after arriving home from school. I raised my head to my mama asking, “Why do I have to take ‘ESOL classes,’ when some of the other kids in my class do not have to?” My mama, staring down at me, replied, “Well, those kids are not like you. As you grow and learn, you will start to realize why you had to take ESOL classes, and instead learn to be grateful for them. You will understand what made you exceptional. Now, eat your tamales.” I nodded, ate my precious tamales, and did as my mama asked. The next day at school, I tried to comply with the teachers’ instructions. I read my assigned picture book, practiced memorizing the number table, and tried to talk to other Hispanic kids in ESOL, as I was paranoid of not being “accepted” since I'm reserved and quiet, which is not the "norm" for Hispanic girls. After finishing my assignments, my teachers would compliment how well I read, praising to my mama how I understood English extraordinarily. When the report card arrived at the end of kindergarten, I scored mostly 2s and 3s, equivalent to an A or B. My mama was proud of my exemplary work, but I remained in ESOL classes until 4th grade. After graduating from ESOL, I integrated into normal classes. I remember the day as it was yesterday, as I sat in class and paid attention, my friends had asked if they could see the previous homework. Wanting to be valued as a good friend, I lend the homework, as it was the first time they had asked. However, with the days to follow, it became a repetition. At first, I thought it was normal for your friends to ask for your work, but after some time, I began to question their intentions. Were my friends using me because of my intelligence? Are we actually friends? Not only were they potentially using me for my work, but I would also hear them snickering and gossiping behind my back. I would often hear some of them saying to multiple kids in our class how bad of a friend I am, explaining how I always got them in trouble, despite it being the other way around. I would get in trouble for something I did not cause, such as creating rumors of our teachers dating, then some of the blame would be put on my shoulders. I felt guilty afterwards, and when I arrived home, I would lock myself in my room and sob. After I arrived home from school one day, I physically broke down, releasing every tear I had suppressed. My mama noticed how I had been distant from her, more than usual, and she decided to check on me while I had isolated myself in my room. When I heard her turn and open the door knob, I could not conceal the mental agony I had been enduring for so long. I revealed to my mama what had occurred for the past few months. After sobbing and choking on my words for the next hour, she had a grasp of understanding of what I had experienced. My mama smoothed my hair, patting my back while holding me. Once I had control over myself, she calmly explained to me how I did not deserve that treatment from the friends I had since I was only five years old. When class started, I confronted my friends about how they had been treating me and how I did not appreciate their behavior or actions towards discriminating against me. I would not be lied to, betrayed or used anymore. I refused to lose any precious friendships I made because they do not approve of it if my friend is not Hispanic. Despite some of their nasty remarks directed at my self-esteem, I never stuttered. From there on, our friendship broke off. As of now, I do not talk with any of them in high school. Starting off my Freshman year at Wheeler High School, I challenged myself to take a majority of Honors and AP courses. In those classes, the diversity of students is minimal, mostly either White or Asian students. An occasional Hispanic or Black student would appear, but not often. As a result of the lack of diversity, when I focused on completing my work during class, sometimes I would hear inappropriate racial jokes being made from some of the White students. I would often hear, “I’m surprised that Hispanic girl is taking this class. Aren’t all Hispanics dumb?” The worst I heard, “Hispanic girls have a reputation of always dating a boy. When will she start to act like that, it is her legacy after all.” Dealing with racism from other students of how I don’t “act” like a Hispanic person should, reminded me of my past in elementary school from my previous Hispanic friends. However, I realized why that experience traumatized me. I had not overcome my fear of not being accepted by others, even if their friendship was controlling or manipulative. Although, despite having to mature faster at a younger age as a byproduct of the manipulative friendships and the racist environment I was surrounded by, my trauma taught me that I can never please anyone about who I am or how I present myself. I hold on to my mama’s words that she spoke years ago. Despite the difficulties with questioning my self-worth, I remind myself what I had tolerated in the past, and why I will not tolerate it again after everything I had to go through. A quote that I cherish is from Gina Rodriguez, “Now I can talk to more girls and tell them that any skin color, any economic background, any shape they were born into is perfect and right and strong and beautiful enough because I’m sitting here not the stereotype.”

STEM, the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The meaning of following a STEM career pathway changed as I grew up, from being a young child who wanted to become a doctor to a teenager confused about what she will do after graduating high school. As a Junior in high school, I began to ponder deeply about my future, but it was not until I read the book STEM Gems by Stephanie Espy, when my perspective permanently transformed. I remember the day as it was like yesterday when my friend Cindy, ran up to me and gave me the book, STEM Gems. She had known how much I was contemplating about what lay ahead for me, therefore receiving the book felt precious. When I returned home from school, I laid down in my bed, opened and flipped through to the first page of the book, and began to read remarkable stories of women embarking upon their own individual journey’s into a STEM career. As the days passed on, I acquired newfound knowledge of what it means to represent STEM, especially as a female in a male-dominated field. As Pardis Sabeti, computational biologist and geneticist, revealed: When I was doing my PhD at Oxford, my research was going in a new direction, and I had a lot of failures that made it seem like I was flailing. Though I was pursuing something I believed in, I understood that society will judge you until you're proven. And perhaps if you’re a woman, the judgment is ever more severe. (Espy, 39-40) From learning of Professor Sabeti’s struggles through attempts of developing modernized tools to analyze data between the connection of human genetics and malaria, I admired her perseverance of ignoring the various opinions of those around her. Despite criticism and disapproval, her choice of finding advanced ways to a solution, presented the resolve and tenacity she had to accomplish what she believed would benefit anyone researching malaria. Professor Sabeti found her solution when: One fateful morning around 3 a.m., Professor Sabeti added data to a formula she had developed and ‘everything came together.’ By focusing her technology on sets of genes called haplotypes, she proved that it was possible to identify recent changes to the human genome, a landmark discovery in fighting disease. As a result of her intense drive to succeed and her untiring beliefs in herself, her breakthrough changed the world of computational biology forever. (Espy, 40) Professor Sabeti’s breakthrough became astounding, as computational biologists now could fight diseases in numerous ways that were thought unimaginable. However, Professor Sabeti did not stop her research there. Her persistence led her to the expeditiously-growing Nigeria, to research an outbreak of a new virus. After arriving in Nigeria, Professor Sabeti abruptly began her work. Professor Sabeti took her course of action to grasp an understanding of the new virus: This time she focused on the Lassa virus, a recently discovered and deadly virus similar to Ebola that world nations consider a serious risk to national security. Her fearless confrontation of the disease that impacts hundreds of thousands of people throughout Nigeria is a reflection of the same courage she witnessed in her principled father. The partnership she developed with clinicians in Africa around the Lassa virus would become critical in 2014, when she took on Ebola. . . Professor Sabeti was able to track the virus's mutations as it moved through affected populations. The groundbreaking paper she published in Science magazine included five authors who had died from Ebola. (Espy, 40) With all the achievements Professor Sabeti earned, she remained humble, and continues to empower her students at Harvard University to pursue their career goals, even if confronted with obstacles. After reading Pardis Sabeti’s story, I felt a burning passion of what STEM career I would like to attain, leading to my choice of becoming either a biomedical engineer or a veterinarian. Professor Sabeti’s journey through her STEM career taught me the importance of helping society, either through traveling to a different country and embarking upon a discovery, or helping your own community to learn that pursuing a STEM career is possible. With STEM studies, it offers the opportunity to flourish in a career pathway that offers intelligence and joy. Quoted from Pardis Sabeti, the result at the end of the day is, “help train students to be good people as well as good scientists.”

When I first heard about community service in middle school, I did not think much about the topic at the time. I remember just sitting at my desk, staring mindlessly at the ceiling, bored out of my mind hearing the teacher spend the next 30 minutes talking about it. I knew already that giving back to the community is essential to society, but at that period of time, community service did not seem significant to me because I did not fully comprehend what specifically I was passionate about when it came to giving back to my community. It was not until my second semester of my Sophomore year of high school where I found my passion, part of the reasoning being the COVID-19 Pandemic, where countless families struggled financially, and my family being one of them. Fortunately, my family did not have to struggle as much in comparison to other larger family households, where access to food in their areas was scarcer, or where COVID rates spread rapidly because of their socioeconomic class. I know that if it was not for food donors at churches, my family would not have persevered through this pandemic as we have. Knowing that, I felt compelled to discover different ways to give back to my community, and it connected in my mind. “Become a food donor,” my mind shouted at me. I knew that in this way, I could help families in similar circumstances to mine, knowing they would be appreciative that a stranger would be willing to make their lives easier during this time. During the early stages of COVID, before schools went into lockdown in March 2020, I assisted my agricultural teacher in preparing food bags for families in-need to receive. When Cobb County allowed for after-school practices, in October of junior year, I became more involved in the JROTC program at Wheeler. As part of community service, the program offered the opportunity to donate canned goods, which are then delivered to families in need. Through that opportunity, I donated at least two canned goods each week, knowing that a family will be well-fed during these strenuous times. Not only did I donate canned goods, but I participated in honor guards for football and basketball games, where cadets monitor and ensure the safety of the people. We answer any questions faculty may have for us, or accommodate newcomers, guiding and informing them important buildings around Wheeler. If any suspicious activity is occurring around our posted area, we are obligated to report the incident to our officer in charge. Immediate action will be taken seriously as JROTC’s mission statement is “develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community.” From dedicating many hours into the program, I took the initiative to apply for a staff position, and became an Educational, Function, and Academic Team NCO as of January 2021. As Academic Team NCO, I regulate and organize activities for the Academic Team of JROTC, along with assisting the Academic Team Commander. With the new staff jobs I received, I was granted the opportunity of becoming promoted to a technical sergeant, from previously being an airman. With the accomplishments I achieved so far, I knew I had the capability of contributing tremendously to the program. With helping and maintaining the safety of the people, knowing I would be helping my community, I decided to dedicate the rest of my time in high school to remaining in the JROTC program, and I cannot wait to wholeheartedly witness and experience the rest of my journey in the program. Giving back to my community does not just define my resume, or allow me to stand out among other applicants. It is a service I am proud of being a part of. From engaging in community service, I have discovered different parts of my personality that I would have never thought I had, such as perseverance and courageousness. Before occupying my time with community service, communicating with other people even if it was my teacher, was difficult. I was anxious to ask questions, feeling embarrassed if it was something I should have known the answer to. Therefore, I lacked motivation in my capabilities, as I felt I would never be able to speak for myself. However, with the support of my peers in JROTC, I acquired the confidence I deprived myself from for so long. I started performing better academically, and engaged more in social activities, even if I made slow progress towards communicating my thoughts. Participating in community service is detrimental to our society, not only for communities but improving your mentality and character, such as my personal experience explained before. Regardless of where you decide to share your services, whether it is becoming a food donor or helping out in elderly homes, by sparing your time to aid in these services demonstrates the type of character you have. Whether you are of African American, Asian, or Hispanic descent, as I am Latina myself, serving your community, especially as a minority is imperative to seeing changes in our society. As civil rights and women’s rights activist Dorothy Height once said, “Without community service, we would not have a strong quality of life. It’s important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It’s the way in which we ourselves grow and develop.”

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the world has had to suffer multiple adversities. Food and medical supply shortages, minor stock market crashes, and the loss of loved ones befallen to this rapidly spread virus. However, the most significant effect from this Pandemic is the increasing insistence from both the government and public on STEM occupations to find a vaccine for this fatal virus. An estimated 2.4 million people have perished from COVID-19 across the globe, and 108 million people have been reported infected throughout various countries, ("COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University"). During the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter Movement in the United States increased awareness of global protests for racial justice of environmental discrimination that communities of color dealt with from the coronavirus. Further explained: Medical professionals have concluded that communities of color face higher levels of morbidity and chronic illness due to environmental-related health issues caused by pollution, and they are more vulnerable to hazards such as exposure to toxic waste and catastrophic flooding. . . (“Environmental Issues Protest”) From exposure to lethal waste and minimal access to medics and hospitals, communities of color have had to endure agonizing amounts of discomfort, and these communities have been impacted significantly across the US, but if was not for STEM occupations, the total deaths from the coronavirus would be enormously astounding than it currently is. With the abrupt increases of global coronavirus cases never ceasing to slow down, other countries are supporting each other during these severe times. The country contributing the most aid is bewildering, as it is Communist-controlled Cuba. Despite Cuba’s government reputation, their medical diplomacy has allowed only 4,684 COVID cases and 108 deaths, an astounding tenth of the global average per capita, ("Cuba Sends 'White Coat Army' of Doctors to Fight Coronavirus in Different Countries"). As thoroughly explained: While the virus was overwhelming healthcare systems worldwide, the Communist-run Caribbean island boasted a rare resource: a surplus of doctors trained in deploying abroad and battling infectious disease. . . Nearly 40 countries across five continents have received Cuban medics during the pandemic. . .” ("Cuba Sends 'White Coat Army' of Doctors to Fight Coronavirus in Different Countries”) Without Cuba dispatching their medical professionals, countries such as Italy or Brazil, who are short-supplied with minimal healthcare staff, would have suffered tremendously during this pandemic, resulting in Brazil rehiring 1,012 Cuban doctors. Marie Marcelle Deschamps, director of a major health care organization in Haiti, had to operate a clinic in one of the poorest nations in the world. Providing medical help to thousands of COVID-19 cases in Haiti became overwhelming for Deschamps. As explored in "This Physician Has Battled Epidemics, Quakes, and Poverty in Haiti. Now, She's Taking on COVID-19,” “her days became consumed with treating patients, supervising the other doctors, and dispatching teams to provide care and counseling to people in Haiti’s urban slums and countryside.” Despite the dramatic increase of COVID-19 cases in the small island population of Haiti, Deschamps remained optimistic in greeting and treating patients. As supported: Those who have met Deschamps (including this reporter) know her as amazingly warm, bright, and charming. Clinic staff, patients, and even strangers greet her fondly as she rushes past. The need for women to take an increasing role in Haiti’s health care has long been identified as a key to economic development, and after 4 decades of practicing medicine in her native country, Deschamps is seen by many as an icon and a role model. . ("This Physician Has Battled Epidemics, Quakes, and Poverty in Haiti. Now, She's Taking on COVID-19”) With the disadvantages of Haiti’s economy dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic, Deschamps never gave up on her mission of providing medical care. As quoted from Deschamps, “This is my place. . .It’s not that we forget … [but] we are always looking for the light.” Without the aid of doctors, such as Marie Marcelle Deschamps in Haiti, or countries sending aid as Cuba, many people residing within their borders would have befallen to this virus. If we didn't have STEM occupations on front lines, working day and night fighting COVID, then people would not be able to thrive post-pandemic. Throughout this pandemic, everyone has had to live their daily lives drastically different. However, with medical professionals guiding us through this pandemic, we have some peace in knowing that someone is willing to take responsibility for finding the vaccine we need to return to a “normal” life.

When you are only in kindergarten, starting elementary school, your parents or teachers might ask you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Some kids might say a chef, a teacher, or an athlete. However, as kids begin to learn more about careers and progress through their education, their career choice they envisioned might drastically shift to a different field from what they initially thought. As one of the few kids who would stick to the career path they knew was their destiny, when my kindergarten teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I exclaimed to her, “I want to be a doctor! Like one that works with puppies! Or with scary lions and hyenas!” Reflecting back, my inner child knew me well into the future, as now I aspire to become a wildlife veterinarian, treating exotic animals from around the world. Being able to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine would not only fulfill my passion of becoming a veterinarian, but it would help diversify the veterinary career pathway. From "Lack of Hispanics in Veterinary Programs," Dr. Orlando Garza, owner of an animal hospital in his hometown El Paso, recounts his experience as the sole Hispanic university student in the veterinary medicine program at Texas A&M University. Dr. Orlando Garza emphasized, “There were no Hispanics whatsoever, I was the only one.” Further reading the article, it provided statistics of the lack of diversity in veterinary programs in Texas: With a population that is 38 percent Hispanic, the state would have needed 2,154 Hispanic veterinarians in 2010 — more than 25 times the number of Hispanic veterinarians that year — to reflect the population of the state, Mr. Murdock wrote. Hispanics are also underrepresented in other health professions in Texas, though to a lesser degree. The number of Hispanic doctors, for example, would need to triple to reflect the state’s Hispanic population, he wrote. ("Lack of Hispanics in Veterinary Programs") It is unfortunate that the veterinary field lacks Hispanic heritage, but what is more disappointing is many minority parents do not consider veterinary medicine as a significant career pathway for their children to pursue. As Dr. Greenhill stated, minority parents are “more apt to encourage kids to pursue careers in education, engineering and law, and human medicine.” Therefore, sustaining my degree in veterinary medicine would impact the Hispanic veterinary community tremendously. I could become a role model for young Hispanic children, representing how they can be successful if they decide to pursue veterinary studies despite what they have been taught to believe from their parents. Spreading awareness of animal cruelty is another detrimental aspect of serving as a veterinarian. In “Veterinarian" by John Riddle: Concerned about this issue, Neil C. Wolff, DVM & Nedim C. Buyukmihci, V.M.D. founded the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR) in 1981. These veterinarians were upset that the “non-human animals” they were trained to care for, treat, and heal in Veterinary Medical School were routinely being used and abused by society, sometimes for the most trivial of reasons. They recognized that the veterinary profession often supported practices contrary to the well-being of the animals. They formed the AVAR to educate the public and the veterinary profession to secure higher ideals of humanity and policy toward all ‘nonhuman animals.’ ("Veterinarian") Not only was AVAR formed to promote animal rights, but numerous animal rights movements have been created in the hope of educating the public about animal cruelty. The earliest legal battles debating animal rights were bull baiting. Until around the 1800s, from “Animal Rights," Irish politician Richard Martin spoke out against bull baiting and violent animal sports. He assisted in passing the Act to Prevent the Cruel and Improper Treatment of Cattle in the United Kingdom during 1822, instrumental in preventing more violent animal sports from occurring again. Researching the grotesque and morbid treatment of animals, I can say with confidence that obtaining a veterinary medical degree would offer the opportunity to discuss the disturbing issue revolving around animal cruelty. Female representation within the STEM field is scarce. During the early years of education, female students are not as encouraged to go into the STEM field in comparison to boys. Provided in "STEM Education," "For example, some teachers may try to steer students toward particular topics—or away from others—based on concerns that they will not do as well or show less aptitude. From personal experience, I had to deal with a situation suggested above, when I mentioned to my 6th grade teacher of my interest in pursuing a STEM career. She told me the following words: “Well you could, sweetheart. But it is in your best interest to pursue a more realistic career option for yourself. You might not do well in STEM, but you could always study another interest of yours, like historical events.” If I had listened to my teacher’s words, I would never have made the decision to pursue veterinary studies. Looking back now, I am grateful I did not, as I am proud to represent aspiring female students in STEM. To summarize, attaining a degree in veterinary medicine would not only grant me the career I am passionate about, but allow me to bring an awareness towards issues in STEM fields. As the ones I mentioned above: lack of Hispanics in the veterinary field, animal cruelty practices that occur in veterinary clinics, and the scarcity of females in the STEM field. As a Hispanic female, growing up I rarely heard much discussion about Latina girls going into STEM fields, let alone in the veterinary field. As a junior at Wheeler High School, I took the initiative to educate myself on these issues. However, if young children could be exposed to different ethnic backgrounds within STEM careers, then there could be a drastic shift within society, but it starts with educating the public. Having a veterinary medical degree defines this possibility, meaning what I hope to achieve is possible by becoming a wildlife veterinarian.

Having an impact on society can be accomplished through countless ways. Some of us might pursue educational rights reform, or promote social or environmental activism. Personally, I always connected with environmental activism, as I possess an appreciation for nature, and compassion for animals. As I continue to pursue my educational career goals, I aspire to become an environmental activist. Promoting how detrimental it is to protect our environment, as well as traveling to different countries, in hopes of saving endangered animals, is imperative to changing the condition our planet is currently in. A specific movement inaugurated by environmental activists is ecofeminism. The creation of the movement originated from French feminist Françoise d'Eaubonne in 1974. Ecofeminism is an accredited movement that acknowledges the interrelatedness of feminism and environmentalism. Further explained: Ecofeminism opposes a patriarchal social order that sees both women and nature as destined for male control. Ecofeminists argue that societal instability in the wake of climate change is particularly threatening to women's status and makes women and girls more vulnerable to mistreatment and exploitation. (“Environmental Justice”) From the explanation, we can infer how women and nature have been destined to be in male control. Without awareness towards feminism or environmentalism, these issues will continuously be ignored due to the patriarchal social order that has been established by our society. From "Alice Walker" and "Clarissa Pinkola Estes," Ecofeminist authors Alice Malsenior Tallulah-Kate Walker, Pulitzer Prize winner of Fiction for her novel The Color Purple, and Clarissa Pinkola Estes, New York Times Bestseller of Women Who Run with the Wolves, promote ecofeminism phenomenally, through their stories of women of color in a society who discriminated against female rights, while including imagery of environments around them. Through ecofeminism, many social issues can be tackled, being one of the reasons why I support environmental activism. An alternative form of promoting environmental activism is through governmental legislation and litigation. An abundance of governmental laws have been advocated by environmental activists, in hopes of establishing new protocols for further protection of our environment. Several of these protocols are: The Kyoto Protocol (signed in 1997 and in effect since 2005) and the Paris Climate Agreement (in effect since 2016) were both ambitious attempts to address climate change through international treaties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, despite such efforts to establish international laws to govern environmental issues, the United Nations issued a report in 2019 recognizing that few options were available to enforce such laws. (“Environmental Justice”) In spite of the dedication environmental activists have had toward changing laws in favor of protecting our environment, numerous lawmakers have rejected reforms suggested, as from the Kyoto Protocol or the Paris Climate Agreement. Hence why, environmental justice has to be promoted more effectively, as if more awareness was raised to address environmental issues to the public, then perhaps lawmakers would feel more inclined to modify certain laws. Therefore, our ecosystems’ animals could survive without the threat of human activity, and our climate could be one step further to rid itself of the harsh pollution caused by our neglectful governments. A global issue we are all facing and being affected by is the COVID-19 Pandemic. Across the United States, it has been reported of: In 2020, global protests for racial justice led by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in the United States, compounded by the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color, led to increased attention on environmental racism. . . Medical professionals have concluded that communities of color face higher levels of morbidity and chronic illness due to environmental- related health issues caused by pollution, and they are more vulnerable to hazards such as exposure to toxic waste and catastrophic flooding. . . (“Environmental Issues Protest”) From the conclusion medical professionals came to, environmental issues can be linked with racial justice, as numerous communities of color during the COVID-19 Pandemic faced environmental discrimination. From exposure to lethal waste and minimal access to medics and hospitals, these communities have endured an abundant amount of sufferings. Therefore, without the Black Lives Matter movement, none of these injustices would have been brought to light, and as such, why I hope to spread awareness through movements as BLM to create a change in how issues associated with environmental discrimination are professionally dealt with. Organizations such as ecofeminism, the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Climate Agreement, or the BLM movements assisted in developing increased awareness regarding environmental issues. However, in residency areas inhabited by Indigenous people, they are abruptly silenced out of land use decisions. This becomes convenient if their land has recognized value in either development or resources. As seen in Brazil: After Jair Bolsonaro (1955–) assumed Brazil's presidency in 2019, Amazon deforestation escalated rapidly. . . Almost 10,000 square kilometers (3,861 square miles) of rainforest were lost in the first year of Bolsonaro's presidency, a 29.5 percent increase over the previous year, despite resistance by Indigenous people living in those areas. The 2020 novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a further increase in the rate of deforestation, with less attention given to guarding the rainforest from illegal logging and mining, and Indigenous peoples retreating to remote areas to avoid exposure to COVID-19. (“Environmental Justice”) As a result of Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency, Indigenous people residing near the Amazon Rainforest had to evacuate due to deforestation, from the negligence of their president. Although, not all hope is lost as governmental and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have fought to recognize marginalized voices and Indigenous people in land decisions. Even though I have not had the opportunity to fight for environmental catastrophes or support Indigenous people, if I had, I would as I passionately believe, that our Earth deserves protection from the greedy corporations who only seek their own personal gain, without consideration of the damage it does to our planet. From Cree Indian Proverb, “Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.”

Before I started high school, math was always one of my stronger academic subjects. I scored higher grades than most of my other classes, and was I proud of my achievements within math. However, when I began high school, it felt as if I fell down a rollercoaster, no longer enjoying that high I had always felt. In my Freshman year, I had taken Honors Algebra 1. I felt proud to take an Honors math course, even exclaiming to my mom, "I can be an Honors scholar with all the Honors courses I am taking!" Although, after the first week into Honors Algebra 1, I dropped the class. The course was fast-paced, and within the first week the teacher gave the class three quizzes, I had received F's for each one. I was disappointed with the grade, and seeing some of my other peers with either A's or B's felt even more discouraging. Despite some of my friends encouraging me not to drop the class, attempting to convince me that it is only the first week and my grades will improve, I just lacked any motivation to move forward. If I had a mentor at the time, I could've progressed farther. With this in mind, I am interested in having a mentor in Algebra 2, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Pre-calculus. These subjects I tend to struggle with the most, and remembering my daunting experience with Honors Algebra 1, I want to avoid another awful counter with math, knowing now what had caused me to give up before. I do not want failure to stop me from pursuing any further difficult math courses, especially since I have always loved math from a young age. Having a mentor will help offer different perspectives and guidance towards math, which is what I desperately need.

Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, one of the most imperative aspect I have learned is the importance of my family, friends, and health. Before the pandemic, I never realized how much my family meant to me. When we go through life, primarily focused on either work or education, it is easy to get stuck in a cycle of constant work. Sometimes, you forget to pay attention to those you have around you. That was the case for me. In my Sophomore Year of high school, I felt lost, not really knowing what I wanted to do with my life but I knew I had to stay consistent with my studies. Therefore, I lacked a lot passion and energy, and had little joy in what I once enjoyed doing. When everyone had to go in quarantine, I felt relief. I desperately needed some time off to redirect my focus. Personally, I began by communicating more with my family and friends, as I had been closed-off and non-expressive of my emotions. Then, I prioritized my health, beginning to exercise and enjoy yoga. I cooked homemade meals, allowing a chance to bond with my mother and appreciate my Latina culture as a Hispanic, making taquitos and tostadas, then laugh over memories when I was younger of how mischievous I was, tearing up leaves of plants inside church, when I was supposed to be paying attention. Despite spending months in quarantine, I never felt bored. Once I started opening up to my family and friends, talking about what mattered to me, I felt the joy I once had return back, and felt more positive about life, even with what is going on in the world. The COVID-19 Pandemic caused setbacks for numerous circumstances, but it allowed a chance for everyone to reconnect with themselves, and their goals and purpose with life, as I did with my own.