My faith in God has been the foundation of my life through both the good times and the hardest moments I have ever faced. It has given me strength when I felt weak, hope when I felt discouraged, and peace during times when I didn’t understand why things were happening. I know that without my faith, I would not be the person I am today. One of the greatest challenges I have ever experienced was losing my best friend, Cruz Chavez, in a car accident. Cruz wasn’t just my best friend—he was like a brother to me. We grew up together playing baseball, spending time at each other’s houses, and making memories that I will always cherish. When I found out he had passed away, I felt like a part of my life was missing. There were days when I was overwhelmed with sadness and struggled to understand why God would allow something so painful to happen. During that season of my life, I realized that I couldn’t carry that burden on my own. I turned to God in prayer, even when I didn’t have the right words to say. Instead of asking for all the answers, I asked Him for the strength to keep moving forward. Little by little, God began to heal my heart. The pain of losing Cruz hasn’t disappeared, and I still miss him every day, but my faith has reminded me that God is close to those who are hurting and that He can bring peace even in the middle of heartbreak. My faith has also taught me to trust God’s plan, even when I don’t understand it. Losing Cruz changed my perspective on life. It reminded me that every day is a gift and that tomorrow is never promised. Because of that, I try to live with gratitude, treat people with kindness, and make the most of every opportunity God places in front of me. I want to honor Cruz’s memory by living a life with purpose and by never taking the people I love for granted. As I pursue a degree in finance and work toward my future career, I know my faith will continue to guide me. Success is not just about making money or building a career. To me, success is about using the gifts God has given me to serve others, make honest decisions, and positively impact the people around me. I want to build a career based on integrity, compassion, and humility because those are values my faith has taught me. I also hope to use my financial knowledge to help others make wise decisions and create opportunities for their families. I believe that God calls us to use our talents to serve others, and that is the kind of person and professional I want to become. Although losing Cruz was one of the hardest battles of my life, it strengthened my relationship with God in ways I never expected. My faith has shown me that healing is a journey, not something that happens overnight. Through every challenge, God has remained faithful, and I trust that He will continue to guide my path. No matter where life takes me, I know I will never walk alone because my faith will always be my greatest source of strength. Jeremiah 29:11

Has something or someone ever changed your life? For me, it was the game of baseball. Ever since I was young, baseball has been more than just a sport. It has been a place where I learned life lessons, built lifelong friendships, and became the person I am today. It taught me discipline, hard work, perseverance, and most importantly, how to appreciate the people around me. Growing up, I loved baseball with all my heart. I was never the biggest, strongest, or fastest player on the field, but that never stopped me from giving everything I had. My passion for the game was always there. No matter if I had a great game or made mistakes, I was always thankful just to be on the field. I loved competing, practicing, and spending time with my teammates. Baseball taught me that success doesn’t come from talent alone—it comes from showing up every day, working hard, and never giving up when things don’t go your way. The greatest gift baseball gave me was my best friend, Cruz Chavez. We grew up together, and because of baseball we became like brothers. We did everything together. We stayed at each other’s houses, went out to eat after games, and spent countless hours playing catch or talking about baseball. Looking back now, those simple moments are the ones I miss the most. At the time they seemed like just another day, but now I realize they were some of the best memories of my life. This past year, my life changed forever. Cruz passed away in a car accident. Hearing that news was the hardest moment I have ever experienced. It didn’t feel real, and for a long time I struggled to accept that my best friend was gone. Losing someone who meant so much to me was something I never imagined I would have to go through, especially at such a young age. There were days when I didn’t know how to process everything I was feeling. As hard as it has been, baseball helped me through one of the darkest times in my life. The game teaches you that nothing lasts forever. Every game comes to an end, every season eventually finishes, and sometimes things don’t go the way you planned. Even when you strike out, you have to step back into the batter’s box and keep believing in yourself. That lesson became much bigger than baseball. It reminded me that life will bring challenges, but you can’t let those challenges stop you from moving forward. Losing Cruz also taught me to never take a single moment for granted. You never know when life can change, so it’s important to appreciate every practice, every game, and every moment with the people you love. Whenever I step onto the baseball field, I think about him. I know he would want me to keep playing the game we both loved and to continue chasing my dreams. Baseball changed my life because it gave me purpose, taught me valuable lessons, and introduced me to a friendship that I will cherish forever. Although losing Cruz has been the greatest challenge of my life, his memory continues to inspire me every day. I will always carry the lessons he taught me and the memories we made together. Every time I step onto the field, I play not only for myself, but for my best friend, knowing that the game we loved will always keep a part of him with me.

Financial literacy is one of the most valuable life skills a person can have, yet it is often overlooked in schools until students are already expected to make major financial decisions. Many young adults graduate from high school without understanding how to create a budget, build and maintain good credit, manage debt, invest for the future, or even file their taxes. As a result, many people learn these lessons through costly mistakes rather than education. I believe financial literacy should become a core part of every student’s education, beginning in middle school and continuing throughout high school with lessons that prepare students for real life. Instead of focusing only on financial terms and definitions, schools should emphasize practical, hands-on learning. Students should learn how to build a monthly budget, compare the costs of college and student loans, understand interest rates, open a savings account, invest in the stock market, and plan for long-term financial goals such as buying a home or saving for retirement. These are skills that every student will eventually need, regardless of the career they choose. Giving young people this knowledge early would allow them to enter adulthood with confidence and make smarter financial decisions from the very beginning. My passion for financial literacy has inspired me to pursue a degree in finance. I have always been interested in understanding how money works and how smart financial decisions can create opportunities for individuals, families, and businesses. Throughout my life, I have learned the importance of discipline, responsibility, and long-term planning through baseball, school, and my personal experiences. Those same qualities are essential when managing finances, and they have motivated me to build a career where I can help others achieve financial stability and success. I also understand that financial literacy is about more than numbers. It gives people confidence, independence, and the ability to make informed decisions that can change the direction of their lives. Growing up, I have seen that many families simply do not have access to financial education, which can make it difficult to break cycles of financial hardship. I want to help change that by making financial knowledge easier to understand and more accessible to everyone, regardless of their background. In the future, I hope to give back by volunteering in schools, speaking to students about personal finance, and participating in community workshops that teach budgeting, saving, investing, and responsible money management. I also hope to mentor young adults who are preparing for college or entering the workforce so they can avoid common financial mistakes and begin building healthy financial habits early. As I gain experience in the finance industry, I want to continue using my knowledge to educate others and encourage financial responsibility within my community. Attending New Mexico State University will give me the education and opportunities I need to turn these goals into reality. I want to develop the knowledge, skills, and leadership necessary to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. By promoting financial literacy and helping people make informed financial decisions, I hope to create lasting positive change that extends beyond my own career. I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to understand how money works, and I am committed to being part of the effort to ensure future generations are better prepared for financial success than those before them.

Success is not determined by the obstacles a person faces, but by how they choose to respond to them. Throughout my life, I have learned that determination, resilience, and hard work can overcome challenges that seem impossible. Although I have faced obstacles that tested my confidence and perseverance, those experiences have shaped me into someone who refuses to give up on my goals. Since I was three years old, baseball has been one of the biggest parts of my life. Growing up, I was almost always one of the smallest players on the field. Because of my size, I was often overlooked or underestimated by coaches and opponents who assumed I couldn’t compete with bigger, stronger athletes. Instead of allowing those opinions to define me, I used them as motivation. I spent countless hours practicing, improving my skills, and proving that determination and heart could outweigh physical size. Baseball taught me that success is earned through discipline, consistency, and the willingness to work harder than anyone else. The lessons I learned through baseball have carried over into every part of my life. Whenever I have faced setbacks, I have reminded myself that obstacles are temporary if I continue to put in the effort. I have learned to stay focused on my goals even when the path becomes difficult. Those experiences have built my confidence and prepared me to face new challenges with a positive attitude. As I begin the next chapter of my education, financial assistance would make a meaningful difference in helping me achieve my goals. Like many students, the cost of higher education can be overwhelming. Receiving this grant would allow me to focus more on my education and less on the financial burden that often comes with pursuing a degree. It would give me the opportunity to invest my time into learning, growing, and preparing for a successful career instead of worrying about how I will pay for school. I believe scholarships and grants should be awarded to motivated students who demonstrate perseverance, strong character, and a commitment to improving their future. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds often have to work harder to reach the same opportunities as others. Supporting these students is not simply an investment in their education—it is an investment in individuals who have already shown they can overcome adversity and make the most of every opportunity they are given. This grant would not only help me financially, but it would also reinforce the values that have guided me throughout my life: hard work, resilience, and determination. I am committed to making the most of every opportunity I receive, continuing to grow as a student and as a person, and one day giving back to others who are working just as hard to achieve their dreams.

From where did I learn compassion? I learned it on a baseball field. I started playing baseball when I was three years old. At that age, I didn’t understand competition or pressure—I just loved the game. As I got older, though, I realized that not everyone saw me the same way I saw myself. I was always one of the smallest players on the field. Coaches and opponents often overlooked me because of my size, assuming I couldn’t compete with bigger, stronger athletes. There were times when I questioned whether I was good enough. I wasn’t always the first player chosen for important positions, and I had to work twice as hard to prove I belonged. Instead of letting those moments discourage me, they taught me resilience. I learned that heart, determination, and effort can outweigh size and expectations. Every practice became an opportunity to improve, and every setback motivated me to work even harder. I learned that the only opinion I could truly control was my own, and that confidence comes from preparation, not recognition. Being overlooked also taught me compassion. I know what it feels like to be underestimated or left out, so I make an effort to encourage teammates who may be going through the same thing. Whether it’s cheering someone on after a mistake, helping a younger player improve, or reminding a teammate to stay confident, I try to be the person I once needed. Baseball showed me that the best teammates aren’t always the loudest or the most talented—they’re the ones who lift others up. Over the years, I realized that everyone is fighting a battle that others may not see. Some players struggle with confidence, others with pressure, and some simply need someone to believe in them. Because I know how much a few encouraging words can mean, I always try to create a positive environment where everyone feels valued. A team becomes stronger when every player knows they matter, regardless of their role. The biggest lesson baseball has given me is that success isn’t measured only by wins or statistics. It’s measured by the impact you have on the people around you. Having the biggest heart means showing up for others, treating everyone with respect, and never judging someone based on appearances or first impressions. As I move forward in life, I plan to continue putting compassion into action by encouraging those who feel overlooked, leading by example, and treating everyone with kindness. The obstacles I faced because of my size shaped me into someone who values perseverance, humility, and empathy. Those lessons will stay with me long after my last baseball game, and they will continue to guide the way I treat others every day. I hope to inspire others the same way coaches, teammates, and my family inspired me—to never let someone else’s expectations define what they are capable of achieving and to always choose kindness, because you never know how much of a difference it can make in someone’s life.

Have you ever took things in your life for granted? Well I have, living our everyday lives we often become familiar with our routine’s. We don’t seem to understand how valuable life itself is until we experience tragedies and trauma. These built up trauma’s we experience really grounds us and helps us understand the true meaning of life, life itself is precious everyday we are blessed to wake up and go through our own routines doing what makes us happy. For some people they don’t get to experience what most people experience, some are unable to get out of bed or are sick and struggling to get better. The impact that brought me to reality was my grandmother being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. My grandmother is a very strong woman, growing up I looked up to her and saw how courageous and strong she was. When I was little I was always around her I would always like to fight and wrestle and I never had anyone to do that with besides my sister but my sister never wanted to and I was always taught to respect and take care of her, but my grandmother was always there for me she was always horse-playing and wanted me to always have fun. We enjoy hobbies together like sports, I’ve loved sports my whole life and I think it stems from her, every Sunday she would watch football in the living room and I eventually gained an interest in football, but my main sport was baseball. I never had a brother growing up and my father was always busy working but my grandmother was there for me. She would ask me if I wanted to play catch in the backyard or hit me ground balls. Looking back those were the best times of my life being young and just having fun with my grandmother, that made my childhood. When she got diagnosed with thyroid cancer she always told me everything will be okay. She’s very religious and taught me the word of God. She would tell me to have faith and believe God will always be there for you in your darkest times. I love my grandma very much and seeing her sick really took a toll on me when I was young but looking back and experiencing what I experienced was Gods plan. He helped her fight the cancer and she was able to beat it and become healthy again. Whenever dark times occur it is important to remain faithful and stay positive. This dramatically influenced my aspirations, knowing that time is precious and eventually things our bound to happen. My aspirations growing up were to play in the MLB and I trained very hard to get one step closer but reality hits and the most important thing in my life was that I gave it all I had. Learning from these experiences will help me through out my life being faithful, positive, and giving it my all, is something that will help me live the life I’ve always wanted to live and that is having a family, being financially free, and being able to help others.