Financial hardship is an issue that is, unfortunately, a universal experience. Many people have accepted the fact that they cannot afford an education; instead, they go directly into the workforce just to make a living. However, I, Mia Carreon-Moreno, refuse to go down that path. I am a person who values my education, and I will stop at nothing to reach my goal. When I think of people, I see so many individuals who have a hard work ethic with different passions and strengths, but it is so common that many of these students don't bother pursuing their skills because they cannot afford it. Taking a look around, these students are the future of our world. They are our future doctors, physicians, and engineers, and yet, if neither of them has the funds to continue their studies, then we have nothing to create our world in the future. Students who come from a lower-income family have to work so much harder to earn the same opportunities as those who come from a financially stable household. Finances should not be a defining factor in why one can attend their dream university while the other must work in a blue-collar job that they applied for just to survive. This is why scholarships and grants exist: to assist those who have the merits or wish to have the merits to strive for a better future. Finances are one of those topics where equality is not enough; instead, we need equity. I come from a family of immigrants from Mexico. My parents immigrated in 2001, but they did not receive their social security numbers until the beginning of 2025. Because of their status, paying for my education has been a constant struggle. Early on, we qualified for the free lunch program, which helped cover my AP exams and ACT fees. At the start of my junior year, after my siblings moved out, my parents only needed to support one student. However, outside of school, I lost my medical insurance, and school expenses increased significantly compared to elementary school. Now, as I am applying to FAFSA and every scholarship possible, I work with my counselors and seek any financial aid available, just to have the opportunity to attend a good college, while many of my friends simply have their costs covered by FAFSA. Equality means that when one person is shot and another is cut, both receive the same treatment. Equity means each one is treated according to their specific injuries. That is how low-income students should be provided an opportunity to go to college. With this scholarship, I would be allowed to attend the school of my dreams and pursue my studies in scientific research in Chemistry. As a student and a daughter with not many funds, I understand my major is not a cheap one; on the other hand, in my soul, I know it is exactly what I choose to pursue and thrive in.

My name is Mia Carreon-Moreno, and I am a student born in the U.S. with parents born in Mexico. My parents did not get their Social Security numbers until this year, which made it difficult to go through the FAFSA process. One of the struggles of having immigrant parents is having a low income. My parents still work at their jobs, which they've had since they moved to the U.S. As grateful as I am that they are willing to support me in pursuing a higher education, I do understand that their unwavering support may not be enough to assist. Although coming from a Hispanic descent is something I am proud to be a part of, it is also something that counts against me in situations like this. Since my parents had moved to the U.S back in 2001 with their daughter, my sister Andrea, no one in my family had ever attended a four-year college, or even thought about it, like I have. Being a sister to three siblings, all of them had jumped into the workforce right after their graduation. Usually, being the youngest means that your siblings can assist you with everything, since they were once your age, too. In my situation, none of them had applied for scholarships, grants, or a university. I had to learn how to apply and write on my own time, with counselors, teachers, and friends. Being first-generation may hold me back, but I will not let that stop me from getting a higher education. I am indeed a person with big dreams, which include big funds. Ever since I was a child, I have had an insatiable thirst for knowledge that has pushed me into my love for Science. Starting in middle school, being in a basic science class that explained how the world came to be, and how life relies on such concepts, had only confirmed my desire to pursue this topic as a career. I plan on studying towards a degree in Chemistry to one day become either a Pharmaceutical or Nuclear chemist, and use my knowledge to improve our lives and our earth. Additionally, being able to speak Spanish is another reason to continue my studies. With this career, if I continue in the medical field, I can explain anything that is needed for those who do not speak English. Working with such important chemicals that can and will affect someone's life, people have a right to understand exactly what they are getting into, and I will be that person to help them understand. This is something I already have experience with. As of 2024, I work at Foundation Finance as a Bilingual Customer Service Representative. Just working part-time, I have already seen the effects of people not understanding what they had signed for, simply because of a language barrier. This made me aware of how important language is, and how just missing a single word can tear down your life. Over time, I have come to understand that the STEM field is very underrepresented not only for women, but also for Latinos. Taking a look at some previous studies from 2021, it is shown that 62.9% of STEM workers are white, while 14.8% are Hispanic (Data from the National Science Foundation). With such a white dominated field, I know that simply being Latino is already a factor in being less likely to be a part of the workforce. This only gives me more reason to work harder for what I believe in, that no matter what ethnicity someone is, everyone deserves the opportunity for a higher education.