Good evening, My name is Natalie Barcazar. I am the daughter of Manuel and Rita Barcazar. My mother, Rita, immigrated from Mexico to the United States, hoping for a safer community. At the same time, my father had been exiled from his home country, Cuba, and had to seek asylum in the United States. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, they resonated with each other's feelings and fell in love at my local church. Along with my two sisters, we grew up in Palmetto, Florida. Growing up, I always felt different from other kids. I was hesitant to share much on my parents' history. Often afraid of judgment from friends, and unfortunately, even from some of the teachers in my school. It wasn’t until I met a reporter from the Bradenton Herald Tribune that I began to see things from a different perspective. Natalie Neysa Alund from the Bradenton Herald wrote a column about my mother’s journey as an immigrant parent in the United States. She recollected a fond memory I made with my mother, of when we attended the school's English learning program. She walked me to our school's tiny, janky computer lab every week to study English together. My school felt the need to introduce a program to help Spanish-speaking parents, like my mother, learn essential English conversations. Despite my parents never finishing elementary school, their determination taught me never to give up and always to look forward. Her kindness for others inspired my academic and professional journey. I spent most of my time volunteering in high school at multiple organizations. Organizations include my local public library, the Palmetto Historical Park, and Southeastern Guide Dogs (now called Dogs Inc.). All of which make a significant impact in my community. At the library, I would assist with staff setup, community events such as afternoon reading for children, organizing materials, supporting the local book club, and helping patrons access literature, among other tasks. The Palmetto Historical Park was next door to the library where I volunteered. My role there ranged from educating visitors on the local history to helping with organizing events, and, best of all, I had the opportunity to assist with local artifacts. Lastly, I volunteered at Southeastern Guide Dogs, where my tasks ranged from animal husbandry to education and overall advocacy for the organization. In June, I will be volunteering with the nonprofit organization Maximo Nivel located in Costa Rica. My work will primarily involve supporting the Costa Rican community and contributing to wildlife conservation efforts. During my trip there, I intend to write an ethnography on the relationship between locals and how it may impact turtle conservation. As I previously mentioned, community is an integral part of my life. I want to help others who struggle to find their voice, whether due to a form of impairment or across language barriers. There is a need for empathy, compassion, and encouragement in our community. I am proud to have accomplished several goals, including completing my Associate of Arts degree at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. Moving forward, I will be attending the University of South Florida as an Anthropology major, with a pathway to Speech Pathology. I aim to become a Speech Therapist overseas to help low-income communities receive the necessary aid. The Jose Prado Scholarship will allow me to continue my studies at the University of South Florida. Minimizing the financial burden for my family, especially my parents.

As humans, communication is vital to our society, and it can be incredibly frustrating if one cannot express oneself clearly. I know firsthand how isolating and discouraging it feels. My experience growing up with developmental stuttering led me to realize the importance of supporting communication sciences, so that others like me could have their voices heard. I want to support and help others just as my mom has done for me. My path to studying anthropology and speech-language pathology stems from my curiosity for science and love for culture. I grew up in a multicultural family. My mother, Rita, immigrated from Mexico to the United States in search of a safer community for her and her family. My father, Manuel, left Cuba out of exile and sought sanctuary in the United States. Though they didn’t have much, their love and perseverance inspired me to follow my dreams. Immediately after high school, I attended Manatee Technical College to become a phlebotomist. After finishing the accelerated course, I found a job at Quest Diagnostics. Working at Quest Diagnostics, I focused on applying my skills to various laboratory tasks and primarily interacted with patients daily. Although we helped many patients, we also faced imminent risks, including working in a high-risk environment, dealing with uneasy patients, and navigating high-stress scenarios. After some time, the work demanded more hours, and I needed to leave. Leaving my family to struggle with expenses, we continue to face financial insecurity. I recently completed my Associate of Arts degree at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, and will be transferring my credits to a higher university. I have begun my studies at the University of South Florida, majoring in Anthropology with a pathway to Speech Language Pathology. Studying anthropology has enabled me to gain a deeper understanding of how culture and societal values influence human development. Environmental and physical factors play a significant part in language development. Overall, I'm very grateful to have an opportunity to apply this knowledge in my future career. After obtaining my bachelor's and master's degrees, I plan to utilize my understanding abroad and volunteer with a non-profit organization. After some time, I plan to move back to Florida to work in public education. I hope to help young students who suffer from speech impairments, whether they revolve around fluency, voice, sound, or OMD disorders, improve their skills and help them move forward. Despite my academic success, money remains an inferior problem in my journey. My parents are elderly and continue to suffer from declining health. This scholarship will enable me to continue my studies and alleviate the financial burden on my family.

I’ve often felt like life came with no instructions. Growing up, I saw how others around me had family, friends, and even teachers to guide them in the right direction. For me, I became academically independent at an early age. My mother, Rita, always prioritized three basic things: shelter, food, and God. To her and my father, Manuel, college was something for the fortunate. No one who looked or sounded like me could ever accomplish something that great. Though I wasn’t entirely discouraged from trying to attend college, I didn’t feel like I stood a chance because of their remarks. However, I was determined to try despite lacking the encouragement I desperately desired. Growing up, my favorite subject to learn was science. Every day, I would come home with a new science fact. My parents couldn't care less, but what mattered most to me was learning new things and sharing them with others. I volunteered for about three years at local organizations, including the Manatee County Library, the Palmetto Historical Park, and Dogs Inc. (formerly Southeastern Guide Dogs). Helping others in any way I can is my passion, whether it's supporting the library in hosting family reading events or assisting Southeastern Guide Dogs with public education on the impact of guide dogs on individuals with disabilities. These volunteer experiences contributed to a dream for education and anthropological studies. Eventually, classes became more challenging, and with them came college entrance exams. Despite my parent’s disapproval, I worked at Panera to help pay for the SAT, ACT, and placement tests needed at my community college. Aside from buying the practice manuals, I shared my struggles with many high school professors. They helped me tremendously with proofing my scholarship essays. One professor in particular, Mrs. Himes, who taught statistics, openly admired my perseverance. Mrs. Himes became an integral part of my journey. She encouraged me every step of the way, and when I needed it the most, she stood with me. Her kindness and demeanor inspired me to move forward. I continued to achieve more of my goals. After high school, I immediately enrolled in technical college to acquire my phlebotomy certificate. Becoming a phlebotomist enriched my knowledge. With my new license, I could actively serve my local community. After two months of accelerated courses, I began taking classes at the State College of Florida, Manatee—Sarasota. I worked at Quest Diagnostics in the morning and attended my classes in the evening. With this job, I was able to partially fund my education. However, as time progressed, courses required more time, and my parents' car broke down, I faced a decision. Should I pause everything I worked for and find a new source of income, or continue to follow my goals? I chose not to give up. Having made my academic plan and spent most of my time writing to scholarship foundations and local grants. I attended my classes online for a whole year. Although it wasn’t ideal, the change allowed me to spend more time with my family, allowing me to help with their business. It was not easy, but it taught me to be incredibly resilient and to appreciate the small goals. I am incredibly proud of the achievements I've made. It has been a rewarding journey despite facing challenges and almost losing hope. My education has enabled me to assist others in my community, including tutoring fellow students and supporting my family's business. I intend to continue my journey at the University of South Florida to finish my bachelor's degree in Anthropology. After my undergraduate studies, I wish to apply to the Speech Pathology Program at the University of South Florida. By becoming a speech pathologist, I can actively help those struggling with speech impairments find their voice.