I am more of a shy, self-kept but amiable type of person. This reflects a lot in my artwork. I picked it up from my family, and I prefer to do most art activities alone or at least in my own space. When I was younger I jumped from media to media but when I used acrylics for the first time I became captivated. I worked for several hours a day trying to get each part of the portrait right. However, that doesn't mean that I'm not welcome to work with others. The last time I made a collaborative piece I was jumping off the walls at the possibilities we could make. A friend and I were creating a piece for history class about human trafficking. We worked from the second school ended until late in the night. I made a thousand redos to the painting's hair, fingers, and face, listened to rap that in no way reflected what we made, had conversations about our favorite and least favorite teachers, painting in a basement. Before I started painting myself, I would watch my dad paint in our old garage. My favorite painting he made was a cheetah banner for my kindergarten sports team. He was one of my first role models and teachers for art. He never received much of a high school education, and the people he learned from didn't either— in fact, most of my family in Mexico loved to paint and all have such amazing artistic skills but at the end of the day, it only supports them so much. Just like them, I share a passion for art that I cannot spell out. I feel a burning in my chest to express something I can’t say, so I say it with art instead, or when my words falter I can pick it back up with eraser shavings and smudged graphite on my fingers. While some moments are harder to catch than others, to me it feels like how someone would naturally move to the beat of a song or how a bird feels the wave of the wind in flight. Since I am naturally quiet, my art shouts for me instead. Unlike my family, I have been given the chance to pursue a better education and lifestyle. Using the gifts, support, and teachings of those around me I plan to support others and their dreams as well. It is important to me that we always support our community because that support always finds a way to return.

I am more of a shy, self-kept but amiable type of person. This reflects a lot in my artwork. I picked it up from my family, and I prefer to do most art activities alone or at least in my own space. When I was younger I jumped from media to media but when I used acrylics for the first time I became captivated. I worked for several hours a day trying to get each part of the portrait right. However, that doesn't mean that I'm not welcome to work with others. The last time I made a collaborative piece I was jumping off the walls at the possibilities we could make. A friend and I were creating a piece for history class about human trafficking. We worked from the second school ended, until late in the night. I made a thousand redos to the painting's hair, fingers, and face, listened to rap that in no way reflected what we made, had conversations about our favorite and least favorite teachers, painting in a basement. Before I started painting myself, I would watch my dad paint in our old garage. My favorite painting he made was a cheetah banner for my kindergarten sports team. He was one of my first role models and teachers for art. He never received much of a high school education, and the people he learned up from didn't either— in fact, most of my family in Mexico loved to paint and all have such amazing artistic skills but at the end of the day, it only supports them so much. Just like them, I share a passion for art that I cannot spell out. I feel a burning in my chest to express something I can’t say, so I say it with art instead, or when my words falter I can pick it back up with eraser shavings and smudged graphite on my fingers. While some moments are harder to catch than others, to me it feels like how someone would naturally move to the beat of a song or how a bird feels the wave of the wind in flight. Since I am naturally quiet, my art shouts for me instead. Unlike my family, I have been given the chance to pursue a better education and lifestyle. Using the gifts, support, and teachings of those around me I plan to support others and their dreams as well. It is important to me that we always support our community because that support always finds a way to return.

At the beginning of every school year my teachers ask if there is anything they need to know about us, such as a favorite color or a deep dark secret, and every year I notify the teacher I have a 504 plan for ADD. Then in a hushed voice, they say “Let me know if you need extra time on something in the future” while they glance around the room as if protecting us from the ears of my classmates in fear of social persecution and the sake of my own embarrassment. And every year I respond smiling “Alright.” and sit down back into my seat. While my learning disability does cause an impediment in my education, it is not an absolute hindrance or threatens my independence. I have always known that I can be slower or perceive things differently than that of my classmates but I also know that I am not stupid. For example, throughout elementary school I would take the longest with the Star Test, having to use my recess to finish it while I felt my computer teacher's eye poke holes in my confidence when she looked at me with disappointment, but in that same grade I won an essay contest for the state of California. Going into high school I finally felt secure in my own skills. Because of ADD, I have had to think outside the box causing me to think differently than others, giving me many opportunities and learning experiences. Unexpectedly I have found that I work best under disorderly areas. In elementary school my parents would force me to work at a desk with no outside stimulation or distractions, working solely on one task at a time. I would quickly distract myself by carving drawings into the desk and listening to the echo of my voice in the room. I have instead learned that if I have constant stimulation I become too occupied to become distracted. If I am in a crowded room my ears are busy hearing my surroundings, my fingers are distracted typing on the keyboard, my mind is focused on writing, my eyes are watching my friends talk, and my mouth is busy chewing gum instead of joining their conversation. Over the years I continue to develop solutions to my uncommon obstacles. I need to develop a unique approach when meeting people in order to succeed in my dream career. The outside-the-box thinking I have had to develop in order to succeed academically will prove me successful in my profession.

I am more of a shy, self-kept but amiable type of person. This reflects a lot in my artwork. I picked it up from my family, and I prefer to do most art activities alone or at least in my own space. When I was younger I jumped from media to media but when I used acrylics for the first time I became captivated. I worked for several hours a day trying to get each part of the portrait right. However, that doesn't mean that I'm not welcome to work with others. The last time I made a collaborative piece I was jumping off the walls at the possibilities we could make. A friend and I were creating a piece for history class about human trafficking. We worked from the second school ended, until late in the night. I made a thousand redos to the painting's hair, fingers, and face, listened to rap that in no way reflected what we made, had conversations about our favorite and least favorite teachers, painting in a basement. Before I started painting myself, I would watch my dad paint in our old garage. My favorite painting he made was a cheetah banner for my kindergarten sports team. He was one of my first role models and teachers for art. He never received much of a high school education, and the people he learned up from didn't either— in fact, most of my family in Mexico loved to paint and all have such amazing artistic skills but at the end of the day, it only supports them so much. Just like them, I share a passion for art that I cannot spell out. I feel a burning in my chest to express something I can’t say, so I say it with art instead, or when my words falter I can pick it back up with eraser shavings and smudged graphite on my fingers. While some moments are harder to catch than others, to me it feels like how someone would naturally move to the beat of a song or how a bird feels the wave of the wind in flight. Since I am naturally quiet, my art shouts for me instead. Unlike my family, I have been given the chance to pursue a better education and lifestyle. Using the gifts, support, and teachings of those around me I plan to support others and their dreams as well. It is important to me that we always support our community because that support always finds a way to return.

My dream career has always been clear and set. I aim to be a catalyst for good things and to support others, so my end goal is to become a therapist. When I was younger, I thought I would do this best by becoming a nurse, a veterinarian, or maybe even a social worker. The pattern I’ve noticed is that I want to follow a job that improves the lives of my community. When I was little, I was desperate to fix people and to make them feel better about themselves. I have learned the hard way that I can’t solve people's problems, but I can still show them support. I want to become a therapist to help the kids I couldn’t save and the friends I almost lost. Despite the advocacy teen mental health has received, through personal experience I believe there isn't enough being done. I don’t have the skills necessary to help others who struggle with mental health, but one day I will show others the door to a better life even though it's their choice to walk through it. To become a therapist, you are required to have taken college courses and even achieve a master's degree in certain subjects. College is a way to expand my knowledge, help me achieve my career dream, and receive a higher education. Over the years I have noticed many of my peers continue to suffer from mental health issues, and not receive the support they need at home, school, and in friendships. With my career as a therapist, I want to show teenagers like them skills that can help them succeed in every obstacle they face. Furthermore, I want to show myself and my family that it is possible to achieve higher education since my parents never pursued a post high school education. My teachers and counselors have never expressed a concern or strain to continue my education so the decision has been a strictly personal one. Alongside my academic journey I also plan to continue my journey as an artist. I hope to exhibit artwork of my journey when I am older. The hardest part in my opinion in both my college and art path is being a first generation in both. My dad never got to finish his education when he left Mexico, my mom struggled every day in school with her own learning disability and the support she never knew existed meanwhile my siblings are too young to understand how they've stood firm for us. As the eldest daughter and child, I want to provide a life better than my parents grew up with and show my siblings a prosperous possibility of life. I've already been elected by my teacher to represent my school district's art and left a small mark in the art and wine industry with my contributions to an art label but I know I still have lots of work to do. My family has offered me every skill they know so that I can achieve a better life and education.

At the beginning of every school year my teachers ask if there is anything they need to know about us, such as a favorite color or a deep dark secret, and every year I notify the teacher I have a 504 plan for ADD. Then in a hushed voice, they say “Let me know if you need extra time on something in the future” while they glance around the room as if protecting us from the ears of my classmates in fear of social persecution and the sake of my own embarrassment. And every year I respond smiling “Alright.” and sit down back into my seat. While my learning disability does cause an impediment in my education, it isn't an absolute hindrance or threatens my independence. I have always known that I can be slower or perceive things differently than that of my classmates but I also know that I am not stupid. For example, throughout elementary school I would take the longest with the Star Test, having to use my recess to finish it while I felt my computer teacher's eye poke holes in my confidence when she looked at me with disappointment, but in that same grade I won an essay contest for the state of California. It was particularly difficult to manage when I was younger since I was naturally quiet and struggled to speak up. Going into high school I finally felt secure in my own skills. Because of ADD, I have had to think outside the box causing me to think differently than others, giving me many opportunities and learning experiences. Unexpectedly I have found that I work best under disorderly areas. In elementary school my parents would force me to work at a desk with no outside stimulation or distractions, working solely on one task at a time. I would quickly distract myself by carving drawings into the desk and listening to the echo of my voice in the room. I have instead learned that if I have constant stimulation I become too occupied to become distracted. If I am in a crowded room my ears are busy hearing my surroundings, my fingers are distracted typing on the keyboard, my mind is focused on writing, my eyes are watching my friends talk, and my mouth is busy chewing gum instead of joining their conversation. Over the years I continue to develop solutions to my uncommon obstacles. When it comes to looking for an outlet for frustration, refocusing or anything else I have always used art. Before I started painting myself, I would watch my dad paint in our old garage. My favorite painting he made was a cheetah banner for my kindergarten sports team. He was one of my first role models for art. Just like him, I share a passion for art that I cannot spell out. I feel a burning in my chest to express something I can’t say, so I say it with art instead, or when my words falter I can pick it back up with eraser shavings and smudged graphite on my fingers. While some moments are harder to catch than others, to me it feels like how someone would naturally move to the beat of a song or how a bird feels the wave of the wind in flight. Since I am naturally quiet, my art shouts for me instead. I’ve need to develop a unique approach when meeting people in order to succeed in my dream career. The outside-the-box thinking I have had to develop in order to succeed academically will prove me successful in my profession.

I am more of a shy, self-kept but amiable type of person. This reflects a lot in my artwork. I picked it up from my family, and I prefer to do most art activities alone or at least in my own space. When I was younger I jumped from media to media but when I used acrylics for the first time I became captivated. I worked for several hours a day trying to get each part of the portrait right. However, that doesn't mean that I'm not welcome to work with others. The last time I made a collaborative piece I was jumping off the walls at the possibilities we could make. A friend and I were creating a piece for history class about human trafficking. We worked from the second school ended, until late in the night. I made a thousand redos to the painting's hair, fingers, and face, listened to rap that in no way reflected what we made, had conversations about our favorite and least favorite teachers, painting in a basement. Before I started painting myself, I would watch my dad paint in our old garage. My favorite painting he made was a cheetah banner for my kindergarten sports team. He was one of my first role models and teachers for art. He never received much of a high school education, and the people he learned up from didn't either— in fact, most of my family in Mexico loved to paint and all have such amazing artistic skills but at the end of the day, it only supports them so much. Just like them, I share a passion for art that I cannot spell out. I feel a burning in my chest to express something I can’t say, so I say it with art instead, or when my words falter I can pick it back up with eraser shavings and smudged graphite on my fingers. While some moments are harder to catch than others, to me it feels like how someone would naturally move to the beat of a song or how a bird feels the wave of the wind in flight. Since I am naturally quiet, my art shouts for me instead. Unlike my family, I have been given the chance to pursue a better education and lifestyle. Using the gifts, support, and teachings of those around me I plan to support others and their dreams as well. It is important to me that we always support our community because that support always finds a way to return.

My dad is one of the smartest people in the world and had he received a better education I believe he would’ve been able to work at NASA, but if he had worked at NASA, he wouldn’t have been able to paint the cheetah for my soccer team when I was in kindergarten. Soccer is one of my favorite childhood memories even though I never really liked it. The reason it is my favorite is that at the beginning of the season, I would sit on a stepping stool and watch my dad paint a cheetah for my soccer team. I loved watching how every brush stroke would turn into a shape and every shape combined together would form one big picture. It was as if he was creating his own world from our garage. I understand the importance of school, but I believe that some of the most important lessons I’ve learned are because of art. For example resourcefulness. I come from a family of artists for my dad's side and a lot of my family have followed an artistic career both in the US and Mexico. I have a cousin who’s going to one of the best fashion schools in Mexico, and two of my tias have been working at the same painting company for years. They don’t have the best art supplies in the world and my cousin who’s going to fashion school comes from a small town with the most complicated name, but through perseverance, grit, and hard work they continue their passions. Admittedly I feel uneasy and anxious for the future. I worry about my adulthood and being the first to navigate college in my family but I do feel secure in the skills I know I presently have. I want to follow some type of artistic career and humanitarian work because of not only its security but room for growth and support of my community. Art has always made sense to me, unlike math. Math is restrictive, there is no room for “What ifs?” or buts, and if you make a mistake, your spaceship won’t take off or if you don’t drag the 2, the rails on the roller coaster will break. When you make a mistake while you’re painting you can just cover it up and try again. You get to see physical evidence of growth with each painting you make. I create my own world with my own two hands, my paintbrush, my reusable Starbucks cup, and only 5 colors. The rules of the world don’t apply to me when I make my paintings and I get to write reality in my own way— whether that’s on a canvas that will be paraded in a museum or in the back of my math notebook where no one can’t find it.

My dad is one of the smartest people in the world and had he received a better education I believe he would’ve been able to work at NASA, but if he had worked at NASA, he wouldn’t have been able to paint the cheetah for my soccer team when I was in kindergarten. Soccer is one of my favorite memories as a kid even though I never really liked it. The reason it is my favorite is that at the beginning of the season, I would sit on a stepping stool and watch my dad paint a cheetah for my soccer team. I loved watching how every brush stroke would turn into a shape and every shape combined together would form one big picture. It was as if he was creating his own world from our garage. I understand the importance of school, but I believe that some of the most important lessons I’ve learned are because of art. For example resourcefulness. I come from a family of artists from my dad's side and a lot of my family have followed an artistic career both in the US and Mexico. I have a cousin who’s going to one of the best fashion schools in Mexico, and two of my tias have been working at the same painting company for years. They don’t have the best art supplies in the world and my cousin who’s going to fashion school comes from a small town with the most complicated name, but through perseverance, grit, and hard work they continue their passions. Naturally, like any other kid, I jumped from dream job to dream job. At first, I wanted to be a nurse, a veterinarian, to Nun, and then a social worker. The pattern I’ve noticed is that I want to follow a job that improves the lives of my community. When I was younger I was desperate to fix people and to make them feel better about themselves. I learned the hard way that I can solve people's problems but I can still show them support. Admittedly I feel uneasy and anxious for the future. I worry about my adulthood and being the first to navigate college in my family but I do feel secure in the skills I know I presently have. I want to follow some type of artistic career and humanitarian work because of not only its security but room for growth and support of my community. Art has always made sense to me, unlike math. Math is restrictive, there is no room for “What ifs?” or buts, and if you make a mistake, your spaceship won’t take off or if you don’t drag the 2, the rails on the roller coaster will break. When you make a mistake while you’re painting you can just cover it up and try again. You get to see physical evidence of growth with each painting you make. I create my own world with my own two hands, my paintbrush, my reusable Starbucks cup, and only 5 colors. The rules of the world don’t apply to me when I make my paintings and I get to write reality in my own way— whether that’s on a canvas that will be paraded in a museum or in the back of my math notebook where no one can’t find it.

My dad is one of the smartest people in the world and had he received a better education I believe he would’ve been able to work at NASA, but if he had worked at NASA, he wouldn’t have been able to paint the cheetah for my soccer team when I was in kindergarten. Soccer is one of my favorite childhood memories even though I never really liked it. The reason it is my favorite is that at the beginning of the season, I would sit on a stepping stool and watch my dad paint a cheetah for my soccer team. I loved watching how every brush stroke would turn into a shape and every shape combined together would form one big picture. It was as if he was creating his own world from our garage. I understand the importance of school, but I believe that some of the most important lessons I’ve learned are because of art. For example resourcefulness. I come from a family of artists for my dad's side and a lot of my family have followed an artistic career both in the US and Mexico. I have a cousin who’s going to one of the best fashion schools in Mexico, and two of my tias have been working at the same painting company for years. They don’t have the best art supplies in the world and my cousin who’s going to fashion school comes from a small town with the most complicated name, but through perseverance, grit, and hard work they continue their passions. Admittedly I feel uneasy and anxious for the future. I worry about my adulthood and being the first to navigate college in my family but I do feel secure in the skills I know I presently have. I want to follow some type of artistic career and humanitarian work because of not only its security but room for growth and support of my community. Art has always made sense to me, unlike math. Math is restrictive, there is no room for “What ifs?” or buts, and if you make a mistake, your spaceship won’t take off or if you don’t drag the 2, the rails on the roller coaster will break. When you make a mistake while you’re painting you can just cover it up and try again. You get to see physical evidence of growth with each painting you make. I create my own world with my own two hands, my paintbrush, my reusable Starbucks cup, and only 5 colors. The rules of the world don’t apply to me when I make my paintings and I get to write reality in my own way— whether that’s on a canvas that will be paraded in a museum or in the back of my math notebook where no one can’t find it.

Naturally, like any other kid, I jumped from dream job to dream job. At first, I wanted to be a nurse, then a veterinarian, and then a social worker. The pattern I’ve noticed is that I want to follow a job that improves the lives of my community. When I was younger I was desperate to fix people and to make them feel better about themselves. I've learned the hard way that I can't solve people's problems but I can still show them support. I want to become a therapist to help the kids I couldn’t save and the friends I almost lost. Despite the advocacy teen mental health has received, many fail to realize that some problems need simple solutions. When one of my best friends thought about ending her life my friend and I advocated to our school that she needed help. The school responded by saying that we should remain calm and that their step-by-step procedure would help. They offered to medicate her and lower her voice. It took a second attempt until our school took us seriously. I don’t have the skills necessary to help others who struggle with mental health but one day I will show others the door to a better life even though it's their choice to walk through it.

Naturally, like any other kid, I jumped from dream job to dream job. At first, I wanted to be a nurse, then a veterinarian, and then a social worker. The pattern I’ve noticed is that I want to follow a job that improves the lives of my community. When I was younger I was desperate to fix people and to make them feel better about themselves. I've learned the hard way that I can't solve people's problems but I can still show them support. I want to become a therapist to help the kids I couldn’t save and the friends I almost lost. Despite the advocacy teen mental health has received, many fail to realize that some problems need simple solutions. When one of my best friends thought about ending her life my friend and I advocated to our school that she needed help. The school responded by saying that we should remain calm and that their step-by-step procedure would help. They offered to medicate her and lower her voice. It took a second attempt until our school took us seriously. I don’t have the skills necessary to help others who struggle with mental health but one day I will show others the door to a better life even though it's their choice to walk through it.

At the beginning of every school year my teachers ask if there is anything they need to know about us, such as a favorite color or a deep dark secret, and every year I notify the teacher I have a 504 plan for ADD. Then in a hushed voice, they say “Let me know if you need extra time on something in the future” while they glance around the room as if protecting us from the ears of my classmates in fear of social persecution and the sake of my own embarrassment. And every year I respond smiling “Alright.” and sit down back into my seat. While my learning disability does cause an impediment in my education, it is not an absolute hindrance or threatens my independence. I have always known that I can be slower or perceive things differently than that of my classmates but I also know that I am not stupid. For example, throughout elementary school I would take the longest with the Star Test, having to use my recess to finish it while I felt my computer teacher's eye poke holes in my confidence when she looked at me with disappointment, but in that same grade I won an essay contest for the state of California. Going into high school I finally felt secure in my own skills. Because of ADD, I have had to think outside the box causing me to think differently than others, giving me many opportunities and learning experiences. Unexpectedly I have found that I work best under disorderly areas. In elementary school my parents would force me to work at a desk with no outside stimulation or distractions, working solely on one task at a time. I would quickly distract myself by carving drawings into the desk and listening to the echo of my voice in the room. I have instead learned that if I have constant stimulation I become too occupied to become distracted. If I am in a crowded room my ears are busy hearing my surroundings, my fingers are distracted typing on the keyboard, my mind is focused on writing, my eyes are watching my friends talk, and my mouth is busy chewing gum instead of joining their conversation. Over the years I continue to develop solutions to my uncommon obstacles, and others should find the importance of finding a solution that belongs to you. Sometimes our biggest problems can become our solutions too. I plan to study mind and behavior in college to become a therapist which includes constantly interacting with others, and I need to develop a unique approach when meeting people to succeed in my career. The outside-the-box thinking I have had to develop in order to succeed academically will prove me successful when collaborating with others.

At the beginning of every school year my teachers ask if there is anything they need to know about us, such as a favorite color or a deep dark secret, and every year I notify the teacher I have a 504 plan for ADD. Then in a hushed voice, they say “Let me know if you need extra time on something in the future” while they glance around the room as if protecting us from the ears of my classmates in fear of social persecution and the sake of my own embarrassment. And every year I respond smiling “Alright.” and sit down back into my seat. While my learning disability does cause an impediment in my education, it is not an absolute hindrance or threatens my independence. I have always known that I can be slower or perceive things differently than that of my classmates but I also know that I am not stupid. For example, throughout elementary school I would take the longest with the Star Test, having to use my recess to finish it while I felt my computer teacher's eye poke holes in my confidence when she looked at me with disappointment, but in that same grade I won an essay contest for the state of California. Going into high school I finally felt secure in my own skills. Because of ADD, I have had to think outside the box causing me to think differently than others, giving me many opportunities and learning experiences. Unexpectedly I have found that I work best under disorderly areas. In elementary school my parents would force me to work at a desk with no outside stimulation or distractions, working solely on one task at a time. I would quickly distract myself by carving drawings into the desk and listening to the echo of my voice in the room. I have instead learned that if I have constant stimulation I become too occupied to become distracted. If I am in a crowded room my ears are busy hearing my surroundings, my fingers are distracted typing on the keyboard, my mind is focused on writing, my eyes are watching my friends talk, and my mouth is busy chewing gum instead of joining their conversation. Over the years I continue to develop solutions to my uncommon obstacles. I plan to study mind and behavior in college to become a therapist which includes constantly interacting with others, and I need to develop a unique approach when meeting people to succeed in my career. The outside-the-box thinking I have had to develop in order to succeed academically will prove me successful when collaborating with others.

At the beginning of every school year my teachers ask if there is anything they need to know about us, such as a favorite color or a deep dark secret, and every year I notify the teacher I have a 504 plan for ADD. Then in a hushed voice, they say “Let me know if you need extra time on something in the future” while they glance around the room as if protecting us from the ears of my classmates in fear of social persecution and the sake of my own embarrassment. And every year I respond smiling “Alright.” and sit down back into my seat. While my learning disability does cause an impediment in my education, it is not an absolute hindrance or threatens my independence. I have always known that I can be slower or perceive things differently than that of my classmates but I also know that I am not stupid. For example, throughout elementary school I would take the longest with the Star Test, having to use my recess to finish it while I felt my computer teacher's eye poke holes in my confidence when she looked at me with disappointment, but in that same grade I won an essay contest for the state of California. Going into high school I finally felt secure in my own skills. Because of ADD, I have had to think outside the box causing me to think differently than others, giving me many opportunities and learning experiences. Unexpectedly I have found that I work best under disorderly areas. In elementary school my parents would force me to work at a desk with no outside stimulation or distractions, working solely on one task at a time. I would quickly distract myself by carving drawings into the desk and listening to the echo of my voice in the room. I have instead learned that if I have constant stimulation I become too occupied to become distracted. If I am in a crowded room my ears are busy hearing my surroundings, my fingers are distracted typing on the keyboard, my mind is focused on writing, my eyes are watching my friends talk, and my mouth is busy chewing gum instead of joining their conversation. Over the years I continue to develop solutions to my uncommon obstacles. I plan to study mind and behavior in college to become a therapist which includes constantly interacting with others, and I need to develop a unique approach when meeting people to succeed in my career. The outside-the-box thinking I have had to develop in order to succeed academically will prove me successful when collaborating with others.