Growing up my mom always told me “pregesa ka ta, da bo nada” which means being lazy doesn't do anything for you. My whole life I’ve always strived to be the best, and the better one out of all my cousins so my mom can brag about me at family parties. My mom has taught me the eminence of family and the reality that blood is thicker than water. In the long run, we are all we have. My mom has constructed me to be an amiable daughter, sister, cousin, friend, student, and citizen. Beyond everything, my mom has inculcated an avidity to further my education. My mom immigrated here to the United States from a small island off the coast of Africa called Cape Verde. My mom growing up had a dream to become a doctor, but unfortunately, Cape Verde had very little to no education for her to continue this dream and on top of that she was very poor. My mom finished high school and worked her fingers to the bone. She immigrated on her own in the early 2000s. She jumped from job to job but was never unemployed. She, later on, had me but still wasn't unemployed. My mom didn't have a car and never liked asking for help when she needed it. I can recall often of me going to work with her and waiting for her to get off, and walking through any weather such as rain, hail, and even snow. Don't get me wrong though, I live a great life and the great times always outshined the bad. Growing up my mom was always at every school event I’ve ever had, no matter how ridiculous the event was I remember looking at the crowds and she’d always be there in the first-row camera ready. From a very young age, education was urged onto me and prioritized in my household. I was educated on the importance and value of education and not to take it for granted. She always reminds me to learn from her mistakes because she never wants to see me struggle. This is something that has stuck with me from elementary school all the way to now my senior year of high school. For this, I enjoyed learning and I've always persisted in going to college. She no longer jumps from job to job but those memories are engraved in my head. Watching my mom be diligent and work hard days and nights non-stop to make sure my brother and I have the best life possible motivates me to be successful in life. I can never repay my mother, she gave up so much. I owe her and other immigrants so much more. Which is why I’ve grown a love of helping people who are not as fortunate as I am. That is why I am pursuing my dreams of being a woman in the medical field. Making my younger self's dreams truly come true. Bringing the inspiration my mom gave to me and bringing on to others making the world around me a better place. And candidly doing something I love making everyone proud and paving the way for other first-generation students.

My name is Melissa, I am a senior now in high school. As long as I can remember I always wanted to be in medicine and always knew I would pursue a career in it. I attended a vocational school and I am in the Medical Assisting shop. In my shop, we learn all types of anatomy and get ready to work in the field. I currently work as a Medical Assitant 40 hours every other week at Steward Medical Group. Which pushes my drive to become an MD even more. I love helping put smiles on their faces, and overall just making their days better even if it's just for a little bit. I am a first-generation student in my family and I AM breaking the generational curse. I want to be able to help my family with whatever they need and help others around me as well. I want to truly make a difference in the world, and show people that you can do it no matter what. I want to be the voice for people in medicine. It is more than the money to me. It's deeper, it's about saving people knowing that I did that, knowing that I am transforming the way people in the medical field are working. I want to travel the world and help the less fortunate that don't have access to healthcare, I want to help young girls in my community open their minds to the whole world around us. Are you still there? I hope I didn't bore you... I feel like I can talk about this for hours. From a very young age, education was urged onto me and prioritized in my household. I was educated on the importance and value of education and not to take it for granted. My mom always reminds me to learn from her mistakes because she never wants to see me struggle. This is something that has stuck with me from elementary school all the way to now my senior year of high school. For this, I enjoyed learning and I've always persisted in going to college. She no longer jumps from job to job but those memories are engraved in my head. Watching my mom be diligent and work hard days and nights non-stop to make sure my brother and I have the best life possible motivates me to be successful in life. I can never repay my mother, she gave up so much. I owe her and other immigrants so much more. Which is why I’ve grown a love of helping people who are not as fortunate as I am. That is why I am pursuing my dreams of being a woman in the medical field. Making my younger self's dreams truly come true. Bringing the inspiration my mom gave to me and bringing on to others making the world around me a better place. And candidly doing something I love making everyone proud and paving the way for other first-generation students. Thank you.