One significant challenge I have overcome was the passing of my great grandmother, my Nana, during my freshman year of high school. I had a deep connection with my Nana because when I was with her, she would make all my problems go away. It was as if being bullied, and the feeling of being unloved and lonely never existed. We would always watch movies and bake together. When she passed away, I was devastated. and I couldn't focus in class and at home. I felt so lonely. I had emotional breakdowns and as a result, I started missing school, which impacted my grades, they started slipping. I didn't talk to anyone. I was sent to the principal's office because of arguments with the teachers. I overcame this grief with my mother's support. She took me to my great-grandmother’s gravesite and told me to talk to her and to let out what I had inside. The school’s psychologist was also instrumental in the improvement of my mental health. She taught me to express my emotions and not to hold them inside. I was doing so well but then the pandemic hit, the feelings of loneliness and despair intensified. But I held my head up high and persevered. I was determined to pass my classes and not let my emotions get the better of me. In the last four years, I have become mentally and emotionally stronger this experience motivated me to pursue a career in psychology. By doing so my goal is to assist celebrities in the music industry deal with stress and mental health issues. and to find solutions for them. As a psychologist, I have to be ready to make difficult decisions because they will not only impact my life but the lives of others. Mental health is important because to succeed I need to have a positive mindset. I attended a low-performing high school where over 95% of all students will be first-generation college students, just like me. Performing well academically has not been an easy task, especially when I am placed in overcrowded classes and there is no tutoring assistance. Fortunately, the school provided me with a laptop and a hotspot to access the internet to be able to do my classwork. Growing up, the academic support at home was non-existent. My dad only completed high school and as a single parent and only provider, he didn’t know nor the time to guide me and assist me with my academics. Even though I didn’t know much about college, I was certain I wanted to pursue higher education. I decided to take advantage of Cal-SOAP and UCLA-EAOP, two educational programs that seek to increase the academic and college preparation skills of disadvantaged students. I attended workshops on college requirements, post-secondary options, and financial aid. I receive one-on-one advice on the college application process. Thanks to these programs, I know I am not only a more competitive applicant, but I am also more confident in what I want to accomplish in terms of education and career. I want to be a role model for my sister, showing her that we can pursue higher education even if we don’t have the resources at home or school. Earning a college degree will allow me to have a better life. I want to buy a nice house for my family and me. I want to avoid making the same mistakes my dad made, not staying in school.

One significant challenge I have overcome was the passing of my great grandmother, my Nana, during my freshman year of high school. I had a deep connection with my Nana because when I was with her, she would make all my problems go away. It was as if being bullied, and the feeling of being unloved and lonely never existed. We would always watch movies and bake together. When she passed away, I was devastated. and I couldn't focus in class and at home. I felt so lonely. I had emotional breakdowns and as a result, I started missing school, which impacted my grades, they started slipping. I didn't talk to anyone. I was sent to the principal's office because of arguments with the teachers. I overcame this grief with my mother's support. She took me to my great-grandmother’s gravesite and told me to talk to her and to let out what I had inside. The school’s psychologist was also instrumental in the improvement of my mental health. She taught me to express my emotions and not to hold them inside. I was doing so well but then the pandemic hit, the feelings of loneliness and despair intensified. But I held my head up high and persevered. I was determined to pass my classes and not let my emotions get the better of me. In the last four years, I have become mentally and emotionally stronger this experience motivated me to pursue a career in psychology. By doing so my goal is to assist celebrities in the music industry deal with stress and mental health issues. and to find solutions for them. As a psychologist, I have to be ready to make difficult decisions because they will not only impact my life but the lives of others. Mental health is important because to succeed I need to have a positive mindset. I attend a low-performing high school where over 95% of all students will be first-generation college students, just like me. Performing well academically has not been an easy task, especially when I am placed in overcrowded classes and there is no tutoring assistance. Fortunately, the school provided me with a laptop and a hotspot to access the internet to be able to do my classwork. Growing up, the academic support at home was non-existent. My dad only completed high school and as a single parent and only provider, he didn’t know nor the time to guide me and assist me with my academics. Even though I didn’t know much about college, I was certain I wanted to pursue higher education. I decided to take advantage of Cal-SOAP and UCLA-EAOP, two educational programs that seek to increase the academic and college preparation skills of disadvantaged students. I attended workshops on college requirements, post-secondary options, and financial aid. I receive one-on-one advice on the college application process. Thanks to these programs, I know I am not only a more competitive applicant, but I am also more confident in what I want to accomplish in terms of education and career. I want to be a role model for my sister, showing her that we can pursue higher education even if we don’t have the resources at home or school. Earning a college degree will allow me to have a better life. I want to buy a nice house for my family and me. I want to avoid making the same mistakes my dad made, not staying in school.

One significant challenge I have overcome was the passing of my great grandmother, my Nana, during my freshman year of high school. I had a deep connection with my Nana because when I was with her, she would make all my problems go away. It was as if being bullied, and the feeling of being unloved and lonely never existed. We would always watch movies and bake together. When she passed away, I was devastated. and I couldn't focus in class and at home. I felt so lonely. I had emotional breakdowns and as a result, I started missing school, which impacted my grades, they started slipping. I didn't talk to anyone. I was sent to the principal's office because of arguments with the teachers. I overcame this grief with my mother's support. She took me to my great-grandmother’s gravesite and told me to talk to her and to let out what I had inside. The school’s psychologist was also instrumental in the improvement of my mental health. She taught me to express my emotions and not to hold them inside. I was doing so well but then the pandemic hit, the feelings of loneliness and despair intensified. But I held my head up high and persevered. I was determined to pass my classes and not let my emotions get the better of me. In the last four years, I have become mentally and emotionally stronger this experience motivated me to pursue a career in psychology. By doing so my goal is to assist celebrities in the music industry deal with stress and mental health issues. and to find solutions for them. As a psychologist, I have to be ready to make difficult decisions because they will not only impact my life but the lives of others. Mental health is important because to succeed I need to have a positive mindset.

One significant challenge I have overcome was the passing of my great grandmother, my Nana, during my freshman year of high school. I had a deep connection with my Nana because when I was with her, she would make all my problems go away. It was as if being bullied, and the feeling of being unloved and lonely never existed. We would always watch movies and bake together. When she passed away, I was devastated. and I couldn't focus in class and at home. I felt so lonely. I had emotional breakdowns and as a result, I started missing school, which impacted my grades, they started slipping. I didn't talk to anyone. I was sent to the principal's office because of arguments with the teachers. I overcame this grief with my mother's support. She took me to my great-grandmother’s gravesite and told me to talk to her and to let out what I had inside. The school’s psychologist was also instrumental in the improvement of my mental health. She taught me to express my emotions and not to hold them inside. I was doing so well but then the pandemic hit, the feelings of loneliness and despair intensified. But I held my head up high and persevered. I was determined to pass my classes and not let my emotions get the better of me. In the last four years, I have become mentally and emotionally stronger this experience motivated me to pursue a career in psychology. By doing so my goal is to assist celebrities in the music industry deal with stress and mental health issues. and to find solutions for them. As a psychologist, I have to be ready to make difficult decisions because they will not only impact my life but the lives of others. Mental health is important because to succeed I need to have a positive mindset.

One significant challenge I have overcome was the passing of my great grandmother, my Nana, during my freshman year of high school. I had a deep connection with my Nana because when I was with her, she would make all my problems go away. It was as if being bullied, and the feeling of being unloved and lonely never existed. We would always watch movies and bake together. When she passed away, I was devastated. and I couldn't focus in class and at home. I felt so lonely. I had emotional breakdowns and as a result, I started missing school, which impacted my grades, they started slipping. I didn't talk to anyone. I was sent to the principal's office because of arguments with the teachers. I overcame this grief with my mother's support. She took me to my great-grandmother’s gravesite and told me to talk to her and to let out what I had inside. The school’s psychologist was also instrumental in the improvement of my mental health. She taught me to express my emotions and not to hold them inside. I was doing so well but then the pandemic hit, the feelings of loneliness and despair intensified. But I held my head up high and persevered. I was determined to pass my classes and not let my emotions get the better of me. In the last four years, I have become mentally and emotionally stronger this experience motivated me to pursue a career in psychology. By doing so my goal is to assist celebrities in the music industry deal with stress and mental health issues. and to find solutions for them. As a psychologist, I have to be ready to make difficult decisions because they will not only impact my life but the lives of others. Mental health is important because to succeed I need to have a positive mindset.

Through my 3 years of participation in JROTC, I have not only gained leadership skills, but I have also had a positive impact on my peers. I initially joined JROTC because I knew their high expectations in terms of commitment and discipline would help me in other areas of my life. From the beginning, the sergeant noticed how I took initiative in completing tasks in a responsible and timely manner and soon selected me as a squad leader. In this position, I was responsible for teaching my peers to march, salute, and follow orders. I also exemplified the qualities of a good leader by promoting good posture, speaking clearly, and making eye contact. This year I was promoted to First Sergeant, the commander's assistant, and as such, I am in charge of finding solutions for areas of growth. That includes not knowing how to march or not performing a command correctly. For instance,a few of my cadets do not know how to do left face, right face, and about-face. It was my responsibility to teach my cadets how to perform those faces so I worked with them individually. These experiences taught me how to be a better leader and a stronger person. I also learned to be more accountable for my actions and to speak up. I plan to use this to help other people be more determined and diligent when achieving their goals. With discipline, determination, and hard work everything can be accomplished. For years, I have had a positive impact at church and school. At church, as the assistant to the catechist, I am in charge of teaching concepts and prayers to children. I also assist students with their homework, I test them for understanding and clarify concepts when needed.. It is very rewarding when these children do their first communion and it’s amazing to see how much they grow in their faith. My participation at church motivated me to apply to the Heart Mediator programs because I want to assist my peers in school. The training I attended as a heart mediator, provided me with the tools to assist students to find peaceful solutions to their problems. My responsibilities are, to be honest, and to be a respectful person. I show fairness and caring in mediation by not taking sides and showing appreciation to others. I joined these two programs because I like to help others and show them that someone cares for them and wants them to succeed in life. I know I have made a difference when I see the peers I worked with, doing better academically , and emotionally or psychologically. An example of this was in one of my heart mediation sessions, two students were arguing with each other over a girl claiming that the other stole his girlfriend. The issue was resolved when both students agreed to not talk about the girl but instead communicate their feeling to each other. From this experience, I learned that everybody needs help and they need someone to talk to. Because of these experiences, I am inspired to pursue a career in psychology and to become a therapist so I can help others deal with stress and assist them to find solutions.

I attended a low-performing high school where over 95% of all students will be first-generation college students, just like me. Performing well academically has not been an easy task, especially when I am placed in overcrowded classes and there is no tutoring assistance. Fortunately, the school provided me with a laptop and a hotspot to access the internet to be able to do my classwork. Growing up, the academic support at home was non-existent. My dad only completed high school and as a single parent and only provider, he didn’t know nor the time to guide me and assist me with my academics. Even though I didn’t know much about college, I was certain I wanted to pursue higher education. I decided to take advantage of Cal-SOAP and UCLA-EAOP, two educational programs that seek to increase the academic and college preparation skills of disadvantaged students. I attended workshops on college requirements, post-secondary options, and financial aid. I receive one-on-one advice on the college application process. Thanks to these programs, I know I am not only a more competitive applicant, but I am also more confident in what I want to accomplish in terms of education and career. I want to be a role model for my sister, showing her that we can pursue higher education even if we don’t have the resources at home or school. Earning a college degree will allow me to have a better life. I want to buy a nice house for my family and me. I want to avoid making the same mistakes my dad made, not staying in school.

One significant challenge I have overcome was the passing of my great grandmother, my Nana, during my freshman year of high school. I had a deep connection with my Nana because when I was with her, she would make all my problems go away. It was as if being bullied, and the feeling of being unloved and lonely never existed. We would always watch movies and bake together. When she passed away, I was devastated. and I couldn't focus in class and at home. I felt so lonely. I had emotional breakdowns and as a result, I started missing school, which impacted my grades, they started slipping. I didn't talk to anyone. I was sent to the principal's office because of arguments with the teachers. I overcame this grief with my mother's support. She took me to my great-grandmother’s gravesite and told me to talk to her and to let out what I had inside. The school’s psychologist was also instrumental in the improvement of my mental health. She taught me to express my emotions and not to hold them inside. I was doing so well but then the pandemic hit, the feelings of loneliness and despair intensified. But I held my head up high and persevered. I was determined to pass my classes and not let my emotions get the better of me. In the last four years, I have become mentally and emotionally stronger this experience motivated me to pursue a career in psychology. By doing so my goal is to assist celebrities in the music industry deal with stress and mental health issues. and to find solutions for them. As a psychologist, I have to be ready to make difficult decisions because they will not only impact my life but the lives of others. Mental health is important because to succeed I need to have a positive mindset.

One significant challenge I have overcome was the passing of my great grandmother, my Nana, during my freshman year of high school. I had a deep connection with my Nana because when I was with her, she would make all my problems go away. It was as if being bullied, and the feeling of being unloved and lonely never existed. We would always watch movies and bake together. When she passed away, I was devastated. and I couldn't focus in class and at home. I felt so lonely. I had emotional breakdowns and as a result, I started missing school, which impacted my grades, they started slipping. I didn't talk to anyone. I was sent to the principal's office because of arguments with the teachers. I overcame this grief with my mother's support. She took me to my great-grandmother’s gravesite and told me to talk to her and to let out what I had inside. The school’s psychologist was also instrumental in the improvement of my mental health. She taught me to express my emotions and not to hold them inside. I was doing so well but then the pandemic hit, the feelings of loneliness and despair intensified. But I held my head up high and persevered. I was determined to pass my classes and not let my emotions get the better of me. In the last four years, I have become mentally and emotionally stronger this experience motivated me to pursue a career in psychology. By doing so my goal is to assist celebrities in the music industry deal with stress and mental health issues. and to find solutions for them. As a psychologist, I have to be ready to make difficult decisions because they will not only impact my life but the lives of others. Mental health is important because to succeed I need to have a positive mindset.

One significant challenge I have overcome was the passing of my great grandmother, my Nana, during my freshman year of high school. I had a deep connection with my Nana because when I was with her, she would make all my problems go away. It was as if being bullied, and the feeling of being unloved and lonely never existed. We would always watch movies and bake together. When she passed away, I was devastated. and I couldn't focus in class and at home. I felt so lonely. I had emotional breakdowns and as a result, I started missing school, which impacted my grades, they started slipping. I didn't talk to anyone. I was sent to the principal's office because of arguments with the teachers. I overcame this grief with my mother's support. She took me to my great-grandmother’s gravesite and told me to talk to her and to let out what I had inside. The school’s psychologist was also instrumental in the improvement of my mental health. She taught me to express my emotions and not to hold them inside. I was doing so well but then the pandemic hit, the feelings of loneliness and despair intensified. But I held my head up high and persevered. I have become mentally and emotionally stronger this experience motivated me to pursue a career in psychology. So to answer your question recovery means getting back up after you fallen so many times and never letting go hope.

I am the fire that fights I am the fire that burns oh so bright I am the fear that is within I am the fear that is known from within I am the firstborn who fears the unknown. I am the one who destroyed the unknown to make it known. I am the one whose name is Romanian I am the one who knows of the first Romanian I am the one who knows the deceased I am the one whose last name came from the deceased I am the one who was feared by many who fear of the unknown I am the one whose skin is white as snow I am the one who came from below I am the one whose teeth were sharp as a tiger's tooth I am one of many who knows the truth I am the one who feasts at the night I am the one who lives in the night I am Carlos

I attended a low-performing high school where over 95% of all students were first-generation college students, just like me. Performing well academically has not been an easy task, especially when I am placed in overcrowded classes, and there is no tutoring assistance. Fortunately, the school provided me with a laptop and a hotspot to access the internet To do my classwork. Growing up, academic support at home was non-existent. My dad only completed high school, and as a single parent and only provider, he didn’t know nor the time to guide me and assist me with my academics. Even though I didn’t know much about college, I was certain I wanted to pursue higher education. I decided to take advantage of Cal-SOAP and UCLA-EAOP, two educational programs that seek to increase the academic and college preparation skills of disadvantaged students. I attended workshops on college requirements, post-secondary options, and financial aid. I receive one-on-one advice on the college application process. Thanks to these programs, I know I am not only a more competitive applicant, but I am also more confident in what I want to accomplish in terms of education and career. I want to be a role model for my sister, showing her that we can pursue higher education even if we don’t have the resources at home or school. Earning a college degree will allow me to have a better life. I want to buy a nice house for my family and me. I want to avoid making the same mistakes my dad made, not staying in school.

One significant challenge I have overcome was the passing of my great-grandmother, my Nana, during my first year of high school. I deeply connected with my Nana because she would make all my problems disappear when I was with her. It was as if being bullied and the feeling of being unloved and lonely never existed. We would always watch movies and bake together. When she passed away, I was devastated. Furthermore, I could not focus in class and at home. I felt so lonely. I had emotional breakdowns, and as a result, I started missing school, which impacted my grades; they started slipping. I didn't talk to anyone. I was sent to the principal's office because of teacher arguments. I overcame this grief with my mother's support. She took me to my great-grandmother's gravesite and told me to talk to her and to let out what I had inside. The school psychologist was also instrumental in the improvement of my mental health. She taught me to express my emotions and not to hold them inside. I was doing so well, but the pandemic hit, and the feelings of loneliness and despair intensified. Nevertheless, I held my head up high and persevered. I was determined to pass my classes and not let my emotions get the better of me. In the last four years, I have become mentally and emotionally stronger; this experience motivated me to pursue a career in psychology. By doing so, my goal is to assist celebrities in the music industry deal with stress and mental health issues. Moreover, to find solutions for them. As a psychologist, I have to be ready to make difficult decisions because they will impact not only my life but the lives of others. Mental health is vital because to succeed, I need to have a positive mindset.

One significant challenge I have overcome was the passing of my great-grandmother, my Nana, during my first year of high school. I deeply connected with my Nana because she would make all my problems disappear when I was with her. It was as if being bullied and the feeling of being unloved and lonely never existed. We would always watch movies and bake together. When she passed away, I was devastated. Furthermore, I could not focus in class and at home. I felt so lonely. I had emotional breakdowns, and as a result, I started missing school, which impacted my grades; they started slipping. I didn't talk to anyone. I was sent to the principal's office because of teacher arguments. I overcame this grief with my mother's support. She took me to my great-grandmother's gravesite and told me to talk to her and to let out what I had inside. The school psychologist was also instrumental in the improvement of my mental health. She taught me to express my emotions and not to hold them inside. I was doing so well, but the pandemic hit, and the feelings of loneliness and despair intensified. Nevertheless, I held my head up high and persevered. I was determined to pass my classes and not let my emotions get the better of me. In the last four years, I have become mentally and emotionally stronger; this experience motivated me to pursue a career in psychology. By doing so, my goal is to assist celebrities in the music industry deal with stress and mental health issues. Moreover, to find solutions for them. As a psychologist, I have to be ready to make difficult decisions because they will impact not only my life but the lives of others. Mental health is vital because to succeed, I need to have a positive mindset.

One significant challenge I have overcome was the passing of my great-grandmother, my Nana, during my first year of high school. I deeply connected with my Nana because she would make all my problems disappear when I was with her. It was as if being bullied and the feeling of being unloved and lonely never existed. We would always watch movies and bake together. When she passed away, I was devastated. Furthermore, I could not focus in class and at home. I felt so lonely. I had emotional breakdowns, and as a result, I started missing school, which impacted my grades; they started slipping. I didn't talk to anyone. I was sent to the principal's office because of teacher arguments. I overcame this grief with my mother's support. She took me to my great-grandmother's gravesite and told me to talk to her and to let out what I had inside. The school psychologist was also instrumental in the improvement of my mental health. She taught me to express my emotions and not to hold them inside. I was doing so well, but the pandemic hit, and the feelings of loneliness and despair intensified. Nevertheless, I held my head up high and persevered. I was determined to pass my classes and not let my emotions get the better of me. In the last four years, I have become mentally and emotionally stronger; this experience motivated me to pursue a career in psychology. By doing so, my goal is to assist celebrities in the music industry deal with stress and mental health issues. Moreover, to find solutions for them. As a psychologist, I have to be ready to make difficult decisions because they will impact not only my life but the lives of others. Mental health is vital because to succeed, I need to have a positive mindset.

For years, I have had a positive impact at church and school. At church, as the assistant to the catechist, I am in charge of teaching concepts and prayers to children. I also assist students with their homework, I test them for understanding and clarify concepts when needed.. It is very rewarding when these children do their first communion and it’s amazing to see how much they grow in their faith. My participation at church motivated me to apply to the Heart Mediator programs because I want to assist my peers in school. The training I attended as a heart mediator, provided me with the tools to assist students to find peaceful solutions to their problems. My responsibilities are, to be honest, and to be a respectful person. I show fairness and caring in mediation by not taking sides and showing appreciation to others. I joined these two programs because I like to help others and show them that someone cares for them and wants them to succeed in life. I know I have made a difference when I see the peers I worked with, doing better academically , and emotionally or psychologically. An example of this was in one of my heart mediation sessions, two students were arguing with each other over a girl claiming that the other stole his girlfriend. The issue was resolved when both students agreed to not talk about the girl but instead communicate their feeling to each other. From this experience, I learned that everybody needs help and they need someone to talk to. Because of these experiences, I am inspired to pursue a career in psychology and to become a therapist so I can help others deal with stress and assist them to find solutions.

I attend a low-performing high school where over 95% of all students will be first-generation college students, just like me. Performing well academically has not been an easy task, especially when I am placed in overcrowded classes and there is no tutoring assistance. Fortunately, the school provided me with a laptop and a hotspot to access the internet to be able to do my classwork. Growing up, the academic support at home was non-existent. My dad only completed high school and as a single parent and only provider, he didn’t know nor the time to guide me and assist me with my academics. Even though I didn’t know much about college, I was certain I wanted to pursue higher education. I decided to take advantage of Cal-SOAP and UCLA-EAOP, two educational programs that seek to increase the academic and college preparation skills of disadvantaged students. I attended workshops on college requirements, post-secondary options, and financial aid. I receive one-on-one advice on the college application process. Thanks to these programs, I know I am not only a more competitive applicant, but I am also more confident in what I want to accomplish in terms of education and career. I want to be a role model for my sister, showing her that we can pursue higher education even if we don’t have the resources at home or school. Earning a college degree will allow me to have a better life. I want to buy a nice house for my family and me. I want to avoid making the same mistakes my dad made, not staying in school. Through my 3 years of participation in JROTC, I have not only gained leadership skills, but I have also had a positive impact on my peers. I initially joined JROTC because I knew their high expectations in terms of commitment and discipline would help me in other areas of my life. From the beginning, the sergeant noticed how I took initiative in completing tasks in a responsible and timely manner and soon selected me as a squad leader. In this position, I was responsible for teaching my peers to march, salute, and follow orders. I also exemplified the qualities of a good leader by promoting good posture, speaking clearly, and making eye contact. This year I was promoted to First Sergeant, the commander's assistant, and as such, I am in charge of finding solutions for areas of growth. That includes not knowing how to march or not performing a command correctly. For instance,a few of my cadets do not know how to do left face, right face, and about-face. It was my responsibility to teach my cadets how to perform those faces so I worked with them individually. These experiences taught me how to be a better leader and a stronger person. I also learned to be more accountable for my actions and to speak up. I plan to use this to help other people be more determined and diligent when achieving their goals. With discipline, determination, and hard work everything can be accomplished.

I have participated in JROTC, LGBTQ, K-POP Association Club, and Teen Court throughout my high school years. However, the one that has changed my view on a social issue is my involvement with the LGBTQ club. I grew up in a neighborhood of white Americans and Christians and I was told having feelings for the same gender is bad, and it can “corrupt my soul and lead me to hell”. This made it hard for me to come out because of my beliefs and other people’s seeing me. I thought If I came out no one would talk to me and I’ll be all alone. But all that changed when I moved to South Gate; I noticed many people were open about their sexuality especially in high school. Everybody was so happy and proud of who they were, but I wasn't. I knew I was different and I wanted to be happy like the rest of my peers. In the LGBTQ club, I am an ally which means I support what LGBTQ stands for, these include gay marriages and gay rights. In the club, we often made powerpoints and learned the history of LGBTQ. We also talked about the different sexualities that are part of the LGBTQ. These include homosexual, pansexual, bisexual, and many more. I always thought there was one sexuality that was heterosexual. As a result of my experience, I told my mom first that I was bisexual, she became my first supporter. She told me that she knew I was different and that she would always love me. At first, it was hard for my dad to understand but he got around. My experience changed my view of the LGBTQ community. Everybody has a hard time coming out for different reasons and there is not one sexuality but many, it gave me the courage to come out and to embrace who I am and not to be ashamed.

One significant challenge I have overcome was the passing of my great grandmother, my Nana, during my freshman year of high school. I had a deep connection with my Nana because when I was with her, she would make all my problems go away. It was as if being bullied, and the feeling of being unloved and lonely never existed. We would always watch movies and bake together. When she passed away, I was devastated. and I couldn't focus in class and at home. I felt so lonely. I had emotional breakdowns and as a result, I started missing school, which impacted my grades, they started slipping. I didn't talk to anyone. I was sent to the principal's office because of arguments with the teachers. I overcame this grief with my mother's support. She took me to my great-grandmother’s gravesite and told me to talk to her and to let out what I had inside. The school’s psychologist was also instrumental in the improvement of my mental health. She taught me to express my emotions and not to hold them inside. I was doing so well but then the pandemic hit, the feelings of loneliness and despair intensified. But I held my head up high and persevered. I was determined to pass my classes and not let my emotions get the better of me. In the last four years, I have become mentally and emotionally stronger this experience motivated me to pursue a career in psychology. By doing so my goal is to assist celebrities in the music industry deal with stress and mental health issues. and to find solutions for them. As a psychologist, I have to be ready to make difficult decisions because they will not only impact my life but the lives of others. Mental health is important because to succeed I need to have a positive mindset.

I attend a low-performing high school where over 95% of all students will be first-generation college students, just like me. Performing well academically has not been an easy task, especially when I am placed in overcrowded classes and there is no tutoring assistance. Fortunately, the school provided me with a laptop and a hotspot to access the internet to be able to do my classwork. Growing up, the academic support at home was non-existent. My dad only completed high school and as a single parent and only provider, he didn’t know nor the time to guide me and assist me with my academics. Even though I didn’t know much about college, I was certain I wanted to pursue higher education. I decided to take advantage of Cal-SOAP and UCLA-EAOP, two educational programs that seek to increase the academic and college preparation skills of disadvantaged students. I attended workshops on college requirements, post-secondary options, and financial aid. I receive one-on-one advice on the college application process. Thanks to these programs, I know I am not only a more competitive applicant, but I am also more confident in what I want to accomplish in terms of education and career. I want to be a role model for my sister, showing her that we can pursue higher education even if we don’t have the resources at home or school. Earning a college degree will allow me to have a better life. I want to buy a nice house for my family and me. I want to avoid making the same mistakes my dad made, not staying in school.