McAllen Emergency Room Student Scholarship

I come from a family who has lived all his life in Mexico where my dad has been involved in different events in politics, he is known for helping the community by gifting essential needs to people of very low income, also he is known since he was president of an organization where people from ranches could get a better opportunity on receiving help from the government. I plan to use this scholarship to help me pay housing at my desired college, which is the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, since it will be very expensive to travel every day to school from my house.

State Troopers take an oath to protect and serve the people of our state. You swear to put your life on the line daily, so that others may live. State Troopers patrol our Texas highways, attend to various types of accidents, and prevent future accidents from happening by stopping them at the source. Without their participation in society, many individuals wouldn't have came home to their families or seen another day. My dad is the backbone of our family; he works extremely long, grueling hours to provide for our family. His schedule is constantly changing, and sometimes he misses holidays and our birthdays. Being a State Trooper is not a glamorous job; you encounter emergencies right when they happen. Around September 2020, my dad was working a normal shift near La Villa. He had stopped a Camaro going 90 mph, assuming the drivers were racing with the sports cars near by. A family emerged from the car, begging my dad to release them due to the fact that the youngest child was in critical condition and barely responsive. The whole family had damage to their faces and bodies due to a UTV accident a few miles away. EMS and police units arrived to the scene, and luckily, the family was administered aid within 2 minutes. If my dad had released the family, they would have missed the ambulance that was near by, and the youngest child most likely wouldn't have made it to see tomorrow. My dad doesn't know what compelled him that night at work to stop the Camaro for reasons other than speeding, but he is greatly relieved that he didn't let them continue on. Fortunately, the child was given a chance in survival, thanks to EMTs and public service. This scholarship would help me with the financial difficulties that come with Nursing school. If I were to be awarded this scholarship, I would be allowed to focus on my career in medicine. Nursing school is one of the most competitive, strenuous, demanding programs out there. My plan is to attend Nursing school to earn my BSN, become a Registered Nurse and become a public servant just like my dad. I'll be serving my community by taking care of the sick and injured. Specifically, I plan to work in the Neonatal ICU (NICU), in honor of my brother, Milo, who was unfortunately born prematurely and didn't get to come home from the hospital. My goal is to save and restore health to other sick newborns so that they can live long lives and come home to the new, excited parents ready to take on the journey of parenthood. Later on, I plan to go back to school to earn my Master's degree so that I can become a Nurse Practitioner as well. In summary, my dad has saved the lives of many and continues to serve the community today. My dad is my hero, but he is also the community's hero as well. I, along with other individuals, are eternally grateful for first responders and their services. Thank you for putting your lives on the line so that others can live theirs.

My father has been in the law enforcement field for over three decades. He started out as a security guard, became a police officer for the city of Brownsville for a couple of years, and became a federal agent with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the Immigrations Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) branch. He has always loved working for the federal government as they have allowed him to continue doing what he loves while also raising a great family including my older sister and my mother. He is a great father and an excellent agent because he protects our community, holds individuals accountable, ensures justice, and is a great leader at his workplace. Not only has my father made a difference in our local community, but he has made an impact outside of it as well. For work, he has had the opportunity to travel to many places around the United States and outside of the country as well. He has traveled to Honduras, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Washington D.C., Seattle, South Carolina, Chicago, and cities all over Texas. He has done a fair share of traveling over the course of his career and has made a difference in communities around the world. I admire how hardworking he is and how he truly cares about making a difference in our community by making it safer for everyone. He is a great role model and a father and I want to follow in his footsteps. He loves his community and is proud of making it a better and safer place for everyone. My name is Jorge Rodriguez and this scholarship will truly be a blessing for me to pursue higher education. I am planning on attending the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley to pursue a master’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in kinesiology. During my time at San Benito high school, I was always ranked in the top 5% of my class since my freshman year. I have also maintained a 4.8 to 4.9 GPA and have graduated as one of the top ten students in my graduating class, as I was ranked number nine out of 670 students. This scholarship will help cover tuition as well as pay for books and a parking spot as well. Going to college and university is very expensive, as this scholarship will bring some financial support to my family for paying for my higher education.

Hello, my name is Jay Davila. Today I would like to talk to you about my parents' impact on the community. I would like to say that they both are very vital to the community. With my father being in law enforcement, and my mother being part of the medical field. I would like to talk about my father's line of work first. My father works with the Border Patrol, and his job is really intense. He is expected to respond quickly to unpredictable situations and take action when necessary. When I was twelve years old my father told me a story about the cartel and their predictable tactics to get into the United States illegally. Unfortunately, my father can't stop them all, but I know he and his team try their best to sweep out all the illegal drugs they find. It's for the good of society if my father and his coworkers didn't put their lives on the line. The opioid epidemic would be more catastrophic, and local police departments wouldn't have the grip on criminals that they have today. To conclude my father's line of work is very intense, and not everyone can do it, we have to appreciate our Border Patrol. My mother's job is just as important as my father's job. My mother may not be on the front lines stopping the never-ending drug war, but her line of work is in the hospital. My mother just like my father is trained to act quickly in intense situations. For example, when the EMTs rush somebody into the emergency room my mother is one of the first nurses to start giving the patient medical attention. Once the patient has received medical attention, my mother usually keeps up to date with the patient by taking their vital signs, and tracking their intake, and output. After she follows protocol, she goes to make sure all of her patients feel safe, optimistic, healthy, and happy. If it were not for my mother and her fellow nurses, I don't think many lives in the community would be saved. We need to value our health care workers they do so much for our community, and the best thing we can do in return is to thank them for everything they do. Now that I have explained how my parents impact the community, I would like to discuss with you how your investment in my education will count. Just like my mother, I have aspirations to work in the emergency room not as an LVN but, as a Nurse Practitioner. I am currently enrolled in South Texas College in McAllen Texas, and I have maintained all A's in my classes since the start of the semester. My grades will not change, the nursing program in my college is competitive, and I want to pass the program. Once I reach my goal in return. I will continue to give back to my community and inspire my peers to be good members of society.

Before my Father was considered a First Responder, he was a machinist up til 2008, when the company he worked for went out of business. To combat our poor financial situation, he worked strenuously doing landscaping and other odd jobs to ensure my mother, brother, and I could survive during a period of economic turmoil. Eventually, he found a job as a Border Patrol Agent with Homeland Security and got his Bachelor's degree after not continuing his college education. Now he works tirelessly every day to guarantee that our country and communities are safe and provide for our family to the best of his ability. My Father helps the community by ensuring that unlawful entry into the country and communities from undocumented people are prevented no matter what. Undocumented people are known to go off into different communities and suburbs near the border, so he wants to ensure the safety of those living in these areas. Every night he is out on patrol running through the brush, tall grass, mud, rain, spiderwebs, and other dangerous conditions, all for the safety of us who live near the border. He is always one of the first agents to respond to an event and will always be the one who helps control and ensure the situation does not escalate to an extent where anyone gets hurt. Because of his work and physical effort at night, he ends up tired during the day. Despite this, he still finds the will to leave the house at night because he knows his actions are for the safety of his family and community. He also helps serve in his community by being a leader for Boy Scout Troop 272 and volunteering as Sharyland High School's Band Booster President. As previously mentioned, my Father did not initially complete all of college. Because of this, during his brief time working multiple jobs, we mainly survived off the money my mother made as a social worker at an elementary school and selling off most of our assets. He only obtained a Bachelor's degree once he realized how much higher education is required in today's job market. While my family is now financially stable with my Father's and Mother's income, college expenses are higher than they used to be, and I will struggle with covering them. With this scholarship, I hope it will help me obtain that 4-year college education as soon as I get out of high school so I can pursue my dream job occupation and not struggle with finances as my parents did all those years ago. My goal is to attend a good college that will help me network and prepare me adequately for my career; the only thing that will hold me back is the expenses. As each day passes by and I see my parents Father and Mother get older, I am doing my best to work hard in my education and extracurriculars so that I can hopefully provide for them as they provided for me. I hope my Father knows that the effort he puts into his job and volunteering does not go unrecognized by me; I appreciate all he has done for our community and helping raise my brother and me.

My dad is a Border Patrol Agent in Rio Grande City, Texas. He has been working in the force for the past 20 years. A way my dad has helped his community is by working long hours and sleepless nights, securing our land borders from terrorists, and drug smugglers, and preventing people from bringing anything harmful or illegal into the United States. My dad has been committed to his job ever since he became a border patrol. I think he is almost too committed. Since I was little it has always been me my sister and my mom while my dad was at work or on a work trip. He loves helping out his community so much that sometimes I feel like he forgets he has a family. My dad has missed many games, awards, birthdays, and holidays. We have dealt with it for so long that at this point it is nothing new anymore, but it has ruined our father-daughter relationship over time. As much as it pains me that my dad always chooses to help protect his country, I am grateful to have someone that shows me what commitment and pride look like. My dad is like my very own superhero when it comes to helping others. Since border patrol is considered a good-paying job you may be asking why I need this scholarship. I am a freshman in college as well as my sister. My brother is now a freshman in high school. Since my dad is considered to have a good-paying job we are not given financial help. When you have two daughters going to college at the same time the payment doubles, and when you have a brother attending college in a few years, payments will get tough for my parents. My dad is a veteran so he gets awarded hours that help pay for my tuition but there are only so many hours I can take. In 4 years my brother is going to be going to college as well so he needs his hours as well or it will be very hard on my parents to be paying tuition for him as well. If I am awarded this scholarship I can apply for a few more classes which would benefit from me taking more hours from my dad's program. With this money, I can get at least two more classes on my schedule and it will help me finish college a lot sooner.

Hello, my name is Lizette Martinez. I am a senior at Grulla High School, and I will graduate in May. I am the daughter of a Border Patrol Agent from the valley's lower regions. However, being the daughter of a government employee has taken its toll on me. I question myself every day about what my father does because I am either mocked or disliked by the students at my school because of my father's job. As I walk through the halls of my school, I am asked, "How can your father arrest his own people?" On a daily basis, I am questioned about the work of Border Patrol agents, but that is not the only part of the job description; there is more to it. However, I defend them because many people do not understand the importance of their job and how they risk their lives to protect the public. My father has been an agent for 15 years and risks his life every day for his people. My father has made a significant contribution to my community, and his efforts have had a significant impact. To answer the question, the people he arrests are not his people. His people live in our community, and he has promised to protect us. He not only handles immigration, but also drugs that enter the country. Drugs entering the country have had a significant impact on people, and they have made it their mission to keep them from harming anyone. Selling drugs can help someone, but the long-term consequences are severe. Preventing drugs from entering the country has made a significant difference for everyone, but it still happens. In some ways, the way my father interacts with people has made a difference in my community. He is a good person who treats everyone equally. My father's difference maker, on the other hand, has been recognized for the extensive work that he puts into his job every day. My dad and his team put in the extra hours and hard work to make sure the community is safe. For instance, there are days when I do not see my dad because every day is a mission for him. Even outside of work, my dad is still working day and night. I won’t exaggerate and say his job is either life or death, but it feels like it. I feel like one day he will not come back home or he will not be able to see me graduate as the job is getting tougher. However, my dad will be there even after putting others before himself. I am in my last year of high school, which means in about 6 months I will be deciding where I will be attending in the fall and my home for the next four years. I plan to major in nursing to become a pediatric nurse. My dad is my inspiration to become one. I see his interaction with kids and I want to one day help them as he helps them. This scholarship will help me because college is expensive and the money will help me get the classes that I need to one day heal the kids of our future. Not only will this money help me, but it will also help my parents from financial trouble. It will give me a step towards becoming one of the best nurses. It is a passion of mine and I dream of sharing it with others. I want to make a difference, and this scholarship can help me get one step ahead.

We currently live in McAllen, Texas and are a part of the Rio Grande Valley. In 2010, my father joined the United States Border Patrol and we relocated to Laredo, Texas. During that time I participated in summer programs at the local university (Texas A&M International University) called TexPrep. In this program we were exposed to advanced engineering material as well as advanced mathematical concepts that I would see later in my High School years. United States Border Patrol Agents play a key role in the community they live and serve. Day in and day out they work in the ever changing environment to include: heat, rain, snow, wind, humidity working to secure our nation from persons who attempt to enter the United States illegally without being properly inspected. Our time in Laredo taught us the importance of community and the importance of serving your community. I participated in the annual Feast of Sharing that was coordinated by HEB Grocery Company. This allowed me to give back and show how blessed we are to have persons like my father protecting our way of life. In 2018 my father was able to get transferred back to the Rio Grande Valley and stationed at the Falfurrias Border Patrol Station. Falfurrias Border Patrol Station is primarily a checkpoint/inspection station for persons going north and who are attempting to smuggle noncitizen persons or illegal drugs further into the United States. With my father being stationed in Falfurrias, it has put a burden that can easily be underestimated. He commutes one hours each way to ensure we are able to live in McAllen and attend local high school. I attended Robert Vela High School and graduated as an Honor Student (top 10%), Perfect Attendance, and a National Honor Society member. With my future goal attending college and pursing a career in Computer Science/Cyber Security any additional assistance that I can obtain will alleviate any future expenses and burden that I may be to my parents. I initially intended to attend either the University of Texas-Austin or Baylor University, but when we put pen to paper and did the budget and potential expenses attending a university away from home, it was not going to be attainable without student loans. As a family we follow the guiding principles of Dave Ramsey to live debt free as much as possible, and hope I can contribute my part with all available scholarships that are available. I thank you for your time and consideration.

Both of my parents have been vital parts of their community throughout their whole lives, starting with my father, who has been making a difference in his community since a young age. As a young man, he decided to join the army—a scary, yet rewarding decision. During his time in the army, he was able to provide medical needs for his co-workers and help them perform at their best in order to support our country. After retiring from the army, he continued his work for countless years in varying emergency rooms and hospitals, providing constant and reliable radiology work for his community and making sure they are healthy. Providing great, reliable, and passionate work for your community is something few can do, yet my father is able to. Additionally, my mother is a vital part of our community as well. Starting her career in Canada as a nurse, she worked in hospitals up there, providing care to anyone in her community who may have been in need of help. Taking a traveling job, she moved down south to McAllen, Texas, where she continued her career as a nurse, constantly aiding the RGV community with whatever care they needed. additionally, she worked through the pandemic and helped vaccinate the community against COVID. In addition to this, she also performed hundreds of COVID tests as well as contact tracing. My mother's work in healthcare made a difference to the community by helping people avoid serious illness and helping reduce its spread amongst others, as well as helping the community get back to a sense of normality. Today, she continues to care for the many needs of students at her school post-pandemic as they try to return to normal. As I finish up my high school career and move into college, I have decided to take part in the CAP (coordinated admissions program) at UTRGV, allowing me to transfer to UT Austin next fall. Being a college student now, there will be a lot of expenses that I will have to endure. This includes the cost of textbooks, gas to drive to my classes, and any other things life decides to throw at me. As I will be transferring to Austin next year, this just adds to the costs I will have to endure. This scholarship will help me with the cost of books, food, a laptop for online and computer science classes, and other countless unexpected expenses.

For as long as I can remember, my dad has shared exciting stories about his work with my sister and I. He would tell us about his previous arrests and randomly point out areas where he's arrested someone. I know that because of him, "druggies", sex offenders, and domestic violence perpetrators are off the streets and no longer causing harm. I know that even though the world is an unsafe place, he is doing his best to make it safer. I have always admired him for this. I also admire him for his commitment, because although there has been a lot of turmoil these last few years around police officers, I am proud of my dad for continuing his passion and continuing to give back to the community. Even if he was in a different occupation, I would still say my dad is one of the most compassionate, altruistic people I know. He is always there for me and supports my mom, sister, and I throughout any of our endeavors. Seeing how much passion he has for giving back has truly inspired me to do the same. I volunteer at my church, am NHS President at my school, and knit scarves to donate in my free time, because I want to give back to my community as he does. My dad's instinct to help others has seeped so far into my own personality that my career aspirations are now based upon that trait. As someone who has struggled and continues to struggle with their mental health, I realized I needed someone to reach out to. When I finally did reach out, my dad embraced me, told me he was here for me, and helped me reach out further to a professional. Seeing how much being surrounded by caring people has helped me on the road to recovery truly made me crave to be that type of person for the people around me. Although I would not be contributing to my community in the same way that my dad does, his kindness and generosity, along with my personal experiences, have made me want to pursue a career in psychology and give back to the community by improving its members' mental health. This scholarship will help me pursue a higher education to become a psychologist by lightening the financial load the necessary education for my future occupation puts on my family and myself. Being in the top 1.5% of students at my school, I am automatically accepted into public universities in Texas. I am very grateful that college acceptance is not something I worry about, however, now I face the issue of paying the fees of whichever school I attend. Aspiring to be a psychologist, I am planning on getting a bachelor's degree, at least one master's degree, and a PhD. This will be very expensive and I don't want to go into post-grad life far into debt nor do I wish to worry my parents about how this debt will be paid off. Also, as I mentioned before, I struggle with my mental health. I am someone who gets very anxious and tends to solely prioritize school over my other social, mental, and physical needs. Although I have gotten better at balance, I would like to be able to go into college with one less worry. I know that growing up means more responsibilities and more stressors, but, as a proactive person, I am doing my best to reduce them as much as possible. Thank you for reviewing my application, I hope you can help me help others as you do!

Not All Superheroes Wear Capes At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, my parents added a new piece of clothing to their scrubs and gear, their invisible superhero capes. While no one could see these capes, I knew they were there. While other parents were afforded the opportunity to stay at home to work and tend to their children, my parents, mom, a nurse practitioner, and dad, a paramedic, embarked on their next mission to save the world. In order to be there for their patients and their community, my parents had to make a lot of sacrifices, as all superheroes do. They sacrificed their time with me in order to work longer and extra shifts, covering for their coworkers affected by the virus. They sacrificed their own health by working face to-face with those with active infections. I can remember my dad's radio repeatedly belting out tones for another call for a person short of breath with an active infection. Every night he would come home and recount story after story of opening up a person's home only to find the corpse of someone who had passed away due to this virus. He even had to hang up the cape of a fellow paramedic who lost his life due to the COVID-19 virus. My mother's ritual of decontamination after her shift to make sure she did not bring the virus home to us left her skin red, cracked and bleeding, and her hair dry and falling out from all of the washing. I would consider all healthcare workers, including my parents, to be community superheroes. Though they sacrificed so much, in the mist of all the tragedy, they created a new hopeful chapter in the lives of those they served. In addition to serving the community's medical needs, they educate the community about the ways to prevent COVID-19 transmission and how to perform self-care for those less fortunate than themselves. They taught families how to quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in multi-family homes; they educated mothers on how to give their children medication to lower fevers and coughs associated with the virus; they advised families on what vitamins to take to increase their immunity to the virus; they encouraged all their patients to get vaccinated and humbly continued to serve those who did not. Even though I am not venturing down the same journey as my parents, I will use this scholarship money to have a positive impact on my community like my parents have. I would like to be a historian so that I may record events like the pandemic and highlight those who wear invisible capes and have made the ultimate sacrifice for their community by serving others. "Every step toward a goal requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

My father is a first-generation Federal Law Enforcement Officer (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) and college graduate. He put himself through college without any scholarships and that is something I am and always will be very proud of. It takes an exceptional, selfless person to put their life on the line for people who don’t respect the badge nowadays. Every single day I fear for my father knowing that there are people out there who are putting targets on their backs because of the badge on their chest. It is terrifying to know that there is a possibility that he won't come home when his shifts are over. Growing up, my dad has always been my best friend. He played catch with me, and even volunteered to coach in all the activities that I was involved in. He helped me practice before games and took me for ice cream when the games didn’t go well. He gave me pep talks when I was feeling down and always reminded me that a bad day didn’t mean a bad life, he taught me and my team-mates that losing was part of life and it was a matter of how we bounced back the next game and the attitude that we displayed. He is one of the most loving, wholehearted people I know. He always strived for me and my peers to be positive role models to the younger students as we got older and to try to give back to the community not financially but by volunteering our time for various events. Little did I know at the time but now that I am older I realize that volunteering our time would keep us occupied and off the streets and reduce the chances of us getting into trouble. My father as a law enforcement officer has always instilled in me, my family, and my peers that respecting our law enforcement officers is tremendously important especially in the world that we live in today. Many citizens have no respect for our law enforcement and then situations escalate and further put everyone involved at risk of being badly hurt and could even escalate to death. My father also constantly volunteers in various church groups and retreats in which they help other members of the community from all walks of life both good and bad to seek a spiritual life. My dad has recently sponsored two of his high school classmates who took a road in life that led them to be incarcerated yet as a God-fearing individual and Federal Law Enforcement Officer he took the time to invite them to a church retreat and made a big impact on their lives that they have even recently gotten closer to the church and recently gotten employed. My father has also reached out to other law enforcement officers from the city, state, and federal levels and invited them into these church retreats. The results have been tremendously positive as they have been able to find a new brotherhood of spiritual brothers whom they can reach daily for guidance. I hope to one day continue in my father’s footsteps. This scholarship will help me in continuing the tradition that my father has started and motivate me to seek a bachelor's degree like my father's but take it even further and pursue getting into law school. My ultimate goal is to graduate from law school so that I too can help individuals who took a wrong turn in the road and help steer them back into law-abiding citizens just like my father has done.

My father is a US Border Patrol, and after looking up to him for years it never ceases to amaze me how he is a community leader in and out of uniform. More than a handful of times, my father has interfered and aided a potentially serious situation in my hometown of Brownsville, Texas off-duty. My favorite example is most recently a situation in which my father was driving back home from work at about 2 o’clock in the morning to then witness a man who was seemingly unconscious in his vehicle. Turned out the man was drunk and had passed out in his car. This incident could have lead to a serious crash that may have injured innocent lives. My father then proceeded to jump out of his car and run after the truck and open the door and regain control of the vehicle. The drunk man had awoken and taken off running as well which made the situation more dangerous and complicated. Single handedly he called emergency services to take control of the man as well as stop the moving vehicle which the drunk man had run out of. I can't imagine such bravery and awareness at 2 o’clock in the morning after already working a long 12 hour shift. It's makes me proud my dad will always step up and do the right thing regardless of what could be at stake. I hope to only achieve even half of the leader he is in our community. He took an oath to protect and provide for the Brownsville community as well as the valley, and he has lived up to that for over 20 years now as a US Border Patrol. In addition, on my way to University just two weeks ago, we drove past the RGV, visiting places my father worked in as a young agent. He told me many stories along the way of how he used to work in the very streets we were driving past. I was in shock to realize how many times he could’ve lost his life or been severely injured by his actions in his position. It made me grateful to see another side of him and his career that I had never been able to appreciate as much as I did most recently. Overall, this scholarship would help me achieve my educational goals by providing financial relief to my course costs. My educational goals stretch very far into the future as I hope to obtain my Ph.D. in Business Administration- Marketing. Therefore, I am in dire need of financial assistance to make this educational goal a reality for my future.

Living along the border has its challenges and they prove themselves every day. My father has served for the McAllen Border Patrol for twelve years, and he comes face to face with these challenges every day and no matter how hard these challenges prove themselves to be, he always overcomes them in order to protect our community. My father willingly makes a sacrifice daily to go out into the field and do all that he can and in his power to make sure that we will all be protected. At first, the thought of my father risking his life daily was very unsettling and I was filled with a sense of confusion and anger. Although it sounds selfish, I soon realized that my dad was in fact helping more people than I had realized, and I had soon come to terms with the fact that this was going to be his job. Terrible items come across the river constantly and some fail to realize how dangerous this can be and the risks that come with it. I am proud that my father has the courage that many people do not, and he is not afraid to stand up and protect the people of his community and most importantly his family. This scholarship hits remarkably close to home and I am thankful that I have an opportunity to be able to apply for such an amazing cause and program. Although my career will differ from my father's, I still hope to use this scholarship to my advantage in pursuing my degree in education. I aspire to become an educator due to the fact that I want to give back to my community in a separate way than my father, but I still hope to make an impact as major as him. I love the idea of helping people and bringing out the best in people no matter how difficult a challenge it may be, because I love a challenge as well and I will rarely ever back down from one. This scholarship would help me in more ways than one and I can only hope to use it to my advantage, especially because I know how hard my father works day in and day out and without a doubt, he makes a difference in not only our community everyday but also in my life as well. No matter how hard life may get, my father has taught me to remain strong and keep on moving forward which will remain a life lesson I will forever cherish and use to my advantage.

Since I was a little girl, my father has always been an inspiration to me. He never made me feel like there was something I couldn’t do. He was my biggest supporter and my superhero, and I always felt safe knowing I had my dad with me. However, it wasn’t just me who felt this way. My dad has impacted the lives of so many people. Being in law enforcement is never an easy job. It’s filled with difficult decisions, long hard hours, as well as being placed in dangerous situations. My dad understands the grueling demands of his job, and yet I have never heard him complain. My dad has helped build a sense of trust and safety within our community by helping enforce laws meant to protect us. He cooperates with other agencies in the valley by building positive relationships between them and uses that to more effectively guarantee us a safer community. My dad has spent countless hours giving back to our community and attending various events for different causes. One particular instance is when he helped collect Christmas gifts to give to children in headstart programs. He has always given my brothers and me everything we could ever need, and he wants to make sure that can do the same for other children not as fortunate as us. He strongly believes that those in need deserve compassion and humane treatment. Not only has my dad helped the community, but he’s helped guide the people who will soon be leading his organization. Since he is in a leadership position in his workplace, he mentors those who may be in the same position one day. He teaches them how to lead, how to have better decision-making skills, and most importantly, how to do their job effectively. My dad is extremely dedicated to the work he does, and when he retires he wants to ensure that the same work is done properly. This scholarship will help me in pursuing my higher education because since I want to pursue medical school, everything starts to get more expensive. The textbooks, the homework access codes, the food, etc. Especially in the state that our economy is in right now, I’m not in a great position to be spending so much money on things I need for school. I commute between my house and my campus dorm every weekend, which also costs a lot of money since the prices of gas haven't gone under three dollars in quite a while. This scholarship would help relieve the great financial burden of having to spend 8 years or more in school. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

My dad is currently a Consumer Safety Officer with the Food and Drug Administration, located in Pharr, Texas. He has worked for the government for 22 years, and his job requires him to enforce and obtain voluntary compliance with laws and regulations protecting consumers from products that are harmful, improperly labeled, or in some other way dangerous. The products that come under their jurisdiction are numerous and varied. They include foods, drugs, therapeutic devices, cosmetics, toys and equipment used by children, and hazardous substances. During this time my dad has received extensive training on the job, and in the classroom, and has completed his assigned ORA-U training curriculum. He has conducted and participated in violative inspection, field examinations, consumer complaints, recalls, domestic and import sample collections, special details, import investigations, filer evaluations, training to other new hires, and providing technical assistance to the import community. As a Consumer Safety Officer (CSO), he is responsible for conducting inspections and investigations in an industry regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and submitting written computer-generated reports accompanied by supporting evidence documenting violations of the laws we enforce. He routinely examines products covering six primary areas: pharmaceuticals, medical devices, human and animal foods, biologics, bioresearch monitoring, and imports to ensure compliance with U.S. law. My dad has made a difference in the community because he is responsible for the protection of public health. He makes sure that not only the foods we eat are safe for consumption but other products such as cosmetics and medical devices we use are sterile and safe. Without him performing his duties in the FDA, companies could potentially sell harmful products, drugs, and goods to the public, and for this reason, I have always admired my father for I know the crucial role he plays in the health and wellbeing of others. One of my life goals is to graduate from UT Austin and apply to a physician assistant program to one day become a pediatric physician assistant. I strongly believe that this scholarship would help me tremendously in accomplishing my goal and becoming the person I have always wanted to be. I've always loved working with kids and from a young age, I knew that wherever life was going to take me, it was going to involve working with children. Since I love traveling and helping others I would like to begin my career as a traveling PA, to see other parts of the world and gain a better understanding of different cultures. I also realize that so many families from the valley can't afford primary health care and many are too scared to reach out to doctors. So, when I decide to settle down I would love to possibly go back to school and open my own office right here in the valley where I can support my community and bring all the knowledge and experience I gained thanks to this scholarship to my hometown. This scholarship would help me complete the amount of schooling needed to become a physician assistant which is a bachelor's, master's, and eventual PA program. I have a long road ahead of me but with the guidance of my professors, and support from Mcallen Emergency Room, I am determined to make my childhood dreams a reality.

When I was little I always believed that my father was making changes in my community and that he was the hero that everyone needed, especially the hero that I needed. My dad currently works for the US Border Patrol and has been working there for decades and has always had the motivation and drive to make my community and country a safe place for me and my siblings to grow up and hopefully in the future have families of our own in this wonderful country. Obviously, now as I grow up I start to learn more about my father's job and its purpose of it, I realized how much of a drastic change and impact he has in our community and country by keeping it safe from danger, he protects our borders in dangerous environments and against very dangerous people who want to harm my home and others. My father has always been my role model because of the career that he has chosen for himself and especially his sheer determination to go every day take night shifts, day shifts, and even work overtime to ensure that our borders are safe without any drugs, weapons or people crossing illegally into our community. This being said, my dad has made many sacrifices to ensure our community is clean and safe from any danger by even sacrificing family time by going to work even on weekends. I have an enormous amount of respect for my father not only because he goes into danger almost every day and night for work but because he goes so that he can ensure the safety of our community and country, keeping other people safe as well. My father has told me many stories of his job and what he does, how he has saved many lives both of people born in our community and those who crossed illegally, and stories of the dangerous things that he has captured that were trying to cross our borders and were going to bring terrible harm to my community, ever since he told me his stories and what he does it has brought nothing more but respect to him and has been my motivation to continue and pursue higher education so that I as well can help my community. He will always be a hero in my heart and as well to other first responders who do the exact same sacrifices and work to help their communities in any way. This scholarship will help me pursue my dreams and goals in higher education by assisting me and my family financially. This scholarship will help me take another step toward my goals and aspirations in the future and possible career.

Clink! Clank! Clink! Clank! I felt the pressure of a thousand elephants release from my chest. I could feel the air gradually return to my lungs. Everyday I am a slave. I am a slave to my own fear. A fear that today was going to be the last day I would lay eyes upon my father. My lungs are against me. They take a paralyzed state, and they don't release until the sound of my dad's keys touch my ear. Daily, my father wakes up and choses to risk his life to protect the citizens within our country. I personally would rather him choose a profession that isn't so demanding or dangerous, but he takes pride in knowing he’s keeping us safe. Ideally, when the phrase “First Responder” is mentioned, we as a society only envision the three main professions ( Firefighters, Medical Professionals, and Police Officers), but there are so many other occupations that still have yet to be recognized by our community. My dad started his journey in helping others as a member of The United States Marine Corps. He later transitioned into The United States Border Patrol after his tour in Iraq. Unfortunately, being a Border Patrol Agent isn't a celebrated profession in the United States. Instead of being praised, they are looked down upon because they are streamlined as the government’s messengers who strip immigrants of their dreams. The media doesn’t advertise the triumphs these brave Men and Women have accomplished. The stigma against The U.S Customs and Border Protection Agency needs to change. My Dad and his colleagues have gone through great lengths and have taken extraordinary risks to make our country safer. He has repeatedly seized narcotics and stimulants that range anywhere from Fentanyl and Cocaine to Marijana. Statistically Border Patrol Agents seize approximately 2.2 million pounds of Marijana and 5,900 pounds of Cocaine along the Southwest border annually. In addition to getting drugs off the streets, my dad also tries to mitigate the amount of human and sex traffickers that pass along the Southern border. I admire the amount of commitment my dad has towards his job because he truly does get to save lives both inadvertently and consciously. Moreover, though I know my dad enjoys his job, I know he is always posed with an underlying sense of instability which stems from his lack of a college degree. Because I’ve seen his worry first hand, I plan to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science from Texas A & M’s School of Engineering. I believe being awarded this scholarship will help bridge the financial gap that is currently making it difficult to focus solely on my studies. Presently, I work part time to financially support myself, but having a supplemental source of income will make the world of a difference. I’d be able to comfortably lessen the amount of hours I worked, which in turn would result in better academic performances. Earning my degree will not only give me the opportunity to support my siblings financially during their college education process, but It will also free me from the lingering thought of instability.

Both of my parents have done so much for the community. Both of them were essential workers during the pandemic, risking their lives for the safety and wellness of others. While they made sure we were learning at home, my mom worked most of her mornings to the afternoon at H-E-B, ensuring the best customer experience. She had done work in the pharmacy, so she was there to make sure everyone was vaccinated, and healthy. My dad works for the border patrol. He already ensures safety for the US, but now he’s been doing a lot more. He has also been an instructor for his classes, and has always been an exemplary student, even though he's in his forties. My dad also has something to do when he retires. Due to his new drone training. He can continue to his job, and spend time with us, like he’s always wanted to. He usually couldn’t see us through the day because he worked at night, and had to sleep during the day. Even Though my parents help out a lot in the community of South Texas, we still don't make a lot of money. We want to make sure I can get into college without needing to pay so much, because we don’t have a lot to give, but I can give back by developing more skill at college. I want to use my skills in art to bring awareness and hope to South Texas, and make a change or the better. Through art, I want to hit topics such as mental health, disorders, economic issues, and more. Another thing I want to do is support local businesses. With Texas having such large communities within the state, there are so many local businesses, and each is unique. Such as two different coffee shops that sell different coffees, each tasting different. One has such wide options, the other doesn’t have as much. I want to be able to get involved and help support their products, and help get them more known, since one is hidden between trees, and the other blends in with the buildings. Small local businesses need to be heard, and I want to help with that voice. Beyond that, I want to be able to help change the world, through the from of art. I can tackle global issues, and brig awareness to big things, such as global warming, pollution, and violence. I know that I have the skill, and time to help make the world a better place.

My father has been making a difference in my community of Mission, Texas for as long as I can remember. He has worn his badge with pride, integrity and honor. As a United States Border Patrol Agent he has managed to work along the southern border of Texas and keep not only my community, but several communities within the Rio Grande Valley a safer place to live. Anyone that knows a first responder, knows that they don’t have “ideal” schedules. Our family has made many sacrifices to accommodate when he has days off. There have been times when we have had to celebrate a birthday or holiday a little early because he was going to have to work. Nevertheless, I am proud of my dad and the sacrifices we have made because I know people are depending on him to keep the valley safe. My father has dedicated his life to serving the people of the United States through his work as well as several community service projects. As a parishioner of Saint Paul's Catholic Church in Mission, my father has also volunteered numerous days and hours to assist the church with community projects, fundraising, church events and security. I can clearly say my father has been an integral part of making my community a safer place to live. My dad has been a role model throughout my life teaching me how important it is to serve others. For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be an attorney and help those who need advocating. However, when I began high school, I decided to try an Agriculture pathway because I wanted to participate in FFA and show an animal. Throughout my four years in high school, I gained so much knowledge about the agriculture industry and became passionate about advocating for farmers and ranchers. With that said, I have chosen to attend Texas Tech University, as they not only have an amazing Agriculture program, but also one of the best law schools in Texas. I plan to pursue my Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, and then hope to be admitted into their Law School. I would like to return to my hometown and advocate for people in the Agriculture industry. As the daughter of two hard working parents, we unfortunately do not qualify for financial aid. My degree choice is not offered locally, thus posing an additional financial burden due to room and board. Additionally, my sister is in her second year at UTRGV, and my parents are supporting her financially as well. Receiving the McAllen Emergency Room Student Scholarship would be a blessing to my family. Your contribution will allow me to continue to focus on my academic goals and make my dreams into a reality.

My parents have made very large scale differences in our community.When I look throughout my life I think of many specific moments where they showed up for a community. The time I am currently thinking of is when my family and I went to the downtown and went to help provide food and shelter to those with housing deficiencies. We bought hotdogs, burgers, basically all the supplies that we needed. It wasn't my first time being in Detroit, but it was my first time assisting my family in feeding the homeless so I was a bit scared. It lasted from at least 7 in the morning to around 1 PM. So hopefully that can provide a better description of how much supplies we bought. And seeing the people that needed our assistance I was completely shocked. I mean having a good life such as my own and seeing in person how many people truly appreciate the assistance was baffling. Compared to seeing it on tv and being able to somehow ignore it. The one moment that truly had been broken down in tears was when an older woman who seemed to be a Grandmother asked very politely if she could have a few bagged lunches for her Grandchildren. And my mother gave them to her without hesitation and with a few extra waters in case she was thirsty. At first I thought it was really cool but then didn't think much of it like many others do. But man, driving off after we finished providing all of our supplies and seeing her and her grandchildren eating the food that we created we all were crying while driving off. It's things like that that truly have opened my eyes to how many people are and have been homeless and how I can help provide them with anything they need. Since then all those years ago I have constantly dedicated myself to helping my community by providing food for the shelters, routinely providing more food and shelter to people during the colder months. Which in Michigan are absolutely horrendous. And even providing food to my school. Its just saddining how many people are out there and need assistance. And even more so how many people are completely oblivious and even worse, just truly don't care at all! I would wish nothing more than to eradicate homelessness and hunger and I would be extremely grateful to receive this scholarship to help that dream come true. Thank you for reading and have a pleasant day. This scholarship will help me in creating more jobs and oppertunities for people of color like me.

I was not allowed to enter my parent’s room throughout the day when I was younger. My father would sleep in his closet during the day to make sure his three children would not disrupt him in his time of rest. He worked night shifts as a Border Patrol agent for the Rio Grande Valley, so it made logical sense to seclude himself for eight hours and reduce any noise possible from three, rowdy kids under ten years old. When it was not occupied, I remember seeing the blue mattress displayed with colorful balloons up against the wall. My father was always working, so I thought his green, bulky uniform was physically stuck to him. When I was about fourteen years old, he hit his twentieth year working as a first responder. I realized that he worked endlessly to provide for his family and protect the community. My father has made a difference in his community by keeping it safe from crimes or any type of wrongdoing. He has the power to engage and assist the public by saving lives and removing threats. The United States has recently experienced many school shootings. My father has the training and authority as a first responder to protect the innocent people put into those situations. As a law enforcement agent, he can communicate with local, state, and federal agencies to further assist in dangerous circumstances when needed. Every day, he sacrifices his life to put others first, and that is what a true hero does for his community. Other ways in which my father helps his community is by giving speaking presentations about the dangers of sex trafficking and narcotics trafficking in academic establishments. This includes K-12 education, as well as colleges and universities. He works in educating the public about these important and dangerous issues that hurt our region. By giving these presentations, he takes part in officially recruiting people at the college level to join law enforcement and the Border Patrol. Future Border Patrol agents can be aware of trafficking in the region and help combat it. This scholarship will help me in pursuing higher education by keeping me motivated and providing me with the needed resources to succeed. My father graduated with a degree in education and changed his career path to work in law enforcement. His profession has given my family a better life. Although my degree does not align with law enforcement, I admire what my father does. I know that I will always have my family’s support, and my father has shown me that I can accomplish what I want if I set my mind to it. This scholarship will aid me in accomplishing my goal to graduate from college. In the future university I hope to attend, and I want to use this honor to cover any textbook charges for my classes. Textbooks are expensive for any course, and some computer software programs for homework and assignments are highly-priced. If those two sections are satisfied, I want to use the scholarship money for any general expenses. Obtaining this scholarship will place me one step further in reaching my goal of becoming a college graduate.

My father has been a First Responder longer than I've been alive. His career began at the young age of 20yrs old with the United States Border Patrol. 5 years later, he transferred to being a U.S. Customs CBP Officer. Throughout his career he has volunteered and participated in many different roles within his work unit that allows him to participate in community outreach. Some of his volunteer work has consisted as serving as an Expert Judge in High School Criminal Justice competitions, as a guest speaker at recruiting events and job fairs, and fund raising for Feds Feed Families, injured coworkers, and elderly residents at several assisted living facilities. Being a CBP Officer is a huge responsibility and takes dedication despite the difficult circumstances at times. My dad has traveled numerous times across the country in order to fulfill his duties in maintaining a safe community. Every day he goes to work, is another day he puts his life at risk to ensure a safe community. As his daughter, I get to view how passionate he is about his job, and how he’s made many sacrifices to accomplish the Oath he swore to keep many years ago. This is the main reason my dad is my number one motivation to pursue a career I am passionate about, and to apply these skills towards my education. Being a CBP Officer requires dedication despite the difficult circumstances that require integrity, vigilance, and service to country. These are traits that I aspire to acquire for myself if I want to pursue a career in speech therapy/communication. Several years ago, my father showed me a special journal he keeps documenting special experiences or situations that have meant the most to him. Out of all the journal entries he documented, I noticed he was more descriptive and elaborate when he felt the most accomplished. One entry in particular, he wrote that he discovered a minor child being smuggled illegally and against her will and involved a large amount of money that the smugglers were demanding from the child’s family. In this entry, he wrote that the sense of gratification from stopping this smuggling attempt and the thrill and tears of joy when the child was reunited with her family was all worth the long shifts, missed birthdays, anniversaries, and many other special family events he’s missed due to the needs of his job. My father lives by the motto that if you are in a position to help another person, it is your responsibility to do so. Pursuing a career in speech therapy/communication will allow me to serve my community in a variety of roles. My father always advises my sibling and I, that there is no greater sense of accomplishment than knowing that your efforts made a positive impact on another person. Almost daily my father will tell my younger brother that if you try your best to do right unto others you will always be respected and admired for your efforts. Accepting this scholarship will help me by ensuring I successfully obtain my academic goals and live by my father’s actions. I would love assisting children in need and cure any impediments so they can have the equal amount of opportunities to succeed in the community and live a normal life.

My father has been a border patrol agent for over 20 years and I have learned to appreciate all that not only my father has done for me but as well as all other first responders and law enforcement do as well. My father has had to work during holidays, family events, and through tiresome days and nights. He has had to make many sacrifices such as staying multiple weeks from his family to have trainings in El Paso and even Virginia. As I write this essay he is actually staying in El Paso for 5 weeks for another K9 training. It has been difficult at times for both my family and me but we know that all he has done and will continue to do is making a difference in our community. He protects us from dangerous people, illegal trafficking of people and substances in not only our nearby communities but in our country as well. My father has dedicated a lot of time and effort into protecting our borders. About 6 years ago we actually relocated to where I am now living because of my father’s work. Even though there are a lot of sacrifices my father and family have had to make, it still has provided for many memories and opportunities for us. He has worked hard throughout the 20 plus years he has been a border patrol and is currently a border patrol driving instructor, a K9 instructor, and a K9 handler. I am very grateful for him and what he has done for us and that has made me more grateful towards other first responders, as they are doing the same for others all while making sacrifices for the people they care about. I am currently majoring in Kinesiology and plan on becoming a Physical Therapist. This scholarship would greatly help me in supporting me in furthering my education in order to make a difference in my community as my father has done in mine. This scholarship would also be a great motivation to keep pursuing my goals and that everything that I have done so far has been worth it. I would like to make a difference in my community wherever I go and help others in any way I can. Earning a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree is difficult but I know that with hard work I can achieve this goal. This scholarship as well will help push my goal to success and in helping others.

On May 5th, 2022 my father and his partner were dispatched to a possible DWI or medical emergency situation. He was told that there was someone driving erratically and that he needed to see what was happening. His partner arrived first at the scene and saw that the driver was shaking and appeared to be overdosing. The man suddenly became unresponsive and had no pulse so his partner removed the driver from his vehicle and started chest compressions. My father arrived and immediately sprang into action, administering four doses of Narcan before the medical professionals arrived, ultimately saving this man's life. Then EMS arrived and performed the proper medical procedures until the man became fully awake and responsive. His diligence and perseverance during such a stressful time is what inspires me to pursue a career in the medical field. This man unknowingly had heroin laced with fentanyl, which could have easily ended his life if they hadn't responded so fast. He not only saved a life but he also brought awareness to the community about how dangerous drugs can really be. This scholarship will aid me in paying for the many costs of my college and pre-med education. That day, my father performed amazing, lifesaving work, and I aspire to follow in his footsteps by becoming a medical professional. Medical school can be very costly and the expenses alone are enough to scare anyone away from this field. I hope that I can attain enough scholarships so that I am able to pursue this career path because without scholarships it would be very challenging. Being a doctor has been my dream since childhood, and I would hate to obtain an exceedingly large student debt. I know that in residency doctors are paid a humble salary, which would make it difficult to pay off student loans. My goal is to earn scholarships and work very hard to ensure that I am not going into debt during the beginning years of my career. I yearn to save and spend my money responsibly in adulthood, which would be demanding if I was completely focused on paying off my student debt. My parents have encouraged me to apply for many scholarships just like this one. The support they provide allows me to worry less about the financial side of college. They know with hard work and dedication I can accomplish my dreams of being a doctor.

For my whole life, my dad has been a police officer. He is not just my hero, but the city's hero as well. I have been taught lessons and been guided down the correct path based on what he has experienced throughout his 15 years at McAllen PD. I believe that I am the student I am today because of him. He has always acknowledged and solved the challenges of the community just the way he does at home, along with maintaining focus with the task at hand. I am so grateful that my dad is who he is because I don't know if I would be taking on the challenge of being a nursing major without him. He has always made me believe that I can do whatever I set my mind to and always said, "Nothing is impossible" whenever he saw me losing hope in things I would do; even if it was little things such as my third grade math homework. I believe I deserve this scholarship because it will help me achieve my future plans and long-term goals. By furthering my education in nursing, I can work towards my career goals in the medical field. I aim to make a difference in my community just the way my father does each day, and this scholarship will absolutely be the difference-maker when it comes to affording the education I need to do that and give back in the future.

First responders have chosen a difficult but important career.  They have chosen to serve their communities which in turn gives them a sense of pride. My dad, Eduardo, is a first responder.  He has been in law enforcement since 1993.  He was a police officer for six and a half years in Del Rio, Texas.  He was then hired by the U.S. Border Patrol and moved to the Rio Grande Valley, before I was born, where he is still employed with them. Growing up I would see my dad putting on his uniform, getting ready for work.  I remember trying on his vest and belt many times. As I got older and started to understand what law enforcement was and what my dad did, I became interested in law enforcement.   My dad talked a lot about a major flood that happened in Del Rio when he was a police officer.  Many did not take the warnings and did not leave their homes.  Night time is when the heavy rain started followed by the flooding.  My dad talks about being assigned alone that night and going to different areas helping people out of their homes, many were elderly.   Many times as first responders, the community expects you to act and help.  Sometimes that’s not possible.  That night, my dad said he saw a large family on top of the roof of their business screaming for help. He said they were completely surrounded by water and it was rising and he couldn’t get close to them because the flood water was raging between him and them.  He said he felt helpless and had to move to other areas as he told the that they were safer on top of the roof as he didn't have the resources to get them off.  My dad said that it was a long night and they were able to help many many people.  Unfortunately, several people drowned. As a Border Patrol Agent, he has been involved in catching drug smugglers.  We hear about drug seizures, but we might not necessarily think of that as helping the community, but I do believe that those seizures help the community.  Also, many times Border Patrol Agents are the first ones at vehicle accidents and begin to administer first aid.   My dad has also been involved as a community liaison with the Border Patrol.  He said that assignment was very satisfying as he was able to talk to thousands of elementary, middle school and high school students in Mercedes, Elsa, Weslaco, Donna, Alamo, San Juan and Pharr.  He spoke to them about drug awareness and talk to them about the negative consequences of being involved in drug and smuggling of persons illegally in the U.S.  He said he felt the biggest satisfaction when middle school and high school students would talk to him alone.We have had law enforcement talk at my schools and its hard to make students take their talks seriously, so I believe those presentations do help our communities if it keeps some students from breaking the law.   Though I had said I was interested in law enforcement, I still am, but I began to like the nursing field more. I like that I would be able to help people on a daily basis,  People come Drs. offices, clinic or hospitals for help and I would like to be there.  I lost both my grandmothers in 2020, which made me think a lot of the medical field and if I was granted this scholarship it would greatly assist me in becoming a RN.  Thank you for your consideration.

If you were to ask anyone from Mission Regional Medical Center about Mirthala Ramirez, they would tell you hiw amazing she is at her job as an emergency room nurse. My mother is a woman who I have looked up to since childhood. She has the ability to heal people even when they don't deserve it. There are times when we would walk onto our local grocery store and she would be recognized by one of her previous patients. She has been idolized by many, including doctors and nurses, and has been called an angel by many of her patients. Mirthala Ramirez is a nurse who takes charge and will give everything she has to each patient that walks through the hospital doors in order to tell their loved ones that she did everything in her power to help them. She is my version of Wonder Woman who I wouldn't trade for the world. This scholarship will allow for me to pay off the only student loan that I qualified for. I was given a scholarship for $4,000, however my student loan is nearly $25,000. This scholarship would allow me to pay for college out of pocket instead of relying on a loan. I am intent on pursuing a bachelor's in Anthropology at Texas State University while also making it onto the dean's list. I am then going to pursue a masters in Forensic Psychology while working under an individual who can teach me the world of forensic anthropology. I have a dream goal of becoming a forensic anthropologist with a PHD as well as two masters degrees. I have big dreams that I want to accomplish, but I cannot proceed to do so unless I accomplish the first step. This scholarship will allow for me to begin my journey on becoming a forensic anthropologist. My mother is main inspiration for she went to college and became an ER nurse all whole having two children and four years later a third. She accomplished so much even when her odds were low, so I hope to accomplish my goals as she did and make her proud. I am an 18 year old young woman who grew up in a latin household while being bisexual. I have many odds stacked against me as some if my family is conservative, but I am still willing to fight for the dream that I consider my "American dream."

Everyone happens to have their own hero, well mine so happens to be my dad. As cheesy as that might sound, everything I have is because of the sacrifice and hard work my father has put in. He started working as a volunteer firefighter his senior year of high school. His interest soon turned into a passion and ever since then he has not wanted to walk away from from his career. As far back as I can remember, he has always loved to tell my brothers and I stories of his work shift from the day before. When we were younger however, this was not the case. He was working as a firefighter and a paramedic for most of my childhood. There were days when he would get home and the only time he would see my brothers and I was when we were asleep. I do not blame him for working those long shifts, he did everything he could to make sure that my mother, bothers, and I had a stable home. He then realized that he was missing many significant events from school but him being on shift did not stop him from trying to attend an event. I have a vivid memory of my first grade graduation where he picked me up from school in the ambulance to take me home. I knew he did it because he wanted to make it up to me since he knew I would get sad when my parents did not show up to my events. It was moments like those that made me realize my dad was my hero. In addition, not everyone can say that their dad goes into burning buildings because they enjoy it. As inflation has increased, society has been very difficult to live in. The price to live in this world has magnified which means that everything one does has to be budgeted. I knew that the price to attend school was going to be very expensive, but I had no idea how much it was actually going to be until I received my estimated billing cost for Houston Baptist University. This scholarship will allow me to pursue my education by paying one month's tuition. This will allow my parents and I to be less stressed about having enough to pay the month's due and allow us to save up for the upcoming month. As of right now, I have been working long shifts in order to gather as much money as I can to help my parents with my universities cost. There was a moment where I thought of not going to school because of how expensive it was. Being a first generation, I have always known that I wanted to continue my education and become someone that would make a difference in my community. As of right now I am going to school to become a nurse; however, this is not where I want to stop. My goal is to become an Anesthesiologist. With this in mind, all of the money that is going into my education will be given back in order to help my community. Nothing given to me is going unnoticed and everything will be soon given back.