I was having occasional trouble breathing, and my heart was fluttering. Every time I stood up, I got dizzy. I was having trouble thinking during classes, and my mind was blurry. Then I was diagnosed with Immune Thrombocytopenia(ITP). That explained the nose bleeds, the bruises, and the loss of blood explained the anemia and brain fog. I just remember asking why? Why has my body failed me? After being diagnosed with ITP, I tried to continue with my extracurricular activities – dance, theatre, music – but I had to cancel many of those days. There were days where I could not get out of bed, those days I would have nose bleeds for 3-4 hours and feel completely drained. I decided that ITP may be a part of my life, but ITP was not going to control my life. I tried different treatments, and I started taking action. In addition to hematologists, I saw a doctor that looked my whole wellbeing. I learned to manage my stress. I learned to manage my sleep with regular sleep patterns. I changed my diet. I spent time outside daily to bring my Vitamin D levels up. We eventually found a medication that has treated my ITP effectively. My anemia subsided, so my brain fog cleared. I have renewed energy and more control over my life. I have always had an interest in the medical field, and now I have personal experience. I’ve formed my ambition to become a nurse. Being in and out of the hospital has shown me the atmosphere that I want to work in. I have seen how much difference nurses can make – not only in their clinical responsibilities, but also on how they interact with patients. Nurses are often in the front line with patients and families. They must interact well with people and need to be able to understand their patient. From dealing with my autoimmune disorder, I understand the importance of this empathy. I want to go into nursing because I am captivated with the medical field, the atmosphere, and the role of the nurse. I want to be part of this community that helps people, and go beyond my immediate community to help underserved populations. I want to make an impact in vulnerable communities, addressing the disparity in healthcare. I have been in caring surroundings with a great medical team. As I look at the world around me, I know that everyone is not that fortunate. I want to bring that same great healthcare to vulnerable communities. I plan to be a Nurse Practitioner, with a minor in Spanish. I intend to open pediatric clinics in underserved communities to help resolve the disparity in healthcare. Over 40% of the world’s children live in vulnerable settings (World Health Organization); I aim to make a difference. I know that my physical immune system was compromised, but my emotional immune system is stronger than ever. I have confidence in who I am, what I can do and where I am going. Living with ITP has become a strength because it showed me that I could conquer anything. Dealing with the ups and downs of ITP has shown me how strong I really am. I am passionately pursuing a career in nursing. I know that whatever goals I set in life, nothing can stop me.

She bungee jumped over the ‘Zambezi river in Zimbabwe. She exhibited her virtual reality work at the Louvre. She spoke at a CEO summit for the Wall Street Journal Europe. That was all before I knew her, before me. My mother is my role model, and I aspire to be her. A single mom, she seems to fear nothing, pursues life to the fullest, and loves her family above all. My mom says fate called her to me, and she adopted me when I was 11 weeks old. She’s not left my side since. She has given all to her work, sometimes taking calls during dinner, but always stopped when I walked through the door, and never missed a school event. As a result, I gave my all to my schoolwork. In high school, I took AP courses, achieved a 4.1 and was a member of National Honor Society. Now that I am in my first year of college and taking 18 hours each semester, I have given even more time to all my schoolwork, making sure that I do my very best in my classes. Her support in my academics has made me push myself to become the best student I can be. I ended my first semester of college with a 3.625 and that was all from her support. She exposed me to sports, art, music, and theatre. I’ve given my all to each of these, which led me to finding my talents in music and receiving awards and even performed a solo at Carnegie Hall. My mom was cheering on the sidelines the whole way. It wasn’t important how well I did, just that I did my best. When I had health issues, my mom was with me every minute, researching online, taking me to specialists, and eventually to Mayo clinic when I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease (ITP). Even though she was with me the entire time, she encouraged me to take independence on my own health. So, I quickly became the one talking to my doctors, taking notes, and tracking my medications and results. I joined an international organization focused on ITP and this last summer; I was in the opening video to their annual conference. My mom has exposed me to different cultures. Being adopted from Guatemala, my mom always made sure that I was still in contact with my heritage. She enrolled me in Spanish camps when I was young, and we visited Guatemala every year where I learned to love my birth country though trips to villages and Mayan ruins across the country, visits to the marketplace, horseback rides through coffee fields, and even during morning intensive Spanish courses with a local school. My mother sits on the board of one of our local non-profits and has shown me that giving back to the community should be integral to our lives. My mom and I were a part of National Charity League, a mother daughter organization which encourages philanthropic work. We volunteer every weekend and I’ve learned so much about our community, with my favorite organization being Meals on Wheels. All these traits of my mother that have impacted me have led me to become the person that I am and have led to my hopes and dreams. My goal is to become a nurse and work to overcome the health disparities in underprivileged communities.

Passion, dedication, and hard work are important in education. I have put dedication and hard work into my academics into my first semester (18 hours) at Texas State and I currently hold a 3.625 GPA. I am an active member of the Pre-Nursing Living Learning Community (LLC) on campus. Texas State’s Pre-Nursing LLC has offered me the opportunity to make connections with nursing professors. The LLC has also given me further amazing opportunities, such as arranging a private tour for us to view the simulation labs and nursing classes. I am also a part of the Pre-Nursing Organization (PNO) which has helped me prep for Nursing school applications and course choices. We have had speakers from nursing schools come to talk about various programs, as well as hospital nurses speak to us about their nursing experiences. Since Nursing school applications are around the corner, we’ve been given application coaching as well as study materials and resources for the TEAS, an entrance exam required for nursing. The classes that I am taking and the organizations that I have joined at Texas State are pushing me to excel and are preparing me for the real world. Education goes beyond just classwork; it may include strengthening skills and character traits. The Pre-Nursing Organization has offered volunteer experiences that complement academic learning. In addition to these activities, I volunteered 260 hours this summer and was able to experience first-hand what it is like to work in a medical clinic. I shadowed a Nurse Practitioner, following her every day to see patients. I saw a variety of patient cases and even established care-based relationships with some of those patients. I learned two very important skills that I will need for nursing: communication and patience. This opportunity assured me that I am going into the right field. This experience has given me the drive to succeed in my classes at Texas State and in my nursing career. As an undergraduate student at Texas State University, I plan on earning my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minor in Spanish. After graduating Nursing school, I plan to become a Nurse Practitioner. I intend to open pediatric clinics in underserved communities to help resolve the disparity in healthcare. I will provide a face to these communities that they can relate to. Only 4.8% of nurses are Hispanic/Latino and only 0.4% are Native Americans; I plan to improve these numbers. These clinics will be staffed by a diversity of healthcare staff that are equally passionate to aid these communities. I am pursuing nursing because I am captivated with the medical field, the atmosphere, and the role of the nurse. Nurses are often on the front line with patients, and their role goes beyond their clinic responsibilities to having empathy and caring for patients and families. With the education I will get from Texas State, I will seek experience in an underserved community as a nurse in pediatrics. As a nurse practitioner, I can run and operate clinics - diagnose, treat patients, and prescribe medications under a doctor’s supervision. Once I have gained experience, I will open a clinic specializing in pediatrics for a community in need, and eventually expand to help in multiple communities. I intend to make an impact to address the disparity in healthcare. I plan to change the lives of those in need.

I started to have occasional trouble breathing and my heart was racing. Every time I stood up, I got dizzy. This was my sophomore year and I soon found myself in a private consulting room in a hospital thinking that something terrible must be wrong with me. I was in the room that you’ve seen on TV where the doctors tell the patient that they only have six months to live. Fortunately, that was not the case, however, I was diagnosed with ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenia), a rare blood disorder that causes my body to destroy my own platelets. Without platelets, my blood can not clot, and spontaneous bleeding can occur. That explained the nose bleeds, the bruises, the anemia, and the brain fog. I just remember asking why? Why has my body failed me? My health was definitely affecting my daily life as well as my schoolwork. 2021 took me on a journey as I continued to learn how to take care of my health. Prior to diagnosis, I was always going 15 hours a day, 7 days a week. I had theater, music, dance, National Charity League, choir, church, and volunteer commitments, in addition to performing as a top scholar. I tried to continue with my extracurricular activities – dance, theater, music – but I had to cancel frequently. I would drag myself to school every day, but didn’t feel like I was there because I was so tired. There were days when I could not get out of bed, those days I would have nose bleeds for 3-4 hours and feel completely drained. After my diagnosis, I tried different medications, and spent countless hours with doctors, in hospitals, and even saw specialists at the Mayo clinic, but nothing seemed to help. Friends and teachers didn’t understand, and seemed to think I was being lazy or moody. This was becoming a downhill spiral. I tried different treatments, and I started taking action. In addition to hematologists, I saw a doctor that looked at the bigger picture of my well-being. I learned to manage my stress - when to push myself and when not to. I learned to manage my sleep with regular sleep patterns – and definitely more than 5 hours of sleep a night. I changed my diet. I spent time outside daily to bring my Vitamin D levels up. I explained ITP to friends and teachers and nurtured positive relationships. We eventually found a medication that has treated my ITP effectively. My anemia equally subsided, so my brain fog mostly cleared and I am able to think clearly. Even though my numbers have improved, and my health is better, I still have ups and downs. There are days that I am exhausted and not myself, but I have learned to look for triggers and adjust– anything from stress to diet to a vaccination. I know my ITP affects my overall health, and my overall health affects my ITP. I still have occasional nose bleeds– some are only 3 minutes, but others can last an hour. The bad nosebleeds drain me physically, but with a good rest, I am back to normal the next day. I have learned to control my stress, learned when to push myself and when not to. This has really helped my overall health. I have renewed energy. I now have more control over my life.

I am a first-generation Mayan immigrant. I was born in Guatemala and adopted by a white family. I have a single white mother and a white brother. My family loves Guatemala and has always made me feel special, but I am surrounded by white. Growing up, it never really bothered me. Once or twice, something would happen, like the girl in my ballet class that didn’t want to put her hand on my shoulder. I’m fairly sure it was because I was the only brown girl in the class. Usually everything was fine, even though I went to a school where there were only 5 kids of color in my class of 100. My friends thought it was cool that I was Mayan. It really hit me when I switched schools at high school and started living in a world of color. A lot of the Hispanic kids hung out together, and they’d try to bring me in. They naturally assumed that I spoke Spanish, but then they heard that I speak very little Spanish, and I speak it with a white accent. It was awkward; I didn’t quite fit in. I made Hispanic friends, and they knew I was adopted, but I felt out of place when they spoke about certain things. They would talk about their large families and make references to traditions like their quinceañera or holidays, and mention certain Latino shows or celebrities - I wouldn’t know what or who they were talking about. I felt out of place. With which group did I belong? I try to stay in touch with my heritage as much as I can. I take Spanish and am working towards a minor in Spanish. I’ve been to Guatemala. I love Guatemala, it is such a unique place, there are volcanoes everywhere, the landscape is beautiful, the people are wonderful, the food is amazing. When I go to Guatemala, I feel at home. I know that people look at me a little differently there, too, because I dress and talk differently, but that’s ok. I am proud that I was born in Guatemala. These problems and challenges have shaped who I am today by showing me that I am all of this - I am Mayan, I am Hispanic, and I am white. I am not just one ethnicity and that is ok. I can celebrate all of these. I feel that it is my responsibility as a first-generation American and first-generation attending college that I have to make opportunities count. From going to Guatemala every year and seeing people on the streets selling their merchandise or working the fields, I see how hard they work, and I owe it to them as a Guatemalan to go to college, to become someone who makes a difference, and to give back. I have turned this challenge into an opportunity. I have been able to see both perspectives of how different people think. I have been shaped into a person who wants to know more and be a part of all of my heritage –my local white and Hispanic culture, as well as my indigenous background. I want to build on that knowledge to give back to these communities. I am pursuing nursing to pursue that goal. Only 4.8% of nurses are Hispanic/Latino and only 0.4% are Native Americans; I plan to improve these numbers. I intend to make an impact in the Hispanic/Latino and Native American communities, addressing the disparity in healthcare.

As an adopted child from Guatemala, I have a passion for helping children in vulnerable communities. I am an avid volunteer with over 1200 volunteer hours during high school, and I have sought to work with organizations providing sustainable initiatives aiding these communities. These children often need the basics and I have personally led initiatives to address these needs. I organized the donation and delivered baby supplies to Amor del Nino, an orphanage near Guatemala City. I worked with Orphan Outreach (501c.3) to identify the home’s needs. I reached out to friends, networked with community partners and even local doctors, so by the end of the drive, I had six 50lb duffle bags filled with supplies. I took the supplies myself and had the wonderful opportunity of volunteering at the home. Another year, I organized and delivered 100 backpacks filled with needed school supplies to children at the Patmos School in Mathare, Kenya. Spending time in the classrooms and helping the kids was both joyous and humbling. In another project, I led aid to a home for children with HIV in Guatemala and brought requested health products to Hospicio de San Jose. Making those impacts has shown me that I want to continue impacting these children’s lives. I plan to be a Nurse Practitioner, minoring in Spanish. I intend to open pediatric clinics in underserved communities to help resolve the disparity in healthcare. Over 40% of the world’s children live in vulnerable settings (World Health Organization); I aim to make a difference. With money and resources, the impact could be exponentially greater and reach more children faster – saving lives, providing hope, and enabling a better future for these children. I would start by building a pediatric clinic in an underserved community, which once sustainable would serve as a model to take to other communities. I would first find a vulnerable community and build a relationship with the local leadership. Then I would lead an extended visit with a team of survey specialists to identify the medical needs of the community and how to best serve them. Specifically, my first target would be the Mathare slums near Nairobi, Kenya, one of Africa's largest and poorest slums with a population of 500,000 people crammed into less than 8 km squared. I have visited and served the Mathare slums and retain connections to local leadership. Starting with the survey is important because it would establish who the population is and what their needs are - this might range from malaria prevention to specialist doctor needs. Not only would the specialists on the survey team establish their most pressing medical needs, other specialists would locate a building or a place to build, and other specialists would identify local staff to hire. Then I would match the needs of the clinic with available resources locally as well as from the United States. This would involve everything from building to supplies, as well as doctors and nurses. I would work with local hospitals in Kenya, as well as global non-profits trips such as Doctors Without Borders. Once the site is established, I would bring in medical resources. We would work with the community to promote the clinic and I would establish management by trained locals. Once these pieces have come together and are functioning to help the community, I would take the same model to more vulnerable communities around the world. One clinic at a time, hundreds of children could have the opportunity for better lives. With the support of our great global community as well as money and resources, the impact is limitless.

My mom has taught me how to be independent, fearless, and resilient. My mother is my role model, and I aspire to be like her. A single mom, she is self-sufficient, and seems to fear nothing, pursues life to the fullest, and loves her family above all. My mom says fate called her to me, and she adopted me (as a single parent) when I was 11 weeks old. She’s not left my side since. She has given all to her work, sometimes taking calls during dinner, but always stopping when I walk through the door, and never missing a school event. As a result, I’ve also given my all to my schoolwork. I’ve taken AP courses, achieved a 4.1 and am a member of the National Honor Society. She has also taught me to take care of my problems on my own , but whenever I need her help I just need to ask. I know that I must have an education and career, assuring that I am self-sufficient, while I hope to share that life with my family. She has exposed me to sports, art, music, and theater. I’ve given my all to each of these, eventually finding my talents in music and receiving awards and even performed a solo at Carnegie Hall. My mom was cheering on the sidelines the whole way. It wasn’t important how well I did, just that I did my best. She has worked hard to give me the opportunities, and I have worked equally hard to deserve them. My mom has exposed me to different cultures. Being adopted from Guatemala, my mom has always made sure that I was still in contact with my heritage. She enrolled me in Spanish camps when I was young, and we visited Guatemala every year where I learned to love my birth country through trips to villages and Mayan ruins across the country, visits to the marketplace, horseback rides through coffee fields, and even during morning intensive Spanish courses with a local school. This has led me to plan a minor in Spanish. My mother sits on the board of one of our local non-profits, and has shown me that giving back to the community should be integral to our lives. My mom and I are a part of National Charity League, a mother daughter organization which encourages philanthropic work. We volunteer every weekend and I’ve learned so much about our community, with my favorite organization being Meals on Wheels. I have earned the Presidential Gold Volunteer Service award each of the last 6 years, and I have served over 1,200 volunteer hours during high school. All of these traits of my mother that have impacted me have led me to become the person that I am, and have led to my hopes and dreams. My goal is to become a nurse practitioner, where I can run and operate clinics - diagnose, treat patients, and prescribe medications under a doctor’s supervision. Once I have gained experience, I will open a clinic specializing in pediatrics for a community in need, and eventually expand to help in multiple communities. I intend to make an impact to address the disparity in healthcare. I plan to change the lives of those in need.

I plan to be a Nurse Practitioner with a minor in Spanish. I intend to open pediatric clinics in underserved communities to help resolve the disparity in healthcare. I will provide a face to these communities that they can relate to. Only 4.8% of nurses are Hispanic/Latino and only 0.4% are Native Americans; I plan to improve these numbers. These clinics will be staffed by a diversity of healthcare staff that are equally passionate to aid these communities. I am an avid volunteer with over 1200 volunteer hours during high school. I have earned the Gold Presidential Volunteer Award for 4 consecutive years, and have been twice awarded the highest volunteer contributor in our National Charity League (NCL) chapter. I serve regularly with SoupMobile and Meals on Wheels, and I enjoy working with different people within the community. In addition to participating in national organizations, I have established and led global initiatives. As an adopted child from Guatemala, I have a particular passion for leading projects benefiting underserved populations. I organized the donation and delivered baby supplies to Amor del Nino, an orphanage near Guatemala City. I worked with Orphan Outreach ( 501c.3) to identify the home’s needs. I reached out to friends, networked with community partners and even local doctors, so by the end of the drive, I had six 50lb duffle bags filled with supplies. I took the supplies myself, and had the wonderful opportunity of volunteering at the home. Another year, I organized and delivered 100 backpacks filled with needed school supplies to children at the Patmos School in Mathare, Kenya, located in one of Africa's largest and poorest slums. Being able to spend time in the classrooms and help the kids was both joyous and humbling. In another project, I led assistance to a home for children with HIV in Guatemala and brought requested health products to Hospicio de San Jose. These children needed the basics; and beyond the products, these kids who had been ousted by their own society needed smiles. Making those impacts has shown me that I want to continue impacting people’s lives and go beyond my immediate community to help those that are disadvantaged. I am pursuing nursing because I am captivated with the medical field, the atmosphere, and the role of the nurse. Nurses are often on the front line with patients, and their role goes beyond their clinic responsibilities to having empathy and caring for patients and families. I intend to pursue a BSN in Nursing and a minor in Spanish. I hold a 4.1 and have been accepted into Texas State’s pre-nursing program. After earning my BSN, I will further my education and career to become a nurse practitioner. With this education, I will seek experience in an underserved community as a nurse in pediatrics. As a nurse practitioner, I can run and operate clinics - diagnose, treat patients, and prescribe medications under a doctor’s supervision. Once I have gained experience, I will open a clinic specializing in pediatrics for a community in need, and eventually expand to help in multiple communities. I intend to make an impact to address the disparity in healthcare. I plan to change the lives of those in need.

I was having occasional trouble breathing, and my heart was fluttering. Every time I stood up, I got dizzy. I was having trouble thinking during classes, and my mind was blurry. Then I was diagnosed with Immune Thrombocytopenia(ITP), an autoimmune disease causing my body to destroy my own platelets. Without platelets, my blood could not clot, and spontaneous bleeding could occur. That explained the nose bleeds, the bruises, and the loss of blood explained the anemia and brain fog. I just remember asking why? Why has my body failed me? After I was diagnosed, I tried different medications, and spent countless hours with doctors, in hospitals, and even saw specialists at the Mayo clinic, but nothing seemed to help. I would drag myself to school every day but didn’t even feel like I was there because I was so tired. There were days where I could not get out of bed, those days I would have nose bleeds for 3-4 hours and feel completely drained. I decided that ITP may be a part of my life, but ITP was not going to control my life. As I tried different treatments, I started taking action on what I could control. I learned to manage my stress, manage my sleep, and improve my diet. We eventually found a medication that has treated my ITP effectively, and together with my health self-management, my body feels great. My anemia equally subsided, so my brain fog cleared, and I can think clearly. I have renewed energy. I now have more control over my life. Not only did I gain more platelets, but through this process I gained more confidence. I am a unique person. I am part of .003% of the population that have this autoimmune disease. ITP has led me to a fascination with healthcare as I spend time researching my blood disorder. I’ve become involved in the Platelet Disorder Association (PDSA) and participated in several webinars with younger children, so they can talk to an older child and know everything is going to be OK! This year I was featured in the opening video to PDSA’s annual conference with over 670 participants from 20 countries. I have always had an interest in the medical field, and now I have personal experience. Through my experiences with my autoimmune disease, I’ve formed my ambition to become a nurse. Being in and out of the hospital has shown me the atmosphere that I want to work in. Seeing nurses help and care for people and making a difference in the world, I’ve learned what I want to do. With this vision of becoming a nurse, and a strengthened resolve that I can conquer anything, my academics gained more purpose. I have a 4.1 GPA, am a member of National Honor Society (NHS) and will be earning the Distinguished Level of Achievement with a STEM endorsement in high school. One Of my favorite courses this year is Anatomy and Physiology. I have been admitted to a pre-nursing program and anticipate participating in the pre-nursing Living Learning Community on campus. I know that my physical immune system was compromised, but my emotional immune system is stronger than ever. I have confidence in who I am, what I can do and where I am going. Living with my autoimmune disease became a strength because it showed me that I could conquer anything. Dealing with the ups and downs of ITP has shown me how strong I really am. I am passionately pursuing a career in nursing. I know that whatever goals I set in life, nothing can stop me.

Downtime during COVID-19 saved my life because I was able to learn how to manage my health. During my sophomore year, just before COVID-19 hit, I was diagnosed with ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenia), a rare blood disorder in which my body attacks my own platelets. This had additionally caused anemia, which prevented oxygen from flowing effectively through my brain. After being diagnosed with ITP, I tried to continue with my extracurricular activities – dance, theatre, music – but I had to cancel many of those days. There were days where I could not get out of bed, those days I would have nose bleeds for 3-4 hours and then feel completely drained. Downtime during COVID presented an opportunity, I learned how to manage my health better. At Mayo clinic, in addition to hematologists, I saw a doctor that looked at the bigger picture and had given me much direction. During 2021, I learned to manage my stress - when to push myself and when not to. I learned to manage my sleep with regular sleep patterns – and definitely more than 5 hours of sleep a night. I spent some time outside daily to bring my Vitamin D levels up. We eventually found a medication that has treated my ITP effectively, so my body feels great. My anemia equally subsided, so my brain fog cleared, and I was able to think clearly. With renewed energy and attitude, my grades went up. Going back to school part-time during COVID was really helpful, as this allowed me time to get back in the groove of going to school, managing my stress levels, and staying on top of my work. I now hold a 4.1 GPA, am a member of National Honor Society (NHS) and will be earning the Distinguished Level of Achievement with a STEM Endorsement in high school. Not only did my health stabilize, but through this process I gained more confidence. I am a unique person. I am part of .003% of the population that have this rare blood disorder. I became involved in various organizations such as the Platelet Disorder Association (PDSA), an organization that specializes in this disorder. I have participated in several webinars with younger children with the same disorder, so they can talk to an older child and know everything is going to be OK! This year I was featured talking about overcoming the challenges of ITP in the opening video to PDSA’s annual conference with over 670 participants from 20 countries. As part of treating my ITP, I have been able to manage and control my stress levels, strengthen my work habits, take care of my sleeping habits, and improve my diet. Managing these items have positively affected my health and my school academic success. COVID-19 has provided a break that I was able to take advantage of, and I now have more control over my life and my overall health.

I plan to be a Nurse Practitioner and open pediatric clinics in underserved communities to help resolve the disparity in healthcare. I will provide a face to these communities to whom they can relate. Only 4.8% of nurses are Hispanic/Latino and only 0.4% are Native Americans; I plan to improve these numbers. These clinics will be staffed by a diversity of healthcare staff that are equally dedicated to aid these communities. I have a passion for the arts and attend an Arts Magnet High School. However, through my volunteer work, my studies, and managing my own autoimmune disorder, I know that it is through STEM that I can make the most impact. I will be earning the Distinguished Level of Achievement with a STEM Endorsement in high school. I am an avid volunteer with over 1200 volunteer hours during high school. I’ve earned the Gold Presidential Volunteer Award for 4 consecutive years, and have been twice awarded the highest volunteer contributor in our National Charity League (NCL) chapter. I serve regularly with SoupMobile and Meals on Wheels, and I enjoy working with different people within the community. I have also established and led global initiatives. As an adopted child from Guatemala, I have a particular passion for leading projects serving disadvantaged communities. I organized the donation and delivered baby supplies to Amor del Nino, an orphanage near Guatemala City. I worked with Orphan Outreach ( 501c.3) to identify the home’s needs. I reached out to friends, networked with community partners and local doctors to collect six 50lb duffle bags filled with supplies. I took the supplies myself, and had the wonderful opportunity of volunteering at the home. Another year, I organized and delivered 100 backpacks filled with needed school supplies to children at the Patmos School in Mathare, Kenya, located in one of Africa's largest and poorest slums. Being able to spend time in the classrooms and help the kids was both joyous and humbling. In another project, I led assistance to a home for children with HIV in Guatemala and brought requested health products to Hospicio de San Jose. These children needed the basics; and beyond the products, these kids who had been ousted by their own society needed smiles. Making those impacts has shown me that I want to continue impacting people’s lives and go beyond my immediate community to help those that are disadvantaged. I am pursuing nursing because I am captivated with the medical field, the atmosphere, and the role of the nurse. Nurses are often on the front line with patients, and their role goes beyond their clinic responsibilities to having empathy and caring for patients and families. I intend to pursue a BSN in Nursing and a minor in Spanish. I hold a 4.1 and have been accepted into Texas State’s pre-nursing program. During this senior year, I am taking 2 AP classes with one of my favorite classes, Anatomy and Physiology, preparing for nursing school. After earning my BSN, I will further my education to become a nurse practitioner. I will then seek experience in an underserved community as a nurse in pediatrics. Once I have gained experience, I will open a clinic specializing in pediatrics for a community in need, and eventually expand to help in multiple communities. I intend to make an impact to address the disparity in healthcare. An education in STEAM will enable me to change the lives of those in need.

I plan to be a Nurse Practitioner and open pediatric clinics in underserved communities to help resolve the disparity in healthcare. I will provide a face to these communities that they can relate to. Only 4.8% of nurses are Hispanic/Latino and only 0.4% are Native Americans; I plan to improve these numbers. These clinics will be staffed by a diversity of healthcare staff that are equally passionate to aid these communities. I am an avid volunteer with over 1200 volunteer hours during high school. I’ve earned the Gold Presidential Volunteer Award for 4 consecutive years, and have been twice awarded the highest volunteer contributor in our National Charity League (NCL) chapter. I serve regularly with SoupMobile and Meals on Wheels, and I enjoy working with different people within the community. In addition to participating in national organizations, I have established and led global initiatives. As an adopted child from Guatemala, I have a particular passion for leading projects serving underserved populations. I organized the donation and delivered baby supplies to Amor del Nino, an orphanage near Guatemala City. I worked with Orphan Outreach ( 501c.3) to identify the home’s needs. I reached out to friends, networked with community partners and even local doctors, so by the end of the drive, I had six 50lb duffle bags filled with supplies. I took the supplies myself, and had the wonderful opportunity of volunteering at the home. Another year, I organized and delivered 100 backpacks filled with needed school supplies to children at the Patmos School in Mathare, Kenya, located in one of Africa's largest and poorest slums. Being able to spend time in the classrooms and help the kids was both joyous and humbling. In another project, I led assistance to a home for children with HIV in Guatemala and brought requested health products to Hospicio de San Jose. These children needed the basics; and beyond the products, these kids who had been ousted by their own society needed smiles. Making those impacts has shown me that I want to continue impacting people’s lives and go beyond my immediate community to help those that are disadvantaged. I am pursuing nursing because I am captivated with the medical field, the atmosphere, and the role of the nurse. Nurses are often on the front line with patients, and their role goes beyond their clinic responsibilities to having empathy and caring for patients and families. I intend to pursue a BSN in Nursing and a minor in Spanish. I hold a 4.1 and have been accepted into Texas State’s pre-nursing program. After earning my BSN, I will further my education and career to become a nurse practitioner. With this education, I will seek experience in an underserved community as a nurse in pediatrics. A nurse practitioners can run and operate clinics - diagnose, treat patients, and prescribe medications under a doctor’s supervision. Once I have gained experience, I will open a clinic specializing in pediatrics for a community in need, and eventually expand to help in multiple communities. I intend to make an impact to address the disparity in healthcare. I want to change the lives of those in need.

I am a first-generation Mayan immigrant. I was born in Guatemala and adopted by a white family. I have a single white mother and a white brother. My family loves Guatemala and has always made me feel special, but I am surrounded by white. Growing up, it never really bothered me. Once or twice, something would happen, like the girl in my ballet class that didn’t want to put her hand on my shoulder. I’m fairly sure it was because I was the only brown girl in the class. Usually everything was fine, even though I went to a school where there were only 5 kids of color in my class of 100. My friends thought it was cool that I was Mayan. It really hit me when I switched schools at high school and started living in a world of color. I noticed that a lot of the Hispanic kids hung out together, and they’d try to bring me in. They naturally assumed that I spoke Spanish, but then they heard that I speak very little Spanish and I speak it with a white accent. It was awkward; I didn’t quite fit in. I made Hispanic friends, and they knew I was adopted, but I felt out of place when they spoke about certain things. They would talk about their large families and make references to traditions like their quinceañera or holidays, and mention certain Latino shows or celebrities - I wouldn’t know what or who they were talking about. I felt a little out of place. With which group did I belong? I try to stay in touch with my heritage as much as I can. I go to Guatemala almost every year (pre-COVID), I take immersive Spanish classes in Guatemala, I visit the markets, I go to my favorite Guatemalan restaurants. I love Guatemala, it is such a unique place, there are volcanoes everywhere, the landscape is beautiful, the people are wonderful, the food is amazing. When I go to Guatemala, I feel at home. I know that people look at me a little differently there, too, because I dress and talk differently, but that’s ok. I am proud that I was born in Guatemala. These problems and challenges have shaped who I am today by showing me that I am all of this - I am Mayan, I am Hispanic and I am white. I am not just one ethnicity and that is ok. I can celebrate all of these. I feel that it is my responsibility as a first-generation American and first-generation attending college that I have to make opportunities count. From going to Guatemala every year and seeing people on the streets selling their merchandise or working the fields, I see how hard they work and I owe it to them as a Guatemalan to go to college, to become someone who makes a difference, and to give back. I have turned this challenge into an opportunity. I have been able to see both perspectives of how different people think. I have been shaped into a person who wants to know more and be a part of all of my heritage –my local white and Hispanic culture, as well as my indigenous background. I want to build on that knowledge to give back to these communities. I am pursuing nursing to pursue that goal. Only 4.8% of nurses are Hispanic/Latino and only 0.4% are Native Americans; I plan to improve these numbers. I intend to make an impact in the Hispanic/Latino and Native American communities, addressing the disparity in healthcare.

I intend to pursue a BSN in Nursing and a minor in Spanish. After earning my BSN, I intend to become a nurse practitioner. Only 4.8% of nurses are Hispanic/Latino and only 0.4% are Native Americans; I plan to improve these numbers. I plan to become involved within my classes and university programs to further build my skills. I have applied to 9 schools in Texas because Texas has a very good nursing network, there are an abundance of nursing jobs, and I love Texas! I am pursuing nursing because I am captivated with the medical field, the atmosphere, and the role of the nurse. I want to be part of this community that helps people, and go beyond my immediate community to help underserved populations. I intend to make an impact in the Hispanic/Latino and Native American communities, addressing the disparity in healthcare. I want to change the lives of those in need.