I was raised in Mexico by a poor but diligent Hispanic family. My mother stayed at home to work with my older brother and me, while my father worked excessively long hours to support us. My parents never got the opportunity to finish school but gave whatever they could to make sure we were secure, well taken care of, and loved. I learned sacrifice, not tragically, but as an act of love. That is what I knew about sacrificing oneself for the ones you love. I was fourteen years old when everything went wrong. My mother died suddenly from a stroke. Her death was the saddest thing that ever happened to me, and it ruined our family's foundation. Since my brother was only seventeen at the time, and my father was used to working the majority of the time, our life was over turned overnight. My father had to be both provider and caregiver, and it was not easy. He continued to work long hours in Mexico because he was not a U.S. citizen and wasn't able to leave, while my brother and I traveled to the United States with hopes of a better future, something that my mom always wanted for us. It was really difficult being so far away from my father in a foreign nation. We were immersed in a different culture, acquiring a new language, and assuming duties that other teens would never imagine. But in the middle of all of it, I carried with me the strength of the love and knowledge that were passed on to me by my family. In our society, family is the core. You fight for your loved ones, you show respect to everyone you encounter, and you never forget where you originated. These ideals helped me through the darkest moments and shaped the manner in which I see the world today. Being raised Hispanic taught me to see life in shades of strength and compassion. I understand what it means to fight in silence, to translate for your parents as a child, to enjoy the triumphs, no matter how diminutive they are, and to always share what you have, even if you do not have much. Our culture has taught me that kindness is not weakness, it's strength. That hard work isn't something to complain about, it's something to be proud of. And that family and community are not just important, they're essential. I've also learned to value opportunity in a way perhaps I wouldn't have grown up elsewhere. When you have watched your parents stretch every dollar, when you have seen them cry behind locked doors but show up to work every day for their children, you start to view education, health, and security as privileges, not rights. And so, that awareness makes me work harder, stay grounded, and keep going even when the weight gets too heavy. Occasionally, when the world feels especially brutal, I think of my father in Mexico. I think about how he earns in pesos and sends his pay to us in dollars, how that small gesture is so rich in meaning. It reminds me that love is more commonly communicated through effort than through words. My Hispanic heritage has left me grounded, grateful, and strong. It has made me proud to be the person that I am and where I come from, and it reminds me every day of the duty that I have to take advantage of the best of the opportunities that are before me.

When my mother passed away from a stroke, my entire world changed. I was just a teenager living in Mexico, and suddenly I had to face life without the person who had always been my guide and support. One of her dreams was for me to study in the United States, knowing it would offer me more opportunities than she ever had. Even though it was painful and overwhelming, I honored that dream. I moved to the U.S. at fourteen years old with my family, determined to pursue the future she believed I could have. Adapting to life in a new country was not easy. I had to learn a new language, understand a different culture, and adjust to a completely new education system. At times, I felt like giving up. The grief of losing my mother, combined with the pressure of starting over, made everything feel heavier. I wasn’t just dealing with homework or learning English—I was also dealing with loneliness, financial stress, and the feeling of being out of place. But I kept reminding myself that my mother believed in me, and I wanted to prove that her sacrifices meant something. So, I pushed through. I spent extra time studying, using online tools and watching videos to understand my classes better. I asked teachers for help, practiced English constantly, and stayed after school to make sure I didn’t fall behind. I also started working while in college to help support my family and cover educational expenses. I learned how to manage my time, prioritize my goals, and advocate for myself. The more challenges I faced, the more confident and resilient I became. In college, I found purpose in giving back. I joined several student-led volunteer organizations through UTSA and became actively involved in community service. I helped organize donation drives, participated in city-wide cleanups, packed supplies for low-income families, and gave presentations at elementary schools on dental hygiene—sharing knowledge in ways that were fun and educational for kids. As I gained experience, I took on leadership roles. I wasn’t just attending events; I was helping plan them, coordinating with other students, and inviting people to join us. One of my proudest leadership moments came when we worked on a community project to restore a local garden used by Child Safe, a nonprofit supporting children recovering from abuse. The space was neglected, overgrown, and unsafe for the children. I helped lead a team of volunteers to clean, organize, and replant the space. It wasn’t glamorous work—we were pulling weeds in the heat, sweeping debris, and fixing old equipment—but I saw how powerful it was to take initiative and inspire others to make a difference. That project taught me that leadership doesn’t require a title—it requires action, empathy, and the willingness to do the work no one else wants to do. Overcoming the loss of my mom and the many transitions that followed taught me how to stay strong in the face of adversity. My journey has made me more compassionate and determined to serve others, especially those who face the kinds of obstacles I once did. Whether it’s through tutoring a peer, organizing a volunteer event, or simply being someone others can rely on, I’ve learned that leadership is about lifting others up while staying grounded in your values. I carry my experiences with me every day—not as burdens, but as reminders of how far I’ve come and how much I’m capable of. I don’t give up easily. I lead by showing up, giving back, and encouraging others to do the same.

When I first got into the University of Texas at San Antonio, I knew that to go to dental school, I needed volunteer hours; therefore, I started looking into organizations through my college. Being able to give back to a community that I was new to was an experience. I remember my first time volunteering was through Heaven for Hope Kitchen. I didn’t know much about the mission or the tasks I was going to handle, which is why I went in with an open mind. I made sandwiches for about two hours, which wasn’t as bad as I thought—the environment helped a lot. They had good music, and everyone was just eager to be there and help people. Everyone was talking; it was a safe environment, and it was interesting to hear the background of each individual. When we finished, they told us we had made more than five hundred sandwiches, which helped the residents as a snack for after or before taking their medicine. Afterwards, I was given the position of serving the residents some food—I was at the mashed potato station. Being there affected me in a different way; seeing how I was helping someone directly was a feeling I didn’t want to end. The best part was how grateful all of them were for us being there to help. I knew I was making a difference, but I didn’t realize how big of an impact I was making. For me, being able to give back to the community—even if I was only helping five people—was the greatest highlight of my day. Furthermore, going once a week to different volunteer events has opened my eyes to the reality of how many people you can help in so little time, and how I, as a volunteer, can make a huge impact. Gladly, there are so many people helping and volunteering. Since I started volunteering through different UTSA organizations, I haven’t stopped. It started as a requirement, and it quickly turned into something I genuinely looked forward to. It helped me grow as a person. It helped grow this love, this passion, this community skill—the ability to have compassion for others and for our community. Because if we don’t help, then who is going to?

Paying for college has been one of the biggest challenges for my family. My dad works in Mexico, and unfortunately, he doesn’t earn very much. Every semester, I try to help out by covering more of the costs, but it’s still difficult. The financial aid I receive through FAFSA changes often, which makes it even harder to plan ahead. I know my dad is doing everything he can, so I want to do my part too. Last summer, I worked at a dental clinic in Mexico to gain experience in the field and to earn some money. I’m passionate about dentistry and plan to become an orthodontist one day, so it was a valuable learning experience. However, the pay was very limited, and it wasn’t enough to make a real difference financially. This summer, I’m trying a new approach. I plan to shadow a dental clinic here in the U.S. to continue gaining clinical experience, but I’ll also work at a fast food restaurant so I can save up more. I know it will be a lot to balance, but I’m motivated to do whatever it takes. I’m also applying for scholarships, hoping that even a small award can take some pressure off my dad and help me continue my education. I’m determined to succeed, not just for myself, but for my family. Every step I take brings me closer to my goal of becoming an orthodontist and being in a position to give back.

I have always believed in changes, and I have passed for a lot of them to become who I am now. From the loss of my mom, I had another perspective of the world and how everything works; It's been a lot of ups and downs, but I have always found my way, I became a more responsible person and mature. I went through college applications and important tests by myself, I knew that if I wanted to do something in life I had to move and be Independent of my actions. Since I became someone that lost a parent at the age of fourth-teen years old, I grew up faster in a mental way; Sadly that's how life works, it throws you events that you couldn't ever imagine. Moving to the United States since that. I left everything, even my dad, that got me more in every way; But thanks to these big changes, I met people that show me another side of myself, and I learned things, even better a new language, English. I'm extremely proud of the person I'm now, I never thought I to become someone so strong that could pass for a lot of changes in less than a year and still manage to be successful. I believed In living the moment and worrying less, one day you are here and the other you may not, live your day as if it's the last one, and be strong for everything that life has you prepare.

I hope that i will become someone known for good things ,for being great at what i do ,and for always having a big smile on my face.To be able to do what I most wanted to, travel the world; See what's across the sea ,meet the elephants on Australia , touch the Tower Eiffel on Paris , and last but not least, have a family and a stable job. Make my dad proud and overall living the best life I can.

I never thought this day will come to me to answer: "what do you want to do when you grew up?".I was always scared of people asking me that question, but now I can confidently say:" I want to be an Orthodontist"; Being into it since I was fourteen years old since I got my braces on, I saw all the equipment and how they used all these different tools for different methods, I was allured. Following the path of biology has been an interesting choice since I have always been into it but never really thought it will become part of me, part of my career. Investigating more about this career got me to realize how much diversity there is in this field. I never thought how important diversity is, and even more in a work. This brings a diverse type of people with different experiences, skills, and perspectives about how to manage work, and also brings a spare of innovations and creativity. Overall I hope to have a workplace full of diversity and plenty of indistinguishable ideas so my mind can have those ideas to open my creativity and many more other ways to see things.