Hi, My name is Martha, and being a first-generation, Mexican-American student is a big part of why I’m so passionate about pursuing higher education. My parents are immigrants who came to this country with very little, and their sacrifices have shaped not only my life but also the values I carry with me every day. Growing up, I saw my dad work long hours as the sole provider for our family of five while my mom stayed home to take care of us. She’s a deeply faithful woman who often woke up in the middle of the night to pray and ask God for strength and guidance. Even though we didn’t have much, my parents always found ways to make things work. My mom would take us to thrift stores, and she taught me the value of being resourceful and grateful for what we had. But being frugal came with its own challenges. My parents’ hardships made them cautious, and even as they financially recovered, they rarely allowed themselves to enjoy life. That stuck with me because, while I admire their resilience, it also made me realize how important it is to find joy in the life you work so hard to build. As a first-generation student, I didn’t always know what I wanted to do with my life. But when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, everything became clearer. My parents told me to see it as a reminder to slow down, take care of myself, and focus on my future. That advice changed everything for me. It helped me embrace my passion for coding and computers, a field I now see as an opportunity to create a better future, not just for myself, but for my parents, too. Being a first-generation, Mexican-American student means carrying the hopes and dreams of my parents while paving a path of my own. It means honoring their sacrifices by working hard to achieve the opportunities they didn’t have. It means showing gratitude for their resilience and using their story to inspire my own journey. I’m passionate about being a first-generation student because it’s about more than education, it’s about giving back to my family, representing my community, and proving that hard work and perseverance can overcome any obstacle. I hope to one day give my parents that break they deserve and show them how much they mean to me and give them a chance to enjoy life. Thank you so much for allowing me to share my story.

Hi, My name is Martha, and my Hispanic family background has shaped so much of who I am and how I see the world. Growing up in a family of five, my dad was the sole provider, working long hours to make ends meet, while my mom stayed home with us. My mom is a deeply faithful woman, and I remember her waking up in the middle of the night to pray, asking God for guidance. Despite our struggles, my parents always found ways to care for us, whether it was by shopping at thrift stores or teaching us the value of saving. Living with frugality was second nature in our household, but as I got older, I began to see the bittersweet side of it. My parents, like many immigrants, carried their hardships with them. They worked so hard, but they rarely allowed themselves to enjoy the fruits of their labor. My mom would often remind me, “When we die, we don’t take anything with us,” which taught me the importance of focusing on what truly matters in life, our relationships, health, and experiences. This lesson became even more meaningful when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. At first, it felt like my world had turned upside down, but my parents reminded me to look on the bright side. They told me this was a chance to focus on taking care of myself and appreciating the present. Their faith and resilience, even in the face of challenges, gave me strength to see my diagnosis not as a limitation but as a calling to prioritize my health and my dreams. Coming from a Hispanic family, I’ve learned the importance of community, sacrifice, and perseverance. My parents’ struggles and sacrifices have inspired me to work hard, not just for myself but for them, too. They’ve shaped my drive to succeed so I can support them in the future and show them that their efforts were worth it. My background has also taught me empathy. Seeing my parents work so hard for a better life has made me appreciate what others might be going through, especially those in similar situations. It’s a constant reminder to be kind, to work hard, and to value the simple things in life. I hope to one day be able to care for my parents because of how well they raised me. Thank you so much for letting me share a little bit about myself and my family.

Hi, My name is Martha, and one of the biggest reasons I’m pursuing higher education is because of my parents. Growing up, I didn’t always understand their financial struggles. My dad was the sole provider, working long hours to support our family of five, while my mom stayed home with us. She’s such a strong, faithful woman. She would wake up in the middle of the night to pray, asking God for guidance and help.I spent more time with my mom than my dad because of his work schedule. She took care of us, shopped at thrift stores, and always found ways to make things work despite the limited funds. I don’t remember her ever going to a full-priced store because it just wasn’t an option. Over time, my parents’ finances got better, thanks to government assistance, but they stayed frugal. I think a lot of that comes from their background, growing up with very little made them hold on to things. Even now, at 25, I see them saving and cutting corners, and while it’s not a bad thing, it makes me sad when I don’t see them enjoying life. My mom always says, “When we die, we don’t take anything with us,” and that’s true. But I also think life is short, and we should enjoy the time we have. I wish my parents could see that, too. They’re still working hard and saving for retirement, because they don’t qualify for things like Social Security. As for me, I didn’t always know what I wanted to do. Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of hobbies or extracurriculars because we didn’t have the time or resources for that. For a while, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go to school. But as I got older, I started exploring hobbies and found that I really liked coding and computers. It just clicked for me, and I realized this could be a career that not only excites me but also helps me take care of my parents someday. Things took a turn when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. It was a lot to process at first, and I felt overwhelmed and scared about what it meant for my future. But my parents, being who they are, told me to look on the bright side. They said maybe this was a calling to slow down, take care of myself, and focus on what really matters. That perspective changed everything for me. Instead of feeling defeated, I’ve learned to see my diagnosis as a reminder to take care of my health while pursuing my dreams. It’s also motivated me even more to succeed because I want to be able to support myself and my parents. They’ve given me so much, and I want to give back to them by making the most of the opportunities I have now. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.