Everyone faces adversity at some point in their life. For me, that moment came in seventh grade when my mom passed away while I was living in Mexico. I was already adjusting to a different country, culture, and environment since I moved right after completing elementary school. Losing my mom during that time changed everything. When she died, I felt like no one understood my pain. I was thirteen years old, still trying to understand who I was, and suddenly I had to learn how to live with a loss that felt impossible to carry. School did not stop. Life did not pause. I still had assignments, responsibilities, and expectations waiting for me every day. Grief showed up in ways I did not expect. Some days I felt angry. Other days I felt numb. I struggled to focus in class and found it hard to connect with people the way I used to. Those who showed me pity, only made me more upset. Being in another country made it even more difficult. I was far from the comfort I had known growing up. There were moments when I wanted to shut down completely. Over time, I realized that surviving grief was not about pretending to be strong. It was about allowing myself to feel everything and still choosing to move forward. I leaned on my dad, even when conversations were hard. I slowly opened up to close friends instead of isolating myself. I focused on small, manageable goals like finishing homework, showing up to school, and staying involved in my responsibilities. Each small step reminded me that I was still capable, even when I felt broken. Living through that loss forced me to grow up faster than I expected. I became more independent because I had to. I became more aware of other people’s pain because I understood what it felt like to carry something heavy that no one else could see. I learned resilience is a quiet decision to keep going each day. This adversity shaped me into someone who values empathy and emotional strength. I am more patient with others. I listen more carefully. I do not assume that I know what someone else is going through. Losing my mom also taught me that life is fragile, and that the people around us matter deeply. I no longer take time or relationships for granted. If I could give advice to someone facing a similar loss, I would tell them that there is no “correct” way to grieve. It is okay to feel angry, confused, or exhausted. It is okay if healing takes longer than expected. I would also tell them not to isolate themselves. Even when it feels easier to stay quiet, connection makes a difference. Talk to someone you trust. Let people support you. Strength does not mean handling everything alone. Adversity does not erase who we are, but it changes us. Losing my mom will always be part of my story. While I would never choose that pain, it shaped me into someone stronger, more compassionate, and more resilient than I once believed I could be.

I have loved animals, big and small, for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, I would stop to pet every dog I saw and beg my parents with tears in my eyes to let me bring home strays. I used to imagine myself working in a clinic, helping injured pets and caring for them. Still, for a long time, I pushed that dream aside. I told myself I would not be able to handle the emotional weight that comes with being a veterinarian. I thought I was too sensitive, that seeing animals in pain would be too much for me. Life ended up teaching me more about strength than I expected. I lived in Mexico from sixth through ninth grade. In seventh grade, my mom passed away. After that, home felt different. It felt quiet and heavy. A few months later, my dad brought home the sweetest blue pitbull puppy. I named her Laika. She was full of energy and personality, and she quickly became my best friend. Every day after school, I rushed home just to see her. She would jump on me, tail wagging, so excited as if I had been gone forever. Taking care of her gave me something steady when everything else felt uncertain. She did not replace my grief, but she made it easier to carry. We took Laika to an affordable local veterinary clinic for her immunizations and checkups. My dad made sure she received everything she needed. Once it was safe, we began taking her to the park, and watching her run freely made me so happy. For a while, everything felt okay. Then she got very sick. She stopped eating and barely moved. The local doctor did not know how to treat her, so we rushed her to a specialized emergency clinic. That was when we learned that the vaccines she had received were faulty. We had been scammed. I remember feeling angry and heartbroken. We chose that clinic because it was what we could afford. That choice should never determine the quality of care an animal receives. That experience opened my eyes. During my time in Mexico, I also saw so many stray dogs wandering the streets. I would wonder who was looking after them, if anyone was. I realized that access to proper veterinary care is not equal, and animals often suffer because of it. Through everything I have experienced, I have learned that I am more resilient than I once believed. I have faced loss, fear, and uncertainty, and I am still standing. I now understand that being emotional is not a weakness in this profession. It is what allows a veterinarian to care deeply. I want to become a veterinarian so I can provide compassionate, high quality care to every animal, regardless of their owner’s financial situation. One day, I hope to open a clinic that offers affordable services without ever compromising standards. Laika helped me heal during one of the hardest times in my life. I want to spend my life offering that same care and protection to animals who need it most.

When I lived in Mexico, I saw stray dogs on almost every street. Many looked hungry or scared, and it hurt to know I could not help them. Those memories stayed with me and helped shape my goal of becoming a veterinarian who serves the community. I want to offer affordable care so low-income families can keep their pets healthy and safe. I also want to support homeless individuals who give everything they can to care for their animals. Their dedication inspires me, and I want to give their pets the treatment they deserve. My experience with my dog Laika strengthened this goal even more. My dad and I could not afford a high-quality veterinarian, so we went to a cheaper clinic. The vaccines they gave her did not work, and she became very sick. Losing her was painful, and it made me realize how important proper veterinary care is. If we had access to reliable treatment, she might still be with us today. A degree in animal science is the first step in my journey to prevent situations like this for other families. Studying animal biology, nutrition, and health will give me the foundation I need to understand how to care for different species. It will also prepare me for the challenges of veterinary school, where I will learn the skills needed to diagnose illnesses, provide treatment, and serve animals in a safe and effective way. With this education, I will be able to return to my community and offer trustworthy, affordable care so that pets and their families never have to go through what Laika went through. My goal is to make a real difference, and my path begins with an animal science degree and continues toward becoming the veterinarian my community needs.

My early life felt like a series of unfortunate events. At 11 years old, I moved to Mexico with my parents to take care of my grandparents, and was placed in a school taught entirely in Spanish, a language I was only familiar with from hearing my family speak. The following year, COVID hit my family hard, everyone got sick and my grandfather and mother both passed away. A year after that, I got a puppy who passed away seven months later. This same year, my uncle succumbed to his heart issues. After completing my freshman year in Mexico, my Dad encouraged me to move back to the U.S. without him to continue my education, here in California. Transitioning from the U.S. to Mexico, then back to the U.S. meant starting over twice, this time without the support of my family. I had to navigate new teachers, new classmates, and new environments, while also taking on responsibilities that most people my age have not, like handling money or making decisions independently. Growing up these past few years without having my Dad to lean on has been extremely difficult, but I have learned to create that stability for myself. These challenges felt overwhelming. Losing loved ones left me with grief that was difficult to carry, while moving between countries gave me a feeling of displacement. Instead of letting these challenges hold me back, I chose to adapt. The way I saw it, my life could go one of two ways; I could sulk and continue in my downward spiral or I could pick up the pieces of my life, and use this hurt as fuel. I taught myself how to be resourceful, how to stay organized, and how to advocate for myself. Education became my anchor; it gave me purpose and reminded me that all of the sacrifices I was making were leading toward something greater. In the end, my struggles have not defined me, they have prepared me. The independence and perseverance I developed will help me succeed no matter where I am. I have a dream, a purpose, and the determination to make it happen. I will do anything to be successful not only for myself, but also to honor my family. I want to make my mom proud of who I am and what I have accomplished and I want to pay back my dad for everything he sacrifices to support me. Living in the U.S. is expensive, and he works constantly to provide for me. Even though he won't admit it, I know he probably skips meals to save enough money for me to get a degree. He is motivated by his paternal love, and now it is my turn to show that his efforts are paying off. This reminds me every day why continuing my education matters, and the obligation I have to work hard in order to reach the future I envision for myself. I am now at the point in my life where I can pick up where he left off, to do what he couldn’t, and show him how truly grateful I am by going to college for animal science and becoming a veterinarian. My resilience combined with my passion for veterinary medicine make me confident that I will succeed. I am not just chasing a degree, I am chasing a dream that I, alongside my parents, have fought hard to keep alive.