My ‘aha’ moment did not occur in a single instant. It was cultivated over years of witnessing my mother’s perseverance. As a public- school teacher she selflessly devoted her life to bettering other people’s children while doing everything in her power to open doors for her own. I watched as she worked long hours, juggled family life, and made financial sacrifices to give my siblings and me opportunities that she knew would help us change our lives. There were times where we did not have much, but there was one thing we never lacked at home: knowledge. Knowledge that with a good education, we could open doors no one could ever shut in our faces. That knowledge became my drive. Instead of making excuses, I used challenges as fuel. I pushed myself to excel in school; earning a 4.6 GPA, graduating Top 5% of my class, and obtaining my Associate of Arts degree from Miami Dade College before I even received my high school diploma. Along with challenging myself in the classroom with a rigorous dual- enrollment course load, I served as Vice President of the Student Government Association, President of the Thespian Honor Society, Vice President of the Math Honor Society, and completed over 1,200 hours of community service. Giving back to my community and helping others find their voice has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey. In fact, founding Summer S.P.E.A.K. (Stand Proud, Express Authentically, and Know Your Worth) has been incredibly impactful. Through mentorship, leadership and service I have empowered young people to know their worth and believe in their potential. I have learned that leadership does not require a title, but what it does require is providing people with the platform they need to succeed. My passions and experiences have solidified my desire to give back through education and service. They have taught me that your successes are not defined by what you accomplish for yourself, but by the lives you touch along the way. Every leadership position I held, volunteer opportunity I took on, and award I earned in school only deepened my craving to serve. I am excited to further my education at Florida International University where I will be entering a Pre-Health major on my way to becoming a pediatric physician. My dream is to use my love for science, service, and advocacy to better the lives of children and families who may not have access to the same resources as others. My story is far from finished, but I know where my pen should take me. My story is one of perseverance, fueled by purpose and a passion for using every opportunity I am granted to open the doors of opportunity for others.

Leadership, poise under pressure, and trust. Cheerleading has taught me these lessons and many more. Being a varsity cheerleader for four years has shown me that if you want to be great at something you must have discipline, consistency, and perseverance. What you don’t see when watching us perform is the hours I spent outside of school training, conditioning, and learning new skills to better myself as a cheerleader. I have spent hours in team cheer practices, leadership training sessions, and personal fitness workouts cultivating my strength, endurance, flexibility, and mental toughness. Cheerleading is not easy. It takes a special kind of athlete that understands how to work with others, manage your time, and handle competition. I have been able to take the skills I learned from cheerleading and apply them to every aspect of my life. As a hardworking student who is enrolled in many advanced classes, takes part in dual enrollment, volunteers, and is involved in leadership programs I needed something to teach me to bounce back from adversity and be accountable for my actions. Cheerleading taught me to always show up with my best effort and performance everyday whether I was cheering for my teammates or my school at an event. I will not be cheering in college, but I will take everything I learned from cheerleading with me for the rest of my life. I have been accepted to a few universities and am excited to attend Florida International University this fall. I decided to attend FIU because it has incredible academic programs, a diverse student and community population, and there are many opportunities to get involved and prepare for a career in the medical field. My plans are to enroll in the Pre-Health program and one day become a pediatric physician. While I do not plan to cheer competitively in college, the lessons I gained from the sport will remain with me throughout my life. I have applied to several universities and am proud to attend Florida International University this fall. I chose FIU because of its strong academic programs, diverse community, and opportunities to prepare for a career in healthcare. My goal is to pursue a Pre-Health track and eventually become a pediatric physician.

I have known since a young age that success is not measured by where you come from, but by how hard you are willing to work to reach your dreams. My parents have always provided my siblings and me with a home full of love, faith, and support. However, financial need has forced my family to make sacrifices and be very budget conscience. Seeing my mother struggle and work as a public-school teacher to help provide for our family while sending three kids to college has taught me perseverance. She has shown me what hard work and determination can do. During my years in high school I never let setbacks define where I would end up in life. Instead I used obstacles as an opportunity to work twice as hard. I graduated with a 4.6 GPA, in the Top 5% of my class with my Associates in Arts degree from Miami Dade College before receiving my high school diploma. I was able to accomplish this by maintaining a rigorous course load of dual enrollment classes while managing leadership positions, activities, and volunteering. There were many late nights where I had to juggle much on my plate and wondered if I could do it, but I pushed through. As Vice President of the Student Government Association, President of the Thespian Honor Society, Vice President of the Math Honor Society, and founder of Summer S. P. E. A. K. (Stand Proud, Express Authentically, and Know Your Worth) club, a leadership organization that helps empower students and young adults by building self-confidence, I have become passionate about bettering the lives of others. With over 1,200 community service hours tutoring youth and my community I have found my dream in wanting to become a pediatric physician. Hardworking and motivated students should receive scholarships and grants because they come from backgrounds where they know education can be life changing, not only for themselves but for families and communities. There are many students with the drive and capability to succeed and go far in life but don’t have the financial support to fully achieve their dreams. By receiving scholarships, students are able to help ease the stress of financial burden and focus on what matters: learning, creating leadership opportunities, and giving back to their communities. When I become a physician my goal is to not only further my education, but to use it to help children and families, fight for equitable care, and inspire the next generation to know where they come from doesn’t dictate where they are going. Work hard and let your dreams take you places you’ve never imagined. I have learned how to take my challenges and turn them into opportunities and with your help I will continue working to better others’ lives.