Money always frightened me. Money led to bickering. Money led to some feeling superior or inferior. Money limits some from being able to eat, get healthcare, or have a roof over their head. Being a part of the Hispanic community has shown me the dangers of what a lack of financial education and systemic prejudice from financial systems can do. The intersection of finance and race/ethnicity is the financial topic that both interests me and scares me the most. So, I decided to study it. In my life and career, I hope to aid in the financial liberation of marginalized communities, such as the Hispanic community. Also, as only around 9% of finance professionals are Hispanic and 46% are women, I hope to increase Hispanic representation in the financial sector as there is a serious need for it. I hope to continue my education in finance. So, much so that I am thinking of becoming a certified financial advisor in the future or financial coach. I also am interested in researching poverty and financial institutions. I have made sure to do things during my undergrad career to make way towards my goals. During my time at UF, I was the financial literacy director for the Hispanic Student Association and also participated in research about financial literacy in developing countries. I also interned for a movie production/distribution studio as a Finance intern. In all of these experiences, I made sure to represent my Hispanic culture and make a space for myself in a world where there isn't typically one. I also made sure to find a way to give back to my community and people. As the director, I empowered the Hispanic community at UF through financial literacy. With the research, I was able to spread awarness of the effects of little financial literacy in a developing country. As an intern, I was able to not only spread my culture as one of the only Hispanic people on my floor, but after it ended, I was able to teach people back at school everything I learned and help them with their careers. In a few weeks, I will even be hosting a resume/career workshop! I work towards a future where I can financially liberate myself and others. I work towards a future where financial literacy is commonplace, especially for furthering the development of a nation. I work towards a future where there is space for Latine people in finance. With this scholarship, I will be able to pay for the rest of my combined bachelor's and a graduate degree in business and further fund my certifications to be an accredited financial coach or advisor. I know I will achieve my goals and am excited for every positive impact I make and every lesson I learn, along the way.

At this very moment, in exactly 10 years, she is with her friends on a hike, catching up, and telling them about how much her restaurant has grown, where her next trip will be, how her family is, and most importantly, laughing about how dramatic we were in college and how life is so much sweeter when you love yourself and the world around you.

@viannycollazo

My heart sank, and anxiety took its course throughout my body. I turned off Zoom and lay my head on the desk. I had just finished one of the weekly meetings for a career prep course for finance majors at my university. I was grateful to have been invited to these meetings, but they made me feel hopeless. I could not see myself pursuing any of the careers discussed. None of them helped people the way I wanted to help people. But, I could not think of any other degree that would make my parents proud (science and I do not get along, so I steer clear of medicine). It wasn’t until I found an "Anti-Racist Investing Webinar" on Instagram that I gained clarity on what I wanted to do with my career. The webinar was created by a Latina financial advisor and catered toward women of color. This experience made me even more aware of the inaccessibility and lack of financial literacy in BIPOC communities. Low financial literacy is often not the most influential factor causing poverty (bigger influences are systemic prejudice, generational wealth, low wages, etc). However, it would be beneficial to teach it to marginalized communities because it is not taught in school and can be overwhelming to learn yourself, especially if you are new to the US or the language like many immigrants are. This experience filled me with hope. It showed me that I could continue to pursue my Finance degree while helping my community. Thus, my goal is to make my community a more inclusive place through financial literacy and have already started to do the work to make a positive impact. I deeply believe everyone deserves the chance to achieve their goals and reach financial freedom. Life is so precious, so the ability to enjoy it to the fullest extent without financial worry should be afforded to everyone. People shouldn't have to worry about how expensive school, health care, and overall life is. Though I might not be able to change the system that creates our reality, I hope to provide relief to my community by helping them financially empower themselves. I have started with my own community at school! I serve as the financial literacy director for the Hispanic Student Association at my university. I share what I have learned through books, webinars, and classes with my community through articles and videos about financial literacy. I also run a database of scholarships they can apply for! I am really passionate about my work because I have noticed that many of my peers lack a proper understanding of financial literacy. Having a good grasp of financial literacy can be instrumental to having a bright future, which is already more difficult for marginalized groups. Diversity and inclusion issues don't only exist with consumers affected by the industry but also within. Latinas make up a minority in the financial services industry. I hope to represent my community and be another Latina in the field to break stereotypes and barriers. Working as a financial advisor will be fulfilling as I will directly help my community. I am deeply passionate about making our communities more inclusive. If there are steps to make life easier for all, they should be taken. Everyone should be able to live the life they desire and not worry about survival regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, and ability. My ultimate goal is to make financial literacy more accessible to all, help people reach financial freedom, and uplift my community.

My name is Vianny Collazo Barreto, and my journey began with a carrot, potato, and bowl of water. Before I was a sophomore at the University of Florida pursuing Finance, I was a girl with many hobbies. One of the first was cooking/baking (it was more so eating, but I had to get there somehow). Inspired by the culinary skills of Buddy Valdiano and Chopped Chefs everywhere, I tried to make food at a very young age. When I was 7, I tried to make soup by placing the aforementioned carrot, potato, and bowl of water in the microwave. I wasn't great. But I was excited. That excitement found its way into different hobbies like singing, writing, gardening, traveling, volunteering, and more. I was enamored by all the things I could do with my life. However, when I began college applications asking what I wanted to major in, I was stumped. I was a passionate person without a specific passion to pursue because I didn't know what could be a good career path for me. I felt hopeless. I became increasingly jealous of those who knew they wanted to be doctors or writers since childhood. After some soul searching and networking with people in different fields, specifically the financial industry, I learned a lot about myself. What I need most in a career is the ability to help others live happier life. For me, happiness is being able to do the things I love with the people I love without restraint. I have learned that allowing others to have that privilege would be so fulfilling. Thus, I am pursuing a career as a financial advisor who leads people to financial freedom, especially in marginalized communities. I am also incredibly passionate about the study of inequality. For that reason, I will be majoring in Finance with minors in sociology and wealth management. Though I still am unsure about my future and career choices, I do my best to keep my priorities straight so I know I am in the right direction, wherever that might lead me. I prioritize learning as much as I can. I do this through talking to and establishing mentors, studying, and reading. I love to read, whether it be about social activism, financial literacy, and different cultures. I am passionate about intersectionalism and try to read from as many different voices, especially marginalized communities like BIPOC, the disabled, women, and LBGTQ. Listening to these voices has shown me how there is so much inequality and struggle. My career goals reflect my desire to help however I can, whether it be directly through financial advising, volunteer work, or mutual aid. Though my journey began with what could be described as a sad attempt at a soup, it continues with a passion to spread financial literacy and peace.

It all started with what probably was the worst soup ever created. I was six years old and binged food network and TLC cooking shows. One day I made my way to the kitchen. I roughly chopped up a carrot, potato, and onion and placed it in a bowl with water in the microwave. Imagine the look of disbelief I had when what came out of the microwave was not a Michelin star-rated soup. Since then, my soup-making skills have definitely improved, and my love for cooking grows. I have watched countless cooking videos, researched the origins of so many dishes, and tested out so many different recipes. Cooking is my favorite hobby because it relieves stress and is a way I can connect with people globally. It is the most delicious way to experience the different cultures. The joy I feel when learning about a new dish and its history is unmatched. It has also allowed me to get in touch with my roots. Being a child of immigrants is a very confusing identity experience. I learned how to make Arroz con Gandules through my grandmother and Pollo Guisado from my mother. Cooking has made me feel more connected to my culture. Furthermore, I use food as a powerful act of love. Cooking for my family and friends has to be one of my favorite things to do. After moving away from college, when I became lonely or nostalgic, I would whip something up for my roommates and delight in their happiness. Doing school, extracurriculars, work, and maintaining a social life can leave little time to maintain hobbies. I know this from experience. But, I am choosing to make time for my love for food because it allows me to enjoy life more and also help those around me.

It all started with what probably was the worst soup ever created. I was around six years old and binged lots of food network and TLC cooking shows. One day I had finally garnered enough courage to cook as they did in the shows I had loved and made my way to the kitchen. I roughly chopped up a carrot, potato, and onion and placed it in a bowl with water in the microwave. Imagine the look of disbelief I had when what came out of the microwave was not a Michelin star-rated soup. Since then, my soup-making skills have definitely improved, and my love for cooking grows. I have watched countless cooking videos, researched the origins of so many dishes, and tested out so many different recipes. I enjoy cooking because it relieves stress and is a way I can connect with people globally. It is the most delicious way to experience the different cultures. The joy I feel when learning about a new dish and its history is unmatched. It has also allowed me to get in touch with my roots. Being a child of immigrants is a very confusing identity experience. Cooking has allowed me to gain more control in this regard. I learned how to make Arroz con Gandules through my grandmother and Pollo Guisado from my father. Cooking has made me feel more connected to my culture and I will forever be grateful for that. Furthermore, I use food as a powerful act of love. I cook for my loved ones all the time. Cooking for my family and friends has to be one of my favorite things to do. After moving away from college, when I became lonely or nostalgic, I would whip something up for my roommates and delight in their happiness as they ate whatever I made. I also began to try to help my friends with my cooking. Whenever someone was sad or sick, I made them their favorite dish or chicken noodle soup so that they would feel better. It made me realize that I could combine my different hobbies of cooking and helping my community. Thus, I have started to learn about the intersection of food, community, and activism. I have started researching meals that can heal your gut or herbal healing. Soon I hope to start a course that teaches more about herbal relief, the decolonization of the study, and how it can be used as mutual aid. Similarly, I have been researching farming practices, workers' rights in the food industry, and environmental damages made by overproduction. I am excited to help my community through volunteering and getting educated. Doing school, extracurriculars, work, and maintaining a social life can leave little time to maintain hobbies. I know this from experience. But, I am choosing to make time for my love for food because it allows me to enjoy life more and also help those around me.

My kindness got me robbed. I'll admit, it's not the best argument for my favorite quality. But, it did not stop me from valuing and fostering my kindness. Ever since I could remember, the most stagnant part of my personality has been my kindness. I hope I don't sound boastful when I say this because evidently, it has created many problems for me. My kindness has led me to be taken advantage of many times. However, every day I continue to learn to be more kind to myself and know that being kind has more positives than negatives. I love my kindness because I believe living with love is radical. The culture of our society can be very individualistic and lacks focus on self-care and community. I try to push back through kindness. I offer my support to those I meet and constantly try to cheer people on no matter their successes. Through my kindness, I hope to remind people of the importance of community and taking care of one another. When I got my phone robbed, I thought I was helping my thief find their way back home as that is what they asked me to do before they stole my phone. Maybe not my brightest hour. During the days that followed my perspective of the world began to rot. I grew anxious and scared and couldn't fathom being kind in a world that is quick to hurt you in a moment of weakness. Over time I was able to realize that if anything this incident is a reminder of how vital kindness is to society. Yes, I did need to be more cautious, but I should not lose my kindness in the process. Because in the end, the friends I have comforted, the strangers I have made smile, and those that I have helped have meant too much to me. Kindness makes the world better. My kindness brings people together and will allow me to succeed in my life journey through my career and personal goals. I seek funds to study to become a financial advisor for underserved communities. I am excited to pursue my education and supplement it with real life experiences. This includes doing research projects on financial wellness, volunteering, and creating financial literacy resources for the Hispanic Student Association at my university. I will use my kindness to financially empower marginalized communities and give them the support needed to reach financial freedom. It is a field that thrives off of kindness and empathy as taking care of your finances is overwhelming. Many do not realize how personal finances are and how many obstacles underrepresented communities face whether it be because of financial institutions or policy. I hope to use my knowledge and kindness to help my communities take control of their finances and live the happy lives they deserve. Furthermore, this characteristic will help me in life because it will help me to take better part in my community. Supporting my community means everything to me. I hope to be kind to those struggling and also listen to those around me. I want to support the local artists, create my very own scholarship fund, volunteer in my free time, always further my education, and so much more. It all is driven by my kindness. Finally, my kindness will allow me to live a happy life. I will redistribute my wealth. I will listen to those in my communities. I will always be ready to lend a helping hand. I will learn more about the world to be better for it. I will always choose kindness.

Gaining financial literacy was pretty daunting at first, especially when juggling classes and extracurriculars. So the most helpful piece of advice I learned was recent when I attended an investing and personal finance webinar created by and for BIPOC women. I learned that financial literacy was personal. Learning that it is subjective and behavior-based is what changed my perspective forever. Basically, I had always seen personal finance as this big, scary, and super technical thing. Images of Wallstreet and anxiety of complex math and risk filled my brain at the mere thought of trying to understand it. But after that webinar, I realized that so much of personal finance is about analyzing your behaviors, prioritizing your goals, and establishing systems that will set you up for financial peace in the future. Of course, learning about the basics of financial literacy is imperative. But if you don't realize how important the personal in personal finance is, it is hard to achieve your goals. One must learn about themselves and why they spend and save the way they do. How we learned about personal finance through our community and families is just as important to understand as is how the stock market works and what accounts to have. Because to change our behaviors we must understand them and why we are the way we are in the first place. Also, knowing that financial literacy is personal allows for patience with ourselves. There is not one budget and investing strategy that will work for everyone, even though many financial professionals act like there is. Some people do need that coffee from a cafe shop every morning and others might experience great joy when going out every weekend. It is all about prioritizing the things that make us happy while being financially sound.

Though I’ve always had a passion for cultural immersion, it significantly heightened after my sophomore year theatre class. Though I loved acting, my theatre class made me nervous. The idea of making a fool of myself in front of people I didn't know created a pit in my stomach. My heart raced on our first day. I remember walking in, taking a seat, and hugging my body close, worried about the year to come. I remember her. She was seated in front of me, laughing and talking to the people around her. Her accent was thick and unique. I quickly learned that she was an exchange student from Italy. Her name was Marta. We quickly became very close friends. She amazed me. Her eagerness to immerse herself in American culture regardless of the little English she spoke astounded me. With excitement in her eyes, she’d talk to everyone who’d listen, sharing not only her culture but trying to understand theirs. It truly inspired me. Though I grew up being a very nervous and anxious person, after meeting Marta, the dreams of exploring the world transformed into plans as I let go of the nerves holding me back. I, too, want to feel that excitement run through my veins. My passion to immerse myself in different cultures stems from my desire to understand humanity and be as empathetic as possible. Learning about our differences and similarities as a species is so incredible to me. I also feel such joy when learning about people’s cultures, especially when expressed through food and dance. As such, I am planning to study abroad in Milan, Italy, where Marta resides. Specifically at Bocconi University, one of the best business schools in all of Europe. It would be an honor to learn from the very best and better my academic and professional skills internationally. By gaining a different perspective on the business world, I will better my role in it. I am excited to take classes like Diversity Management and Policy and International Business at Bocconi as they will better prepare me for the business world. Furthermore, I hope to not only grow academically but personally as well. I am eager to push my boundaries and challenge myself to live a life different from what is normal here, in Florida. I have lived all of my life in the same place and know that moving abroad will set forth a unique set of challenges that will turn me into a stronger and better person. I also hope to truly learn from the Italian and other international students and citizens in Milan. By broadening my perspectives on life and culture, I will be better equipped to love and give to the world in the way that I want to. By being in Italy, I will also get a chance to practice my Italian, a language I just started learning. I hope to become fluent one day as I feel that language learning is a great way to become closer to others. Thus, I have always wanted to be immersed in different cultures as it allows me to be more understanding and I love learning about cultural traditions. But, seeing my friend Marta go abroad is what inspired me to do the same. I am working passionately for the funds to go abroad to grow academically and personally.

The costs of going to college are incredibly high and overwhelming. Once I began my journey as an undergraduate student, I quickly learned that I had to better my financial literacy to save money while attending college. And though it was a daunting task, it was so much easier to do than I thought. The one personal finance lesson that I find most important is to maximize savings while minimizing expenses. Though this is difficult in a country where costs rise and wages stay stagnant, there are a few things I've learned to do that help. I find it imperative to track my finances. Being conscious of how much I have and how much I spent allows me to avoid overdraft fees and spending outside my budget. Some apps will also help with couponing which will minimize expenses. I learned that it is also significant to make the money you save work in your favor. I do this by putting leftover money in a high-interest online savings account. The difference in interest accumulated between brick and mortar banks and online banks can be very significant (0.01% APY vs 0.5% APY!). Another practice I do to save money is to use credit cards but in a careful way. With the right card, I can save money if I use the card to buy things I would have needed to buy anyway by getting cashback or different rewards. But if used recklessly, credit cards could lead to spending hundreds on interest and late fees so I try to be as careful as possible. Thus, though money can be a very limiting factor while being a student, by finding ways to decrease expenses and increasing savings, the financial stress can be more manageable.

My heart sunk, and anxiety took its course throughout my body. I turned off Zoom and lay my head on the desk. I had just finished one of the weekly meetings run by two administrators from my University who guide Freshmen and Sophomores through the expectations of being a Finance major and the opportunities that lie ahead. I was very grateful to have gotten invited to these meetings, but they made me feel a little hopeless. In terms of financial knowledge, I was really behind the other kids, and in regards to the careers discussed, I couldn't see myself doing any of them. None of them helped people the way I wanted to help people. But, I couldn't think of any other degree that would make my parents proud (science and I really do not get along, which is why I steered clear of medicine). Feeling anxious, I went on my phone to distract myself from the existential melt-down I was on the verge of having. On my Instagram feed, I saw a post that read "Anti-Racist Investing Webinar". My eyebrows furrowed as I tried to think about how investing could be Anti-Racist. The Finance industry is one of the most classist, racist, and white-centered institutions in the US. However, I was too intrigued to let the opportunity go. Could there possibly be a way I could help people the way I wanted to in Finance? I signed up for the webinar and waited. The webinar was created by a Latina financial advisor and catered towards women of color. The chatbox was filled with messages from different working-class women. They all came together to learn more about financial literacy and were so excited. I was also finally beginning to understand different financial concepts and actually enjoying it. It turned out that anti-racist investing isn't easy to do because we have very little real insight into the companies that claim to be socially aware. However, I still learned that I could help people through financial literacy. People of my very own community! This experience made me even more aware of the lack of financial literacy in Hispanic and BIPOC communities. Lack of financial literacy is often not the largest influencer of poverty (bigger influences are systemic prejudice, generational wealth, etc). However, it would be beneficial to teach it to marginalized communities as it's not taught in school and can be overwhelming to learn yourself, especially if you are new to the US or the language. This experience filled me with hope. It showed me that I could continue to pursue Finance and also help my community. It led me to network with people in the area of financial planning and advising. Because of the networking, I landed an internship with a predominantly Hispanic financial advisory firm that caters to the Hispanic community in Orlando. I am so excited and thankful for what is to come and what I am going to learn. Because I am still young, the anxiety regarding my future hasn't left. I still wonder if what I am doing is right and get overwhelmed sometimes with the prospect of being an adult. However, this experience has made me feel like I am getting closer to the person I want to be and the impact I want to have on my community. And for that, I am forever grateful.

Money has always frightened me. Money led to bickering. Money led to some feeling superior or inferior. Money limits some from being able to eat, get healthcare, or have a roof over their head. Being a part of the Hispanic community has shown me the dangers of what a lack of financial education and systemic prejudice from financial systems can do. The intersection of finance and race/ethnicity is the financial topic that both interests me and scares me the most. So, I decided to study it. In my life and career, I hope to aid in the financial liberation of marginalized communities, like the Hispanic community. In my study of money, reflecting on its influence on my childhood has been vital. My family has taught me a good deal about how to view money. My father has been working since he was 9 years old to be able to financially support himself. My mother's parents worked themselves out of poverty so she was able to focus on studying as her means to financially support herself in the future. Through learning about their experiences, I have been able to understand the importance of hard work. However, there is more to personal finance than just hard work. The financial systems of this country can be confusing, so it was imperative to me to start studying them sooner than later. Gaining financial literacy was a pretty daunting task at first. That was until I attended an investing webinar created by and for BIPOC women. I was so inspired that I quickly wrote down all I had learned and sent it to all of my friends. I hope to continue my education in personal finance. So much so that I am thinking of becoming a certified financial planner in the future. I also am interested in researching poverty and financial institutions. Thus, I am majoring in finance with minors in sociology and wealth management. My degrees will increase my understanding of financial institutions/practices of the US, help me analyze their effects on BIPOC, and develop good research skills. Being financially literate is important to me because by being so, I work towards a future where I can financially liberate myself and others. Financial freedom is a right everyone deserves to have. My career and personal goals are to have a thorough understanding of personal finance and the oppression created by financial institutions to underrepresented groups. I hope to be an affordable financial advisor/planner and a community organizer. Financial literacy is important to me because I can help myself and others feel comfortable in what can be a very overwhelming world.

The systems set in place in our country do not always prioritize serving our communities. If you are disabled or a person of color, your ability to survive in this country decreases significantly. If you are born into an unstable home, low-income family, or become incarcerated, even for a small infraction, your social mobility is very low. For that reason, being active in our communities and providing mutual aid is more important than ever. Participating in our communities, redistributing our wealth/resources, and spreading empathy are so necessary. Though our government, financial institutions, corporations, or judicial systems might fail us, our humanity will never cease. My involvement in my community has mainly been through advocacy and volunteer work. Back in high school, my friends and I co-founded a UNICEF club where we fundraised, advocated, and educated on the behalf of UNICEF. We discussed issues like human trafficking, the water crisis, and poverty. In our first two years, we raised over $500 dollars for UNICEF and collectively volunteered over 50 hours which I hope has impacted the lives of others for the better. One of the most significant experiences I had in the club was volunteering with an organization that housed survivors of human trafficking and listening to a speaker from the organization we hosted at our school. I learned about how human trafficking is on a rise in our country. Luckily, organizations exist that help survivors with their trauma and guide them through adjusting to life. Though I was saddened by learning about the rise in human trafficking, I was so happy to learn that people were coming together to do something about it. It highlighted the strength communities have when they come together. I really hoped to volunteer with this organization after my senior year ended however, as the pandemic hit, I was unable to. I still plan to do it in the years to come. I also plan to increase my involvement in my community tenfold. I have had to stay home my freshmen year but when I become fully vaccinated and move to campus as a sophomore, I intend to join the local mutual aid efforts. Some provide meals to the homeless community and others help them learn about their rights. There are also some efforts to help raise books for prisoners to help them educate themselves while they remain behind bars. I am so excited to give back to the community I will be joining in a few months. As for long-term goals in helping the community, I have so many endeavors in mind. For one, I will always want to continue to educate myself on social issues and mutual aid. I also hope to spread class consciousness through my education in hopes of reminding people of the rights they have. Furthermore, I hope to start a non-profit where I help low-income families with their finances for free or at a very low price. I would love to recruit other financial planners and offer them volunteering opportunities to help families in need. I would also love to give classes and encourage the spread of financial literacy. I believe in community outreach and truly helping all members of the community, no matter how different they might be from you. Our society will be at its best when everyone is accounted for and taken care of. And a wonderful step in achieving that is by getting involved in the community.

The systems set in place in our country do not always prioritize serving our communities. If you are disabled or a person of color, your ability to survive in this country decreases significantly. If you are born into an unstable home, low-income family, or become incarcerated, even for a small infraction, your social mobility is very low. For that reason, being active in our communities and providing mutual aid is more important than ever and a very important change to help make a difference. If someone is unable to work because of their disabilities, physical or mental, they should not have to fight for their life. Nor, should they be forced into homelessness or starvation. No one should, for that matter. Especially considering the number of resources and wealth in this country. That is why participating in our communities, redistributing our wealth/resources, and spreading empathy are so necessary. Though our government, financial institutions, corporations, or judicial systems might fail us, our humanity will never cease. In efforts like community kitchens/fridges, volunteer programs, and community fundraising, we see the best of what our species can do. To give selflessly is such a beautiful thing. We have the power to take care of the issues caused or ignored by existing systems, we just have to know it. My involvement in my community has mainly been through advocacy and volunteer work. Back in high school, my friends and I co-founded a UNICEF club where we fundraised, advocated, and educated on the behalf of UNICEF. We discussed issues like human trafficking, the water crisis, and poverty. In our first two years, we raised over $500 dollars for UNICEF and collectively volunteered over 50 hours. One of the most significant experiences I had in the club was volunteering with an organization that housed survivors of human trafficking and listening to a speaker from the organization we hosted at our school. I learned about how human trafficking is on a rise in our country. So many children and teenagers are being exploited for profit and the trauma that induces is heartbreaking. Luckily, organizations exist that help survivors with their trauma and guide them through adjusting to life. Thousands of volunteers come together to share their wisdom and resources to help those affected by this horrible modern-day slavery. Though I was saddened by learning about the rise in human trafficking, I was so happy to learn that people were coming together to do something about it. It highlighted the strength communities have when they come together. I really hoped to volunteer with this organization after my senior year ended however, as the pandemic hit, I was unable to. I still plan to do it in the years to come. I also plan to increase my involvement in my community tenfold. I have had to stay home my freshmen year but when I become fully vaccinated and move to campus as a sophomore, I intend to join the local mutual aid efforts. Some provide meals to the homeless community and others help them learn about their rights. There are also some efforts to help raise books for prisoners to help them educate themselves while they remain behind bars. I am so excited to give back to the community I will be joining in a few months. As for long-term goals in helping the community, I have so many endeavors in mind. For one, I will always want to continue to educate myself on social issues and mutual aid. I also hope to spread class consciousness through my education in hopes of reminding people of the rights they have. Furthermore, I hope to start a non-profit where I help low-income families with their finances for free or at a very low price. I would love to recruit other financial planners and offer them volunteering opportunities to help families in need. I would also love to give classes and encourage the spread of financial literacy. Another dream of mine to help my community is to start of co-op Latin restaurant where we not only extend Latinx cultures to different communities but where we also help hire underrepresented groups and give them living wages. The restaurant could also donate all leftovers to the surrounding homeless individuals and raise money for a variety of social issues. It might also be a good opportunity to hire ex-convicts as many have trouble finding jobs and re-entering society. I believe in community outreach and truly helping all members of the community, no matter how different they might be from you. Our society will be at its best when everyone is accounted for and taken care of. And a wonderful step in achieving that is by getting involved in your community.

The systems set in place in our country do not always prioritize serving our communities. If you are disabled or a person of color, your ability to survive in this country decreases significantly. If you are born into an unstable home, low-income family, or become incarcerated, even for a small infraction, your social mobility is very low. For that reason, being active in our communities and providing mutual aid is more important than ever. If someone is unable to work because of their disabilities, physical or mental, they should not have to fight for their life. Nor, should they be forced into homelessness or starvation. No one should, for that matter. Especially considering the number of resources and wealth in this country. That is why participating in our communities, redistributing our wealth/resources, and spreading empathy are so necessary. Though our government, financial institutions, corporations, or judicial systems might fail us, our humanity will never cease. In efforts like community kitchens/fridges, volunteer programs, and community fundraising, we see the best of what our species can do. To give selflessly is such a beautiful thing. We have the power to take care of the issues caused or ignored by existing systems, we just have to know it. My involvement in my community has mainly been through advocacy and volunteer work. Back in high school, my friends and I co-founded a UNICEF club where we fundraised, advocated, and educated on the behalf of UNICEF. We discussed issues like human trafficking, the water crisis, and poverty. In our first two years, we raised over $500 dollars for UNICEF and collectively volunteered over 50 hours. One of the most significant experiences I had in the club was volunteering with an organization that housed survivors of human trafficking and listening to a speaker from the organization we hosted at our school. I learned about how human trafficking is on a rise in our country. So many children and teenagers are being exploited for profit and the trauma that induces is heartbreaking. Luckily, organizations exist that help survivors with their trauma and guide them through adjusting to life. Thousands of volunteers come together to share their wisdom and resources to help those affected by this horrible modern-day slavery. Though I was saddened by learning about the rise in human trafficking, I was so happy to learn that people were coming together to do something about it. It highlighted the strength communities have when they come together. I really hoped to volunteer with this organization after my senior year ended however, as the pandemic hit, I was unable to. I still plan to do it in the years to come. I also plan to increase my involvement in my community tenfold. I have had to stay home my freshmen year but when I become fully vaccinated and move to campus as a sophomore, I intend to join the local mutual aid efforts. Some provide meals to the homeless community and others help them learn about their rights. There are also some efforts to help raise books for prisoners to help them educate themselves while they remain behind bars. I am so excited to give back to the community I will be joining in a few months. As for long-term goals in helping the community, I have so many endeavors in mind. For one, I will always want to continue to educate myself on social issues and mutual aid. I also hope to spread class consciousness through my education in hopes of reminding people of the rights they have. Furthermore, I hope to start a non-profit where I help low-income families with their finances for free or at a very low price. I would love to recruit other financial planners and offer them volunteering opportunities to help families in need. I would also love to give classes and encourage the spread of financial literacy. Another dream of mine to help my community is to start of co-op Latin restaurant where we not only extend Latinx cultures to different communities but where we also help hire underrepresented groups and give them living wages. The restaurant could also donate all leftovers to the surrounding homeless individuals and raise money for a variety of social issues. It might also be a good opportunity to hire ex-convicts as many have trouble finding jobs and re-entering society. I believe in community outreach and truly helping all members of the community, no matter how different they might be from you. Our society will be at its best when everyone is accounted for and taken care of. And a wonderful step in achieving that is by getting involved in your community.

She was... eccentric to say the least. Had she made students cry before? Yes. Had she also done TikTok dances in front of the class to cheer us up? Also yes. She had a way about the classroom that made some fear and some love her. My Spanish teacher for junior and senior year of high school had an immense impact on me and my educational journey to higher education though it wasn't just because of her TikTok dancing. I'm grateful to have never struggled too much with school. Learning and turning things in on time came easy to me. What was more difficult for me was believing in me and the work I was doing. I had struggled with insecurity issues for years. I became nervous about my educational goals and if I had the means to reach them. Was I enough? Can I succeed when the world around me felt so overwhelming? Maybe I was being dramatic, but I questioned myself a lot. Luckily, I had chosen to do my final research paper in Spanish and my Spanish teacher was my mentor for the endeavor. I was in the International Baccalaureate program, and we had an assignment called the extended essay in which we had to write 4,000 words on any topic we wanted if it related to a class we were in. I chose to research and write about the oppressive treatment of the Romani people perpetuated by the Spanish in the last two decades. It was a great feat as I had to write the whole paper in Spanish and have only Spanish resources. Sometimes I struggled with the paper which made me question myself even more. However, my Spanish teacher helped me immensely. She guided me so kindly and attentively. Not only did she help me with the grammar and format of the essay, but as we continued having mentorship meetings, we grew closer. She told me about things she had learned back when she was in high school and college. She told stories about difficult courses and demanding professors. Yet, no matter how hard the class or how rude the professor, she relayed how exciting it was for her to be in the classroom. She explained the joy of learning and the growth one undergoes when challenged. It filled me with excitement to know that the next chapters of my life were going to be so different and new to the life I had lived before college. I couldn't wait to learn and grow. She also reminded me of my worth quite frequently. Whenever she would remind me of my power, tenacity to learn, and empathy, I was always struck with such warmth and motivation. In high school, the busy, early, and monotonous days sometimes could take a toll on me, so to be reminded of who I was and why I worked so hard, always helped. Now that I am in college, her words and kindness are still with me. I think about her stories. Now I am the one with difficult courses, demanding teachers, and exciting learning. I will never forget the confidence she instilled in me and hope to one day be the mentor to someone the way she was a mentor to me. Though I learned an awful lot about the Romani people in Spain through writing my essay under her guidance, the lessons, stories, and inspiration, I gained from her are what will stick with me forever.