I am Natalie Zeledon. I became interested in aviation when visiting the Griffith Observatory in California when I was about 13 years old. I had recently moved with my family from Nicaragua to California so I had never seen anything as fancy as tall buildings, much less an observatory. I started studying aerospace and aviation. My school took me on field trips to museums where I bought a souvenir of a snow glove with an earth globe inside and an astronaut standing on top of the moon with the American flag and I still have it in my room in the original packaging, packed in the box. My family and I moved to Houston, TX a couple of years later and it just so happened to be the Space City. I currently attend the University of Houston and I'm studying Mechanical Engineering for my undergraduate and Aerospace Engineering for my graduate degree. I graduated college before I graduated high school. I walked the stage to collect my Associate's in Business a week before walking the stage for my high school diploma and top 5% of my class with over 1000 other kids in Houston, TX. I transferred 62 college credits and I'm now senior status at the University of Houston at 19 years old. Graduating with my Mechanical Engineering degree is a major accomplishment for me and my family in Nicaragua because education is not a strength in my country. I come from one of the poorest countries in Central America but I have never been shy to tell people where I'm from. I'm used to people not being familiar with or knowing what Nicaragua is but I love educating people about my country because I'm here to put us on the map! Nicaraguenses stand up! If I wanted to really get into it...I would say that the main reason why I became interested in aviation was because of The Little Prince. It is a book I read when I was about 10 years old. The book was assigned as a reading assignment to my older cousin who lent me the book because I loved the cover art. As a 10-year-old, I loved the book more than anything. It is about a rose with a prince who live in a small asteroid...then the prince gets mad at the rose and leaves the asteroid and ends up on earth where he meets a pilot...I also wrote an essay about The Little Prince in more detail in my profile if you wanted more detail but for the sake of summarization, I will say that it is still my favorite book to date because it inspired and motivated me to pursue aviation. The events in my life such as visiting Griffith observatory, and visiting NASA space center, are also events that piqued my interest.

I am a 19-year-old first-generation college student born and raised in Nicaragua and now attending the University of Houston to earn my master's degree in Aerospace Engineering. I have a positive impact by having a hustler mentality that can help individuals overcome obstacles and achieve their goals, whether it's in their personal or professional life. People around me are motivated by hustlers who view their abilities differently than their peers, believing that with hard work and determination, they can achieve anything. Hustlers are often enterprising and determined to succeed, which can inspire others around them to pursue their own goals. Purposeful Hustle is a book that helps individuals direct their life's work toward making a positive impact. Purposeful Hustle helps individuals answer the question of how to use their talents, skills, and resources to create a greater impact. Characteristics of successful hustlers: Successful hustlers are always dreaming bigger than anyone else and understand that there is no limit to what they can envision or dream. Hustlers genuinely care about helping other people and often have a strong sense of empathy and compassion. I believe that people that see you doing everything you can to make your goals come true gain motivation. It's like people say, you are who you surround yourself with. It is a fact that I graduated college before high school...I walked the stage to collect my associate's in business a week before walking the stage to collect my high school diploma with a 4.0 GPA and top 5% of my class (over 1000 kids). Being Latina explains a lot about myself because it is a known fact that Latinos are known for hustling! We work so hard to be where we are now and to have earned the respect of other people. I am here to set an example and not to have people look down on me for being Hispanic, instead, they ask, "Wow she's Latina and successful". This scholarship will help me pay partly for my graduate program and to pursue my Master's degree at the University of Houston. The University of Houston is one of only three public Carnegie-designated Tier One research universities in Texas, which means it is recognized for its high level of research activity. The university offers an outstanding education with rigorous coursework, hands-on opportunities, and unlimited research opportunities. The graduate school oversees over 6,000 students in a broad spectrum of programs, including master's, doctoral, advanced certificate, professional, and joint degree programs. The university is committed to promoting diversity in both the culture of its student population and in the influx of knowledge it advocates as an institution. A scholarship can help you achieve your career goals by allowing you to focus on your studies and not worry about working a part-time job to pay for tuition. A scholarship can help you get into a better school or program, which can increase your chances of success in your chosen field. Graduating from college debt-free can allow you to start your career without the burden of student loan debt. A couple of ways to have a positive impact on people are by smiling more, remembering names, and looking people in the eye. Ask questions and listen carefully. Show kindness and spend time with others. Believe in people and trust in their ability to change for the better. Improve yourself and be aware of changes in technology and society. Nurture your relationships with family, friends, and colleagues and finally, engage in random acts of kindness and take action to make a difference.

The importance of being a first-generation college student is mostly to encourage my family member who, unfortunately, don't have the same opportunities I have experienced. I have to represent my country. I'm born and raised in Nicaragua and it is always an honor to mention it. I remember how proud I was when I graduated from community college and all my family members in Nicaragua were watching my graduation live-stream...I remember how proud I was to stand up when the dean said, "If you are a first-generation college student, stand up". Standing up for those couple of seconds made my family and me so proud. My family keeps me going after all those sleepless studying nights. I stand determined and motivated. When my family and I moved to the US for the American dream, all my mom kept emphasizing were the college opportunities and the sacrifices she was making. As a first-generation college student, pursuing an engineering degree is an opportunity that holds immense importance to me. My family's journey has been one of hard work and perseverance, and I am grateful for the sacrifices they have made to provide me with this opportunity. Being a first-generation student means that I face unique challenges, but it also means that I have the potential to change the trajectory of my life, my family, and my community. What got me interested in engineering is the desire to solve problems and create solutions that can make a positive impact on people's lives. I am fascinated by the way engineering principles can be applied to real-world problems, and I am excited to be part of a field that is constantly evolving and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. First-generation college students face unique challenges compared to non-first-generation college students, especially in STEM fields. However, research also shows that mentorship and social capital can help first-generation students enter and persist in engineering majors. Completing a first-year projects class was a pivotal moment for one first-generation student, cementing their desire to study engineering. This opportunity to pursue an engineering degree as a first-generation college student is not only a personal achievement, but it also has the potential to inspire others in my family and community to pursue higher education. First-generation students bring a unique perspective to campus, and their success can inspire others. I am grateful for this opportunity and am committed to working hard and persevering through any challenges that may come my way. When I first moved to the US, my mom took me to see the Griffith Observatory in California and it was then that I decided I wanted to become an Aerospace Engineer. I want to study anything related the aerospace and aviation. The classes are challenging but being a good engineer is about determination. It was a couple of years later that I moved to Houston, Texas. It was meant to be for me to become an Aerospace Engineer because this is the Space City! And I don't believe it was a coincidence when I had a boyfriend who worked at NASA Space Center and would give my email to any astronaut he would see for me to contact and ask questions about their career path. Overall, pursuing a degree in aerospace engineering as a first-generation college student requires hard work, perseverance, and a willingness to seek out resources and support. However, it can also be a rewarding path that opens up exciting opportunities for personal and professional growth. I am seeking to keep meeting astronauts who emphasize how hard the career path is but who also speak about their enjoyment. Roxy Williams is a Nicaraguan space researcher who was recognized as an "Emerging Space Leader" by the International Astronautical Federation. There is an astronaut photograph of Nicaragua taken from the International Space Station. Nicaragua recently created a Ministry of Extraterrestrial Space Affairs, although some have criticized the move as lacking scientific capacity. Rene Ortega is a NASA employee who survived an earthquake in Nicaragua. However, there does not appear to be any information readily available about a Nicaraguan astronaut who has traveled to space. There may be Nicaraguans who have trained as astronauts or who are involved in space-related research, but this information is not easily found in the search results. I have made it my personal goal to become the first female Nicaraguan astronaut and to make history for my country so my family members won't just say, "Yes my grandaughter is an Aerospace Engineer"...They will say, "My grandaughter's name is Natalie Zeledon and is an Aerospace Engineer AND the first Nicaraguan women to travel to space". In Jesus' name, Amen! The struggles my family faces in Nicaragua, from gang violence, poverty, financial problems, no opportunities, educational growth, politics, a corrupt government, and a rising economy is what motivates me so one day I can help them live comfortably.

I’m born and raised in Esteli, Nicaragua. It is one of the poorest countries in Central America. My family and I were sponsored by my grandma who had been living in the United States and for financial reasons, couldn’t visit my mom in Nicaragua for 15 years. My grandma decided to sponsor us and it was 10 years later that my family and I were offered green cards. My country sees education as a privilege, and not a human right. I’m currently living in Houston, Texas and attending University of Houston. Many first generation college students attend college to give our families back home a better life, and that is exactly what I want to do. I haven’t been able to visit Nicaragua in 6 years because purchasing round trip flight tickets for my family of 6 would be very expensive but I’m hoping that when we do visit Nicaragua again, I’ll be able to take my entire family with me and help my family at home anyway I can. I remember my grandma and grandpa from my dad’s side always used to take care of me like if I was their daughter. My grandpa would be 10 cordobas (in Nicaraguan currency) for school every morning to buy a snack and my grandma would greet me with a meal everyday when I returned from school. She would make me gallo pinto, tostadas, y queso frito. Six years later, my grandpa passed away during the pandemic and my grandma is losing her hearing. The biggest sacrifice I have had to make for my family is not being there for them during the hardest times of their life. Living in Nicaragua isn’t easy, certainly not for older family members who can’t protect themselves well from gangs, corrupt police, corrupt government, murderers, and thief’s. My goal is to earn my education and help my family in Nicaragua any way that I can, financially, physically, and emotionally. I hope that I can take care of them and make my grandma the favorite dish she used to make for me. I also want to get my grandpa a headstone. I’m studying Mechanical Engineering and I graduated high school with an associate’s degree. I’m a 19 year old at University of Houston with over 60 credit hours. I’m blessed to be in a country that lets me accomplish and expand my education like this. In Nicaragua, I never would have had the privilege. I value the education I can receive in the United States and I feel blessed to experience something that the children in Nicaragua aren’t able to yet. Thank you for listening.

I'm interested in a STEM career because I want to pursue Aerospace Engineering to become an Astronaut in the future. I'm a permanent resident on the road to getting my citizenship and following my goals. Being a young woman trying to pursue a male-dominated career is very difficult because we are constantly doubted but knowing that society as a whole has progressed is very motivating. I can influence the tech world by pitching in my mind and female perspective, women are known to be more open-minded and detail-oriented which are delicate and important skills to succeed. I always dreamed of being an astronaut as a little girl and my family moving to Houston, TX where NASA is located is a dream come true. I'm born in Nicaragua and I'm looking forward to succeeding and putting Nicaraguan Americans on the map. The tech world has made advances throughout the years from phones, and computers, to spaceships, nuclear materials, electric cars, and space shuttles. The challenger space shuttle had exploded while taking off in 1987 due to problems with O-Rings, cold weather, and many other problems that contributed. NASA has come far especially since we just had an astronaut return from the international space station with Russian astronauts less than a month ago. They landed successfully and to my surprise, the astronaut Mark Vande actually lives in the same neighborhood as my History teacher which just fuels how realistic and real these space missions are. Mark Vande set a new record for being in space for 355 consecutive days. Many world records are set in space, especially because NASA constantly contributes to new findings. We don't know much about space and every mission has its risks so successful missions are rare to come by. Even though becoming an astronaut makes me a little scared, I want to contribute to new findings in space missions that help mankind take a step further to Mars. Just like Neil Armstrong said, "One small step for a man but a huge leap for mankind" when he stepped foot on the moon for the first time. Spaceships have since improved thoroughly just like technology has. For example, Teslas are electric cars that run on electricity and take $5 to charge on average. Compared to a 1987 Mercedes 560 SL which takes 7.5 gallons of gas and only 100 miles. 7.5 gallons would be around $35 in today's economy...and those $35 would only take you around for a couple of days with 100 miles! The average charge on a tesla takes about 6 hours (downside) but gives you about 400 miles (depending on the type of Tesla). I currently own a Honda Accord which takes around $50 for 433 miles which lasts me about 2 weeks but I wish I could charge my car for $5!!! Something that also worries me is global warming and gas contributing to pollution. I look forward to our economy and future generations becoming an electric card dominated society. It is time to expand and take better care of our environment! In the end, our society has made giant leaps in mankind thanks to STEM majors and great minds. I hope to one day become a great mind that causes a great change to help mankind with future intelligent advances. STEM majors come in different forms such as astronauts, engineers, scientists, mathematicians, and technicians, thanks to basic subjects that we took throughout our education such as science and math. It all starts with the education we can continue to receive in the United States which contributes to tech studies and leaps in mankind.

If I was a highly influential figure, the main thing I would stand for is being kind and generous. I would promote kindness and generosity by telling people to not be judgemental human beings. We never know what the next person is going thru and judging doesn't make us any better than others. Having clout doesn't make us better, being known or popular doesn't make us have a higher standard. In real life, outside the screens and in front of our phones, we are all the same. We all bleed the same and internet clout gets to people. Stay humble because the same you got it, that is how it can be taken from you. Stay humble, stay nonjudgemental, do right by others, be kind, and pay it forward. Doing nice things for others is always good. We can't always solve everyone's problems but nice gestures always make a difference. Other than that, I would also stand for giving people the right to free healthcare for children and free therapy to women suffering from sexual abuse, domestic abuse, or other types of trauma. There are too many children around the world without proper access to healthcare and mental health isn't taken seriously enough.

I have learned to not judge. We never know enough about people and none of us are better than others. We all bleed the same and came in this world the same. We aren't better than others and the materialistic things around us shouldn't make us think that we are in a better position to judge others. Practice being nonjudgemental every day so you can make it a part of your daily routine. I've witnessed judging other people without knowing all the facts. Even if I knew the facts, we shouldn't judge because God can take everything we have and put us in the judged person's shoes in a split second. I've opened my ears and become an optimistic person who doesn't judge people by their situations, circumstances, or character. I don't judge at all because it doesn't make us any better to look down on others. We are all the same and judging makes us horrible people. It doesn't make us excellent. Practice being nonjudgemental to be excellent.

Aristotle said, "You are what you repeatedly do". Therefore, excellence has to be a habit and a mindset, not an act. These are words spoken by a college graduate with four degrees, Rick Rigsby. I've watched his college speech several times throughout my life. In his speech, he talks about the wisest man he ever met in his life, a third-grade dropout who didn't let his schooling get in the way of his education, his father. He also says that pride is the habit of a foolish person which is something that I believe we shouldn't put into our daily routine. We should do excellent things that are good for us and for the world around us. Doing things repeatedly will lead to us being genuinely excellent. We will make a habit and let it be part of our DNA...instead of putting on a fake facade to impress people that don't know us. Be excellent for yourself so you can surpass your own expectations. This speech is the wisest speech I have ever listened to in my entire life. Rick Rigsby says that his father taught him to not be judgemental and to stay kind. This can all be practiced by being what we repeatedly do. If we aren't judgemental and we stay kind then we will be kind nonjudgemental people. In conclusion, you are what you repeatedly do.

Generosity means being selfless with things that we are blessed with. Generosity means giving back to the world that gives to you and realizing that not everyone has the same blessings and access to things that we have. Generosity means being genuine and understanding that half of the materialistic things that we have, we do not need. Generosity means being kind and nice from the inside and doing right by others because we genuinely want to, not because we need to. My favorite quote is, "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can. In all the ways you can, in all the places you can. At all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever you can." by John Wesley. Have you guys read the book Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde? If not, I suggest getting into that book. It is about giving back to people because you want to be better for yourself and others. Paying it forward is an example of being generous and blessing other people. I believe that all of us are guardian angels to others and that God places us in this world for a purpose. I believe that everyone's purpose is to just be good. Do good things without expecting anything in return. Don't be mean because others are being mean. Stay true to yourself and keep being kind. Don't change your genuine character to match others' ingenuine character. Generosity means kindness. Like you said above, we can't solve everyone's problems but small gestures make differences.

One thing that gives me hope that the future will be better is this one incident that happened to me two weeks ago. I had left school to go get food and on my way back to school I witnessed a car accident right in front of me. Mind you, I had actually taken a different route to school this specific day. I never take this route to school but God probably put me there like a guardian angel to witness this. So the car in front of was switching lanes and the person driving the car that hit them as they switched lanes, they were driving almost 80mph when the speed limit was 45mph. I stopped my car and got out to help and noticed that the car in front of me was driven by a pregnant lady who had her daughter of maybe 2-3 years old in the backseat. The guy that hit them got out of his car to help the pregnant lady and her daughter and was apologizing and saying that he was driving fast and couldn't break soon enough because he was driving towards his mom who had just gotten into a car accident as well. There was actually another car accident down the road which involved his mom. So he got into an accident on the way to his mom's car accident. What made me feel like the future was going to be better is because as I was helping the people in the car, I noticed that about 5 cars had also stopped to make sure the family was okay. The truck driver that was driving behind me actually stopped his truck and was asking me if the family was okay. Everyone was okay and the harm was to the cars and not the people. People actually cared you know? We are often surrounded by people who aren't genuinely genuine and who don't care for anybody but themselves but this was the most selfless moment I had witnessed. I was glad that everyone was okay. I got back in my car and as I was driving further down the road, I saw the other car accident, and the guys' mom was okay too, there were ambulances and police helping out the other car accident while pedestrians did their best to help out with traffic. I witnessed everyone working together and it made everything in the world seem like it was going to be okay for a second.

One change that would make education better for future generations is actually giving education to the future generation. Education should be a human right and accessible to everyone. According to Compassion Internation, "Thirty-nine percent of the worldwide poor have no formal education at all. 15 million girls of primary school age will never have the opportunity to learn to read and write in primary school, compared to about 10 million boys", this is outrageous in 2021. My home country is Nicaragua, one of the poorest nations in Central America. I'm blessed to have received an education in the United States and be a first-generation future college graduate but I know firsthand that thousands in Nicaragua don't have the privilege of education that I have had. Education in Nicaragua and all over the world should be seen as a human privilege and not a privilege. We, as a society, need to work on making education accessible to children who want to learn to read and write. The other day I was at work and witnessed a man coming in to cash his work check. I asked him to endorse the back of his check by writing his name and phone number and he told me that he didn't know how to read or write and that he had recently immigrated to the United States less than two weeks ago. He provided me with his foreign passport and I helped him endorse his own work check working construction. I found out he was 32 and from El Salvador. This example is one of the millions of people who could have so many other life opportunities and better lives altogether if their countries government system had focused on doing better for their citizens instead of focusing on corrupting countries. It is 2021...everyone thought we were going to have flying cars, and live on a different planet by now but instead, we have 39% of the world without access to education!

One practical solution to helping more people who struggle with mental health is opening up. Therapy should be more accessible to minorities and people struggling with depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, etc. Many healthcare insurance companies don't have coverage for therapy sessions because mental health is not taken seriously enough. Also, I think it is absurd that therapists charge by the hour! we should be able to have access to therapists everywhere we go. I want to have a therapist that I can text as soon as I have a mental episode and who can help me out. I really just need someone to talk to and I usually just sleep everything off and don't want to communicate later on. I have yet to find a therapist who I can reach out to and be like, "girl let me tell you what just happened", you know what I mean? Friends can also be someone we can talk to but not all friends can be trusted while therapists have that client-therapist confidentiality. I honestly blame the healthcare system.

One experience that has shaped me into who I am today is being raised in Nicaragua. My home country is one of the poorest countries in Central America. Seeing what my life could have been like makes me feel grateful for the things that I have in life. When I was younger, we used to shower on top of the sink where we washed our clothes with our hands. All we could spare was a bucket of cold water that we were supposed to warm up in the sun if we wanted the luxury of bathing with warm water. In that same sink, we used to wash our clothes with our hands and hang them up in the sun to dry. Having access to actual showers with warm waters coming out of the faucets and having a washer and a dryer makes me realize that if my mom hadn't brought us to the United States, we never would have experienced this lifestyle. Having access to laundry machines, showers, and warm waters seems ordinary in the United States. In my country, it is considered a privilege and a luxury. This experience makes me want to work harder for my future and not take anything for granted because there are millions of people around the world who don't have access to what I have access to now.

Coming from a single-parent household shaped my education journey by teaching me what independent and hard work looks like. My family and I are from Nicaragua. Our home country is one of the poorest nations in Central America. My mom wanted a better future for me and my siblings so she waited ten years to finally get my family and me permanent visas to come live in the United States. Seeing my dad not want to live in the United States with his family was a complex situation that I didn't understand fully when I was ten years old. I'm now eighteen and I can see that my dad left my mom and his kids to fend for themselves. My mom, siblings, and I haven't seen my dad in eight years and I've witnessed seeing my mom working two full shifts and still living below the poverty line. We don't have much but are blessed to have a mom that keeps us fed and with a roof over our heads. I've seen her working hard and getting everything that we ask her for without depending on my dad for anything. She moved us from my home country so we can have a future that is only dreamable in Nicaragua. My siblings and I did not have a chance of advancement. Education should be a human right for everyone, not a privilege. Coming to the United States and seeing big buildings, proper infrastructure, nice homes, and nice lives for people makes me not take anything that is presented to me for granted. I'm typing this on a laptop that I couldn't have bought myself in Nicaragua. Seeing how one can advance their education is important for me so I can show my mom that all her hard work will pay off and also so I can provide a better future for my family and me. I plan on getting a good education that helps me earn a good career and mold a good future for me. I want to lead as an example to my siblings so they can also go to college and take advantage of the education that is offered to us in America. I want to give back to my community by having the opportunity to build schools for Esteli, my hometown, and helping kids learn to read and write. I want to go back to Nicaragua and retire in my home country and let people know of the opportunities that my mom made available for us. She takes all the credit for everything that I accomplish because nothing would have been available to us if she didn't want a better education for her kids.

My dream life looks really peaceful and kind. I imagine buying myself a nice house with a lot of windows and waking up every morning to do yoga and drink my daily morning coffee. I would also like to live a healthy life going to the gym and having a big backyard with big trees and flowers. I want to grow a garden and take care of roses and sunflowers. I always wanted to have twins and dress them in matching outfits but I think it depends on what stage in my life I'm dreaming about. I see this vision when I'm older (maybe late 30s) so I would like to have kids by then. I want to live my 20s without kids and focus on education and my career. I also want a husband so my kids can have a two parent household. I always wished my dad was still living with us and together with my mom but it never happened so I want my kids to experience parent happiness and love. I would also like a piano in my house and a husband that plays the piano, cooks for me, and makes a lot of money...then I want us to donate a portion of our earnings to Nicaraguan families so we can help them with their financial worries. Nicaragua is my home country and also one of the poorest nations in Central America so I think my country really needs my help.

My favorite piece of art is The Little Prince. It is a book that was turned into a movie and millions of drawings. When I was in Art 2 during my sophomore year I had decided to draw the book cover to The Little Prince on canvas. I still have this canvas painting in a frame over my bed. The Little Prince isn't just a book to me. My older cousin had introduced me to this book when I was 9 years old. I don't read books often anymore but this book stuck in my brain for so long because of the person that introduced me to it and because of the story plot that the book gave. The Little Prince is about a little prince who used to live in an asteroid with a rose. He found out the rose was lying to him and decided to leave his asteroid. He found himself on earth where he met a pilot and a snake (among other characters) and learned that roses and flowers don't live forever. He started to miss his rose and was unable to return to his asteroid. The snake offered to bite him and send him back to his planet (which meant the snake was going to poison the price). The little prince let the snake bite him so he could return to his rose. This story was actually about the prince committing suicide to return to his rose. My cousin showed me this book when I was 9 years old and living in Nicaragua. My immediate family and I left Nicaragua when I was 10 years old and I haven't seen Nicaragua or my cousin in 8 years (I am now 18) so the book and the painting above my bed reminds me of my cousin.

Listening means actually listening. Many of us zone out when ours friends, family, or people are talking to us and that should not be okay. Just like we need friends to talk to, so do other people and feeling like someone is listening is a great feeling. I am not an open person that shares feelings and problems but I am a great listener. My friend Amira talks to me about her relationship problems, her life problems, her accomplishments, and things that make her happy. I listen to her and give her advice or congratulate her. Most of take for granted how venting and having people listen to us feels. It is good to let feelings out and empty our hearts and minds. It is frustrating when you feel like no one is listening. It can make us feel really confused and perplexed so having someone listening is an underrated feeling that we take for granted. If you have a person you can trust who listens to you...keep them around. People who genuinely listen don't come around often.

Something I'm passionate about is music. Not making music but listening to music. I feel like music helps keep me clam and focused. I love listening to music all the time and opening my ears to different tunes and melodies. I have a friend who wants to be a music producer and makes music beats. He likes to play his music beats for me sometimes and I really enjoy it because I love his beats in all honestly. I'm passionate about his dreams and I hope he can accomplish his goals because he is really talented. Anyways, I seriously love music. This morning I was driving to school listening to I Drink Wine by Adele. Her new album is so good but this song stood to me because I loved the melody and the lyrics. While driving and listening to music I started looking around my surroundings and I felt really generous and kind. Every time I listen to music and drive it makes me open my eyes and feel grateful of my life. We often don't give thanks for being alive and having another day to live. In conclusion, music keeps me calm, grateful, awake, and kind. I am passionate about music and I would love for music to keep making an impact in my life.

My goals for the future are to earn my bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration. I'm thinking of also getting a Master's degree to make me stand out in my career field. I always wanted to work at a hospital but not the medical side...I enjoy the business side more. I'm also weary of blood and human organs so business side definitely suits me. I'm currently working on my business associate's and I love my accounting class (it is actually fun and my professor is awesome). I never enjoyed school subjects much but this accounting class is actually pretty good. Anyways, after getting my bachelor's I would like to work my way up in the Healthcare Administration ladder. Being the CEO of a hospital would be a dream! Have you guys seen Grey's Anatomy? it is a show with doctors and I have been wanting to work in a hospital since finishing the 16 season show. I would also like to travel the world and then retire when I'm financially able to. I would like to go back to live at my home country, Nicaragua, and return to my homeland to live peacefully. I think this would be the perfect life for me.

My dad spent 12 days taking care of my grandfather before he passed away from COVID-19. My dad exposed himself and was spared by a miracle. My dad found peace knowing that he did everything he could for my grandfather. He improved my grandpa's last days by making him as comfortable as possible when he could no longer do anything for himself. One thing I now do to help improve the lives of elderly people is making them comfortable. It is important for us to do simple tasks for them such as opening doors, helping them up stairs, picking up anything they drop, giving up our seats for them, and being respectful. If you find yourself in a position where you can help someone else please help them. It goes a long way. Sometimes I walk my neighbors dog because I know that she doesn't always have the availability to walk her dogs herself. Mrs. Roberts never asks me to walk her dogs but when I offer, she doesn't refuse. I can see that I take a big weight off her shoulders when I walk her dogs.

Being independent means taking a step into the world without anyone guiding and holding your hand. It is important for us to not have to depend on anyone else to advance and succeed. Although it is beautiful to have someone in our corner that we can't count on...we can't depend on everyone to make their every move depending on our timing. We often need things done on our time and get upset when people don't want to help us when we request it. We can't blame people for putting themselves first. I think it is selfish to expect people to move on our timing. Being independent means being able to do everything on your own without waiting on help. It also means finally growing up and being an adult. Not everyone has the best intensions for us so we shouldn't put ourselves in positions where help is needed from people that don't genuinely want to help us! Everyone is not genuine. Being independent means being the bigger person who doesn't depend on others who hold us back.

One new technology that I am excited about is the new Tesla coming out in 2025. As you all may already know, Tesla's are electric cars that do not require gas. I hate filling up the tank of my Honda because we don't often think of the harm that the fuel does the atmosphere and the world. I am excited for this new Tesla because I have also been wanting a Tesla for the longest! I love that it is electric and also has a modern interior with a panoramic roof. I love cars with panoramic roofs because I have been wanting to sit in my car and just look up at the stars. Most of us can look up at the sky right now and not see a single star because the lights around cities are too bright for us to see stars. Having a panoramic roof would allow me to catch a glimpse of a couple stars whenever I have the chance to be in an area that isn't too laminated and when I'm also on the road. I also like that Tesla's are safer cars that have auto driving because I often feel very scared in cars. Accidents can happen anywhere and anytime, no matter how good of a driver you are but having a Tesla would help me feel safer. I'll take any opportunity at feeling safer! I also love that current Tesla's have a big monitor screen where you can control all the interior and exterior functions so it is easily accessible. Also, the new Tesla is rumored to be $25,000!!!!!!! This makes me so excited because the cheaper it is...the more I want it! I don't have $25,000 but it is 2021...I am determined to saving my money and having $25,000 by 2025. Also, gas prices are going up everyday...

When I was saving to buy a car I used to leave all my money at home so I wouldn't spend it. My track was to force myself to not break my hundreds. For example, if my paycheck was $213, I would only allow myself to spend $13 on me and not touch the $200 because that would mean I was breaking my hundreds. I would also leave everything home (including cash and debit card) so I couldn't spend money even if I wanted to. I would only allow myself outside with those $13 from my paycheck and I would keep those $13 with me and save for any potential emergency. I was 16 at the time so I didn't think I needed to walk around with money anyway because if something ever happened my first instinct was to call my mom to help me. Anyways, I would save those $13 and whenever I received my next paycheck I would pat myself in the back for keeping those $13 safe and then I would put it together with my previous paycheck. It would give me the best satisfaction ever and I would feel so proud of myself. I kept this habit for a year and ended up buying a brand new car and paid it all off with all the money I had saved up. This was a financial advice and trick that I gave myself so I take all credit for the saving habit that helped me successfully save!

I feel like the biggest problem facing the world right now, in my opinion, is Texas banning abortions. Texas has banned abortions over six weeks of pregnancy which basically means that abortions are illegal. To get an abortion, women are required to get an ultrasound and ultrasounds can only typically be done after 5 weeks of pregnancy because that is when the heartbeat of a baby can typically be detected. Also, 90% of women only find out about pregnancy later on the pregnancy term, at around 7-8 weeks. I think is is unfair and a violation of human rights. Women should not have to have their body choices be banned by old men in congress. Women should be allowed the right to have babies because they WANT to, not because they are forced to! We should be given a choice to practice our rights to freedom. We, as a country, need to work on evolving as a nation...and not going back in time. Abortions should be made accessible to everyone who wants, needs, or desires an abortion. There are so many kids that are suffering in the foster care system. Instead of making women keep babies that they don't want, can't support, or can't have at all, we should be focusing on giving a better life for the kids in this world already! Why are old men in congress forcing women to keep babies that will most likely be given to foster care when the government isn't taking proper care of existing kids IN foster care already?

I would say that my love language is letting people know how important they are to me. Sometimes I write my friend Abigail a small note saying how much I appreciate her and I leave the sticky note inside her notebook. I know that she won't notice it until days later but I do it on days that she is feeling happy so that she can discover it on a day when she isn't feeling like herself, and I hope that it can make her day slightly better. I know that she battles with depression and anxiety daily so I feel like it is really important for her to feel loved and prioritized. I'm a person who doesn't share feelings often. I don't like to have those conversations face-to-face. Instead, I like to give gifts to show my appreciation and write letters that are opened when I'm not around. I don't show affection often around my family but I like to make sure they feel important to me by giving them gifts when I can.

My grandfather used to be the most genuine person ever. He passed away two months ago from COVID-19 and he used to give back every single day. I witnessed him being surrounded by love and empathy everyday because he was a genuine person who took every chance to give back. He was the most respectable person ever. I'm from a small town in Nicaragua where everyone knows one another. If anyone ever finds themselves in Esteli, Nicaragua please do me a favor of asking for my grandfather Augusto Zeledon. Everyone has their own story of how my grandfather impacted and helped them in some way. What I'm trying to get at is that I want to be that person that people can remember and feel happy to have met. I want to help people because I know that is what my grandfather would have wanted me to do. He didn't have to give back physical items, just respect, happiness, and love. Not all of us are in a good financial place where we can give back with money, items, or physical things but we can do our part to spread happiness, love, and respect to make someones day better. We never know what people are battling so small gestures can actually help make someones day. My grandfather used to always give flowers to my grandmother anytime he could. After they got married, he bought her a house and a garden with roses. My grandmother still wakes up everyday to water her roses and it instantly makes her day better, even after my grandfather passed. It is important to give back to make someone else's day better.

My simple pleasure in life is driving around my city, listening to music, and realizing the scenery around me. Sometimes we take for granted what is surrounding us because we are used to it. I'm used to driving everyday around Houston, Texas and listening to my favorite songs and I often forget to live in the moment and be grateful that I'm healthy and alive. The pandemic emphasized the beauty of life. We have all being impacted by COVID-19 in one way or another and I think it is important for us to put some time aside everyday and look at your surroundings and just be grateful. Everything is magnified for me when I'm driving. I love driving in the freeway over the South Houston Tollway and feeling like I'm almost about to reach the sky. I start thinking about how my life is actually as perfect as it can get. I'm safe, I'm healthy, my family is around me, I'm surrounded by a positive atmosphere without anything holding me back. I'm trying to put myself in a better position to further expand my learning and education and driving and seeing what is right in front of me helps me see a positive vision of my life. It makes me happy because I want to keep being blessed about things that can be gone in a blink of a second.

The most inspiring book I have ever read was The Little Prince. When I was ten years old, my older cousin was assigned this book during high school to analyze. He lent the book to me after telling me that it was the most poetic book he had ever read. The Little Prince is a fiction book about a prince living in an asteroid surrounded by a rose. He had found out that the rose lied to him so he left his asteroid and found himself in Earth where he met a pilot. The pilot helped the price understand feelings and emotions. The prince found out that roses die, which made him start missing his rose and wanting to go back to his asteroid. He met a snake in earth that promised it could help the prince return to his asteroid by seeing heaven. Towards the end, the prince ends up accepting the snake's offer because he wanted to see his rose again. The pilot often wonders if the prince returned to his planet and the author ends the book by showing us an illustration of the desert and the stars. The author says that if ever find ourselves in that area, to let him know if the prince is okay. I love this book because even though it is fiction, the author was a real life pilot whose adventures inspired the tales. I ended up finding out that The Little Prince was actually about suicide. The prince ended up killing himself over the love he had for the rose he deeply missed. In the book, the prince is seen as too naive and too in love to be able to compete with the real world, which is why he must die. Survival of the fittest takes over once again.

The best way to live a long healthy life is by not worrying about things we can't control. We have to look after ourselves and learn self-love. Most of us put others feelings before our own and end up hurting ourselves in the process. Living a healthy life means learning to love ourselves before we can love anybody else but if you can't love yourself then who will? Let us love ourselves by taking care of one another. Taking care of ourselves starts from the inside to the outside. Let us learn to cleanse our souls by spreading kindness and love. I always say that love and peace is the answer. What I'm writing might sound naive and cliche but IT REALLY IS THE ANSWER. I believe in karma and the energy that you put out into the world is often reciprocated. I put kind gestures and pay it forward because it genuinely makes me happy to do right by others and do right for myself. You can start by being kind. When you are kind, people see the good in you. People show you love and respect. What better way to live life other than being showed love and respect? This is how I stay worry and stress free. I am only 18 years old but I hope I can remain living a healthy life. Also, do things that make you happy!

A turnaround story that I'm proud of is being the first person in my family to buy my own car. During the beginning of the pandemic, I lost my transportation to school after moving to an apartment outside my school district. I got a job as soon as I turned 16 and worked endlessly to save enough money to buy my car to take myself to school. I saved my money for a year so a year in the pandemic saved me enough time to buy a car. When we returned to school face-to-face I had my own car to drive. I ended up buying a Honda Accord Sport 2019, brand new, that I bought paid off in cash. I made sure to have enough money saved up so I wouldn't have to worry about paying for a car note while being in school. I feel so proud of myself because this was the first accomplishment I made on my own which paid off after all the hard work and hours I put in. I went from relying on school transportation, to not having school transportation, and to buying my brand new car a month after turning 17, and driving myself to school.

Friendship means having a shoulder to lean on. We often find ourselves in situation where we need people to talk to, friends are supposed to be people you can trust and depend on. We all have lost a friend over the principle of an argument. We often overthink and overanalyze situations which makes us realize that some people just aren't good for us! Although I don't have many friendships, I still understand how important friendship is. My mom always told me that friendships come and go and that if it is meant to be, it will be. After all the friendships I lost, I can't wonder and hope I could have a friend I can confide in without being judged, I wish I had a friend who could listen to me like I would listen to them. I wish I had a friendship that felt proud and happy for my accomplishments just like I feel happy and proud of the accomplishments of my expired friends. Friendships are important because that is where we develop friendship love and friendship love is just as important as self-love, family love, relationship love, and just love on its own. Friendship means to love and care unconditionally and take care of one another which is why I hope I can find real friendship one day.

I practice self-care by remaining patient and optimistic. I don't let stress take over me and I make sure to seethe good things in life. I often remind myself to not stress over things I can't control and to not waste my time on situations that won't matter in the soon future. When I was younger, I had met an aunt who was a therapist. I remember her looking at my dads face and asking him to talk without letting wrinkles appear in his face. My dad's face had permanent wrinkles that worsened over time and showed his anger and stress. This is why I try to have patience and not let anger take over my face expressions. I don't want to have wrinkles like my dad! I am seen as a laid-back and relaxed individual who likes to be happy and worry-free. I also enjoy listening to music as self-care. Soft melodies and meaningful wise words always help soothe the mind.

The most inspiring book I have ever read was The Little Prince. When I was ten years old, my older cousin was assigned this book during high school to analyze. He lent the book to me after telling me that it was the most poetic book he had ever read. The Little Prince is a fiction book about a prince living in an asteroid surrounded by a rose. He had found out that the rose lied to him so he left his asteroid and found himself in Earth where he met a pilot. The pilot helped the price understand feelings and emotions. The prince found out that roses die, which made him start missing his rose and wanting to go back to his asteroid. He met a snake in earth that promised it could help the prince return to his asteroid by seeing heaven. Towards the end, the prince ends up accepting the snake's offer because he wanted to see his rose again. The pilot often wonders if the prince returned to his planet and the author ends the book by showing us an illustration of the desert and the stars. The author says that if ever find ourselves in that area, to let him know if the prince is okay. I love this book because even though it is fiction, the author was a real life pilot whose adventures inspired the tales. I ended up finding out that The Little Prince was actually about suicide. The prince ended up killing himself over the love he had for the rose he deeply missed. In the book, the prince is seen as too naive and too in love to be able to compete with the real world, which is why he must die. Survival of the fittest takes over once again.

A piece of art that inspires me is The Tales of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. She is the creator of the famous children book. This inspires me because Beatrix was a woman living during a time when women empowerment was needed more than ever. She was an author, business women, and scientist whose biggest obstacle was men looking down on her. She earned money by sharing her fantasies and creativity with the world. She was often looked down on because she was a women but she proved the men-driven society that she lived in wrong. After having her ideas rejected a million times, she became successful by publishing her books and has over two million sales on her Beatrix Potter books each year. She became the first person to have her products merchandised by creating toys, clothing, and more publicity. She proved to be 100x more successful than the men who rejected her propositions. She was a smart scientist with more potential than the male scientists who wouldn't allow her into the meeting rooms because she was a woman. Art made her successful and she didn't let men get in her way.

The song that inspires me is Rosas by La Oreja de Van Gogh. My first time listening to this song was when I was eight years old. I was in Nicaragua at the time, my home country, where I lived during my childhood. My childhood memories are foggy but this is one memory I will never forget. I remember being at my Godmother's house. It was the day after my birthday and I remember asking for an iPod to listen to music. She had gave me a cream MP3. Until this day, I still have it. She used to own that MP3 so it had some songs downloaded on it. I had no idea how to use an MP3 or how to even download new songs on it so I spent the rest of my childhood listening to the same Spanish songs that my Godmother liked. Rosas by La Oreja de Van Gogh is a song that stuck with me because it was the only song with a female lead as the singer. I loved how calm and sweet the melody was. She sings about someone she met and loved. She thinks about the day when her love left her and how she hopes that her love will come back holding roses. She says that she stands with a soaked face thinking about how the only real love is the love we have for ourselves and how she is starting to forget if love is even real. No matter how sad she felt, she still hoped her love would return. I'm a hopeful, optimistic person who always wishes for the best. This was the song centered around my childhood that I can't let go off because, in some way, it helped me become the hopeful, optimistic person I am today.

Time is key. That would be my sentence. "Time is key". With time, everything chances. It can be a second, a minute, an hour, a year. Time heals and time is the most important thing we have. Time isn't free and time shouldn't be taken advantage of. I feel like time is so underrated. I always think about things I could be spending my time. I don't like to waste my time so participating in productive activities is the best way to value time. I use my time to fill out scholarships, apply to colleges, look up job opportunities, surf the web and expand my knowledge, take care of my health, take care of myself, take care of other people, and be kind to the world. Kindness takes you a long way and using your time to do kind things will bring you peace. Use your time wisely and don't stress about situations that you can't control. You can't waste your time on situations that won't matter an hour, month, or years from now. TIME IS KEY!!!

I want my legacy to be something powerful and inspiring. I'm 18 years old with big dreams. I don't have a clear vision yet but I know that I want my legacy to be powerful enough to put my kids through college and let them be financial worry free. Life is supposed to be simple. We all have had financial problems before. Many of us have been homeless. A lot of us had to pick between a full tank of gas or getting our leashes done. 100% of us want to go to college debt-free. I want to make life easier for my legacy by not letting them worry about money. I want my kids to have fun and live a worry free life and remain youthful. Even though what I wish isn't realistic, I can't help but dream and wish. I hope my legacy can help others live a happy, youthful, worry free life.

My favorite way to help others is by being there for them. I like to pay attention and listen. I understand that there are many people who only want a shoulder to lean on who will listen to them. I like to be that listening ear. It might not seem much but 80% of people around the world struggle with opening up. We all constantly struggle with asking for help. I'm a person who doesn't like to ask for help, I don't like to feel like a burden to people. It makes me feel vulnerable by opening up and I often have been judged for opening up before. There has been times in the past when I opened up to someone just for them to throw it in my face and use it against me later on. These circumstances have changed my perspective on opening up. Although I don't open up myself, I know what it feels like to be alone and vulnerable. I know what it feels like to have someone judge you for your decisions and opinions. I like to listen to people and let them know that it is okay to open up and talk. Letting all thoughts out and emptying out the mind is something powerful that helps us have a clear mind and level head. I want to keep listening to people and giving them advice so they can keep opening up without feeling judged. I don't want people to go what I went thru so I help others have a better experience than I did. I help them understand that I have a shoulder they can always lean on.

Patience is important to me because you have to understand that everyone does not work around your timing. The world does not revolve around you so they will not drop everything to make you comfortable. This was a realization that helped me continue living my life stress-free. I have always had a lot of patience but I can understand how hard it is to try to keep a calm temper and a good patience radar. Being patient has also led to having a calmer lifestyle and fewer worries. Sometimes when I'm talking to my friend I tell him to do a quick favor for me like turning the music down and he only registers what I said minutes later and I have learned to not rush other people's time. He will turn the music down for me & says, "Sorry I just realized what you said". It happens! not everyone registers everything on the timing that we are on. I kept my patience. It can be small things like this that help expand my patience.

Education has shaped my understanding of the world by helping me gain acknowledge. My grandpa always said that acknowledging is the best thing that can happen to a person. The human brain has the power to retain so much information and acknowledge that can be helpful for many everyday situations that we go thru. School subjects help us get thru every day with ease. It is much easier for people who graduated from school to understand everyday functions. A person that can read and write has more chances of getting jobs in the real world than people who don't have the resources to learn how to read and write. Education is a privilege. I come from a country where reading and writing is luxury that many people in my country do not have. I come from areas where our biggest blessings are having a roof over our head and food so reading and writing weren't a priority. I am extremely blessed to have parents that did everything they could to bring me to the United States to earn the best education I could have received. Being able to have basic communication skills and furthering my education opened so many doors for me that people in my country do not have the priority to have access to. Education helps me understand how the world works, what our purpose is, and how many people function. No matter how small or big the task is, my education expanded my knowledge so I won't be clueless. I can now help other people understand. The best thing about my days is having a common understanding of what I am doing. For example, whenever I am at work I have to do simple math calculations to write checks and cash out checks. I also use my reading skills to read fine prints and help my customers understand how my place of work functions and what our policies are. I also use my basic typing and spelling skills to write this small essay hoping I can win scholarships to help me pay for my education so it can take me a step closer to expanding it. Everyone should be able to have the access to education so they can understand the world just like everyone surrounding me can. If I had a wish that could come true I would wish that education can be accessible to everyone so it won't be a luxury, but a necessity.

Society can most effectively empower women by protecting them. Instead of telling women that they need to be more careful, society has to teach men to respect women's boundaries. It is sad that 90% of women walk around with pepper spray and self-defense weapons because we are terrified of men who can't keep their hands to themselves. It is very sad that women can't go to a party and wear the clothes they want because of the fear of being raped by men. Society constantly fails women by not protecting them. Society can begin helping women by having parents teach their sons to respect women's boundaries. No means No! The key to empowerment is having respect. Being respectful towards women can take society far. Women should feel respected no matter what she is wearing and no matter how accessible they seem. Women should never feel like they are at fault for men thinking they are their property. We are no one's property and no one should feel like they are free to touch us because of the clothes we have on or because of how alcohol we had while having fun. Women are afraid of having too much fun around men. It is our job to look out for one another but men should feel disgusted for feeling like women are their property. Women can be drunk and wasted but that still does not give them permission to touch women when she does not want to be touched. Once again, start by telling your kids that women are not their property. A half-unsure yes does not mean yes. Many women accept having sexual intercourse with men when they feel pressured. Many of them give in to pressure because they are scared of what men will do to them if they say no. We should be scared! These men are reckless little boys who have no boundaries and feel the need to have anybody they want. They can't have all of us! We are independent young women who have their own minds and are scared of telling men no and that is a big problem in society. Men are so fragile that a simple No will hurt their fragile ego to the point where they feel like laying their hands on women is okay. Domestic violence and rape will NEVER be okay! Women need theirs voices heard and it starts with gaining respect from men and men respecting women's boundaries.

My best skill is my sales technique. I work at a perfume boutique selling fragrances. I think I have an exceptional skill at selling and I expect to be a good salesperson in the future. I used to think selling was easy and that anybody could do it but social anxiety exists! Many people aren't as social or outgoing as I am. I am a person that genuinely likes to interact with people. I am so used to being a well liked person that it surprises me when people don't get along with me, it is rare but it happens. At the end of the day, everyone is not meant to get along with everyone and that is perfectly fine. My genuine vibe and personality is what makes me a good salesperson. I like to engage in conversations with people. I would say that my problem at selling is getting too engaged and forgetting about the goal at hand, which is selling the product I am selling. I try to improve this daily by remind myself that I have to meet my selling quota of fragrances every day. I do not have a required goal set by my boss but I have a personal goal that I like to meet everyday at work. I have been working at my job for over a year, I do not think I am the best at selling but I do like to take credit for my hard work. I motivate myself to keep engaging with people and selling the product. I realized I was good at my job when we kept getting new coworkers at my job who couldn't sell as natural as others. Selling is not as easy as it seems. I am improving daily by gaining experience.

My goals motivate me on a daily basis. I like set expectations and set a timeline for my goals everyday. At the end of the day, I like to feel the satisfaction of accomplishing my goals for the day. I fear procrastination so I like to get things done as soon as possible, that way I can push the task to the back of my brain and mark it as accomplished. I like to feel like I am doing something important with my life so I challenge myself to different tasks everyday. For example, I told myself that I would apply to at least five scholarships today, go to the Texas DPS and renew my license, and apply to college today. Tomorrow I will complete my discussion board for Federal Government, study the exam review for Macroeconomics, and get started on the Texas Defensive Driving course for my citation. I will also submit my fee waiver and high school transcript for college on Thursday. Completing a list with tasks for the day helps me get things done and helps the day go by faster. Time flies by faster than expected so I like to get things done in a manner that motivates me, instead of stressing me.

Something I have learned about myself that I found valuable is the power to protect my peace and happiness. I stopped letting anybody know me. Many people do not have the best interests for you at heart. Many people do not want to genuinely see you succeed and many people should not have access to you. I used to love making friends and being around anybody until I realized that you should not let everyone have the same access to you. The best way to do this is by letting people know your boundaries. Everyone should not access your vibe and get to know you in a personal level because they will ruin you! What people don't know, they can't ruin. This is the best life lesson ever. You will protect yourself by keeping your personal life to yourself and by holding yourself to a higher standard. Go for higher goals, set higher standards and expectations for yourself so people don't think they can low-ball you! People like to take advantage of others by thinking they are naive. Let people know that you are better than that!

I feel happy when I'm at peace with myself and my surroundings. I used to struggle with letting all the events in the universe affect my day and my mood. I have slowly been learning how to protect my peace. I feel the happiest when I'm sitting by the beach, on a bench, listening to Rod Wave, and breathing in and out. I also feel very happy when I'm driving over a bridge and I feel like I'm about to reach the sky. I feel the happiest by my self without any interruptions from the outside world, this is the moment when I realize that everything will be fine and that there is a bigger plan for me. Sometimes you have to take time to connect with yourself and understand your inner emotions. There was a point in my life when I felt like I needed to be surrounded by people to be happy. I used to think that I'd never be happy without a significant other or a friend following me around. I realized that I could not let my happiness be determined by other people. I needed to take my future into my own hands and be careful who I let into my atmosphere because my vibe and my aura is to always be protected. I couldn't keep surrounding myself with people who were not genuine with me. To protect my peace, I learned to be happy with myself. I do small activities by myself every so often and find happiness within myself.

I am a first-generation college student born and raised in Nicaragua. My mom could not finish her schooling because she didn't have the funds to in Nicaragua so she decided to move my family to the United States. My mom always told me that the best this country has to offer is education and opportunities so I am here to prove her right. I try my hardest to stay focus and not let any obstacle steer me from the path I'm striving for. My goal is to get a bachelor's degree in business. My mom was trying to earn a bachelor's in the same field as me but it is difficult to achieve much in a corrupted country with minimal freedom. She did the best for my siblings and me when she moved us here. She is a single mom who does her best for her family and my goal is to make her proud and let her know that her hard work will pay off. I am currently in Early College High School. This program allows me to earn a college education while being in high school. I am a senior who will graduate school with a diploma and an associate's in business in 2022. I am blessed for this program because I have been getting an education for free. This never could have been done in Nicaragua. One of my biggest motivators is knowing the luck that I have. I've been part of this program since freshman year and I can't help but feel like I am living up to the American Dream. I have no other choice but to take advantage of everything this country has to offer. My extended family in Nicaragua can't experience my blessings so I want to live them up the most I can. My mom, siblings, and I have not been able to return to Nicaragua in seven years. It is expensive to get round-trip airplane tickets for four people and my mom does not make enough to afford the luxury. The last time I saw my grandparents, dad, and cousins was seven years ago and my biggest challenge and fear is feeling like I might not see the rest of my family again. My cousin that I grew up with passed away two years after I moved to the United States. I remember the last conversation I had with him was during Christmas. I remember him telling me that I sounded so boujee over the phone. He said it in a joking way but I knew he wished he could be by my side. I wish he could hear me speaking boujee one more time. This challenge taught me that you really never know when it is the last time you see or talk to someone you genuinely care and love for. My grandfather passed away a month ago from Covid. The last time I had seen him was seven years ago when we said goodbye to him at the airport. I remember hanging on to him and not wanting to leave his side. I remember locking myself in his room the night before and telling my mom that I didn't want to leave my family. He was my role model and I want to believe that he is going to make sure that I can take the most advantages out of this country. He was the most precious human being ever. He genuinely had the kindest heart and it feels surreal that the world lost such a kind soul. Family is the most precious thing in life and we have to hang onto them more than anything. I need to accomplish everything I am after for so I know that leaving my country was the best for me. I hang on to the memories with my cousin and grandfather and remind myself that I have to try harder than ever to make them the proudest. My grandfather was such a hard-working person, just like my mom. I have to follow their steps and fill in big shoes. I'm only hoping I can work hard enough to make them happier. I want to get the education my cousin wishes he had the opportunity to experience and I want to get all the job opportunities my grandfather always told me I would have. He was the most intelligent man ever. I used to get on the phone with him and he would tell me that I needed to read more books because knowledge is so important. The brain can retain so much information and you want to take as much advantage of your memory because, at the end of the day, knowledge is all we have. My biggest motivator is trying to surpass myself. I want people to feel my success and feel as proud of me as I do. I want to live up to the American dream like my family says I should. I have so many dreams. I want to take my mom and siblings back to Nicaragua to see the rest of my family because the last memories of them can't be us saying goodbye at the airport. I want to go over there and take them a picture of me with my degree and let my grandma frame it in the living room. It makes me the happiest when my family smiles and feels proud of me. My grandfather and cousin are on my side all the time. I write this essay knowing that no matter how destiny unrolls, they will be taking care of me regardless.