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.