I'm currently a DACA (Deferred Action of Childhood Arrival) immigrant. Going to school can be very intimidating financially because we are not given eligibility for FAFSA. We are dependent on scholarships or grants and working extra jobs to get to where we need to be. I've had to take a few additional steps instead of my classmates and friends, who are privileged to have these options already available for them. However, that never stopped me from reaching for my dreams, so I take pride in the Dream Act because I AM a Dreamer. I know my purpose in this world is to heal and motivate because I had to learn so by myself growing up. I haven't had my parents with me since High School. It's hard trying to go far without family. I've worked a total of 13 jobs since coming out of High Schoo. I was in survival mode constantly because I couldn't afford to finish college. But that changes now. I became a Certified Nurse Assistant within three months, just before the pandemic. I realized that as much as these residents and patients need me, I need them. They gave me hope, and I finally found a career where I can use the best part of me, and that's my compassion. These past holidays, I picked up work hours while studying for my nursing entrance exam. It seemed stressful but honestly, good spirits guided me. I was left to be the only aid on the floor because the numbers of positive tests were growing, but I stayed resilient. I kept my attitude up because if I let my guard and mood down, that's not going to help me, that's not going to help my nurse, that's not going to help, especially my patients. I learned to balance my mental health with all the responsibilities I handled. I kept repeating with deep breaths, "I am powerful and in control. I attract all good things in the Universe. I live in a perpetual state of Happiness." I share these words with my patients to say too when they feel discouraged, and it's a win-win because we are left to embrace the day in the best spirit we can fully. All that hard work paid off, low and beheld. I passed flying colors and got accepted to the CTCLackawanna Practical Nursing Program. The following day, I got a phone call from my administrator that I am now "Employee of the Month." I was in such awe and tears. They said that my coworkers and especially many of our patients had praised great things about me and I was so touched because I didn't know I would impact them that much. For a long, I worked hard but with no real genuine goals and dreams because I kept thinking that I was limited, which is why I always fell short. But that changes now. This is the message I want to share with anyone who is underrepresented in their communities; There are no limitations when it comes to dreams. With this mindset, doors of opportunities are open all around me, and I stand by them because I've experienced them constantly. I want to keep pursuing my education because knowledge is power and my power is to spread compassion and strength to others who lost hope in humanity. I can't change the world, but I can make an impact even in the smallest aspects of the world, and that's what I strive for.

I'm currently a DACA (Deferred Action of Childhood Arrival) immigrant. Going to school can be very intimidating financially because we are not given eligibility for FAFSA. We are dependent on scholarships or grants and working extra jobs to get to where we need to be. I've had to take a few additional steps instead of my classmates and friends, who are privileged to have these options already available for them. However, that never stopped me from reaching for my dreams, so I take pride in the Dream Act because I AM a Dreamer. I know my purpose in this world is to heal and motivate because I had to learn so by myself growing up. I haven't had my parents with me since High School. It's hard trying to go far without family, but that's why I'm doing this, pursuing to learn more to get a career that will not only help the world but for me to be reunited once again with my family. I've worked a total of 13 jobs since coming out of HS. I was in survival mode constantly because I couldn't afford to finish college. But that changes now. I became a CNA within three months, just before the pandemic. I realized that as much as these residents and patients need me, I need them. They gave me hope, and I finally found a career where I can use the best part of me, and that's my compassion. These past holidays, I picked up work hours while studying for my nursing entrance exam. It seemed stressful but honestly, good spirits guided me. I was left to be the only aid on the floor because the numbers of positive tests were growing, but I stayed resilient. I kept my attitude up because if I let my guard and mood down, that's not going to help me, that's not going to help my nurse, that's not going to help, especially my patients. I learned to balance my mental health with all the responsibilities I handled. I kept repeating with deep breaths, "I am powerful and in control. I attract all good things in the Universe. I live in a perpetual state of Happiness." I share these words with my patients to say too when they feel discouraged, and it's a win-win because we are left to embrace the day in the best spirit we can fully. All that hard work paid off, low and beheld. I passed flying colors and got accepted to the CTCLackawanna Practical Nursing Program. The following day, I got a phone call from my administrator that I am now "Employee of the Month." I was in such awe and tears. They said that my coworkers and especially many of our patients had praised great things about me and I was so touched because I didn't know I would impact them that much. For a long, I worked hard but with no real genuine goals and dreams, which is why I always fell short and wasn't recognized. But that changes now. There are no limitations when it comes to dreams. With this mindset, doors of opportunities are open all around me, and I stand by them because I've experienced them constantly. I want this scholarship to aid me in becoming the best potential person that my soul needs me to be, and that's spreading compassion and strength into humanity. I can't change the world, but I can make an impact even in the smallest aspects of the world, and that's what I strive for.

I'm currently a DACA (Deferred Action of Childhood Arrival) immigrant. Going to school can be very intimidating financially because we are not given eligibility for FAFSA. We are dependent on scholarships or grants and working extra jobs to get to where we need to be. I've had to take a few additional steps instead of my classmates and friends, who are privileged to have these options already available for them. However, that never stopped me from reaching for my dreams, so I take pride in the Dream Act because I AM a Dreamer. I know my purpose in this world is to heal and motivate because I had to learn so by myself growing up. I didn't have my parents with me since HS. It's hard trying to go far without family, but that's why I'm doing this, pursuing to learn more and get a career that will not only help the world but for me to be reunited once again with my family. I've worked a total of 13 jobs since coming out of High School. I was in survival mode constantly because I couldn't afford to finish college. But that changes now. I became a CNA within 3 months, just before the pandemic. I realized that as much as these residents and patients need me, I need them. They gave me hope, and I finally found a career where I can use the best part of me, and that's my compassion. These past holidays I picked up hours for work while I studied for my nursing entrance exam. It seemed stressful but honestly I was guided by good spirits. I was left to be the only aid on the floor because the numbers of positive tests were growing at work but I stayed resilient and kept my attitude up because if I let my guard and mood down that's not going to help me, that's not going to help my nurse, that's not going to help especially my patients. I learned to balance my mental health with all the responsibilities I handled I kept repeating with deep breaths, "I am powerful and in control. I attract all good things in the Universe. I live in a perpetual state of Happiness." I share these words with my patients to say too when they are feeling discourage and it's a win-win because we are left with a day to fully embrace in the best spirit we can. All that hard work paid off, low and behold I passed with flying colors and got accepted to the CTCLackawanna Practical Nursing Program. I got a phone call the following day from my administrator that I'm awarded "Employee of the Month". I was in such awe and tears. They said that my coworkers and especially many of our patients had praised great things about me and I was so touched because I didn't know I would impact them that much. For long I worked hard but with no real genuine goals and dreams which is why I always fell short and wasn't recognized. But that changes now. There are no limitations when it comes to dreams. With this mindset, doors of opportunities are open all around me, and I stand by them because I've experienced them constantly. I want this scholarship to aid me into becoming the best potential person that my soul needs me to be, and that's spreading compassion and strength into humanity. I can’t change the world but I can make an impact even in the smallest aspects of the world, and that’s what I strive for.