Silent Strength: My Journey Toward Health and Wellness by Rubenia Salgado My name is Rubenia Salgado, and I am a first generation Latina student pursuing Forensic Psychology at Southern New Hampshire University. Growing up, I witnessed how pain, silence, and untreated trauma can shape people’s lives. Watching loved ones suffer from depression and destructive behaviors made me ask questions I could not ignore: Why do people act this way, and how can I help? These questions became my calling. As an undergraduate with a 4.0 GPA, I am committed to combining academic excellence with a deeper purpose, helping others heal. My values of resilience, empathy, and perseverance come from overcoming discrimination, financial hardship, and cultural barriers. Even when I can only afford one class per semester, I continue forward because education is my silent strength. I founded a bilingual blog, Silent Strength, where I write about healing, resilience, and education. It has become a space of encouragement for others who feel unseen. This work, along with my studies, reflects my belief that health is not only physical but also mental and emotional. I am passionate about supporting wellness by giving a voice to those who carry invisible wounds, and I hope to use my degree to serve in human centered, compassionate ways. Silent Strength: The Power of Empathy in Forensic Psychology To me, empathy is more than understanding someone’s feelings. It is choosing to see their humanity even when the world overlooks them. Empathy means stepping into another person’s pain, not to fix them, but to walk alongside them with dignity and care. It is the ability to listen without judgment, to imagine life from their perspective, and to respond with compassion. In my journey as a first generation Latina student, empathy has been both my survival tool and my motivation. I know what it feels like to be dismissed because of skin color, accent, or financial limitations. These experiences have shaped me into someone who refuses to let others be unseen. For me, empathy is not abstract, it is lived experience, and it is what drives my passion for forensic psychology. In the field of forensic psychology, empathy is essential. Working with individuals in the justice system means encountering people who have faced trauma, systemic barriers, and often a lifetime of silence. Without empathy, treatment becomes mechanical. With empathy, it becomes healing. My goal is to use my education to ensure that those in marginalized communities receive care that acknowledges their humanity. I already practice this through my blog, Silent Strength, where I share reflections in English and Spanish to reach diverse readers. Writing about resilience and healing allows me to connect with others and remind them that their pain matters, and that hope is possible. This is empathy in action, giving people space to feel seen, heard, and supported. To ensure my career stays rooted in a human centered lens, I will continue listening before speaking, asking questions before assuming, and building trust before offering solutions. I plan to advocate for culturally sensitive approaches in psychology, where diverse backgrounds are respected rather than overlooked. My work will not only be about analyzing behavior, but about honoring stories, identities, and the silent struggles people carry. Empathy has shaped my values, my education, and my purpose. It is the foundation of my vision for the future, a future where I serve as a forensic psychologist who does not simply study people, but who walks with them through their healing.