The opportunity to attend college still feels surreal to me. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. My parents came to the United States before they had the opportunity to even attend high school. I am inspired by their story to work extremely hard in school. I am confident that I will excel in college as I have already obtained a 4.0 GPA within my first year at ASU. Not only do I want to graduate but I also want to fully immerse myself on campus. As an executive member of the Undergraduate Law Association and Kappa Kappa Gamma, I continue to seek opportunities for student involvement and leadership. The opportunity I have to further my education is one my parents did not have therefore I am motivated to fully take advantage of every opportunity. I will continue to study diligently and build new connections to achieve my educational goal. As a Business Law major, I want to make a positive impact in the world by working within immigration law. Being raised by a Hispanic family in a primarily white community led me to feel isolated. I understand how it feels to be a part of the minority and the negative impacts that can cause. For that reason, I hope to create change within public policy to ensure equality throughout the country. Applying my education and knowledge to my future career will allow me to change the lives of many and help those in need. After graduating with a bachelor's degree I plan on creating an organization to help provide resources and support first-generation students. Within my job at the Financial Aid Center at ASU, I have learned about many resources that most first-generation students never get taught about. It is difficult for students to transition to college without advice about what to expect from their parents. Providing support throughout their Freshman has the ability to make a great impact throughout their four years of College. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. This goal is certainty possible once I finish my education at Arizona State University and obtain my bachelor's in Business Law. By continuing to network and build experience through internships and student organizations I am confident that I will be able to make a change within the legal industry.

Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. She taught me to be an independent woman and that I am still fully capable of being successful on my own. I learned how to provide for myself, which led to my confidence in being able to achieve anything. As a first-generation student who was raised by a single mother, I have faced many hardships trying to further my education. My mother came to the United States from Guatemala when she was just 15 years old, in the hope of providing a better life for her future family. Her journey began by sleeping in garages but, through hard work, she accomplished their dream of owning a home in Minnesota. Despite my mother’s hard work ethic, college remains very expensive and a constant worry for me. The absence of my father’s financial support has added a layer of complexity and need for financial aid. Adding to this challenge is the fact that my mother also helped my sister through college which took a toll on my family’s finances. Growing up in a small town with kids whose upbringings were dissimilar to my own forced me to grow up extremely fast. Attending a school with a majority of white students was strenuous because I didn’t look like everyone else. This caused me to feel alienated and shattered my confidence. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. As a Business Law major, I want to make a positive impact in the world by working within immigration law. Being raised by a Hispanic family in a primarily white community led me to feel isolated. I understand how it feels to be a part of the minority and the negative impacts that can cause. For that reason, I hope to create change within public policy to ensure equality throughout the country. Applying my education and knowledge to my future career will allow me to change the lives of many and help those in need. I also have the educational goal of graduating from a university. My parents came to the United States before they had the opportunity to even attend high school. I am inspired by their story to work extremely hard in school. I am confident that I will excel in college as I have already obtained a 4.0 GPA within my first year at ASU. Not only do I want to graduate but I also want to fully immerse myself on campus. As an executive member of the Undergraduate Law Association and Kappa Kappa Gamma, I continue to seek opportunities for student involvement and leadership. The opportunity I have to further my education is one my parents did not have therefore I am motivated to fully take advantage of every opportunity. I will continue to study diligently and build new connections to achieve my educational goal.

As a first-generation student who was raised by a single mother, I have faced many hardships trying to further my education. My mother came to the United States from Guatemala when she was just 15 years old, in the hope of providing a better life for her future family. Despite my mother’s hard work ethic, college remains very expensive and a constant worry for me. The absence of my father’s financial support has added a layer of complexity and need for financial aid. The largest obstacle I have overcome was seeing my father leave my childhood home. This led me to constantly question my self-worth, I believed that if I were a better daughter he would have never left. My father leaving impacted my mental health growing up and affected my relationships. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. This affected my outlook on love and relationships. Not only did his absence affect my mental health but heavily impacted my opportunities. My father didn't support my family financially so my mother had a lot of stress put on her to be able to provide for our family. Attending a school with a majority of white students was strenuous because I didn’t look like everyone else. This caused me to feel alienated and shattered my confidence. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. As a Business Law major, I want to make a positive impact in the world by working within immigration law. Being raised by a Hispanic family in a primarily white community led me to feel isolated. I understand how it feels to be a part of the minority and the negative impacts that can cause. For that reason, I hope to create change within public policy to ensure equality throughout the country. Applying my education and knowledge to my future career will allow me to change the lives of many and help those in need. This scholarship would help me reach this goal by giving me the financial resources to continue my higher education. Becoming a lawyer has been a goal of mine to be able to help provide legal representation for those who are underrepresented. As a lawyer, I will also be able to help offer legal counseling to help others fully understand their rights. Having the ability to promote social justice and systematic change through policy and advocacy work is my long-term goal. Seeing the difficulties my Mother faced while achieving her citizenship has drawn me to this career and being able to help other immigrants. I know many family members who are still in the long process of receiving citizenship and dream of making a difference firsthand.

As a first-generation student who was raised by a single mother, I have faced many hardships trying to further my education. My mother came to the United States from Guatemala when she was just 15 years old, in the hope of providing a better life for her future family. Despite my mother’s hard work ethic, college remains very expensive and a constant worry for me. The absence of my father’s financial support has added a layer of complexity and need for financial aid. The largest obstacle I have overcome was seeing my father leave my childhood home. This led me to constantly question my self-worth, I believed that if I were a better daughter he would have never left. My father leaving impacted my mental health growing up and affected my relationships. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. This affected my outlook on love and relationships. Not only did his absence affect my mental health but heavily impacted my opportunities. My father didn't support my family financially so my mother had a lot of stress put on her to be able to provide for our family. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. She taught me to be an independent woman and that I am still fully capable of being successful on my own. Growing up in a small town with kids whose upbringings were dissimilar to my own forced me to grow up extremely fast. Attending a school with a majority of white students was strenuous because I didn’t look like everyone else. This caused me to feel alienated and shattered my confidence. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. Although my family is nowhere near wealthy I have always felt rich from the love and encouragement my mother gave me. My mother has always made it a priority to work extremely hard to provide for my sister and my education. Her hard work ethic has inspired me to be the best version of myself. Her constant support has allowed me to maintain a 4.0 GPA and school involvement. My mother's story and passion for helping others also inspired me to major in business law. I want to create a significant change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education.

As a first-generation student who was raised by a single mother, I have faced many hardships trying to further my education. My mother came to the United States from Guatemala when she was just 15 years old, in the hope of providing a better life for her future family. Despite my mother’s hard work ethic, college remains very expensive and a constant worry for me. The absence of my father’s financial support has added a layer of complexity and need for financial aid. Adding to this challenge is the fact that my mother also helped my sister through college which took a toll on my family’s finances. I have consistently worked throughout high school and currently have an on-campus job to help contribute to my educational expenses but I remain in need of financial assistance. This scholarship would alleviate financial burdens and allow me to immerse myself in my coursework fully. By relieving financial restraints this scholarship would grant me the opportunity to seek meaningful internships related to my major. I will also need to take out student loans and this scholarship can help minimize that. By alleviating some financial debt I will be able to enter the workforce after graduation without the burden of student loan debts. My involvement within the Undergraduate Law Association has allowed me to connect with speakers and representatives within my desired career. As director of marketing, I coordinated the executive board photoshoots and photographed all club events. I also utilize social media to connect with more students around campus and encourage involvement. As a member and Academic Excellence Director of Kappa Kappa Gamma, I have been able to gain lifelong friendships but also valuable leadership experience. Through philanthropic efforts, my sorority was able to raise over $15,000 for the JED Foundation in support of Mental Health. Within my Academic Director role, I plan study events for all of the members and encourage academic success by utilizing campus resources. I also enjoyed extracurricular activities within my high school club involvement. Serving as a member of the Women for Change club I was able to engage with important societal issues. I actively collaborated with other members to organize events that promoted gender equality within my school. With my involvement in the Current Affairs Club, I was able to lead discussions on global issues. This allowed me to understand diverse perspectives and foster a positive change. I was also heavily involved in DECA and FCCLA. I attended the state competition for both organizations where I learned how to be confident in a competitive environment. My commitment to serving the community goes beyond school clubs. Volunteering at the Animal Humane Society I was able to dedicate my time to support animals in need. After adopting my own dog from the Humane Society my passion to take care of animals grew. Providing the needed compassion to the animals I was able to understand the importance of giving back to the community. In addition, I have found joy in volunteering at my church’s daycare. In this role, I helped check children in and out of the center. I ensured parents the safety of their children. This experience showed me the importance of community support and responsibility. Now in Arizona, I have continued supporting animals in need at Almost There Rescue. With my service each week I am able to assist puppies from birth to adoption. Giving back to the community and being involved has been a priority in my life throughout the past four years.

Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. My mother always had complete confidence in me even when I didn't. She has never failed to believe in me and has constantly shown full support. She taught me to be an independent woman and that I am still fully capable of being successful on my own. I learned how to provide for myself, which led to my confidence in being able to achieve anything. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. Seeing my father leave my childhood home led me to question my self-worth. I believed that if I were a better daughter he would have never left. My father leaving impacted my mental health growing up and affected my relationships. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. This affected my outlook on love and relationships. Not only did his absence affect my mental health but heavily impacted my opportunities. My father didn't support my family financially so my mother had a lot of stress put on her to be able to provide for me. Although it was a difficult adjustment my mother used it as an opportunity to teach me faith. Although my family is nowhere near wealthy I have always felt rich from the love and encouragement my mother gave me. My mother has always made it a priority to work extremely hard to provide for my sister and my education. Her hard work ethic has inspired me to be the best version of myself. Her constant support has allowed me to maintain a 4.0 GPA and school involvement. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education.

As a Business Law major, I want to make a positive impact in the world by working within immigration law. Being raised by a Hispanic family in a primarily white community led me to feel isolated. I understand how it feels to be a part of the minority and the negative impacts that can cause. For that reason, I hope to create change within public policy to ensure equality throughout the country. Applying my education and knowledge to my future career will allow me to change the lives of many and help those in need. This scholarship would help me reach this goal by giving me the financial resources to continue my higher education. My parents came to the United States from Guatemala before they had the opportunity to even attend high school. I am inspired by their story to work extremely hard in school. I am confident that I will excel in college as I have already obtained a 4.0 GPA within my first year at ASU. Not only do I want to graduate but I also want to fully immerse myself on campus. As an executive member of the Undergraduate Law Association and Kappa Kappa Gamma, I continue to seek opportunities for student involvement and leadership. The opportunity I have to further my education is one my parents did not have therefore I am motivated to fully take advantage of every opportunity. I will continue to study diligently and build new connections to achieve my educational goal. I plan on attending Law School after graduation. Becoming a lawyer has been a goal of mine to be able to help provide legal representation for those who are underrepresented. As a lawyer, I will also be able to help offer legal counseling to help others fully understand their rights. Having the ability to promote social justice and systematic change through policy and advocacy work is my long-term goal. Seeing the difficulties my Mother faced while achieving her citizenship has drawn me to this career and being able to help other immigrants. I know many family members who are still in the long process of receiving citizenship and dream of making a difference firsthand. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. After graduating with a bachelor's degree I plan on creating an organization to help provide resources and support to first-generation students. Within my job at the Financial Aid Center at ASU, I have learned about many resources that most first-generation students never get taught about. It is difficult for students to transition to college without advice about what to expect from their parents. Providing support throughout their Freshman has the ability to make a great impact throughout their 4 years of College. By continuing to network and build experience through internships and student organizations I am confident that I will be able to make a change within the legal industry.

As a Business Law major, I want to make a positive impact in the world by working within immigration law. Being raised by a Hispanic family in a primarily white community led me to feel isolated. I understand how it feels to be a part of the minority and the negative impacts that can cause. For that reason, I hope to create change within public policy to ensure equality throughout the country. Applying my education and knowledge to my future career will allow me to change the lives of many and help those in need. This scholarship would help me reach this goal by giving me the financial resources to continue my higher education. I plan on attending Law School after graduation. Becoming a lawyer has been a goal of mine to be able to help provide legal representation for those who are underrepresented. As a lawyer, I will also be able to help offer legal counseling to help others fully understand their rights. Having the ability to promote social justice and systematic change through policy and advocacy work is my long-term goal. Seeing the difficulties my Mother faced while achieving her citizenship has drawn me to this career and being able to help other immigrants. I know many family members who are still in the long process of receiving citizenship and dream of making a difference firsthand. After graduating with a bachelor's degree I plan on creating an organization to help provide resources and support to first-generation students. Within my job at the Financial Aid Center at ASU, I have learned about many resources that most first-generation students never get taught about. It is difficult for students to transition to college without advice about what to expect from their parents. Providing support throughout their Freshman has the ability to make a great impact throughout their 4 years of College. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. This goal is certainly possible once I finish my education at Arizona State University and obtain my bachelor's in Business Law. By continuing to network and build experience through internships and student organizations I am confident that I will be able to make a change within the legal industry.

Seeing my father leave my childhood home led me to question my self-worth. I believed that if I were a better daughter he would have never left. My father leaving impacted my mental health growing up and affected my relationships. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. I started to develop signs of depression at a very young age. By age 12 I was put on my first antidepressant and believed that everything would simply get better. Being a first-generation I always felt the pressure to achieve great things to make my mother proud. My anxiety continued to build but I always believed I would just be able to hold it in. I lived this way for four years and simply accepted that I would never find happiness within myself. One day my physical body could no longer handle the anxiety and stress within me. It was 3:00 am and I woke up from my sleep having an anxiety attack and genuinely felt that I could not breathe. I gasped for air and my mother frantically tried to figure out what was wrong as she called 911. When the EMTs arrived they began to calm me down as they asked my mother questions. As they asked my mother if I had struggled with anxiety in the past I felt embarrassed and ashamed. Mental health illnesses have always been associated with a negative stigma and I strangely felt guilty for causing my mother so much stress. As they took me to the emergency room I felt a shift in my perspective. I finally realized that mental health was truly as important as one’s physical health. My body had shut down from my mental health and I felt physically weak. This was a turning point for me where I told myself that I would begin to search for a way to find happiness within. I got in touch with a therapist who helped me better myself. Being able to work on my anxiety and finally prioritize my mental health has added great value to my life. I know that I am nowhere near perfect but I have certainly taken steps in the right direction. Ever since working on my mental health, I have become a huge advocate for breaking the negative stigma around mental health issues. I partnered with a clothing brand to promote a self-care collection where the proceeds went towards mental health research and resources. I strive to continue showing people that happiness can be found and to not be defeated by the daunting idea of having a mental health illness.

Both of my parents came to the United States from Guatemala when they were just 15 years old, in the hope of providing a better life for their future families. Their journey began by sleeping in garages but, through hard work, they accomplished their dream of owning a home in Minnesota. This taught me that anything I set my mind to was possible. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. I now know how far my confidence can bring me. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. Since my parents did not come from much they have always instilled in me to give back to those in need whenever possible. When they first came to the United States they had hoped for someone to help them. For that reason, I want to be a helping hand to others. I have always strived to give back and use my knowledge to help those in need. I currently work at the financial aid office on my campus and find great joy in being able to assist others with financial needs because I know how stressful it can be. Although my parents have worked incredibly hard to provide for me, college remains very expensive and a constant worry. Having the opportunity to be able to provide other families with guidance and help remove that stress has been a blessing. My parent’s story and passion for helping others also inspired me to major in business. I want to create a significant change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. As a marketing major, I want to make a positive impact in the world by creating inclusive marketing campaigns. I understand how it feels to be different and excluded. Being raised by a Hispanic family in a primarily white community led me to feel isolated. For that reason, I want to create inclusive campaigns that have diverse perspectives. By avoiding stereotypes I can create and inspire inclusivity. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my parents did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education.

My passion for inspiring growth and helping others has inspired me to major in business. I want to create a significant change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. As a marketing major, I want to make a positive impact in the world by promoting sustainable practices and creating inclusive marketing campaigns. I understand how it feels to be different and excluded. Being raised by a Hispanic family in a primarily white community led me to feel isolated. For that reason, I want to create inclusive campaigns that have diverse perspectives. By avoiding stereotypes I can create and inspire inclusivity. I have persevered through many challenges while trying to obtain a higher education. Growing up in a small town with kids whose upbringings were dissimilar to my own forced me to grow up extremely fast. Attending a school with a majority of white students was strenuous because I didn’t look like everyone else. This caused me to feel alienated and shattered my confidence. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. The most significant challenge I have overcome is my father leaving my childhood home. Seeing my father leave my childhood home led me to question my self-worth. I believed that if I were a better daughter he would have never left. My father leaving impacted my mental health growing up and affected my relationships. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. This affected my outlook on love and relationships. Not only did his absence affect my mental health but heavily impacted my opportunities. My father didn't support my family financially so my mother had a lot of stress put on her to be able to provide for me. As a first-generation student, it is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I have always worked my hardest to be able to achieve my goals. It wasn't until I changed my outlook that I felt less anxiety and stress. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. She taught me to be an independent woman and that I am still fully capable of being successful on my own. I learned how to provide for myself, which led to my confidence in being able to achieve anything. I now know how far my confidence can bring me. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education.

I am a first-generation student who was raised by a single mother from Guatemala. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. I grew up in a small town with kids whose upbringings were dissimilar to my own which forced me to grow up extremely fast. Attending a school with a majority of white students was strenuous because I didn’t look like everyone else. This caused me to feel alienated and shattered my confidence. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. I have faced lots of hardships trying to further my education. Both of my parents came to the United States from Guatemala when they were just 15 years old, in the hope of providing a better life for their future families. Through hard work, they accomplished their dream of owning a home in Minnesota. This taught me that anything I set my mind to was possible. Despite my hard work ethic, college remains very expensive and a constant worry for me. I have worked in the past to help save money but I remain in need of financial assistance. A passion of mine is giving back to the community. I understand what it is like to be in need so I do the best I can to help others during difficult times. In high school, I was part of a club named DECA where I led two community service projects. In the fall we collected hygiene products to donate to the local community shelter. In the winter we collected necessities like gloves, hats, and scarves. In Minnesota, it reaches below zero degrees in the winter and many kids walk to school and can't afford these necessities so it helped others immensely. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. As a marketing major I hope to make a positive impact in the world by promoting sustainable practices and creating inclusive marketing campaigns. Many people are underrepresented within marketing and I want to change that. I understand how it feels to be different and the negative impacts that can cause. For that reason, I want to create inclusive campaigns that have diverse perspectives. By avoiding stereotypes I can promote an accurate representation of the diverse world we live in. Representing various backgrounds and perspectives will create and inspire inclusivity. This scholarship would give me the financial resources to further my education, reach my dreams of social change, and build confidence in others. Not only could this money help build a better life for myself but it would grant me the resources to serve others.

I want to further my education so that I can eventually give back to others. I am planning on majoring in business marketing while also obtaining my esthetician license. In the future, I hope to open a med spa to be able to make others feel confident in their skin. Throughout my career, I want to be able to make others feel beautiful and embrace their beauty. Growing up my sister had cystic acne which shattered her confidence. Seeing this happen with my sister inspired me to help others achieve their dream skin goals. I am passionate about helping others achieve happiness and confidence. I hope to further make a positive impact in the world and furthering my education will certainly help me achieve that goal. Despite being in a new setting in college I am confident that I will be able to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. I currently go to the gym to weightlift six times a week and meal prep all three of my meals. I have been faced with many challenges throughout my switch to building a healthier lifestyle. My mother works long hours to be able to provide for me so I have spent lots of time learning how to meal prep healthy and create sustainable meals. I grew up with anxiety and depression and creating a healthier lifestyle has helped me become much happier. After seeing the positive physical and mental benefits of this lifestyle I strive to continue these habits throughout college. I have scheduled times to go to the gym around my hectic schedule. Growing up with mental health issues has made me feel isolated but building a community with others in the gym who are also motivated to have similar lifestyles has built my confidence. Building confidence is so important for mental health which is why I am a huge advocate for supporting those with mental health issues. I have worked with brands on social media previously through a “Mental Health Matters” campaign where I promoted a clothing line that spoke on mental health issues. For every garment sold a portion was donated to support mental health research and resources. I am passionate about helping others achieve happiness and confidence and I believe this can be started through healthy eating. As a first-generation student, I am motivated and confident in my ability to strive in college. This scholarship can provide financial relief for me and give me the resources to further my education and reach my ultimate goal of giving back to others.

My health journey has been very complicated but has instilled a passion for a better life. My mother came to the United States from Guatemala when she was just 15 years old. Her journey began by sleeping in garages but through hard work, she accomplished her dream of owning a home. This taught me that anything I set my mind to was possible. Therefore, I was motivated to create a healthy lifestyle from a young age. When I was younger I was in competitive gymnastics and cheerleading. It felt like everyone around me was extremely skinny so I began to become anxious over my weight and tracking calories. I was constantly skipping meals in hopes to look like everyone around me. This constant fear led me to have anxiety and depression. After years of being unconfident, I was ready for a change. I joined a weightlifting gym and it felt like a whole new world was set in front of me. I was now surrounded by a completely different body type. Everyone was extremely muscular and strong. I started off slow but eventually became so amused by the culture within the gym. I grew a passion to become the strongest version of myself. I now attend the gym six times a week with high-intensity workouts. My mother works long hours to be able to provide for me so I began to learn how to meal prep for myself rather than eating processed foods. I have completely fallen in love with the positive impacts that meal prepping has on me. I am no longer anxious over food but now believe that food is fuel. I can feel the positive benefits that my diet has on me both mentally and physically. Growing up with anxiety and depression made me feel isolated but building a community with others in the gym who are also motivated to have similar lifestyles has built my confidence. Building confidence is so important for mental health which is why I am a huge advocate for supporting those with mental health issues. I have worked with brands on social media previously through a “Mental Health Matters” campaign where I promoted a clothing line that spoke on mental health issues. For every garment sold a portion was donated to support mental health research and resources. I am passionate about helping others achieve happiness and confidence and I believe this can be started through healthy eating. As a first-generation student, I am motivated and confident in my ability to strive in college. This scholarship can provide financial relief for me and give me the resources to further my education and reach my ultimate goal of giving back to others.

A positive shift in my eating habits has created a complete lifestyle change. At the beginning of the year, I felt sluggish, slow, and unproductive. I have always been moderately active in sports including dance and cheerleading but never reached my full potential. My mother came to the United States from Guatemala when she was just 15 years old. Her journey began by sleeping in garages but through hard work, she accomplished her dream of owning a home. This taught me that anything I set my mind to was possible. Therefore, I was motivated to create a healthy lifestyle from a young age. Starting at just a young age my eating habits began to become very unhealthy. I was constantly skipping meals to remain small and was anxious about overheating. Years went by of being scared of the scale but then I began to weight lift. Going from a cheerleading and dance background many around me were very skinny. Seeing the strength of people at the gym motivated me to become much stronger and gain muscle. At this point, I was no longer afraid of calories and began to increase my calorie and protein intake. I began lifting 6 days a week with high intensity but was missing out on so much muscle growth due to the amount of processed foods I was still eating. My mother works long hours and is typically not home enough to make me any meals so I learned how to meal prep. I now meal prep all 3 of my daily meals. This shift has not only shown me positive physical impacts but as well as a mental switch. I've become much more productive and become happier. I have grown up with depression and anxiety and eating healthier has helped my mental health tremendously. Building confidence is so important for mental health which is why I am a huge advocate for supporting those with mental health issues. I have worked with brands on social media previously through a “Mental Health Matters” campaign where I promoted a clothing line that spoke on mental health issues. For every garment sold a portion was donated to support mental health research and resources. I am passionate about helping others achieve happiness and confidence and I believe this can be started through healthy eating. As a first-generation student, I am motivated and confident in my ability to strive in college. This scholarship can provide financial relief for me and give me the resources to further my education and reach my ultimate goal of giving back to others.

Growing up in a small town with kids whose upbringings were dissimilar to my own forced me to grow up extremely fast. Attending a school with a majority of white students was strenuous because I didn’t look like everyone else. This caused me to feel alienated and shattered my confidence. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. I have faced lots of hardships trying to further my education. Both of my parents came to the United States from Guatemala when they were just 15 years old, in the hope of providing a better life for their future families. Their journey began by sleeping in garages but, through hard work, they accomplished their dream of owning a home in Minnesota. This taught me that anything I set my mind to was possible. I learned that I could achieve any goal I had because I learned that my differences could benefit me to be my best self. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. I now know how far my confidence can bring me. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education. Despite her hard work ethic, college remains very expensive and a constant worry for me. I have worked in the past to help save money but I remain in need of financial assistance. As a first-generation student, I am motivated and confident in my ability to strive in college. This scholarship can provide financial relief for me. My future goal is to give others the opportunity to become confident within their own skin. I plan on opening a med spa in the future to help others feel beautiful in their skin. I am currently in a cosmetology program working to obtain my esthetician license and further my knowledge of the skin. Seeing my sister grow up with acne and watching it shatter her confidence inspired me to be able to help others with skincare issues. Throughout high school, I have constantly given back to the community. In school, I was part of a club named DECA which led two community service projects. In the fall we collected hygiene products to donate to the local community shelter. In the winter we collected necessities like gloves, hats, and scarves. In Minnesota, it reaches below zero degrees in the winter and many kids walk to school and can't afford these necessities so it helped others immensely. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. This scholarship would give me the financial resources to further my education and reach my dreams of building confidence in others. Not only could this money help build a better life for myself but it would grant me the resources to serve others.

I strive to make the community a better place. In school, I was part of a club named DECA which led two community service projects. In the fall we collected hygiene products to donate to the local community shelter. This helped students who couldn't afford hygiene products. In the winter we collected necessities like gloves, hats, and scarves. In Minnesota, it reaches below zero degrees in the winter and many kids walk to school and can't afford these necessities so it helped others immensely. During this time I also made tie blankets for the homeless with a school club named FCCLA. The winter can be fatal for the homeless so something as small as a blanket can create a large impact. Volunteer work has shown me that you never know what others around you are going through. This shifted my mindset and inspired me to constantly give back to others and be a beacon of positivity within the community. My parents came to the United States from Guatemala when they were just 15 years old, in hope of providing a better life for their future families. Their journey began by sleeping in garages but, through hard work, they accomplished their dream of owning a home in Minnesota. This taught me that anything I set my mind to was possible. I learned that I could achieve any goal I had because I learned that my differences could benefit me to be my best self. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education. Despite hard work ethic, college remains very expensive and a constant worry for me. I have worked in the past to help save money but I remain in need of financial assistance. As a first-generation student, I am motivated and confident in my ability to strive in college. This scholarship can provide financial relief for me. My future goal is to give others the opportunity to become confident within their own skin. I plan on opening a med spa in the future to help others feel beautiful in their skin. I am currently working to obtain my esthetician license and further my knowledge of the skin. Seeing my sister grow up with acne and watching it shatter her confidence inspired me to be able to help others with skincare issues. Building confidence is so important for mental health which is why I am a huge advocate for supporting those with mental health issues. I have worked with brands on social media previously through a “Mental Health Matters” campaign where I promoted a clothing line that spoke on mental health issues. For every garment sold a portion was donated to support mental health research and resources. I am passionate about helping others achieve happiness and confidence and I believe this can be gained through confidence within the skin. I hope to further make a positive impact in the world and furthering my education will certainly help me achieve that goal. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. This scholarship would give me the financial resources to further my education and reach my dreams of building confidence within others.

My interpretation of love was defined by the way my parents treated each other. Seeing my father leave my childhood home led me to question my self-worth. I believed that if I was a better daughter he would have never left. My father leaving impacted my self-worth growing up and affected my relationships. My mental health journey has been incredibly long. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. Anxiety and Depression became my new normal and learning coping mechanisms began at a young age. Nevertheless, my mother worked tremendously hard to fill my life with as much love as she possibly could. This affected my outlook on love and relationships. She taught me to be an independent woman and that I am still fully capable of being successful on my own. I’ve achieved athletic goals such as attending nationals for dance and cheerleading with the confidence and work ethic I learned from my mother. I learned how to provide for myself, which led to my confidence in being able to achieve anything. Additionally, my mother instilled values of respect and kindness for not only others but myself. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my anxiety and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. I now know how far my confidence can bring me. My struggles with mental health have inspired me to help others grow their confidence. My future goal is to give others the opportunity to become confident within their own skin. I plan on opening a med spa in the future to help others feel beautiful in their skin. I am currently in a cosmetology program working to obtain my esthetician license and further my knowledge of the skin. Seeing my sister grow up with acne and watching it shatter her confidence inspired me to be able to help others with skincare issues. I have also worked with brands on social media previously through a “Mental Health Matters” campaign where I promoted a clothing line that spoke on mental health issues. For every garment sold a portion was donated to support mental health research and resources. I am passionate about helping others achieve happiness and confidence and I believe this can be gained through confidence within the skin. I hope to further make a positive impact in the world and furthering my education will certainly help me achieve that goal. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education. This scholarship would help me further my passion for building confidence within a community and inspire others to dream big.

Adversity challenged me to understand the importance of self-determination from a young age. Both of my parents came to the United States from Guatemala when they were just 15 years old, in hope of providing a better life for their future families. Their journey began by sleeping in garages but, through hard work, they accomplished their dream of owning a home in Minnesota. This taught me that anything I set my mind to was possible. I learned that I could achieve any goal I had because I learned that my differences could benefit me to be my best self. Growing up in a small town with kids whose upbringings were dissimilar to my own forced me to grow up extremely fast. Attending a school with a majority of white students was strenuous because I didn’t look like everyone else. This caused me to feel alienated and shattered my confidence. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. I have not only overcome societal hardships but mental trials surrounding my parents’ relationship. My interpretation of love was defined by the way my parents treated each other. Seeing my father leave my childhood home led me to question my self-worth. I believed that if I was a better daughter he would have never left. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. Nevertheless, my mother worked tremendously hard to fill my life with as much love as she possibly could. This affected my outlook on love and relationships. She taught me to be an independent woman and that I am still fully capable of being successful on my own. I’ve achieved athletic goals such as attending nationals for dance and cheerleading with the confidence and work ethic I learned from my mother. I learned how to provide for myself, which led to my confidence in being able to achieve anything. Additionally, my mother instilled values of respect and kindness for not only others but myself. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. Hyper fixating on my grades and always being expected to be perfect drew me to great exhaustion and fear of disappointing my parents. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. I now know how far my confidence can bring me. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education. I am planning on majoring in business marketing while also obtaining my esthetician license. In the future, I hope on opening a med spa to be able to make others feel confident in their skin. Throughout my career, I want to be able to make others feel beautiful and embrace their skin. I am passionate about helping others achieve happiness and confidence and I believe this can be gained through confidence within the skin. I hope to further make a positive impact in the world and furthering my education will help me achieve that goal.

Growing up in a small town with kids whose upbringings were dissimilar to my own forced me to grow up extremely fast. Attending a school with a majority of white students was strenuous because I didn’t look like everyone else. This caused me to feel alienated and shattered my confidence. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. I have faced lots of hardships trying to further my education. Both of my parents came to the United States from Guatemala when they were just 15 years old, in hope of providing a better life for their future families. Their journey began by sleeping in garages but, through hard work, they accomplished their dream of owning a home in Minnesota. This taught me that anything I set my mind to was possible. I learned that I could achieve any goal I had because I learned that my differences could benefit me to be my best self. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. I now know how far my confidence can bring me. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education. Despite her hard work ethic, college remains very expensive and a constant worry for me. I have worked in the past to help save money but I remain in need of financial assistance. As a first-generation student, I am motivated and confident in my ability to strive in college. This scholarship can provide financial relief for me. My future goal is to give others the opportunity to become confident within their own skin. I plan on opening a med spa in the future to help others feel beautiful in their skin. I am currently in a cosmetology program working to obtain my esthetician license and further my knowledge of the skin. Seeing my sister grow up with acne and watching it shatter her confidence inspired me to be able to help others with skincare issues. Building confidence is so important for mental health which is why I am a huge advocate for supporting those with mental health issues. I have worked with brands on social media previously through a “Mental Health Matters” campaign where I promoted a clothing line that spoke on mental health issues. For every garment sold a portion was donated to support mental health research and resources. I am passionate about helping others achieve happiness and confidence and I believe this can be gained through confidence within the skin. I hope to further make a positive impact in the world and furthering my education will certainly help me achieve that goal. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. This scholarship would give me the financial resources to further my education and reach my dreams of building confidence within others.

I want to continue my education to help others in the future and this scholarship would help me achieve my goals. I am planning on majoring in business marketing while also obtaining my esthetician license. In the future, I hope on opening a med spa to be able to make others feel confident in their skin. I am currently enrolled in a cosmetology program to learn more about the skin. Throughout my career, I want to be able to make others feel beautiful and embrace their beauty. Growing up my sister had cystic acne which shattered her confidence. Seeing this happen with my sister inspired me to help others achieve their dream skin goals. I am passionate about helping others achieve happiness and confidence. I hope to further make a positive impact in the world and furthering my education will certainly help me achieve that goal. I strive to make the community a better place. In school, I was part of a club named DECA which led two community service projects. In the fall we collected hygiene products to donate to the local community shelter. This helped students who couldn't afford hygiene products. In the winter we collected necessities like gloves, hats, and scarves. In Minnesota, it reaches below zero degrees in the winter and many kids walk to school and can't afford these necessities so it helped others immensely. I plan on continuing my acts of service all throughout my life. This scholarship will help allow me to further my education. I come from a low-income household and was raised by a single mother. Both of my parents came to the United States from Guatemala when they were just 15 years old, in hope of providing a better life for their future families. Their journey began by sleeping in garages but, through hard work, they accomplished their dream of owning a home in Minnesota. This taught me that anything I set my mind to was possible. I learned that I could achieve any goal I had because I learned that my differences could benefit me to be my best self. Despite my mothers hard work ethic, college remains very expensive and a constant worry for me. I have worked in the past to help save money but I remain in need of financial assistance. As a first-generation student, I am motivated and confident in my ability to strive in college. This scholarship can provide financial relief for me. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. This scholarship would help allow me to achieve my goal of helping others. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education.

The dream version of myself is a beacon of positivity, inspiring others to dream huge, create change and build genuine connections.

Many setbacks and challenges shaped me into who I am and inspired my set of goals. Growing up in a small town with kids whose upbringings were dissimilar to my own forced me to grow up extremely fast. This caused me to feel alienated and shattered my confidence. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. I have not only overcome societal hardships but mental trials surrounding my parents’ relationship. Seeing my father leave my childhood home led me to question my self-worth. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. Nevertheless, my mother worked tremendously hard to fill my life with as much love as she possibly could. This affected my outlook on love and relationships. She taught me to be an independent woman and that I am still fully capable of being successful on my own. I’ve achieved athletic goals such as attending nationals for dance and cheerleading with the confidence and work ethic I learned from my mother. I learned how to provide for myself, which led to my confidence in being able to achieve anything. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. My future goal is to give others the opportunity to become confident within their own skin. I plan on opening a med spa in the future to help others feel beautiful in their skin. I am currently in a cosmetology program working to obtain my esthetician license and further my knowledge of the skin. Throughout highschool I have constantly given back to the community. In school, I was part of a club named DECA which led two community service projects. In the fall we collected hygiene products to donate to the local community shelter. In the winter we collected necessities like gloves, hats, and scarves. In Minnesota, it reaches below zero degrees in the winter and many kids walk to school and can't afford these necessities so it helped others immensely. These projects have all taught me the importance of giving back. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. This scholarship would give me the financial resources to further my education and reach my dreams of building confidence within others. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education.

Growing up in a small town with kids whose upbringings were dissimilar to my own forced me to grow up extremely fast. Attending a school with a majority of white students was strenuous because I didn’t look like everyone else. This caused me to feel alienated and shattered my confidence. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. I have faced lots of hardships trying to further my education. Both of my parents came to the United States from Guatemala when they were just 15 years old, in hope of providing a better life for their future families. Their journey began by sleeping in garages but, through hard work, they accomplished their dream of owning a home in Minnesota. This taught me that anything I set my mind to was possible. I learned that I could achieve any goal I had because I learned that my differences could benefit me to be my best self. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education. Despite her hard work ethic, college remains very expensive and a constant worry for me. I have worked in the past to help save money but I remain in need of financial assistance. As a first-generation student, I am motivated and confident in my ability to strive in college. My future goal is to give others the opportunity to become confident within their own skin. I plan on opening a med spa in the future to help others feel beautiful in their skin. I am currently in a cosmetology program working to obtain my esthetician license and further my knowledge of the skin. Seeing my sister grow up with acne and watching it shatter her confidence inspired me to be able to help others with skincare issues. Throughout highschool I have constantly given back to the community. In school, I was part of a club named DECA which led two community service projects. In the fall we collected hygiene products to donate to the local community shelter. In the winter we collected necessities like gloves, hats, and scarves. In Minnesota, it reaches below zero degrees in the winter and many kids walk to school and can't afford these necessities so it helped others immensely. During this time I also made tie blankets for the homeless with a school club named FCCLA. The winter can be fatal for the homeless so something as small as a blanket can create a large impact. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. This scholarship would give me the financial resources to further my education and reach my dreams of building confidence within others. Not only could this money help build a better life for myself but it would grant me the resources to serve others.

My interpretation of love was defined by the way my parents treated each other. Seeing my father leave my childhood home led me to question my self-worth. I believed that if I was a better daughter he would have never left. My father leaving impacted my self-worth growing up and affected my relationships. My mental health journey has been incredibly long. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. Anxiety and Depression became my new normal and learning coping mechanisms began at a young age. Nevertheless, my mother worked tremendously hard to fill my life with as much love as she possibly could. This affected my outlook on love and relationships. She taught me to be an independent woman and that I am still fully capable of being successful on my own. I’ve achieved athletic goals such as attending nationals for dance and cheerleading with the confidence and work ethic I learned from my mother. I learned how to provide for myself, which led to my confidence in being able to achieve anything. Additionally, my mother instilled values of respect and kindness for not only others but myself. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my anxiety and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. I now know how far my confidence can bring me. My struggles with mental health have inspired me to help others grow their confidence. My future goal is to give others the opportunity to become confident within their own skin. I plan on opening a med spa in the future to help others feel beautiful in their skin. I am currently in a cosmetology program working to obtain my esthetician license and further my knowledge of the skin. Seeing my sister grow up with acne and watching it shatter her confidence inspired me to be able to help others with skincare issues. I have also worked with brands on social media previously through a “Mental Health Matters” campaign where I promoted a clothing line that spoke on mental health issues. For every garment sold a portion was donated to support mental health research and resources. I am passionate about helping others achieve happiness and confidence and I believe this can be gained through confidence within the skin. I hope to further make a positive impact in the world and furthering my education will certainly help me achieve that goal. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education. This scholarship would help me further my passion for building confidence within a community and inspire others to dream big.

Cely. A name to others that may not be important but to me is the reason I am able to pursue my dreams. My mother Cely came to the United States from Guatemala when she was just 15 years old, in hope of providing a better life for her future family. Her journey began by sleeping in garages but, through hard work, she accomplished her dream of owning a home in Minnesota. This taught me that anything I set my mind to was possible. I learned that I could achieve any goal I had because I learned that my differences could benefit me to be my best self. Growing up in a small town with kids whose upbringings were dissimilar to my own forced me to grow up extremely fast. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. I have not only overcome societal hardships but mental trials surrounding my parents’ relationship. My interpretation of love was defined by the way my parents treated each other. Seeing my father leave my childhood home led me to question my self-worth. I believed that if I was a better daughter he would have never left. My father leaving impacted my self-worth growing up and affected my relationships. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. Nevertheless, my mother worked tremendously hard to fill my life with as much love as she possibly could. This affected my outlook on love and relationships. She taught me to be an independent woman and that I am still fully capable of being successful on my own. I’ve achieved athletic goals such as attending nationals for dance and cheerleading with the confidence and work ethic I learned from my mother. I learned how to provide for myself, which led to my confidence in being able to achieve anything. Additionally, my mother instilled values of respect and kindness for not only others but myself. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. I now know how far my confidence can bring me. This scholarship will help give me the opportunity to further my education. Despite my mothers hard work ethic, college still remains very expensive and a constant worry for me. I have worked in the past to help save money but still remain in need of financial assistance. As a first-generation student, I am motivated and confident in my ability to strive in college. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education.

My interpretation of love was defined by the way my parents treated each other. Seeing my father leave my childhood home led me to question my self-worth. I believed that if I was a better daughter he would have never left. My father leaving impacted my self-worth growing up and affected my relationships. My mental health journey has been incredibly long. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. Anxiety and Depression became my new normal and learning coping mechanisms began at a young age. Nevertheless, my mother worked tremendously hard to fill my life with as much love as she possibly could. This affected my outlook on love and relationships. She taught me to be an independent woman and that I am still fully capable of being successful on my own. I’ve achieved athletic goals such as attending nationals for dance and cheerleading with the confidence and work ethic I learned from my mother. I learned how to provide for myself, which led to my confidence in being able to achieve anything. Additionally, my mother instilled values of respect and kindness for not only others but myself. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my anxiety and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. I now know how far my confidence can bring me. My struggles with mental health have inspired me to help others grow their confidence. My future goal is to give others the opportunity to become confident within their own skin. I plan on opening a med spa in the future to help others feel beautiful in their skin. I am currently in a cosmetology program working to obtain my esthetician license and further my knowledge of the skin. Seeing my sister grow up with acne and watching it shatter her confidence inspired me to be able to help others with skincare issues. I have also worked with brands on social media previously through a “Mental Health Matters” campaign where I promoted a clothing line that spoke on mental health issues. For every garment sold a portion was donated to support mental health research and resources. I am passionate about helping others achieve happiness and confidence and I believe this can be gained through confidence within the skin. I hope to further make a positive impact in the world and furthering my education will certainly help me achieve that goal. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education. This scholarship would help me further my passion for building confidence within a community and inspire others to dream big.

Growing up in a small town with kids whose upbringings were dissimilar to my own forced me to grow up extremely fast. Attending a school with a majority of white students was strenuous because I didn’t look like everyone else. This caused me to feel alienated and shattered my confidence. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. I have faced lots of hardships trying to further my education. Both of my parents came to the United States from Guatemala when they were just 15 years old, in hope of providing a better life for their future families. Their journey began by sleeping in garages but, through hard work, they accomplished their dream of owning a home in Minnesota. This taught me that anything I set my mind to was possible. I learned that I could achieve any goal I had because I learned that my differences could benefit me to be my best self. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. I now know how far my confidence can bring me. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education. Despite her hard work ethic, college remains very expensive and a constant worry for me. I have worked in the past to help save money but I remain in need of financial assistance. As a first-generation student, I am motivated and confident in my ability to strive in college. This scholarship can provide financial relief for me. My future goal is to give others the opportunity to become confident within their own skin. I plan on opening a med spa in the future to help others feel beautiful in their skin. I am currently in a cosmetology program working to obtain my esthetician license and further my knowledge of the skin. Seeing my sister grow up with acne and watching it shatter her confidence inspired me to be able to help others with skincare issues. Throughout highschool I have constantly given back to the community. In school, I was part of a club named DECA which led two community service projects. In the fall we collected hygiene products to donate to the local community shelter. In the winter we collected necessities like gloves, hats, and scarves. In Minnesota, it reaches below zero degrees in the winter and many kids walk to school and can't afford these necessities so it helped others immensely. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. This scholarship would give me the financial resources to further my education and reach my dreams of building confidence within others. Not only could this money help build a better life for myself but it would grant me the resources to serve others.

Adversity challenged me to understand the importance of self-determination from a young age. Both of my parents came to the United States from Guatemala when they were just 15 years old, in hope of providing a better life for their future families. Their journey began by sleeping in garages but, through hard work, they accomplished their dream of owning a home in Minnesota. I learned that I could achieve any goal I had because I learned that my differences could benefit me to be my best self. Growing up in a small town with kids whose upbringings were dissimilar to my own forced me to grow up extremely fast. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. I have not only overcome societal hardships but mental trials surrounding my parents’ relationship. My interpretation of love was defined by the way my parents treated each other. Seeing my father leave my childhood home led me to question my self-worth. I believed that if I was a better daughter he would have never left. My father leaving impacted my self-worth growing up and affected my relationships. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. Nevertheless, my mother worked tremendously hard to fill my life with as much love as she possibly could. This affected my outlook on love and relationships. She taught me to be an independent woman and that I am still fully capable of being successful on my own. I’ve achieved athletic goals such as attending nationals for dance and cheerleading with the confidence and work ethic I learned from my mother. I learned how to provide for myself, which led to my confidence in being able to achieve anything. Additionally, my mother instilled values of respect and kindness for not only others but myself. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. I now know how far my confidence can bring me. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education.

Many setbacks and challenges shaped me into who I am and inspired my set of goals. Growing up in a small town with kids whose upbringings were dissimilar to my own forced me to grow up extremely fast. This caused me to feel alienated and shattered my confidence. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. I have not only overcome societal hardships but mental trials surrounding my parents’ relationship. My interpretation of love was defined by the way my parents treated each other. Seeing my father leave my childhood home led me to question my self-worth. I believed that if I was a better daughter he would have never left. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. Nevertheless, my mother worked tremendously hard to fill my life with as much love as she possibly could. This affected my outlook on love and relationships. She taught me to be an independent woman and that I am still fully capable of being successful on my own. I’ve achieved athletic goals such as attending nationals for dance and cheerleading with the confidence and work ethic I learned from my mother. I learned how to provide for myself, which led to my confidence in being able to achieve anything. Additionally, my mother instilled values of respect and kindness for not only others but myself. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education. This scholarship will help give me the opportunity to further my education. I come from a low-income household and was raised by a single mother. Despite her hard work ethic, college still remains very expensive and a constant worry for me. I have worked in the past to help save money but still remain in need of financial assistance. As a first-generation student, I am motivated and confident in my ability to strive in college. This scholarship can provide financial relief for me. I want to continue my education to help others in the future and this scholarship would help me achieve my goals.

Many setbacks and challenges shaped me into who I am and inspired my set of goals. Growing up in a small town with kids whose upbringings were dissimilar to my own forced me to grow up extremely fast. Attending a school with a majority of white students was strenuous because I didn’t look like everyone else. This caused me to feel alienated and shattered my confidence. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. Throughout highschool I was involved in competitive and highschool dance and cheer as well as many clubs including, DECA, FCCLA, Current Affairs, Women For Change, Chess Club and managing the winter dance team. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. Seeing my father leave my childhood home led me to question my self-worth. I believed that if I was a better daughter he would have never left. My father leaving impacted my self-worth growing up and affected my relationships. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. Nevertheless, my mother worked tremendously hard to fill my life with as much love as she possibly could. This affected my outlook on love and relationships. She taught me to be an independent woman and that I am still fully capable of being successful on my own. I’ve achieved athletic goals such as attending nationals for dance and cheerleading with the confidence and work ethic I learned from my mother. I learned how to provide for myself, which led to my confidence in being able to achieve anything. Additionally, my mother instilled values of respect and kindness for not only others but myself. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education. This scholarship will help give me the opportunity to further my education. I come from a low-income household and was raised by a single mother. Despite hard work ethic, college still remains very expensive and a constant worry for me. I have worked in the past to help save money but still remain in need of financial assistance. As a first-generation student, I am motivated and confident in my ability to strive in college. This scholarship can provide financial relief for me. I want to continue my education to help others in the future and this scholarship would help me achieve my goals.

This scholarship will help give me the opportunity to further my education. I come from a low-income household and was raised by a single mother. Despite her hard work ethic, college still remains very expensive and a constant worry for me. I have worked in the past to help save money but still remain in need of financial assistance. As a first-generation student, I am motivated and confident in my ability to strive in college. This scholarship can provide financial relief for me. I want to continue my education to help others in the future and this scholarship would help me achieve my goals. I am planning on majoring in business marketing while also obtaining my esthetician license. In the future, I hope on opening a med spa to be able to make others feel confident in their skin. I am currently enrolled in a cosmetology program to learn more about the skin. Throughout my career, I want to be able to make others feel beautiful and embrace their skin. Growing up my sister had cystic acne which shattered her confidence. Seeing this happen with my sister inspired me to help others achieve their dream skin goals. I am passionate about helping others achieve happiness and confidence and I believe this can be gained through confidence within the skin. I hope to further make a positive impact in the world and furthering my education will certainly help me achieve that goal. My sister and I learned from a young age how to be independent and hardworking. My mom worked every day of the week growing up trying to provide for my sister and me. I worked while in high school as well my sister because money has always been a stressor for my family. Seeing my mom's hard work ethic inspired me to work my hardest in school. My goal as a first-generation student has always been to attend college. My mother has shaped me into who I am and taught me to treat everyone with kindness. I learned to be grateful for every opportunity I have received. As a Hispanic woman, I faced many stereotypes and negative stigmas growing up. Since I have dealt with racism and sexism I have learned to have a very open and forgiving mind. I learned that I could achieve any goal I had because I learned that my differences could benefit me to be my best self. Growing up there were many opportunities my family couldn't afford so I made it a priority to work hard in school to be able to attend college so that my future family would not have to grow up with similar struggles. This scholarship could positively change my life and allow me to gain the education needed to provide for my future family. Growing up in a low-income household I understand how it feels to be in need. My mother has always instilled the value to treat everyone with respect and kindness. I strive to make the community a better place. In school, I was part of a club named DECA which led two community service projects. In the fall we collected hygiene products to donate to the local community shelter. This helped students who couldn't afford hygiene products. In the winter we collected necessities like gloves, hats, and scarves. In Minnesota it reaches below zero degrees in the winter and many kids walk to school and can't afford these necessities so it helped others immensely. During this time I also made tie blankets for the homeless with a school club named FCCLA. The winter can be fatal for the homeless so something as small as a blanket can create a large impact. Not only do I try to help those in need but I try to create a safer environment. I created a public service announcement with my school club FCCLA targeting speeding while driving. This PSA helped encourage students to slow down and create safer roads. I am also a strong mental health advocate. Growing up I struggled with mental health issues like depression and anxiety so I wanted to inspire others to reach out for help. I helped create an anti-bullying campaign and put up posters around the school with mental health resources. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. This scholarship could allow me to achieve my goals of helping others. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education.

Growing up in a low-income household I understand how it feels to be in need. My mother has always instilled the value to treat everyone with respect and kindness. I strive to make the community a better place. In school, I was part of a club named DECA which led two community service projects. In the fall we collected hygiene products to donate to the local community shelter. This helped students who couldn't afford hygiene products. In the winter we collected necessities like gloves, hats, and scarves. I'm from Minnesota where it reaches below zero degrees in the winter. Many kids walk to school and can't afford these necessities so it helped others immensely. During this time I also made tie blankets for the homeless with a school club named FCCLA. The winter can be fatal for the homeless so something as small as a blanket can create a large impact. Not only do I try to help those in need but I try to create a safer environment. I created a public service announcement with my school club FCCLA targeting speeding while driving. This PSA helped encourage students to slow down and create safer roads. I am also a strong mental health advocate. Growing up I struggled with mental health issues like depression and anxiety so I wanted to inspire others to reach out for help. I helped create an anti-bullying campaign and put up posters around the school with mental health resources. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. I am planning on majoring in business marketing while also obtaining my esthetician license. In the future, I hope on opening a med spa to be able to make others feel confident in their skin. I am currently enrolled in a cosmetology program to learn more about the skin. Throughout my career, I want to be able to make others feel beautiful and embrace their skin. Growing up my sister had cystic acne which shattered her confidence. Seeing this happen with my sister inspired me to help others achieve their dream skin goals. I am passionate about helping others achieve happiness and confidence and I believe this can be gained through confidence within the skin. I hope to further make a positive impact in the world and furthering my education will certainly help me achieve that goal.

I am planning on majoring in business marketing while also obtaining my esthetician license. In the future, I hope on opening a med spa to be able to make others feel confident in their skin. I am currently enrolled in a cosmetology program to learn more about the skin. Throughout my career, I want to be able to make others feel beautiful and embrace their skin. Growing up my sister had cystic acne which shattered her confidence. Seeing this happen with my sister inspired me to help others achieve their dream skin goals. I have a strong understanding of how confidence can affect someone’s life. When I was younger I faced many setbacks that affected my confidence. Growing up in a small town with kids whose upbringings were dissimilar to my own forced me to grow up extremely fast. Attending a school with a majority of white students was strenuous because I didn’t look like everyone else. This caused me to feel alienated and shattered my confidence. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. I will use these life lessons throughout my future career to be able to help others achieve their goals. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. Hyper fixating on my grades and always being expected to be perfect drew me to great exhaustion and fear of disappointing my parents. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. I now know how far my confidence can bring me. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education. Throughout learning how to become confident in myself I am positive that I will be able to make an impact in other’s life in the future. Building confidence is so important for mental health which is why I am a huge advocate for supporting those with mental health issues. I have worked with brands on social media previously through a “Mental Health Matters” campaign where I promoted a clothing line that spoke on mental health issues. For every garment sold a portion was donated to support mental health research and resources. I am passionate about helping others achieve happiness and confidence and I believe this can be gained through confidence within the skin. I hope to further make a positive impact in the world and furthering my education will certainly help me achieve that goal.

My future goal is to give others the opportunity to become confident within their own skin. I plan on opening a med spa in the future to help others feel beautiful in their skin. I am currently in a cosmetology program working to obtain my esthetician license and further my knowledge of the skin. Seeing my sister grow up with acne and watching it shatter her confidence inspired me to be able to help others with skincare issues. I have faced lots of hardships trying to further my education. Both of my parents came to the United States from Guatemala when they were just 15 years old, in hope of providing a better life for their future families. Their journey began by sleeping in garages but, through hard work, they accomplished their dream of owning a home in Minnesota. This taught me that anything I set my mind to was possible. I learned that I could achieve any goal I had because I learned that my differences could benefit me to be my best self. Growing up in a small town with kids whose upbringings were dissimilar to my own forced me to grow up extremely fast. Attending a school with a majority of white students was strenuous because I didn’t look like everyone else. This caused me to feel alienated and shattered my confidence. It was not until I built my confidence that I learned how to embrace my culture. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. I have not only overcome societal hardships but mental trials surrounding my parents’ relationship. My interpretation of love was defined by the way my parents treated each other. Seeing my father leave my childhood home led me to question my self-worth. Additionally, my mother instilled values of respect and kindness for not only others but myself. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. Hyper fixating on my grades and always being expected to be perfect drew me to great exhaustion and fear of disappointing my parents. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. I now know how far my confidence can bring me. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education.

I plan to make others feel beautiful and confident in their own skin. Growing up as a Hispanic woman I always felt like I never quite fit in. I have struggled with mental health issues growing up and learned that self-love is key to living a happier life. My goal is to become a dermatologist and help others with insecurities they may have. My mother is my hero and has taught me that anything I set my mind to is possible. My mother came to the United States from Guatemala when she was just 15 years old, in hope of providing a better life for her future family. Her journey began by sleeping in garages but, through hard work, she accomplished her dream of owning a home in Minnesota. I learned that I could achieve any goal I had because I learned that my differences could benefit me to be my best self. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. his affected my outlook on love and relationships. She taught me to be an independent woman and that I am still fully capable of being successful on my own. I’ve achieved athletic goals such as attending nationals for dance and cheerleading with the confidence and work ethic I learned from my mother. I learned how to provide for myself, which led to my confidence in being able to achieve anything. Additionally, my mother instilled values of respect and kindness for not only others but myself. Being a first-generation student is a great privilege and yet a terrifying experience to face as it comes with the expectation to be the absolute best. Hyper fixating on my grades and always being expected to be perfect drew me to great exhaustion and fear of disappointing my parents. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. She recognized how my imperfections and struggles are what make me a stronger person. I now know how far my confidence can bring me. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education. If I could change one thing about the world I would make access to higher education more accessible. I think everyone has a purpose and something they can use to impact others. Sadly pursuing higher education has become unattainable for many people because of how expensive it is.

My best back-to-school tip is becoming involved and being as social as possible. Being involved in sports and clubs gives students the opportunity to make friends and feel a part of a community. Learning about those around you is so important and connecting with others will make school easier and more enjoyable. School can be very difficult at times and getting help from friends will make the experience less exhausting. Instagram: @melinafigs

I have constantly been pushed back and faced with challenges. I aspire to make a change in my life and help others around the world. I grew up with a single mother who taught me how to be confident despite what others thought. My mother taught me that anything was possible. Both of my parents came to the United States from Guatemala when they were just 15 years old, in hope of providing a better life for their future families. Their journey began by sleeping in garages but, through hard work, they accomplished their dream of owning a home in Minnesota. This taught me that anything I set my mind to was possible. I learned that I could achieve any goal I had because I learned that my differences could benefit me to be my best self. My mom never had the opportunity to attend college or even high school. As a first-generation student, I'm inspired to continue my education. I aspire to become a dermatologist to make others feel confident in their own skin because it is something I struggled with growing up. Growing up I felt left out being a Hispanic woman in a primarily white community. I always felt as if I never truly belonged anywhere because I looked different then most people. Embracing my culture led me to be able to connect with more people and understand cultures around the world. I have not only overcome societal hardships but mental trials surrounding my parents’ relationship. My interpretation of love was defined by the way my parents treated each other. Seeing my father leave my childhood home led me to question my self-worth. I believed that if I was a better daughter he would have never left. My father leaving impacted my self-worth growing up and affected my relationships. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. I began to struggle with mental health issues but have taken steps to further my goal to impact others. I have worked hard to become involved in my community to meet others. I have been in six clubs and three sports throughout high school. I have also spent lots of time learning and reading about how to love myself and accept myself for who I am. This scholarship will help me achieve my dream of attending college and help further my career. College will allow me to be closer to achieving my dreams of becoming of a dermatologist. I want to become a dermatologist and apply what I learned in school to help others love themselves and this scholarship will help me achieve that.

My favorite scientific discovery was the discovery of anesthetics. Without anesthesia, modern medicine would not be possible. Anesthesia gives opportunities for those in the medical field to perform things such as surgeries. 15 million surgeries are estimated to be performed each year within the US. Without anesthesia, surgical procedures would be nearly impossible. Growing up I got injured in sports a lot and depended on anesthesia. Sports made me feel like I belonged in a community and without anesthesia, I wouldn't have been able to continue. Anesthesia also allows things such as teeth removal to be possible. Growing up I was bullied for having a crowded smile. Getting teeth pulled out to be able to receive braces allowed me to feel confident with my smile. My future goal is to become a dermatologist and perform surgeries on others. Being a dermatologist for me means making others comfortable in their own skin and feel beautiful. Anesthesia will allow me to perform surgeries in the future which is why it is my favorite scientific discovery.

Growing up in a low-income household I understand how it feels to be in need. My mother has always instilled the value to treat everyone with respect and kindness. I strive to make the community a better place. In school, I was part of a club named DECA which led two community service projects. In the fall we collected hygiene products to donate to the local community shelter. This helped students who couldn't afford hygiene products. In the winter we collected necessities like gloves, hats, and scarfs. I'm from Minnesota where it reaches below zero degrees in the winter. Many kids walk to school and can't afford these necessities so it helped others immensely. During this time I also made tie blankets for the homeless with a school club named FCCLA. The winter can be fatal for the homeless so something as small as a blanket can create a large impact. Not only do I try to help those in need but I try to create a safer environment. I created a public service announcement with my school club FCCLA targeting speeding while driving. This PSA helped encourage students to slow down and create safer roads. I am also a strong mental health advocate. Growing up I struggled with mental health issues like depression and anxiety so I wanted to inspire others to reach out for help. I helped create an anti-bullying campaign and put up posters around the school with mental health resources. I also volunteered at a local church in the kid's ministry during Sunday services. This helped me connect with kids and make an impact on the upcoming generation. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. I want to become a dermatologist so that I can make people healthier and feel confident in their own skin.

Growing up in a low-income household I understand how it feels to be in need. My mother has always instilled the value to treat everyone with respect and kindness. I strive to make the community a better place. In school, I was part of a club named DECA which led two community service projects. In the fall we collected hygiene products to donate to the local community shelter. This helped students who couldn't afford hygiene products. In the winter we collected necessities like gloves, hats, and scarfs. I'm from Minnesota where it reaches below zero degrees in the winter. Many kids walk to school and can't afford these necessities so it helped others immensely. During this time I also made tie blankets for the homeless with a school club named FCCLA. The winter can be fatal for the homeless so something as small as a blanket can create a large impact. Not only do I try to help those in need but I try to create a safer environment. I created a public service announcement with my school club FCCLA targeting speeding while driving. This PSA helped encourage students to slow down and create safer roads. I am also a strong mental health advocate. Growing up I struggled with mental health issues like depression and anxiety so I wanted to inspire others to reach out for help. I helped create an anti-bullying campaign and put up posters around the school with mental health resources. I also volunteered at a local church in the kid's ministry during Sunday services. This helped me connect with kids and make an impact on the upcoming generation. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. I want to become a dermatologist so that I can make people healthier and feel confident in their own skin.

Growing up in a low-income household I understand how it feels to be in need. My mother has always instilled the value to treat everyone with respect and kindness. I strive to make the community a better place. In school, I was part of a club named DECA which led two community service projects. In the fall we collected hygiene products to donate to the local community shelter. This helped students who couldn't afford hygiene products. In the winter we collected necessities like gloves, hats, and scarfs. I'm from Minnesota where it reaches below zero degrees in the winter. Many kids walk to school and can't afford these necessities so it helped others immensely. During this time I also made tie blankets for the homeless with a school club named FCCLA. The winter can be fatal for the homeless so something as small as a blanket can create a large impact. Not only do I try to help those in need but I try to create a safer environment. I created a public service announcement with my school club FCCLA targeting speeding while driving. This PSA helped encourage students to slow down and create safer roads. I am also a strong mental health advocate. Growing up I struggled with mental health issues like depression and anxiety so I wanted to inspire others to reach out for help. I helped create an anti-bullying campaign and put up posters around the school with mental health resources.I also volunteered at a local church in the kid's ministry during Sunday services. This helped me connect with kids and make an impact on the upcoming generation. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. I want to become a dermatologist so that I can make people healthier and feel confident in their own skin.

Growing up in a low-income household I understand how it feels to be in need. My mother has always instilled the value to treat everyone with respect and kindness. I strive to make the community a better place. In school, I was part of a club named DECA which led two community service projects. In the fall we collected hygiene products to donate to the local community shelter. This helped students who couldn't afford hygiene products. In the winter we collected necessities like gloves, hats, and scarfs. I'm from Minnesota where it reaches below zero degrees in the winter. Many kids walk to school and can't afford these necessities so it helped others immensely. During this time I also made tie blankets for the homeless with a school club named FCCLA. The winter can be fatal for the homeless so something as small as a blanket can create a large impact. Not only do I try to help those in need but I try to create a safer environment. I created a public service announcement with my school club FCCLA targeting speeding while driving. This PSA helped encourage students to slow down and create safer roads. I am also a strong mental health advocate. Growing up I struggled with mental health issues like depression and anxiety so I wanted to inspire others to reach out for help. I helped create an anti-bullying campaign and put up posters around the school with mental health resources. I have also volunteered in the kid ministry during Sunday services at my local church. I want to make an impact on the future generation and being able to connect with kids has been an incredible experience. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. I want to become a dermatologist so that I can make people healthier and feel confident in their own skin.

The most significant challenge I have overcome is my father leaving my childhood home. Seeing my father leave my childhood home led me to question my self-worth. I believed that if I were a better daughter he would have never left. My father leaving impacted my mental health growing up and affected my relationships. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. This affected my outlook on love and relationships. Not only did his absence affect my mental health but heavily impacted my opportunities. My father didn't support my family financially so my mother had a lot of stress put on her to be able to provide for my sister and I. As I apply to colleges I recognize that many of my dream schools are too expensive. Although I could remain negative about this challenge I decided to take control back by working my hardest in high school. As a first-generation student, I have always worked my hardest to be able to achieve my goals. It wasn't until I changed my outlook that I felt less anxiety and stress. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. She taught me to be an independent woman and that I am still fully capable of being successful on my own. I learned how to provide for myself, which led to my confidence in being able to achieve anything. I now know how far my confidence can bring me. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education. I plan to impact the world through my planned career as a dermatologist by making others feel confident in their own skin. My sister grew up with cystic acne and I saw how much it affected her mental and physical health. Her dermatologist made a positive impact on her life and I am inspired to do the same for others. I am motivated to connect with patients and build relationships to make people feel welcomed and safe. I know there will be hardships while studying medicine but I am confident in my hard work and determination to achieve my goals.

Growing up in a low-income household I understand how it feels to be in need. I have always strived to create a safer and more positive community. My mother has always instilled the value to treat everyone with respect and kindness. I strive to make the community a better place. In school, I was part of a club named DECA which led two community service projects. In the fall we collected hygiene products to donate to the local community shelter. This helped students who couldn't afford hygiene products. In the winter we collected necessities like gloves, hats, and scarfs. I'm from Minnesota where it reaches below zero degrees in the winter. Many kids walk to school and cant afford these necessities so it helped others immensely. During this time I also made tie blankets for the homeless with a school club named FCCLA. The winter can be fatal for the homeless so something as small as a blanket can create a large impact. Not only do I try to help those in need but I try to create a safer environment. I created a public service announcement with my school club FCCLA targeting speeding while driving. This PSA helped encourage students to slow down and create safer roads. I am also a strong mental health advocate. Growing up I struggled with mental health issues like depression and anxiety so I wanted to inspire others to reach out for help. I helped create an anti-bullying campaign and put up posters around the school with mental health resources. I want to create a change in the world and my future goals align with my passion for helping others. I want to become a dermatologist so that I can make people healthier and feel confident in their own skin.

The most significant challenge I have overcome is my father leaving my childhood home. Seeing my father leave my childhood home led me to question my self-worth. I believed that if I were a better daughter he would have never left. My father leaving impacted my mental health growing up and affected my relationships. Although I know now that I am not responsible for his absence in my life, its impact weighed heavy on my mind. This affected my outlook on love and relationships. Not only did his absence affect my mental health but heavily impacted my opportunities. My father didn't support my family financially so my mother had a lot of stress put on her to be able to provide for my sister and I. As I apply to colleges I recognize that many of my dream schools are too expensive. Although I could remain negative about this challenge I decided to take control back by working my hardest in high school. As a first-generation student, I have always worked my hardest to be able to achieve my goals. It wasn't until I changed my outlook that I felt less anxiety and stress. I overcame my worries and self-doubt by implementing the life lessons my mother taught me. My mother showed me how to use others' doubts and negative perceptions as motivation to become a better person. She taught me to be an independent woman and that I am still fully capable of being successful on my own. I learned how to provide for myself, which led to my confidence in being able to achieve anything. I now know how far my confidence can bring me. The ability to further my education is something I do not plan to take for granted. The opportunity is one that my mother did not have therefore, I am inspired to continue my education.