Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. For me to become the professor I want to be, these experiences are necessary to increase my knowledge of Spanish language, literature, and culture. In connection to the HIV/AIDs movement, it's important students gain a global understanding of these issues. Studying abroad in Oaxaca and Ensenada, Mexico, this past summer provided me with valuable experiences in my area of study, Hispanic Studies and Poltical Science. I specifically chose Mexico as my host country to reconnect with my motherland as many Mexican immigrants, like my parents, flee the country amid their childhood education. In a way, I want to reclaim an experience that they lost. I had thought that studying abroad was unobtainable for a first-generation Latino student as I did not have the resources or role models to prove that it was possible. It wasn’t until I found out Mrs.McConnell had just received her master’s at the University of Salamanca in Spain at 58 years old. Her biggest piece of advice to me was saying to me that “studying abroad can be for everyone regardless of ethnicity, income, or age.” While I was there, I connected with local students, some of which were part of the LGBTQ community and I was able to communicate and understand this foreign community more closely because of our shared identities. Oaxaca City being on the more safe places to be LGBTQ in comparison to the rest of Mexico because of its rapid growth in liberal youth and being a strong tourist attraction. Since my family is from a more rural part, being bisexual in Zacatecas is much more dangerous than in Oaxaca City but danger does exist everywhere. The future I'd like to work towards is one where I support international education in being more accessible to young Latino students so that they can have similar experiences as I have. While there, I took a Feminist Mexican Literature course which was critical to my studies as learning the struggles of Mexican Women in different regions through the written word helped me again to have a more global understanding of the Mexican identity and the Mexican experience as someone who is from a sort of outside, first generation Mexican American. Although I come from a Mexican background, I'm neither Mexican enough nor fully "American" in the eyes of both sides of the border.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. Coming from a low-income, mixed status immigrant family, I want to be able to have the opportunity to study abroad a semester in my parents' home country. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. This scholarship would help me with my dream of studying abroad a semester at UNAM, Mexico City and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. As a Spanish major, I noticed a lack of courses that focussed on Mexican-U.S. Relations, especially through a more contemporary view. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. This scholarship would help me focus on the direction I want to explore with my major. I plan to take Spanish courses at UNAM and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. As a Spanish major, I noticed a lack of courses that focussed on Mexican-U.S. Relations, especially through a more contemporary view. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. This scholarship would help me focus on the direction I want to explore with my major. I plan to take Spanish courses at UNAM and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. As a Spanish major, I noticed a lack of courses that focussed on Mexican-U.S. Relations, especially through a more contemporary view. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. This scholarship would help me focus on the direction I want to explore with my major. I plan to take Spanish courses at UNAM and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I would like to apply for a semester program but I first am trying to pay off my student loans so that I can save my money to apply for a semester program and gain more scholarships. I’d like to contribute to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca through government grants. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. I come from a low-income, mixed-status immigrant family in Southern California. I grew up working with my dad in landscaping, cutting down trees, laying irrigation systems, and more. My family was disappointed initially when I decided to do a Spanish major, but I wanted to study this because noticed a lack of courses that focussed on Mexican-U.S. Relations, especially through a more contemporary view. I also wanted to preserve the power of the language because "language is gold" as described by Pablo Neruda. Representation in education is important and I think that is something Jose Prado would have agreed with.To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. This scholarship would help me focus on the direction I want to explore with my major. I plan to take Spanish courses at UNAM and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. Although this quote comes from a Spanish writer, it has resonated with me strongly and motivates me to pursue higher education. I come from a low-income, mixed-status immigrant family in Southern California. I am passionate about my studies because I want to be able to make a change in my community in the future as a foreign service officer working in Mexico and later teaching at the university level in the county where I grew up, Riverside County in Souther California. I am proud of my background because it has taught me to be strong and I grew up working landscaping with my father.As a Spanish major, I noticed a lack of courses that focussed on Mexican-U.S. Relations, especially through a more contemporary view. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. This scholarship would help me focus on the direction I want to explore with my major. I plan to take Spanish courses at UNAM and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. As a Spanish major, I noticed a lack of courses that focussed on Mexican-U.S. Relations, especially through a more contemporary view. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. I come from a low-income, mixed-status immigrant family in Southern California. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. This scholarship would help me focus on the direction I want to explore with my major. I plan to take Spanish courses at UNAM and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. My dream is to read more, travel more, and know more as advised by Cervantes. I am passionate about this dream because I come from a low-income, mixed status, minority family but I don't see these as "limitations" but rather motivation for me to pursue this dream and go against what these label may imply about my identity. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. This scholarship would help me focus on the direction I want to explore with my major. I plan to take Spanish courses at UNAM and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. Reading more, traveling more, and knowing more is what success looks like to me. As an American citizen from a low-income, mixed-status family, I look at these "limitations" as motivation for me to succeed academically and live an international education. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. This scholarship would help me focus on the direction I want to explore with my major. I plan to take Spanish courses at UNAM and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. Reading more, exploring more, and knowing more is exactly why I want to pursue college. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. Being a first-generation student studying in the area of humanities and doing so successfully and internationally is important to me as I come from a mixed-status and low-income background. I don't want to see myself as limited because of that and I want to show the value of the Spanish language and international relations. This scholarship would help me focus on the direction I want to explore with my major. I plan to take Spanish courses at UNAM and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. Coming from a family of immigrants and a mixed-status family has been difficult. When I attended a HACU Conference in Chicago last year, I received a text from my mother saying "Yo viajo através de ti" (I travel through you). This text made me realize the privilege that I have to able to freely travel not just nationally but internationally through my education. I sometimes think that I am too selfish when I say "I want to study abroad" because I come from a low-income background and I also don't want my parents to think I'm leaving them. In my culture it's common and I experienced that when I first entered college because my dad needed help with landscaping and I couldn't help him. However, I was able to speak with an advisor and make my schedule more flexible. I now plan to take courses abroad at UNAM and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. Don Quixote is one of the most globally recognized piece of Spanish Literature that exists and it tackles many topics such as justice, faith, discrimination, and more. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. This scholarship would help me focus on the direction I want to explore with my major. I plan to take Spanish courses at UNAM and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. As a Spanish major, I noticed a lack of courses that focussed on Mexican-U.S. Relations, especially through a more contemporary view. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. This scholarship would help me focus on the direction I want to explore with my major. I plan to take Spanish courses at UNAM and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. As a Spanish major, I noticed a lack of courses that focussed on Mexican-U.S. Relations, especially through a more contemporary view. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. As a bisexual student coming from a Latino background, it has been difficult to study my field through new perspectives especially when most of my political science professors are elderly white men. I've also faced challenges with my family accepting my identity and it has for the most part been ignored. However, I have had a much larger freedom of expression as a college student than I ever was during high school. Being closeted in high school made it harder to accept my identity. Now thatin college, I've connected with other students and faculty who come from similar backgrounds which is inspiring. This scholarship would help me focus on the direction I want to explore with my major. I plan to take Spanish courses at UNAM and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. As a Spanish major, I noticed a lack of courses that focussed on Mexican-U.S. Relations, especially through a more contemporary view. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. This scholarship would help me focus on the direction I want to explore with my major. I plan to take Spanish courses at UNAM and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. As a Spanish major, I noticed a lack of courses that focussed on Mexican-U.S. Relations, especially through a more contemporary view. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. This scholarship would help me focus on the direction I want to explore with my major. I plan to take Spanish courses at UNAM and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous Catholic writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. As a Spanish major, I noticed a lack of courses that focussed on Mexican-U.S. Relations, especially through a more contemporary view. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving and giving to the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. While working for the chamber, we constantly partnered with local churches to reach out to those underserved communities. As someone from a Catholic and bilingual background, I used my second language (Spanish) and the language of God (love) to connect with struggling families and point them towards resources such as medicare, food pantries, and low-cost legal firms to help them with their needs. I learned more about social sustainability last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. The city of Ensenada and Tijuana are both heavily impacted by poverty and I was able to study economic and social factors that affect the environment in these areas. This scholarship would help me focus on my studies and to support an International community. I plan to study abroad again at UNAM (The Number #1 Public University in Mexico) and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. This strong faith is what my parents passed on to me.Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I also plan to work in internationally, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish and I was connected with students easily because our shared Catholic faith. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor and because of religious symbols of migrants such as Our Lady of Guadalupe and the martyr Toribio. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning, giving, traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. As a Spanish major, I noticed a lack of courses that focussed on Mexican-U.S. Relations, especially through a more contemporary view. To become the student, researcher, foreign service officer, and professor that I want to be, it is crucial to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional student path. This scholarship would help fund my studies at UCR to graduate with a degree in Spanish Literature and double major in International Affairs. I am applying because I have a commitment to serving the Inland Empire of Southern California. I worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Interpreter facilitating resources to support human health and economic justice, while witnessing firsthand the impact of lawmakers, growing capitalism, and consumerism. I learned more about this last summer through the Student Leadership Institute for Sustainability in Ensenada, Mexico, through CETYS University giving me a more global perspective on these issues. This scholarship would help me focus on the direction I want to explore with my major. I plan to take Spanish courses at UNAM and be able to bring what I have learned there and apply it to future teachings as a professor. I’d be contributing to creating more diverse curriculums so students who can’t study abroad can have the choice to learn about these topics. I have visited parts of Mexico like Baja California, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. I noticed how the ways of living differ: Tijuana, a border city, is busy and the influence of the US is very apparent, Nochistlan is more rural and grounded by Catholicism. Politically, Mexico City is neo-liberal, being influenced by the life and activism of the US. This is important because as I plan to work in foreign services, I can utilize my experiences to adapt in different atmospheres. Last summer, I studied Mexican Literature at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. These experiences furthered my Spanish skills as well as prepared me to inspire students to study abroad as a current member of the Highlander Abroad Fund Committee. As a Spanish tutor for the Academic Resource Center, I tutor others who struggle to understand the language. Interning for the Latin American Research Center at UCR, I assist in research, analyzing the labor conditions of the Mexican migrant population in the IE, a survey done by UCR with UNAM. This is important to me as I grew up and experienced landscaping with my father so I know the importance of migrant labor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my interests while giving back to my community. Having the support of the scholarship would assist me in increasing my experience of learning and traveling, becoming someone who knows more as advised by the great Miguel de Cervantes in El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha.

As a Spanish major and tutor on campus, I have taken a strong interest in using online platforms such as applications, music, film, mobile games, and social media as a form of language learning. I have integrated these resources not just into my own learning but as part of the tutorial process when working with tutees. Some students struggle with engagement in their Spanish classes and in order to promote cognitive thinking, I have found that they have really enjoyed applications such as Lirica and FluentU which use Spanish music to teach the language. The music stops in certain lines and asks questions such as vocabulary, verb conjugation, regional dialect, and more. Since I go to a University in Southern California, many students have a familiarity with Latino culture and the Spanish language. By recommending applications on their phone, they are able to use technology to better increase their own knowledge. Conjugato is another app my tutees have used as it focuses on the conjugation of verbs, a tricky subject for beginners learning Spanish. I have recently unfollowed many accounts on my own social media which I felt only gave me instant temporary gratification. Now, I follow several pages that focus on Spanish language learning and I have noticed that by flooding my 'for you' algorithm with this area of interest, I am starting to learn and proactively note important facts that support my studies as a Spanish language student and current tutor. This scholarship will support me with my studies as I plan to study abroad at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), one of the most prestigious universities in Latin America. This experience will prepare me to become the professor that I hope to be in the future with a focus on international education and Spanish language studies. The use technology is something that I am interested in researching as that is the future of foreign language studies. I don't belive that translators or AI will ever be able to replicate the Spanish language as it varies a lot from Spain, Mexico, Central and South America. It is through technology that we can show how Spanish is spoken and what is most appropriate to say within a given community. It is up to the future Spanish professors to collective create a database or application which can teach these varieties efficiently as one Spanish Professor may talk differently than another and therefore teach differently.

I first played Minecraft on my older brother's Playstation 3 and back then, the only way to play co-op was to purchase an HDMI cable. It wasn't until several months after the game was purchased that my brother finally went to GameStop and bought an HDMI cable. From there, we constantly played Minecraft in multiplayer. Sometimes I'd get to play with his friends as well but for the most part we always enjoyed playing just us (mostly because neither of us could create a world that would last with our other brother). My favorite aspect of the game would be the ability to create a new world and start new adventures and discover new 'seeds' which are designs of worlds. The best part of Minecraft is that even if you stop playing, you can just create a new world with new opportunities and creative ways to create new structures. I also think that the reason I believe this is because I always create new worlds with my older brother to this day every now and then and we enjoy seeing new worlds and ways to create buildings out of the new blocks. The ability to create based off your surroundings is a vital skill and not only applies to Minecraft but the real world as well. Adapting, especially how I am in college, is an extremely important skill and the world-building in Minecraft does that very well.

Growing up as a low-income Latino in Southern California. Our family did not have easy access to the newest Nintendo video games and consoles. Actually, our consoles were the Nintendo 64 (which was outdated by then) that my father bought at a yard sale and a Gameboy Advanced my dad found on the sidewalk during a rainy day with a copy of Pokémon Blue. My favorite game to play in co-op mode was WWF No Mercy. A pro wrestling game that I constantly would play with my older brother (we still play Ladder Matches to this day to settle arguments). We had a love for playing this game and although it had a corrupt save file, we would continuously create our characters and add our own unique movesets again and again. We'd even play Survival which was a Royal Rumble game mode that would unlock new characters after taking them out the ring. We'd keep playing to unlock characters like Andre the Giant, Shawn Michaels. and more. One moment that solidified its place was when I played a ladder match against my brother using our favorite wrestlers with me as Buh-Buh Ray Dudley and him as Jeff Hardy, I ended up losing after getting 'Swanton Bombed' several times in the ring. Wrestling itself and Lucha Libre have become a big part of my life because of that Nintendo game and I still go to some events and am even considering writing a paper on the art and history of Lucha Libre.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. This translates to “Those who read and travel a lot, see and know a lot”. For me to become the professor I want to be, these experiences are necessary to increase my knowledge of Spanish language, literature, and culture. Recently, I studied abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico, through ARCOS, which has provided me with valuable experiences that have impacted my views. I had a lovely teacher who was a role model for me, Mrs.McConnell. She showed me there is a career in Spanish and motivated me to study my passion and helped me improve my writing and reading skills. Before going into higher education, I plan on working in Public Relations as I previously worked for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce and saw the importance of communication in the community. As an interpreter, I facilitated vital information on health and financial literacy to areas within the Riverside and San Bernardino Counties to Spanish-speaking communities that did not have easy access to. This showed me the importance of working in the local community. I am choosing got study in Mexico to reconnect with my motherland as many Mexican immigrants, like my parents, flee the country amid their childhood education. In a way, I want to reclaim an experience that they lost. I also believe an UNAM education would help to better understand the Mexican community. When I found out Mrs.McConnell had received her master’s at the University of Salamanca in Spain at 58 years old. This showed me studying abroad can be for everyone regardless of ethnicity, income, or age. I am now planning on studying abroad at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and this would feed my long-term goal of becoming a Professor in Hispanic Studies and ability to participate in relevant research that can help my community. Living in California, I see the potential of the Spanish language and how quickly its importance in daily life. I would like to contribute to creating a more inclusive space not just for students but for the university I plan to work at in the future. I am academically prepared to be a scholar as my Spanish writing and critical thinking have greatly improved during my first two quarters of upper division Spanish composition courses at UCR. I believe receiving an education at the UNAM would strongly show how any Latino student can achieve an education in their country of heritage. I grew up working in landscaping with my father and using my bilingual skills and I still serve as a medium of communication for him today. I want to show other students the importance of the Spanish language and the bilingual brain. I also work as a Spanish tutor on campus at my university and have taken two Spanish certification exams and scored very well (SIELE B2 & Parrot ILR 3). Additionally, I work at the education abroad campus at my school and have been developing workshops to increase study abroad in Latin America. More recently, I started working as an intern for the Latino and Latin American Studies Research Center on Campus and have assisted in strong research projects with the Mexican Consulate. I plan to promote study abroad opportunities for other first-generation minorities in my community and my long-term goal is to become a professor and obtain a Doctorate's in Hispanic Studies to prove to my community that they can achieve what was previously seen as unrealistic.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. This translates to “Those who read and travel a lot, see and know a lot”. For me to become the professor I want to be, these experiences are necessary to increase my knowledge of Spanish language, literature, and culture. Recently, I studied abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico, through ARCOS, which has provided me with valuable experiences that have impacted my views. I had a lovely teacher who was a role model for me, Mrs.McConnell. She showed me there is a career in Spanish and motivated me to study my passion and helped me improve my writing and reading skills. As a first generation student, the idea of studying abroad seemed impossible to me, especially as a Latino who still helps his dad on Sundays with landscaping. However, thanks to the UC-Alianza MX grant and the Gilman Scholarship that I received, I was able to study in Oaxaca taking Mexican literature courses at no cost. I chose to apply to study in Mexico again to reconnect with my motherland as many Mexican immigrants, like my parents, flee the country amid their childhood education. In a way, I want to reclaim an experience that they lost. When I found out Mrs.McConnell had just received her master’s at the University of Salamanca in Spain at 58 years old. This showed me that studying abroad can be for everyone regardless of ethnicity, income, or age. I am now planning on studying abroad at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and this would feed into my long-term goal of becoming a Professor in Hispanic Studies and ability to participate in relevant research that can help my community. Living in California, I see the potential of the Spanish language and how quickly its importance in daily life. I would like to contribute to creating a more inclusive space not just for students but for the university I plan to work at in the future. I am academically prepared to be a scholar as my Spanish writing and critical thinking have greatly improved during my first two quarters of upper division Spanish composition courses at UCR. I believe receiving an education at the UNAM would strongly show how any Latino student can achieve an education in their country of heritage. I grew up working in landscaping with my father and using my bilingual skills and I still serve as a medium of communication for him today. I want to show other students the importance of the Spanish language and the bilingual brain. My previous work experience includes working as a Spanish Interpreter for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce which improve my social and Spanish speaking skills greatly. I also work as a Spanish tutor on campus at my university and have taken two Spanish certification exams and scored very well (SIELE B2 & Parrot ILR 3). Additionally, I work at the education abroad campus at my school and have been developing workshops to increase study abroad in Latin America. More recently, I started working as an intern for the Latino and Latin American Studies Research Center on Campus and have assisted in strong research projects with the Mexican Consulate. I plan to promote study abroad opportunities for other first-generation minorities in my community and my long-term goal is to become a professor and obtain a Doctorate's in Hispanic Studies to prove to my community that they can achieve what was previously seen as unrealistic.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. This translates to “Those who read and travel a lot, see and know a lot”. For me to become the professor I want to be, these experiences are necessary to increase my knowledge of Spanish language, literature, and culture. Recently, I studied abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico, through ARCOS, which has provided me with valuable experiences that have impacted my views. I had a lovely teacher who was a role model for me, Mrs.McConnell. She showed me there is a career in Spanish and motivated me to study my passion and helped me improve my writing and reading skills. I also learned that Spain was very bicultural due to the influence of islamic culture and this made me think about the possibilities of incorporating aspects of hispanic culture such as literature and film, into bilingual education in the Inland Empire. Since this area of the U.S. is already heavily populated with Hispanics, why not take advantage of that in our education system? I chose Mexico to reconnect with my motherland as many Mexican immigrants, like my parents, flee the country amid their childhood education. In a way, I want to reclaim an experience that they lost. When I found out Mrs.McConnell had just received her master’s at the University of Salamanca in Spain at 58 years old. This showed me that studying abroad can be for everyone regardless of ethnicity, income, or age. I am now planning on studying abroad at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and this would feed into my long-term goal of becoming a Professor in Hispanic Studies and ability to participate in relevant research that can help my community. Living in California, I see the potential of the Spanish language and how quickly its importance in daily life. I would like to contribute to creating a more inclusive space not just for students but for the university I plan to work at in the future. I am academically prepared to be a scholar as my Spanish writing and critical thinking have greatly improved during my first two quarters of upper division Spanish composition courses at UCR. I believe receiving an education at the UNAM would strongly show how any Latino student can achieve an education in their country of heritage. I grew up working in landscaping with my father and using my bilingual skills and I still serve as a medium of communication for him today. I want to show other students the importance of the Spanish language and the bilingual brain. My previous work experience includes working as a Spanish Interpreter for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce which improve my social and Spanish speaking skills greatly. I also work as a Spanish tutor on campus at my university and have taken two Spanish certification exams and scored very well (SIELE B2 & Parrot ILR 3). Additionally, I work at the education abroad campus at my school and have been developing workshops to increase study abroad in Latin America. More recently, I started working as an intern for the Latino and Latin American Studies Research Center on Campus and have assisted in strong research projects with the Mexican Consulate. I plan to promote study abroad opportunities for other first-generation minorities in my community and my long-term goal is to become a professor and obtain a Doctorate's in Hispanic Studies to prove to my community that they can achieve what was previously seen as unrealistic.

Spain’s most famous writer, Miguel de Cervantes, wrote in his book El ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, “El que lee mucho y anda mucho, ve mucho y sabe mucho”. This translates to “Those who read and travel a lot, see and know a lot”. For me to become the professor I want to be, these experiences are necessary to increase my knowledge of Spanish language, literature, and culture. Recently, I studied abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico, through ARCOS, which has provided me with valuable experiences that have impacted my education. I chose Oaxaca because the UABJO Faculty of Languages offered a variety of intensive Spanish electives, which mostly focus on Mexico. I have always loved literature and that interest grew with my AP Spanish Literature class in high school. I had a lovely teacher who was a role model for me, Mrs.McConnell. She showed me there is a career in Spanish and motivated me to study my passion and helped me improve my writing and reading skills. I also learned that Spain was very bicultural due to the great influence of islamic culture and this made me think about the possibilities of incorporating aspects of hispanic culture such as literature and film, into bilingual education in the Inland Empire. Since this area of the U.S. is already heavily populated with Hispanics, why not take advantage of that in our education system? I specifically chose Mexico as my host country to reconnect with my motherland as many Mexican immigrants, like my parents, flee the country amid their childhood education. In a way, I want to reclaim an experience that they lost. I had been looking into the ARCOS Oaxaca program but I thought that studying abroad was unobtainable for a first-generation Latino student as I did not have the resources or role models to prove that it was possible. It wasn’t until I found out Mrs.McConnell had just received her master’s at the University of Salamanca in Spain at 58 years old. This showed me that studying abroad can be for everyone regardless of ethnicity, income, or age. I am now planning on studying abroad at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and this would feed into my long-term goal of becoming a Professor in Hispanic Studies and ability to participate in relevant research that can help my community. Living in California, I see the potential of the Spanish language and how quickly its importance in daily life. I would like to contribute to creating a more inclusive space not just for students but for the university I plan to work at in the future. I am academically prepared to be a scholar as my Spanish writing and critical thinking have greatly improved during my first two quarters of upper division Spanish composition courses at UCR. I am prepared to compose high level papers for my courses in Mexico City and I am capable of creating conversations with other students and professors. My previous work experience includes working as a Spanish Interpreter for the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce which improve my social and Spanish speaking skills greatly. I also work as a Spanish tutor on campus at my university and have taken two Spanish certification exams and scored very well (SIELE B2 & Parrot ILR 3). Additionally, I work at the education abroad campus at my school and have been developing workshops to increase study abroad in Latin America. More recently, I started working as an intern for the Latino and Latin American Studies Research Center on Campus and have assisted in strong research projects with the Mexican Consulate.