I yearn to help make good changes in this world, not only through philanthropy, but by challenging the way that things have been done. I wish everyone that experiences my art feels empowered to be their amazing, raw selves and not be afraid to try something that steps out of the mold, to wonder. To be fulfilled with my work and in a position where I can provide my loved ones a greater quality of life because of my education and expertise in organizational psychology and digital communication and would allow me to do so.

I was wrong. I used to think showing up for my community or someone only entailed doing something like donating cans of nonperishable food, fostering stray animals, or becoming an ambassador for the college experience. However, I have learned that we can show up in our community in more ways than through organized events or places. Four Months ago, I decided to go on a bike ride with my brother which resulted in me meeting our neighbor. As we passed by her front yard, we noticed the black kitten that was always circling our house was her cat, Lucy. From there, we sparked up a lovely conversation where I learned a bit of her story and that of the neighborhood’s. She has been living in her house since the 1970’s after moving from Argentina. The neighborhood was mostly land where there are houses today. Upon being constructed, they were mostly occupied by Cubans that emigrated to the United States in the 1980’s. She then explained that historically, Cubans have mostly resided in Florida since it is the closest state to Cuba and has served as a haven for families seeking a way out of military dictatorship, poverty, or better education for their children. A retired music teacher whose students she had a great bond with. She is now 91 years old as of last May the first ( I made sure to pass by for her birthday) and I am glad I got to listen to her story. The good, the bad, and the in-between. As we were saying our goodbyes I offered my help for anything she might need and where she could find us. She deeply thanked me for having a conversation with her. This warm-hearted interaction has given me more empathy for the people that surround me everyday. And ever since, I dedicated myself to show up for others in whichever way I can. Whether it is a simple “Good Afternoon” or “How is everything going?” It can make someone’s day. We are not as alone as we might think. Everyone around us has a story to tell, but we can only know that if we step out of ourselves and take the time to acknowledge those surrounding us. In the past, I had never tried to get to know my neighbors because it was not very implemented in the neighborhood I lived in previously. But after practicing regularly connecting with others, I have had the opportunity to get to know and show up for many other neighbors and community members. As much as allyship might not be a linear learning journey, but it is crucial to learn how to advocate for others. It helps us honor what makes us unique. I am a third-year psychology major with a focus on industrial organization and a certification in digital media and communication. I would like to work in the human resources field because I want to influence others. I feel as though the things I have and will continue to learn throughout my life could immensely help others. I would love to be someone that provides others the necessary resources or information about things. Having emigrated from the Dominican Republic seven years ago, I know that leaving everything you know to start over in a foreign country felt impossible. Learning about the experiences of those who emigrated decades ago was inspiring. But it all starts with someone having the initiative to help that leads to collective change.

I live in a family of four. My mom was born in Manhattan, New York. Although, she then lived in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from the age of two while my dad was born and lived in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for most of his life. My parents experienced a lot of financial hardship growing up. My mom and her siblings all had to work throughout their high school career while my dad has been working since he was seven years old to help put food on the table. My mom and dad moved to the United States after graduating high school and had me a year or so later. During this time, both my mom and dad worked and took care of me until mom decided to be my primary caretaker. Six years later, they had my youngest and only sibling. My mom then completed a degree in business administration from a community university in Dominican Republic after seven years due to being our primary caretaker. Meanwhile, dad earned his certifications to be a Commercial Transport Pilot. His lifelong dream. We then moved back to the United States in 2015 in hopes of a better future and have been here ever since. As the older sibling, I am the first to go to college and it has been difficult since I have had to set an example for my younger brother. Even though I did not particularly dream of going to college, it has been my mission to take advantage of my privilege in being able to pursue higher education. Something that helped me persevere when I was unsure of my place in this world was: “if it is not for me, then for others”. Since a lot of my family did not have the opportunity to go to college, let alone in the United States. In turn, it has been an extremely positive and transformative experience. I realized I love learning. And most importantly, I love making information easily accessible for others to facilitate their journeys. Especially fellow first-generation students. I am a third-year psychology major with a focus on industrial organization and a certification in digital media and communication. I would like to work in the human resources field because I want to influence others. I feel as though the things I have learnt throughout my life could immensely help others. I want to be that person that takes a chance on people and provides them the information they need. Just like the person that informed my parents of job openings or the person who told them what schools had the best programs available to ensure we have a bright future. Living in the United States permanently felt impossible when I had to leave all I knew behind. However, with the ongoing support from my parents and my devotion to facilitating my brother’s journey, I knew that as difficult as things may seem, I am not alone.

Growing up, I always knew I wanted to help others. Originally, I chose psychology as a major because I thought I wanted to be a Clinical Psychologist, but now I aspire to work for myself. The idea of being the person people could talk to openly and provide support in the most challenging situations was fascinating to me. However, I also enjoyed painting, drawing, singing, writing, and crafting. During my first ever Psychology class, I realized that although I was interested in Psychology as a subject, it was not the source through which I wished to help my community. By the time I had finished my general education credits, I decided to not continue my undergraduate education since I felt I needed to only specialize in one profession in order to succeed, but this could not be further from the truth. After a long 3 months of soul-searching, I realized that I did not have to give up the pursuit of formal education in order to follow my aspirations of creative self-expression. I came to find that my skills would be best suited as a Human Resources Consultant. By working as a Human Resources Consultant, I can offer specialized advice and ensure organizations carry out fair practices that give a voice to employees. Thanks to the great resignation movement that took place, people have become more knowledgeable and selective of the companies they choose to work for, allowing for healthier work environments and more financial stability to take place. In the long-run, I see myself bringing about creative projects and becoming a positive influence in people’s lives. While continuing my third year of undergraduate studies in Psychology this Summer semester, I am eager to join the Student Affairs Organization in my university to help shed light on important matters and participate on community projects. For over two years, I have been volunteering for a non-profit animal rescue center where I foster stray newborn kittens a few weeks at a time until they find their “Furever Home”. Additionally, I also had the wonderful opportunity to work as a student ambassador, assisting over 200 international exchange students to facilitate their college journey as they navigate the American college system. Being in such positions has not only been extremely rewarding, but has teached me an array of skills that can supplement my education earning far beyond minimum wage. Such as: time management, project management, interpersonal communication, and public speaking. Sometime in my career, I aspire to create an ongoing scholarship fund to help offset students’ education expenses. I would define social change as a collective belief created from interactions and conditions that bring people together. I want to be that catalyst for change. To combine my knowledge base and creative ideas to birth something valuable, encouraging others to do the same, and bettering our surroundings as a result. I would not have continued my college education if it was not for my loved ones’ continuous support and the wonderful people I met at my university. They showed me that my college experience is mostly what you make of it. If awarded the “The Moore the Blingyer Scholarship” through the Moore the Blingyer LLC, it would greatly aid me in achieving my undergraduate education with less concern towards my finances. With less concern towards finances, I could spend more time learning, creating, engaging, and participating in the different opportunities available at my university, which will ensure my academic and professional success.

It is March, 2022. Enrolling back in college was nothing but an idea. It had been 2 months of soul searching. Looking for the perfect approach to my career, thinking of the many possibilities, and ultimately waking up from panic attacks in the middle of the night. What was my purpose? I knew things had to change. And it all started with practicing better lifestyle habits. I decided to visit my grandma in my hometown. Sometime during my stay, I asked for guidance, when she told me: “You have to start at the beginning”. As obvious as it sounded, it was the one thing I actively avoided. I was intimidated by the idea I could achieve anything I worked towards. Becoming my best self would require me to break a lot of bad habits. It was particularly challenging to not procrastinate. I had to learn why I constantly put off those things I wanted to do. To help with this, I started waking up earlier and establishing a routine that worked best for me to stay consistent. Of course, there were times where I felt back in square one. But no matter the circumstance, I learned to see my emotions as mostly responses instead of indicators. Although it can be tricky to balance work and life effectively, practice has made it better. Ironically enough, I found comfort in not reaching my expectations, but rather to chasing a sense of fulfillment. Anything will be harder at the beginning but with repetition, it only gets easier. Three months later, as I begin my junior year in college at a new school, I am now more prepared than I ever was to face whatever challenge that comes my way. Starting from the very beginning, using what I have, and doing what I can.

The pure, humid air fills my lungs as I breathe in. The mellow, tiny droplets plink onto the soil as the rain pours. Quiet yet comforting. An instant sense of relief. I love nature because I find it to be an infinite source of ancient wisdom that centers us whenever we need it most. The introduction of this digital era has brought about higher rates of declining mental health, faster pace of living, and an overload of information. When feeling overwhelmed, nature gives us the space to reset. We must cherish this. A betterment of environmental conditions starts with us. What does this mean? That greater positive outcomes can only happen with collective lifestyle changes that favor a more holistic lifestyle. Some of these changes might include lowering our amount of consumerism, having plants indoors, or using rechargeable batteries. I show appreciation of nature by going on walks and tuning into my surroundings. The birds singing, the wind blowing, and my steps slowing down as the swift lizard briefly acknowledges me. My appreciation for nature grew when I took an Earth Science class in my freshman year of college. We learned about the Earth’s processes, time periods, and occurrences. As I learned about the mysteries and wonders of earth, I could not help but wonder how much I don’t know. For eons, nature has managed to maintain itself and us through cycles. This wellspring of existence was alive well before anything else. Spending more time outside and practicing mindfulness can impact us tremendously. From helping regulate our emotional cycles to improving our overall well being and longevity. With the introduction of interactive media, it is as though our brains have not been able to adapt fast enough resulting in our perception of the world becoming warped. Nature can change this.