My love for watercoloring stemmed from a need for tranquility. For a majority of my life I lived in a crammed 2 bedroom apartment alongside 6 other family members in New York City.I felt as if I were always surrounded by the chaotic Ness of the city that never sleeps, but holding up a brush in my hand as a i painted gentle strokes allowed myself to escape my reality.it gave me a medium where i could capture my voice. When I first started college the sense of imposter syndrome started to creep in.I would constantly push myself into the background,hiding myself from conversations. It wasn't until my studio professors assigned us a watercoloring project, that I was able to push myself through my work. It was a simple assignment where i painted geometrical shapes i used the transparency of watercolor to capture where my figures overlapped. And although it started as a simple drawing I remember the moment when I pinned up my work, and for the first time I felt like all the words that I constantly spewed in my head were finally freed for the world to see. Classmates would see my drawing and come up to me to ask me more about my project, and that in turn gave me the opportunity to spark conversations. What had begun as a space that I could run to become the motivation that pushed myself to push against my comfort zone and persevere against my fears. The first watercolor sample I provided, was a still life watercolor drawing done with a traditional palette that captured the clutterness of my desk. This painting was done during the pandemic lockdown. I wanted to express the life behind all the drawings. I capture my squeezed up bottle of paint where I've accidentally spilled out blue paint but also the white crumpled tissue used to clean it up. I also used bubble wrap to capture the textures of my desk panels and overlapped that with diluted water color paint. My second watercolor is still life of a fruit platter. For this drawing I used a mix of watercolor pencils and a traditional water color palette to capture the vibrancy between the different fruits. In this drawing it was a more a captivation of how watercoloring has become engraved into my life.It still a passion of mines that transpires itself into normacys.

I was raised in single parent low-income household, with my mom being the primary guardian. When my mother was 17, she ran away from home and immigrated to the United States from Mexico. Arriving with nothing and in a place where she didn't understand a single word, my mother was terrified and still she pushed herself tirelessly to support us. She pushed through her fears and installed in me the importance of determination and perseverance. While studying in high school I discovered my passion for architecture. I became infatuated with how architecture represents how society lived during different periods of time, symbolizing different periods and the work of those during that time. Depending on where you go it will never look the same; it is what differentiates the White House from the Mayan Temples. Through architecture, I can incorporate my love of history and community with a real-life career that can impact generations to come. I have seen firsthand how architects can use their expertise to design spaces that respect history but also serve the current occupants. Growing up in Parkchester, a small community in the Bronx, I was surrounded by the dark brick apartment complexes and the Terracotta statues that overlooked the busy streets as I shopped with my mother. Although the terracotta statues were slowly chipping from old age, it still provided me with a warm feeling. Unbeknownst to me, over 80 years ago I would have not been able to live in the place I call home, as it was a “whites only development” and tenants such as me wouldn't have been able to enjoy the beloved terracotta statues. These buildings have encapsulated so much of our history, although it might not all be well. Living in NYC has opened me up to the rich history architects create of which one day I would like to be a part of. It's important to me as a prospective architect to not only create inclusive spaces but to also help BIPOC voices be included in the conversation. My mother's resilience motivates me to continue tackling tough challenges even if it means I have to overcome my own fears. Although my mother wasn't able to attend college, she has whole heartily supported my endeavors by encouraging me to pursue my own education. At times when I feel discouraged because of the lack of representation for POC architects, I remember the tiresome nights when my mom would come back from a long shift and still make the effort to cook us a home cooked meal. It's because of my mother's dedication that i have the opportunity to chase my career and further my own education. I'm continuously grateful to my mother, taking all the lessons I have learned from her, I hope to dedicate my own career to mentoring other BIPOC who may find themselves in similar shoes and to become the relying hand they can count on.

If i could create a challenge it would be one that displays how much effort and attention a partner is putting. For my challenge Islanders would have to learn one new skill that will impress their partner. Islanders will also film their progress so that they can later show their efforts respectively. This challenge will allow islanders to see if their partner is willing to learn and go beyond for them or if their partner lacks interest. For example, if your partner is super into golf your goal would be to learn how to play golf and depending on how much effort and work you put into it your partner will be able to decide if they want to continue staying in a relationship with you. This would allow islanders to see interest and love through a physical action. And if one partner votes out for the relationship, the islander that gets out will have the opportunity to recouple while the other must leave the villa. And if both couples vote out, they must both leave but the voting stay anonymous. The islanders have 24 hours to learn this new skill and must show off their skill to their partner before the time is up.

This past year I've had the opportunity to study at Syracuse university in the hopes of acquiring a bachelors in architecture. I have always been interested in research and learning the origin of things. In elementary school, I conducted research about the history of chocolate purely for my own amusement. It was fascinating to learn about how the beans that produced chocolate were originally used as currency by the Mayans. The beans held so much value that it was even used in ceremonial marriages by the upper class. Enriching myself with learning about history has helped my understanding of architecture. Through architecture, I can incorporate my love of history and community with a real-life career that can impact generations to come. I have seen firsthand how architects can use their expertise and creativeness to design spaces that respect history but also serve the current occupants. Growing up in Parkchester, a small community in the Bronx, I was surrounded by the dark brick apartment complexes and the Terracotta statues that overlooked the busy streets as I shopped with my mother. Although the terracotta statues were slowly chipping from old age, it still stood as a permanent reminder of the place I knew as home. Unbeknownst to me, over 80 years ago I would have not been able to live in the place I call home, as it was a “whites only development” and tenants such as me wouldn't have been able to enjoy the beloved terracotta statues. These buildings have encapsulated so much of our history, although it might not all be well. It's important to me as a prospective architect to create inclusive spaces. Living in NYC has opened me up to the rich history architects create, of which one day I would like to be a part of. Throughout my academic journey I've not only witnessed the lack of representation in the architectural field but the lack of mentors who've experienced similar struggles as me. In a rigorous career such as architecture the importance of mentorship is like no other, at times being the only female student who comes from an impoverished background can be discouraging but knowing my advances in my own career can help open doors to students will also relate to me keeps me motivated. I hope that one day I'll be able to use my knowledge to guide and mentor other underprivileged students and give them the opportunity to thrive.

In the Fall of 2024, I will be pursuing a major in architecture to achieve my dream of becoming an architect. While at college, I aim to become an active member of my community by joining different clubs and programs related to architecture, social justice, and civic engagement. As a Prospective architecture student, I feel that it's important to be a part of the society I will one day help build. This past summer, I participated in the Discover Architecture Externship program through the Center for Architecture. I spent three days at the Gensler New York office where I was able to see how architects connect with prospective clients and how they work to create a different atmosphere. I hope to seek more opportunities each summer at firms like Gensler to broaden my hands-on experience in this field. Long-term, I aim to lead my own architectural firm and to become a mentor to Latinas in the same field. Throughout my life, I was told by countless teachers that I could do anything. Yet when I looked at the field of architecture, I did not see any Hispanic women who lead their own firms. This realization greatly saddened me. Many times, I almost quit, feeling that it was too hard to break into this field. But I realized that quitting meant closing the door for girls who come after me too. I aspire to be one more Latina who could open a path so that other Latina's can also chase their dreams. A Hispanic Climb to Success Scholarship would change my life. My mother is a Hispanic single mother who unfortunately does not have the financial resources to hire a caretaker so therefore I am responsible for taking care of my younger brother while my mother works. Due to these family obligations, I did not have the ability in my schedule to work and save money for my college education. My mother’s ability to work is in jeopardy and my financial situation will get worse. Through the Hispanic Climb to Success Scholarship, I would be able to chase new opportunities without the fear of knowing how my schooling would be paid for. It would give me the opportunity to chase my dreams in a more fulfilling way. This scholarship would alleviate some of the financial burden of pursuing a secondary education and allow me to focus wholeheartedly on my studies as pursuing architecture is a very time-consuming and attentive career.

I have always been interested in learning about the origin of things, for example when in elementary school I conducted research all about the history of chocolate purely for my amusement. It was fascinating to learn about how the beans that produced chocolate were originally used as currency by the Mayans. The beans held so much value that it was even used in ceremonial marriages by the upper class. enriching myself with learning about history opened the doors to my interest in architecture. To me, Architecture is an art that represents how society lived during different periods. It symbolizes different periods and the work of those during that time matters. Depending on where you go it will never look the same, it is what differentiates the White House from the Mayan Temples. I have first-hand experience of how architecture makes an impact on society by attending the ACE Mentor program which allowed me to connect with Architects and I was able to collaborate with other students to make mock designs of community centers and office spaces. With guidance from the Ace mentors, I was taught about urbanization and to be considerate of the people I'm designing the space for. Through the collaborative project, I got an idea of how it would feel to work as an architect at a firm and the importance of communicating with others on your team. I was also able to learn more about working in the architecture field through the Discover Architecture Externship program. I spent three days at the Gensler New York office where I was able to see how architects connect with prospective clients and how they work to create a different atmosphere. I was also able to see their work at the Jackie Robinson Museum. Through the way they had implemented ramps and digital touch prints, I could tell that the architects and interior designers spent time making sure the space was not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional for the space which was remembering the legacy of Jackie Robinson. I was inspired by the way architects were able to incorporate their career and education to create a space designated to not only Historical figures but to a piece of history.