To me and my family, our Puerto Rican heritage symbolizes the deeply rooted past and culture that we carry within us throughout our entire lives. Our heritage is beautiful and rich, filled with history that continues to guide us every day. It also inspires us to bring honor to our culture and do our absolute best to embrace the beauty of our Puerto Rican descent. My Puerto Rican descent stems from my mother, who was raised in Puerto Rico until late childhood, when she moved to the United States with her siblings and single mother. My grandmother, trying to ensure a good life for her children, worked endlessly and tirelessly to escape the poverty she endured throughout her childhood. Nonetheless, raising four children as a single mother in a new place was difficult, and some of the responsibility fell onto my mom as the oldest daughter. My mother grew up less fortunate and with many obligations to her family, having to work to provide and care for her younger siblings so they could make ends meet. She didn't have the opportunity to attend college due to financial hardship, but that didn't stop her from doing everything possible to make a life that she was proud of. Her hard work and selflessness allowed my family and me to live a more comfortable life, and gave my sisters and me the opportunities to do better for our future. For that reason, she inspires me the most to be grateful for everything I have been given and to do the best that I can to help others. My admiration for her and everything she has overcome is endless, and will forever motivate me to make the best of every moment in life. Additionally, growing up understanding how much cultural struggles our heritage faces allows me to push myself to make my family proud and to always be grateful for the opportunities I have been so blessed with. It is this motivation that has inspired me to pursue a career in psychology, to use what I was given to make an impact on the world. It wasn't until recent years that I knew what direction I wanted to take for my career, but I have always known one thing: I know that within my future, I want to make people feel seen, understood, and cared for through the work I do. My career goal is to eventually become a licensed counselor, specializing in helping people cope with mental health issues. I’ve always had a deep interest in understanding the emotional and psychological factors that influence mental health, and I am motivated by the idea of using this knowledge to support individuals through counseling and therapy. Pursuing this academic journey of attending college and obtaining a psychology degree will allow me to contribute to making the world a better place. Mental health is a challenge that many individuals battle, sometimes silently. I have had to bear witness to the impact that depression, addiction, and suicide can have on one's life and family. My goal is to have the ability to alleviate the effects of mental health issues and be able to help others navigate life's challenges. Ultimately, in many ways, my Puerto Rican heritage is the foundation of who I am and who I aspire to become. It is a constant reminder of the strength, resilience, and love that have been passed down through generations, especially from my mother and grandmother. By pursuing a career in psychology, I hope to honor their legacy by helping others feel seen and supported, just as I have been.