This 2024-2025 FAFSA has been extremely difficult for me, for many reasons. When I began the process in January I didn't think I'd just now be getting my Financial packages for my college. I've had many sleepless nights thinking about whether I was or wasn't going to be able to attend college. Whether I'd have to do something for a semester while FAFSA got sorted out. My mental health deteriorated these past 6 months because of that. I felt as though I had no one to turn to because my problems were so complicated, and it was caused because my parents didn't have SSNs. I wouldn't be able to make their FSA IDs, the site was glitching, I had to get up at 8 am before school to hope FAFSA would pick up or maybe I'd just be on hold for an hour, I wouldn't get past something because I needed my parents. Over and over again I wasn't able to get anywhere. I felt hopeless and stuck. I started to think why wasn't I able to do this was it me was I not wanting this college career that bad? Was I not smart enough to complete this form, was I just not meant to go? I can't begin to tell you all the things that would go in my mind, I would cry so much I wouldn't know what to do. I then started to talk to those around me and they would just listen and I would get mad that they wouldn't have an answer for me but then again it wasn't their job. I just needed to keep going, keep asking, keep hoping that someway somehow this would all get settled and I could finally relax. I'm still unsure as to how things will play out but now I know I can ask and depend on those around me for help, 'cause I now know I can't do anything on my own. The whole experience has been hectic and I look back on it with kindness to my past self and hope that I'll be able to help kids in the future so that they don't have to have such bad experiences. Since college shouldn't be a commodity only a few can have but it should be a given to everyone. I tried to replicate this when I worked in the counselor's office at my community college. I would go out of my way to help students figure out what exactly they needed to do and how they should fill out their information. I hope I can learn more and help others in that manner and I hope others help me as well.

I'm a first-generation Mexican American, and while I've been granted many things in my life. Being granted hope and help hasn't come easy. Especially since I had graduated high school in 2021, during covid. Which is when I would come out to my parents, it wasn't easy and my mom didn't approve, my dad was neutral but I didn't get their full support. It had made me unsure of my plans moving forward with myself and college. If it was worth it or not. Through all these things, I never told anyone my sexuality because why would I? I knew all my girl friends leaned askew and they knew I did too but it was sort of unspoken. Plus it was just unnecessary in my eyes, and it would make me look like the bi girl instead of me. In hindsight, it was a very welcoming environment and I don't think it would've gotten me bad attention. I just hope people can see my accomplishments. This 2024-2025 FAFSA has been extremely difficult for me, when I began the process in January I didn't think I'd just now be getting my Financial packages for my college. I've had many sleepless nights thinking about whether I was or wasn't going to be able to attend college. Whether I'd have to do something for a semester while FAFSA got sorted out. My mental health deteriorated these past 6 months because of that. I felt as though I had no one to turn to because my problems were so complicated, and it was caused because my parents didn't have SSNs. I wouldn't be able to make their FSA IDs, the site was glitching, I had to get up at 8 am before school to hope FAFSA would pick up or maybe I'd just be on hold for an hour, I wouldn't get past something because I needed my parents. I hope with my degree I'll be able to help future students with financial needs and LGBTQ rights. Especially with healthcare rights, because I believe that good health shouldn't have to cost so much. As a woman, certain things aren't guaranteed, and as someone who is also bi, I feel as though every thought and idea is a challenge to morals. Which they shouldn't be, because at the end of the day, it's my business and I want to make sure that during my career I get to help like those around me.

I'm a first-generation Mexican American, and while I've been granted many things in my life. Being granted hope and help hasn't come easy. Especially since I had graduated high school 2021, during covid. Which is when I would come out to my parents, it wasn't easy and my mom didn't approve, my dad was neutral but I didn't get their full support. It had made me unsure of my plans moving forward with myself and college. If it was worth it or not. I've contributed to my community college and held an activities board position where a team of about 15 students would make and create events for students. It was a new way of seeing how I handle myself in a leadership position and how others view me. I honestly went in thinking I wasn't doing enough, that I wasn't trying hard enough to make the team succeed but my peers made me realize that it was all in my head and that I can be a leader if I want to. That took me a while to understand and grasp. During the Spring semester of 2024, I would also be working in the counseling and advising department of my school and I would help the random students that would come in the office confused and lost. I didn’t need to do as much as I did but I saw myself in them and I knew no one else was going to help them how I would. So I would follow them through the steps of the application, placement tests, and random college knowledge. When I first started community college I had no one to help me go through the process and tell me that it was going to be okay if I made one mistake. I had to teach myself because I also didn't know how to ask for help. All the prevent what happened to me happen to them and to heal a part of myself. Through all these things, I never told anyone my sexuality because why would I? I knew all my girl friends leaned askew and they knew I did too but it was sort of unspoken. Plus it was just unnecessary in my eyes, and it would make me look like the bi girl instead of me. In hindsight, it was a very welcoming environment and I don't think it would've gotten me bad attention. I just hope people can see my accomplishments.

I graduated high school in 2021 during the height of the pandemic which led me to take a gap year to figure out what path I wanted to take. My gap year was full of exploration and accomplishments that were of my own pursuit and desire. I watched the news and saw a necessity in leadership so I wanted to do something and decided to get in contact with my mayor. That would create a domino effect in my introduction to Representative Norma Hernandez, Congresswoman Maria Ramirez, and many more influential political activists/leaders. I met them through my own efforts and ambition to learn more through service work, gatherings, events, and meetings.To this day I still contribute time to help my community leaders become more engaged with the people. I still participate in a Youth Advisory Committee, created by Norma Hernandez, which showed me the value of communication and leadership qualities. It wasn’t all easy as I had barely graduated high school by a mere .5%. During COVID I had struggled with mental health and submitting assignments, while going to therapy helped it was slow and tedious. Now I want to strive further ahead, more than what I believed I could when I was barely getting by in high school. Rep. Norma was able to inspire me by showing how she rose through her struggles and I want to follow in her footsteps. I am currently interning at her office for the summer and cannot express how much gratitude I have for her. I really didn't believe I was going to receive the opportunity but I somehow managed to get it and I still look at her in awe when she's running all around the office. Many times the small team of about 8 people continually expresses how the office would be nothing without Norma's hard work and hope. They're only in the 2nd year in business and it just amazes me what she's done. I want to be like her in my community, with her kindness and generosity for those younger and less privileged. I've contributed to my community college and held an activities board position where a team of about 15 students would make and create events for students. It was a new way of seeing how I handle myself in a leadership position and how others view me. I honestly went in thinking I wasn't doing enough, that I wasn't trying hard enough to make the team succeed but my peers made me realize that it was all in my head and that I can be a leader if I want to.

I graduated high school in 2021 during the height of the pandemic which led me to take a gap year to figure out what path I wanted to take. My gap year was full of exploration and accomplishments that were of my own pursuit and desire. I watched the news and saw a necessity in leadership so I wanted to do something and decided to get in contact with my mayor. That would create a domino effect in my introduction to Representative Norma Hernandez, Congresswoman Maria Ramirez, and many more influential political activists/leaders. I met them through my own efforts and ambition to learn more through service work, gatherings, events, and meetings.To this day I still contribute time to help my community leaders become more engaged with the people. I still participate in a Youth Advisory Committee, created by Norma Hernandez, which showed me the value of communication and leadership qualities. It wasn’t all easy as I had barely graduated high school by a mere .5%. During COVID I had struggled with mental health and submitting assignments, while going to therapy helped it was slow and tedious. Now I want to strive further ahead, more than what I believed I could when I was barely getting by in high school. Rep. Norma was able to inspire me by showing how she rose through her struggles and I want to follow in her footsteps. I am currently interning at her office for the summer and cannot express how much gratitude I have for her. I really didn't believe I was going to receive the opportunity but I somehow managed to get it and I still look at her in awe when she's running all around the office. Many times the small team of about 8 people continually expresses how the office would be nothing without Norma's hard work and hope. They're only in the 2nd year in business and it just amazes me what she's done. I want to be like her in my community, with her kindness and generosity for those younger and less privileged. I've contributed to my community college and held an activities board position where a team of about 15 students would make and create events for students. It was a new way of seeing how I handle myself in a leadership position and how others view me. I honestly went in thinking I wasn't doing enough, that I wasn't trying hard enough to make the team succeed but my peers made me realize that it was all in my head and that I can be a leader if I want to.

During my time at my local community college my anxiety has always been around whether that be during registration of walking down the halls. Before all of that though, I hadn't even thought of going to college because I never thought I could do it. My anxiety would always be with me, and I would overthink things all the time. I'm a first generation Mexican American, and while I've been granted many things in my life. Being granted hope and help hasn't come easy. Especially since I had graduated highschool 2021, during covid. This 2024-2025 FAFSA has been extremely difficult for me, when I began the process in January I didn't think I'd just now be getting my Financial packages for my college. I've had many sleepless nights thinking about whether I was or wasn't going to be able to attend college. Whether I'd have to do something for a semester while FAFSA got sorted out. My mental health deteriorated these past 6 months because of that. I felt as though I had no one to turn to because my problems were so complicated, and it was caused because my parents didn't have SSNs. I wouldn't be able to make their FSA ids, the site was glitching, I had to get up at 8am before school to hope FAFSA would pick up or maybe I'd just be on hold for an hr, I wouldn't get past something because I needed my parents. Over and over again I wasn't able to get anywhere. I felt hopless and stuck. I started to think why wasn't I able to do this was it me was I not wanting this college career that bad. Was I not smart enough to complete this form, was I just not meant to go. I can't begin to tell you all the things that would go in my mind, I would cry so much I wouldn't know what to do. I then started to talk to those around me and they would just listen and I would get made that they wouldn't have an answer for me but then again it wasn't their job. I just needed to keep going, keep asking, keep hoping that someway somehow this would all get settled and I could finally relax. I'm still unsure as to how things will play out but now I know I can ask and depend on those around me for help, 'cause I now know I can't do anything on my own. During that same semester, I would be working in the counseling and advising department of my school and I would help the random students that would come in the office confused and lost. I didn’t need to do as much as I did but I saw myself in them and I knew no one else was going to help them how I would. So I would follow them through the steps of the application, placement tests, and random college knowledge. All the prevent what happened to me happen to them and to heal a part of myself.

During my time at my local community college my anxiety has always been around whether that be during registration of walking down the halls. Before all of that though, I hadn't even thought of going to college because I never thought I could do it. My anxiety would always be with me, and I would overthink things all the time. I'm a first generation Mexican American, and while I've been granted many things in my life. Being granted hope and help hasn't come easy. Especially since I had graduated highschool 2021, during covid. This 2024-2025 FAFSA has been extremely difficult for me, when I began the process in January I didn't think I'd just now be getting my Financial packages for my college. I've had many sleepless nights thinking about whether I was or wasn't going to be able to attend college. Whether I'd have to do something for a semester while FAFSA got sorted out. My mental health deteriorated these past 6 months because of that. I felt as though I had no one to turn to because my problems were so complicated, and it was caused because my parents didn't have SSNs. I wouldn't be able to make their FSA ids, the site was glitching, I had to get up at 8am before school to hope FAFSA would pick up or maybe I'd just be on hold for an hr, I wouldn't get past something because I needed my parents. Over and over again I wasn't able to get anywhere. I felt hopless and stuck. I started to think why wasn't I able to do this was it me was I not wanting this college career that bad. Was I not smart enough to complete this form, was I just not meant to go. I can't begin to tell you all the things that would go in my mind, I would cry so much I wouldn't know what to do. I then started to talk to those around me and they would just listen and I would get made that they wouldn't have an answer for me but then again it wasn't their job. I just needed to keep going, keep asking, keep hoping that someway somehow this would all get settled and I could finally relax. I'm still unsure as to how things will play out but now I know I can ask and depend on those around me for help, 'cause I now know I can't do anything on my own.