I am a high school senior with a heart full of hope and a mind full of passion. I have always believed that our world runs on the abundant research made by men and women in the STEM fields, and that science is society’s handbook to understanding the world around us. Specifically, a branch of science that I believe is fundamental in understanding humankind is psychology. Although recognized as a social science, I still believe it should be credited as important as any other science. Since my childhood, I have had a desire to find an explanation for everything. As I have grown older, my interests have shifted towards more mature subjects, ranging from the reason why some babies take longer to speak than others, to the reason why suicide is more prevalent in men than in women. I have taken refuge in psychology for as long as I can remember, for it provides me with the answer to all my questions and simply makes sense in my mind, in a way that nothing else ever has. I want to be a part of the large movement of women in the clinical psychology field that educate the public on the importance of psychology in our day-to-day lives. I feel the general public must become more informed on mental health illnesses and the impacts they have on individuals. To be more specific, there is a negative stigma around mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and a plethora of others. Society tends to believe that individuals with these disorders are ‘’crazy’’, or unable to function normally in society, and therefore should be disregarded and isolated from the section of society that is considered ‘’normal’’. This ideology has disgusted me and caused me a great deal of discomfort. Because of this, I aspire to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, to treat those with mental disorders and also be a mental health advocate in the process. Diversity in the workplace is fundamental for me, as I grew up in Miami to a Colombian father and a Cuban mother. I associate with both my Cuban and Colombian cultures, and I hope to bring my culture into the workplace. As only 10% of psychologists in America are Hispanic or Latino, I believe that if I become a clinical psychologist I would be representing a minority group, as well as possibly helping another high school senior feel like her dreams can be accomplished. In my hometown of Miami, I’ve learned what a good influence having those of your own culture around you can have. As the Cuban population is one of the highest in the country, Miami is filled with Cuban culture, and I have noticed that this has united others in a way that a lack of diversity would fail to do. Groups of people eating ham croquetas and pastelitos over a plastic table covered in dominoes was a frequent sight, as the air filled with rambunctious laughter and the scent of freshly-brewed Cuban coffee. Diversity makes others feel as if they are not alone in pursuing their dreams. If diversity was more present in the workplace, the average worker would feel much more understood and supported by those of the culture they associate the most with.

A change I wish to see in the world is an increase in empathy. As humans, we tend to fight against each other, we stab one another with stone cold faces, uttering cruel words under our breath like movie villains. We tell each other things we’d never like to be heard by the precious ears of someone we love – yet we still do it. We oppress others for selfish motives, even treating certain individuals as if they are not worthy of life for merely being who they were born to be. As a bisexual teen in high school, navigating through all the subtle, but sometimes not too subtle, homophobia present amongst youth has been a struggle. With the possible rejection from my friends and family constantly whispering in my ear, I walk around wherever I go with an invisible cloak surrounding me, hoping it’ll make me blend in with everyone. Living in a strict Catholic household, internalized homophobia was a household favorite for everyone at home. Although social norms tell me that my parents should be the most supportive individuals, this was not my case. My mental health was going down a steep hill as I began my journey to accept my sexuality, and to this today I am still on it, just like so many other members of the LGBTQ+ community. Psychology became a new fascination for me, and I found it only natural that I would dedicate my life to helping those just like me defeat their inner demons, and not let the world’s cruel words dictate who they are. If the world collectively decided to become more empathetic, thousands of lives could be saved. Harsh words and cruel actions can turn into mental disorders, and mental disorders can lead to tragedies like suicide. I’d like to see the world learn how to prioritize the emotions of others over self-gain. For religious individuals to put their views aside and not criticize others for their sexual preferences, for parents to learn how to love their children no matter who they want to date. For people to learn that empathy should be the most attractive feature in a human – not their eye color, or the shape of their lips. I hope to be a part of this change, as I aspire to be a clinical psychologist and am currently a mental health advocate for teens, as I have founded a mental health blog to benefit teens with mental health struggles just like me.

One of my favorite resources to help clear my mind is a pencil and a piece of paper. Writing, although considered a boring chore by many, is my safe haven. When my hands take a hold of a pen, no amount of paper is ever enough. I write for what feels like days, letting my words splay across the paper like paint splashing across a white, empty canvas. Writing gives life to my deepest and darkest thoughts, yet it also helps me truly look inside of myself and understand why I feel what I feel, and why I think what I think. Similar to the multitude of teens of Generation Z, social media has done a great deal to my mental health. The Barbie doll bodies and the all-too-symmetrical faces all sank into my subconscious, as I slowly started to believe that what I saw on the screen was what I should replicate in real life. I often struggled with eating enough throughout my early teens, thinking that skipping a meal or two would be my golden ticket to the perfect body I strived for. My self-esteem was plummeting at the speed of light as I convinced myself I wasn’t worthy because my body wasn’t worthy. Around this time in my life, I was gifted a journal to write in for my 13th birthday, with a hundred empty pages that all yelled at me equally as loudly, to please write in them. I filled it up until no one word could fit anymore, writing for hours about my struggle with eating and my self-esteem. Although such pages were filled with ounces of pain and misery, I was left feeling relieved. It was like carrying a heavy burden and suddenly letting it fall to the floor, no longer to be a worry of mine. Only months after I turned 13, my parents began to work longer shifts, as bills began to pile atop the counter, and money started to become scarce. I had to learn how to cook for my older sisters while my mother was working – something that, like writing, became more of a hobby than a chore. I started to use social media for the better, finding nutritious recipes with no calorie counts and only irresistible deliciousness attached to them. As I would salt chicken thighs and boil vegetables, I would forget all about the world around me, all the scents infiltrating my thoughts and leaving me elated. It was an escape from the fears I was beginning to have. Even now, it still is. The fears have transformed from the fear of not being able to buy the iPad I wanted to the fear of not being able to pay for college. Not being able to get my bachelor’s degree in Psychology and not be able to spread awareness for what I care about the most – mental health. Cooking, although momentarily, saves me from having to face reality. In front of the stove, the only thing that matters is putting the perfect amount of pepper in the pasta, so my sisters don’t think it’s too spicy. Or maybe making sure to flip over the steak so it doesn’t burn on one side and constantly drowning it in spice-heavy sauces. All in all, heaving resources to turn to and hobbies to indulge in is fundamental for anybody who has struggled with their mental health before, no matter who they are. Whether it is cooking, writing, or even dancing and singing, these resources can certainly serve as remedies for those with scars they want to heal.

Our universe is filled with puzzles that we scramble to solve. We drop everything and dedicate our lives to that one specific puzzle we’re terribly infatuated with, and we don’t stop until we insert that last piece. The human mind, perhaps, is one of the most complex puzzles, a puzzle that psychology specializes in understanding. And I, like many other important women in STEM, would like to take a stab at understanding the puzzle that is the human brain, specifically through the study of clinical psychology. Since my childhood, I have had a desire to find an explanation for everything. As I have grown older, my interests have shifted towards more mature subjects, ranging from the reason why some babies take longer to speak than others, to the reason why suicide is more prevalent in men than in women. I have taken refuge in psychology for as long as I can remember, for it provides me with the answer to all my questions and simply makes sense in my mind, in a way that nothing else ever has. Therefore, I made the decision that I want to pursue a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology and become a licensed clinical psychologist. However, my dream, like any other dream, has its obstacles. As a Colombian-American and the child of two Latin American immigrant parents, English was not my first language. Living in the bustling city of Miami, one of the cities in America with the most amount of Spanish-speaking immigrants, Spanish was the language I grew up speaking for the first 6 years of my life. But, soon enough, I learned English, through American TV shows and a plethora of children’s books. However, I still have a Spanish accent, which may set me apart from my primarily English-speaking colleagues. Because of my accent, I also may be considered as less knowledgable and less reliable as a professional in my field. Furthermore, my Colombian background may make it harder for my clients to connect with me on a personal level, and vice-versa. Clients who may be from different backgrounds may not be comfortable with expressing themselves to those who are not similar to them, in culture, background, etc. This would limit my sphere of influence and the number of clients I may have at any given time. As a a Colombian-American, I also strive to represent all other Colombian-American individuals and inspire them to follow the path that I will take, as I believe that people like me are not represented enough in the field. I want young girls my age to see themselves in the eyes of another Colombian-American clinical psychologist. I want them to know that our background is beautiful and makes us who we are— it is never something to be ashamed of, instead, it is something to wear on your sleeve and embrace wholeheartedly. I want them to be reassured that, yes, Colombian-American psychologists do exist. I hope to be a role model for all women, Colombian or not Colombian. Despite the obstacles I may have to confront as a woman in STEM, I am heavily set on not letting this hinder me in my adventure to put all the pieces together and solve the puzzle of the human brain. After all, no puzzle can be solved without determination.

I am a high school junior with a heart full of hope and a mind full of passion. I have always believed that our world runs on the abundant research made by men and women in the STEM fields, and that science is society’s handbook to understanding the world around us. Specifically, a branch of science that I believe is fundamental in understanding humankind is psychology. Although recognized as a social science, I still believe it should be credited as important as any other science. Since my childhood, I have had a desire to find an explanation for everything. As I have grown older, my interests have shifted towards more mature subjects, ranging from the reason why some babies take longer to speak than others, to the reason why suicide is more prevalent in men than in women. I have taken refuge in psychology for as long as I can remember, for it provides me with the answer to all my questions and simply makes sense in my mind, in a way that nothing else ever has. I want to be a part of the large movement of women in the clinical psychology field that educate the public on the importance of psychology in our day-to-day lives. I feel the general public must become more informed on mental health illnesses and the impacts they have on individuals. To be more specific, there is a negative stigma around mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and a plethora of others. Society tends to believe that individuals with these disorders are ‘’crazy’’, or unable to function normally in society, and therefore should be disregarded and isolated from the section of society that is considered ‘’normal’’. This ideology has disgusted me and caused me a great deal of discomfort. Specifically, this way of thinking is very prevalent in younger generations, like those of the elementary, middle school, and high school age range. These children and young adults tend to view those with mental illnesses as strange and unapproachable, and tend to turn a blind eye to them, which then leads to them maintaining this way of thinking throughout their adulthood. They then proceed to not be able to see those with disorders as valuable, respectable individuals, even as they are adult, authoritative figures. This prevents mentally ill individuals from being given the equal chance to succeed in the tech world. As a passionate student in the STEM field, I have become heavily involved with the Mental Health Awareness club at my high school and have done a handful of activities to spread awareness. Consequently, I have also been training for the past year to become the president of this club for the next school year, which is my senior year of high school. I plan on influencing the tech world by changing how those with mental illnesses are viewed both in the STEM field and in society as a whole. By targeting those at a young age, I can inform them on how to respect and treat those with disorders fairly, in the same way that they would treat anybody who is considered ‘’normal’’ in society’s eyes.