Ive struggled with my mental health for as long as I can remember. It’s a part of my life that I kept hidden for many years not because it didn’t matter, but because I didn’t feel like I had the words or the space to talk about it. Mental health wasn't something openly discussed in my environment growing up. Instead, I learned to stay quiet, to keep my feelings to myself, and to push through the pain silently. But what I didn’t realize at the time was that silence has a weight of its own. It builds slowly, day by day, until it becomes a heavy burden that you can no longer ignore. For years, I battled with anxiety, self-doubt, and emotional exhaustion. Some days I felt like I was just going through the motions, trying to survive rather than live. I often wondered if something was wrong with me why I felt overwhelmed when others seemed fine, or why I couldn’t just “shake it off” like people around me suggested. I became good at pretending, at masking how I felt so that no one would worry or ask questions I didn’t know how to answer. On the outside, I seemed okay, but inside I felt alone and lost. Eventually, I reached a point where I could no longer keep everything bottled up. Through the support of a few caring teachers and mentors, I began to understand that what I was experiencing wasn’t a weakness it was something real and valid. I started to learn about mental health, about how our minds and emotions work, and about how common these struggles actually are. That knowledge gave me a sense of comfort and clarity I had never felt before. It also sparked something inside me: a desire to help others feel less alone in their battles. That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue a career in psychology. I want to dedicate my life to understanding the human mind and helping people who, like me, have felt unseen or unheard. I believe that my own experiences with mental health will allow me to connect deeply with others, not from a place of sympathy, but from true empathy. I know what it’s like to sit in silence, to carry invisible pain, and to wish someone would just listen. I want to be that listener. I want to be the voice that says, “You’re not alone.” My ultimate goal is to become a school counselor so I can support students during some of the most emotionally challenging years of their lives. Too often, students struggling with mental health are misunderstood or overlooked. They may act out, withdraw, or fall behind academically not because they don’t care, but because they are dealing with battles no one else can see. I want to create a safe and supportive environment where students feel seen, respected, and empowered to speak up about what they’re going through. I want them to know that their feelings are valid and that help is available. Pursuing psychology isn’t just a career choice for me it’s a personal mission. It’s a way for me to give purpose to my pain, to transform my struggles into something meaningful. I know the journey won’t always be easy, but I believe it will be worth it. Every time I help someone feel heard or guide them through a difficult time, I’ll be honoring the younger version of myself who needed that same support. I’ll be helping build a future where mental health is treated with the care, understanding, and importance it deserves.

Growing up, my parents always told me that education is important. It was not just something they said lightly, they lived it every day through their actions and sacrifices. My parents came from humble beginnings, although they didn't have the opportunity to pursue higher education themselves, they made sure my siblings and I understood the value of learning. Even when money was tight and life was difficult, they never let us forget that our education could be the key to a better future. There were many times I witnessed the sacrifices they made for us. One memory that will stay with me forever is seeing my dad go without food so that my sibling and I could eat. Sometimes he would pretend he wasn’t hungry, just so we wouldn’t feel guilty or worried. At the time, I didn’t fully understand the weight of what he was doing. As a child, it was easy to take his sacrifices for granted. But as I got older, the reality of his love and selflessness hit me harder. My parents gave up so much to make sure we had what we needed, even when it meant they went without. A college degree is not just a piece of paper to me. It represents an opportunity to change my life and the lives of the people I love most. It would allow me to find a stable job, one that could support me and allow me to give back to my family. I don’t just want a career for myself, I want to be able to help others who come from backgrounds like mine, where money was tight and dreams sometimes had to be put on hold because of reality. I want to be a source of hope for children who grow up believing that their financial situation will limit their future. I want to show them that it is possible to rise above circumstances with hard work, perseverance, and the right support. Earning my degree would mean giving my parents the life they have always deserved. They have spent their entire lives working hard and worrying about providing for us. I want to reach a point where they don’t have to worry about anything anymore. I want them to experience peace, to know that their sacrifices were worth it, and to see firsthand the better future they worked so hard to create. Being able to take care of them, to give them the comfort and security they never had, is one of my biggest motivations for pursuing higher education. Moreover, I know that education has a ripple effect. It doesn’t just change one person’s life, it can impact entire families, communities, and future generations. I want to be a part of that ripple effect. By achieving my goals, I can inspire others who are struggling to believe that change is possible. I can mentor students who might feel invisible or stuck because of their circumstances. I can give back to the community that shaped me and be the helping hand that so many kids need but don't always get. In conclusion, my dream is not just to succeed for myself. It is to honor my parents, to lift up those around me, and to build a future where love, sacrifice, and education lead the way toward a better life. My journey is fueled by gratitude, ambition, and the deep hope that one day I can make the kind of difference my parents made for me. I am determined to carry their dreams with me every step of the way, and to make them proud.

Growing up, I always found it difficult to talk. A lot of this issue is from the fact that I had my twin sister, who would often speak for me. I didn’t have to speak much because she was always there to do it for me, and that comfort of having someone do the talking made me rely on her a lot. My mom used to say that my twin sister would speak for me as we were growing up, and I think this may have contributed to the speech difficulties I faced. As a result, when I was younger, I didn’t develop the communication skills I needed to speak clearly or express myself as confidently as others. As I got older, the challenges in speaking and communicating became more apparent. It was during this time that my teachers and school staff noticed the difficulties I was having and decided to place me in special education classes. Initially, I was nervous about the change and uncertain about what it meant, but honestly, those classes turned out to be a huge blessing for me. I loved being in Special education. It wasn’t what I expected at first, but looking back, I realize how much they helped me. Having extra time on tests, the read-aloud services, and being in a smaller, more supportive environment made a world of difference for me. It allowed me to focus more on my work and process things in a way that worked best for me. There were still times when I struggled to understand the material, but I had teachers who were there to support me, and that made all the difference. They helped me in both English and math, and their patience and guidance allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the subjects I was struggling with. Despite these difficulties, I began to love the extra time I was given, and the read-aloud accommodations truly helped me understand things in a way that felt more accessible. However, growing up with an IEP came with its challenges. I was bullied for having an IEP, and that was something I carried with me for a long time. I remember when the support teacher would walk into the classroom, the other kids would laugh. They would make fun of me for needing extra help, and that hurt a lot. I would always look down, trying to avoid the teasing, and I hated the feeling of being different. It felt like I was being singled out, and I often wondered why I couldn’t just be like everyone else. But as time went on, I began to realize something important, having that support wasn’t a weakness, it was a strength. The more I learned about myself and my needs, the more I understood that the extra help was there to make me stronger, not weaker. The teachers who supported me were helping me become the best version of myself, and I grew to appreciate them and the resources that were available to me. Now, I see the value in having a teacher who helps guide me through challenging topics. I understand that it’s okay to need extra help and that it doesn’t make me any less capable or intelligent than anyone else. Looking back on those years, I realize how much of a significant role those experiences played in shaping who I am today. They gave me the empathy and understanding I need to help others who might be going through similar struggles. Now, I want to be a school counselor because I want to help children like me. I want to be the person who can offer support to students who feel isolated, different, or misunderstood. I want to be the kind of counselor who helps students see the value in their own journey and understand that it’s okay to need help. It doesn’t make them less than anyone else, it just means they’re on a path that requires a little extra support, and that’s perfectly fine. I want to be the voice for those students who might be too shy or too afraid to ask for help. I want to remind them that their worth isn’t determined by the challenges they face. Just like I did, they will get through it with the right kind of support. And just like me, they can find strength in their struggles and use it to help others in the future. It’s a lesson I’ve learned from my own experience, and now, I want to pass that lesson on to the next generation.

As a first-generation student, I’m one of the first in my family to have the opportunity to attend college, and that’s something I’m incredibly proud of. There were many times throughout my life when I didn’t believe I would ever make it this far. The idea of going to college seemed so far out of reach, and I questioned if I could handle the challenges that came with it. But now, as I'm writing this it seems so surreal that I'm going to college. I am proud of the journey I have been taken and the obstacles I’ve overcome to get to this point. The biggest challenge I’m facing right now is the financial burden of attending college. Without the proper financial resources, it’s hard to focus on everything I need to do, from studying to truly making the most of my time here. Despite this, I know that the dream I’ve held for so long is worth fighting for. I am determined to push through and find ways to make this dream a reality, no matter how difficult it may seem. Times are incredibly hard right now, and the financial challenges are weighing heavily on me as I try to pursue my education. I truly need financial assistance to continue this journey and reach my goals, as it feels like my dreams are at risk without the necessary support. Throughout my life, I’ve always had a strong desire to give back to my community. Even though I may not have had much, I’ve tried to help in small ways wherever I can. Whether it was volunteering my time, offering support to others, or being a positive role model, I’ve always tried to contribute in meaningful ways. Now that I’m on the path to college, I want to continue this mission of giving back, especially in a way that can make a lasting impact on others. My ultimate goal is to become a high school counselor. I want to earn my degree in psychology because I’ve seen first hand how important it is for students to have someone they can trust, someone who can help guide them through tough times. I want to be that person for students, particularly those who come from backgrounds like mine. I know what it’s like to feel lost or uncertain, and I want to help others realize that no matter what challenges they face, they have the strength to overcome them. I want them to understand that their dreams are achievable, even when things seem impossible.

My parents are from Mexico City, and they have made the difficult decision to leave their home, family, friends, culture and country and move to the United States to have a better life for their children. They sacrificed their own education and dreams so I could have the opportunities they never had. As a first-generation college student, I feel the responsibility to honor their sacrifices. Growing up, I saw my parents work endlessly to ensure that I would have a higher chance to succeed. Their dedication is something that I have been inspired by my whole life , and I feel deeply connected to my heritage and culture, which motivates me to pursue my dreams. My goal is to become a child psychologist, a profession that will allow me to help children facing challenges similar to those I encountered in my own life. I want to use my education to give back to my community and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, particularly children who need support and guidance. By pursuing my goals, I hope to honor my parents' sacrifices and work toward a future where I can make a positive impact. I want to make my parents proud and that has been my only dream.