There's a man that follows me everywhere I go. He follows me to my work, peering behind me as I try to do my job. He follows me to my room, where he peeks through the door with big wide eyes staring into my soul. He follows behind me as I do my walks at night. The sound of his feet dragging, overlapping the sound of my heartbeat and the birds chirping. He wakes me up in the middle of the night, choking me out from air until my lungs burn. He is there with me everywhere. Even at this very moment. His presence accompanying me with every step I take. But, it turns out that after multiple meetings with therapists, psychiatrists, and psychologists, it was the schizoaffective depressive disorder messing with my head. For years, I didn't know what was happening to me. It was hard to concentrate. Voices were filling up in my head like piled laundry that has been left untouched for weeks. It was hard to read. Hard to talk. Hard to live. Because of this, I have been hospitalized two times for suicide attempts. It was getting so overwhelming. Every day was a struggle to breathe freely. My grades started dropping. My hygiene was not being prioritized. My relationships felt as if they were being cut off at that time. I was truly in despair and there was no one out there that was there for me. It was torture having to wake up in the morning, knowing I was never alone in my head. With voices telling me to rid myself off from the world around me. To hurt myself bad that I am scarred for life. They tell me that I'm a horrible person and that I don't deserve to live. They tell me my parents don't love me and wishes for a more perfect daughter. They tell me I need to starve myself to fit in. They tell me so many things that I don't know how to distinguish what's happening in my head from reality anymore. However, on my second admission at the mental hospital, it all started to change. It was my very first time being admitted into the adults psych ward. Last time, since I was under the age of 18, I was grouped with the kids around my age. Now, I am met with true grown adults that have also shared the same struggles. At first, I felt like a lamb surrounded by wolves. Not until I found out they were just lambs with wolf skin. I made two friends there. One was a Mom and the other was a Dad. Together, they share their stories about how their family abandoned them. How they are left to be with no-one but themselves. From having everything to having nothing. But, one thing they also told me was that I am not alone. At first, I thought, "I really am not," as I stare at the man in my head standing beside me. Then, I realized. My family has always been there for me. In every misfortune, there is fortune. In every dark path, there is light. In every sorrow, there is happiness. That was what I realized during my stay at the hospital. In my every struggle, there is my family who loves me unconditionally. Who, despite the struggles, has never given up on me. I was so occupied with the voices in my head that it drowned out my family's voices, calling and reaching out to me. I was so far in my head that I forgot to look back and realize that my family were waiting for me to come back towards the light. They have made me open my eyes to true and unconditional love, and, now, it's my turn to share the same love towards myself. Right now, I am still in the process of trying to get better. The things I used to have lost interest in started spark again. I began reading again, entertaining myself with such fantasy tales. I started riding a bike whenever I needed to get fresh air or just get in touch with the world around me. I started doing exercise, now prioritizing my health. Now, every day is a step towards learning how to love myself. Because even if I can't control how life works out for me, be it being diagnosed with schizoaffective depressive disorder, what I can control is how I react to it.

"Are you going to be a nurse?"—A question I get commonly asked, as if Filipinos are only expected to be nurses and nothing else. As if there is a line in which Filipinos are not allowed to cross. Despite how much I respect the nursing community, I wanted something more. I was chasing for a dream that none of the people around me were expecting. I wanted to supersede everyone's expectations of me and how they perceived Filipinos. That even though we are more commonly known to be nurses, we can dominate in various different areas as well, which is why I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in law. I lived in the Philippines for about 14 years until my parents and I moved to the United States to try and get a second chance for a better life. See, we lived in poverty back in our home country. At often times, our electricity and water would get cut off as we were unable to pay our bills. I remember as a young kid, I have grown accustomed to studying in the darkness with only a single candlelight beside me. I also remember having to pump water out so that I can shower before I go to school. However, no matter how hard life was, that flame within me never stopped sparking. That dream within me never stopped flowing. When we moved here to the United States, nobody believed in us. Due to the environment we were living in, everyone saw us as people who are not able to achieve bigger things in life. We were mocked for our skin color and accent, and I would get called names at school. Just like in the Philippines, we didn't have much with us in the United States. However, one thing we always had within us was our Filipino spirit. The challenges we faced in such a foreign country never stopped us from persevering. Both my parents and I worked hard to get ourselves out in the new world. I made sure I accelerated in my studies. Prioritized my education to prove that we are more known than just poor immigrants. In high school, I accomplished many things. First, I was able to get into our law magnet program, which allowed me to enhance my knowledge about the law. Second, I joined our We The People Congressional Debate Team, which allowed me to compete against different schools as we talked about the Constitution, wherein we were able to win in regionals and go to State. Third, I also joined our Mock Trial Competitive Team, which allowed me to hone my skills to be a lawyer, wherein we also won in regionals and were able to go to state. Lastly, I worked so hard with my studies that I was able to graduate from the Class of 2023 as their Salutatorian. Because in the end, Filipinos never give up. The reason I share all this is because for our future generation, I can contribute to the community by showing the true power of Filipinos. How we are able to dominate in any chosen areas in our field. How we shouldn't be limited to how the society sees and expects us to be. With enough determination and will-power, we are able to achieve so many things in life no matter what environment you grew up with. That is what Filipinos are. Fighters against all odds.

I was a runaway. However, I did not run away from my family—but from God. I ran away from God the moment he allowed my friends to abandon me. I ran away from God when he allowed me to suffer under the roof of such abuse and mistreatment from my uncle. I ran away from God when he allowed my Mom to have MoyaMoya, which is an injury to the brain where the arteries in the brain become narrowed and blocked and require immediate surgery. I ran away from God with a heart full of heavy hatred and anger towards him for allowing such misfortunes and sadness in my life. I ran away from him, and I ended up falling onto the hands of major depression and anxiety. I was so lost in the darkness and had believed that I had nowhere else to run to anymore. I have encountered such an obstacle that was hard to overcome. I felt defeated as if I had run into a hopeless battle. I have been hospitalized twice for suicidal attempts because I truly felt that no one is on my side. Not until one day when I suddenly felt my eyes open to the world around me and I saw the very reason of my existence—my parents. Despite my lowest moments, they have never given up on me. Despite how hard I try to push them away, they come running back towards me. Despite how much I convince myself that there is no purpose in life, they remind me of my worth. Through my parents, I realized that there is someone on my side. Through my parents, I was struck with such familiarity, which is that of a fatherly love from God himself. No matter how much I run away from him, he has always been there waiting for me to come back to him. No matter how many stones I throw at him, he stands firm. No matter how much I scream at him, he listens. No matter how lost I am, he guides me. From that realization, I decided to slowly walk back towards my faith. From there, the friends I lost were regained with better and loyal ones. From there, the abuse and mistreatment I had suffered from was slowly healing. From there, the brain injury my Mom had has been healed. From there, my once heavy heart filled with anger and hatred had been replaced with a heart so light as a feather and is filled with love and compassion that I receive from God. In a way, I remind myself of a prodigal son wherein despite running away, the father remains waiting for his son to come back and when he does he extends his arms and runs towards him, ready to welcome him back with all his heart. Now, the question was, how do I plan to create a better world through my career while also sharing my faith. Well, as someone who wants to pursue a career in law, I aspire to be the person who represents those in need not only to serve justice but also to give them a second chance in life just as how I was given a second chance by God. I want to be seen as someone who reminds people that they are not alone in their battles. I want to be that person who helps those pass an obstacle that may seem hard to overcome. I want to be the person who embodies that fatherly love to remind them that God is always on our side.

“That is not who I am.” I remind myself as I stand there on that cold cement while their fingers point at me, accusing me of stealing. I stood there humiliated as if I bare myself naked before their eyes. I clench my fist as they continue to insist that I have taken from them—that I was a thief just like the people I grew up with back in the Philippines. As if the stench of poverty stuck with me as my parents and I moved to the United States. “I am different,” I tell myself every day, struggling to erase the label they put behind my back, as I continue to be accused of acts I could never dare to commit. I spend my nights crying, wondering why my identity is tied to my surroundings. Just because I grew up in a house wherein every time I step out, the smell of drugs burning every cell in my body, doesn’t mean that I’m a drug addict. Just because my uncle resided upstairs and spent his days and nights drowning in alcohol until his organs collapsed and could barely function, doesn’t mean that I’m an alcoholic. Just because my relatives are known to steal items and goods from other people, doesn’t mean that I’m a thief like them. That is not who I am. I am different. I desire to represent individuals who are falsely labeled by society to be the villain of their stories. I aspire to be the voice to remind themselves that they are more than how they are surrounded. I wish to be the body who defends them from stones and thorns being thrown at them just because they refuse to see people as who they really are. I want to serve as the embodiment of getting through the end of this dark tunnel that imprisons us within biases. With my chosen field of interest with law and becoming an attorney and, hopefully, a judge for the court of law by the end, I believe that I can achieve such goals that I have of helping others that are underrepresented in the society as I have walked the very same path of distrust and false accusations as well and know the struggle of trying to prove them wrong. I am very much aware as to how it feels as if we are losing our sense of identity as the line between who we believe we are and who others believe we are starts to get hazy. There were days where I spent wallowing in my room as I couldn’t recognize no longer the person I was staring at in the mirror. Those endless hours I spent every night asking myself if I truly am what they say I am—a bad person. However, now, I realize that when those days knock on our doors, we just need to remind ourselves that we are not bad people. That is not who we are, and that we are different.

“I want to win. I do not yearn to be their equal. In my heart, I yearn to best them.” says the character Jude from the book series of The Cruel Prince written by Holly Black. Over the course of time, I have flipped over thousands of pages and its words buried deep into my heart and soul. The knowledge I have gained from these books runs deep into my mind as everyday I apply the lessons I have learned. But, if there is one thing I learned best from reading, it would be to have that winner mentality. Life will always give us problems to solve and battles to fight. It will always make its best attempt to beat us down onto the ground and make sure that our heads don’t rise up again. It is there to serve to humble us. However, it does this to see how we react to certain situations and scenarios and see how we make our decisions. Do we fall to the ground and let our hearts bleed? Do we let it crush our dreams and hopes in life? Or do we stand strong with the will to fight embedded deep into ourselves. One thing I notice from reading my books is that the protagonist is the strongest when they are at their weakest. They don’t care if they are beaten down and humiliated. If they have to limp during the fight, they would. If they have to crawl towards their goal, they will. It doesn’t matter what happens in the world around you. Let it crumble and fall. What truly matters the most is that you believe within yourself that you have what it takes to win your battles. Over my 20 years of life, I have been into many battles and have always barely survived them. Life has given me and has been giving me fights that have led me to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety with certain concerns of ADHD and schizophrenia. I have decided to fall to the ground and let my heart bleed. I have been in and out of my school with discussions of getting applied into our First Episode of Psychosis program as they see me continue to struggle with my mental health. However, there is still some fight left within me and I cling onto it so desperately. Because after all, I want to win and I want to best the challenges that are given to me. So, today, I am taking therapy as well as meeting with a psychiatrist to ensure my path to getting better is firm and steady. I believe that I can win my battles and I will win this one as well. With that, I plan to make sure that I lend a helping hand to those who are in a similar situation as me or who are suffering in their own ways and are blinded to see their capability to be successful and win in life. After all, we are all winners within. Life just humbles us down and tricks us into thinking that we’re losers. But, just as we are in our weakest, we are the strongest.

Keep running, Heart, You’re running out of time. Keep running. I tell myself everyday the summer after I graduated from high school wherein after four years of hard work I managed to become the Salutatorian of my class. Yet, for some reason, the adrenaline was still there. The hunger to strive more was still alive and kicking. I felt the need to prove that my fight wasn’t over yet, so I applied for a job at a law firm to show my dedication to my goal of becoming a lawyer. Keep running, Heart. I applied to be a part-time worker for them as I was still a fulltime student, knowing full well of the sacrifices I would have to make to stay consistent with school and work. I think about the countless nights I would have to stay up for in order to keep my head above running water, desperately trying not to drown myself from the never-ending responsibilities. Despite that shivering thought, I stand strong to help provide for myself and my family as immigrants living in the United States who are struggling to stay afloat—who are proving ourselves more than just immigrants and that we deserve our place here. You’re running out of time. I run head-strong towards the first year of my college as a part time worker and a full time student, hungry to prove my worth. That I can handle no matter what life throws at me. Little did I know that life would be humbling me ever so terribly. My time with work and school started to become difficult to balance. Every day and every second I felt my time running out as well as my motivation and passion. I was being drained out from every cell of my body—I was getting burnt out. My soul burns deeper into depression and anxiety as I feel myself slowly slipping away from who I thought I was—a fighter. I began to lose my self-identity as I struggled to keep up with my assignments as well as performing beyond expectations at work as if my life depended on it. Every morning I wake up, I get reminded of the pressure I get from work and school and my chest tightens at the thought of it. Worse comes to worst, I break down as I see my grades start to slip away. However, for some reason, a voice still lingers from the back of my head. Keep running. I refused to back down and be defeated so easily like this. I knew my potential and knew that I needed to unlock it and that I can unlock it. I learn how to balance my time with school and work. Learned how to balance responsibilities and restings. I learned how to prioritize my needs and wants. I set up a schedule and ensure that I follow through every minute of it so that I don’t fall behind my duties. Slowly but surely, I begin to feel the spark of that same hunger of striving for not only more—but to strive for the best version of myself. That is what I learned and how it impacted my life from my experience of balancing my work and school life.

I grew up in the rural side of the Philippines with particularly not the best of influences. Just upstairs from where we were living was a drunkard, and those on the sides would often sell stolen goods and do drugs. Due to our unpleasant surroundings, my parents were determined to move into the United States to build upon a better future—a better life. Six years ago, we were fortunate enough to be able to move from the Philippines to the United States. From there, we lived with a fellow relative, who was, at that time, also eager to let us stay under the same roof as them; however, little did I know that things were not going to be that easy. Because of the poor environment of where we came from, we were often falsely accused of committing such indecent actions like stealing their stuff and even being told that we barely have a chance of succeeding out there in the States alone. For quite some time, my 13-year-old self was fully convinced that I was a nobody, just as they would always remind me. That I have no value in a foreign world. I let others measure my worth, and it resulted in my mental and physical health to deteriorate. Nonetheless, over time, I was able to get back on my feet and pull myself together—remind myself that I am a strong and powerful immigrant woman, who chooses not to give up on the chances in life that can help me get better—get successful. After all, that is what my parents wanted when we immigrated into the United States. I have witnessed how much they have given up to have their one and only kid have a much better chance of succeeding in life as compared to them when they were younger. With that, I am now determined to do everything and anything I can do to pay them back for everything they’ve done. I have worked hard upon building a better future for myself and for my loved ones, eventually, deciding to pursue a career in law. I was enrolled in my high school’s law magnet program, joining our competitive Mock Trial and We The People Team, and even graduating as the Class of 2023’s Salutatorian. I have dedicated my blood, sweat, and tears to continue to hone upon my abilities and skills to become a competent lawyer and then a judge through interning at a law firm and even eventually working for one. Now, I am also majoring in Criminal Justice for my undergraduate with the plans of expanding my knowledge about law and getting into law school. It is within me to plan on making a positive impact on the world through my criminal justice career by helping the falsely accused just because they are being measured by the fact that they did not have the best of resources nor the best of influences in their life. I intend to be someone who people can look up to and be an example that people can succeed in life even if you feel like you are at a disadvantage. Just as I would always tell myself whenever I am met with others' doubts and hesitations, “Surprise them.”

Ever since I was young, I have always been eager to help those around me in the best way I can. I guess, since I was a young kid, I’ve always been interested in the concept of “justice,” ensuring that everyone gets treated fairly and compensated for any harm done by others. Eventually, I realized I tend to want to speak up for those that are too afraid to say so or do not have the voice to do so, which led to the realization that I also want to pursue a career in law. Over time, I have built myself around that dream by learning more about the field of law through enrolling in my high school’s law magnet program as well as competitive teams, such as the We The People Congressional Debate Team and Mock Trial. From there, I’ve expanded my knowledge and the career that I want to go after. After graduating as Salutatorian for the Class of 2023 in the month of May, I decided to continue my studies in college by majoring in Criminal Justice for my undergraduate with the hopes of getting into law school. During my time in high school, I have been in an internship at a personal injury law firm as well as networking with other law firms as well. From there, my eyes have been opened from the many shared experiences from different lawyers to how many people out there are being taken advantage of and are falling victim to the harmful actions of others, and, of course, I intend to refrain this from happening to many others—to serve justice. After I finish my Criminal Justice studies for my undergraduate and go through law school, I plan to use my degree to work at a personal injury law firm as an attorney. As I continue to grow older and learn more about the world around me and how it works, I have witnessed how justice has been proven hard to attain and can be twisted to be given to the wrong party. With my degree, I intend to continue my childhood vision as a personal injury lawyer, ensuring that justice is given to those who deserve it and help is provided to those who need it. Now, why do I intend so much to use my passion in practicing law? Well, I used to live in the rural side of the Philippines with particularly not the best of influences. Just upstairs from where we were living was a drunkard, and people on the sides would often sell stolen goods and do drugs. Due to the unfavorable environment that I lived in, people were not as eager to lend a helping hand, questioning our intentions even if it is a pure one at that. We were often mistreated and looked down upon and help was rarely given to us until six years ago when my parents and I finally moved to the United States to start a new and better life—a better future. We were then presented with so many resources and opportunities to build around ourselves the life that we hoped to have. From there, I brought within myself the passion of being able to help those in need, no matter their circumstances. So, what do I plan to do with my degree to help those in the community who are in need? It is to practice law and become a personal injury attorney to serve justice and just as Dumbledore once said that even in the darkest of times, one just needs to remember to turn on the light.

“A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.” I came across this quote not too long ago, and it reminded me of my childhood days. I grew up in the Philippines for about thirteen years until my parents and I moved to the United States six years ago. We didn’t have much from where we came from, sharing one roof with three different families. I could still remember the cracks on the wall that I would usually face before I go to sleep, and the worn-down roof that seemed like it would buckle down on us at any minute. There were also the candles surrounding our house in pitch darkness as our electricity gets cut off, and how my cousins and I would have to pump water out since we would also have water outages. We didn’t have much back then, which is why ever since I was young, I’ve dreamt of what it would be like to live in different circumstances—to live in my very own Barbie Dream House. I picture this house in a well-guarded neighborhood with a clean white appearance. My Mom and I have always admired the minimalistic undertone. I don’t really wish for a lot of things for my dream house—I just want my future family as well as my parents to live on the same roof together. I want my dream house to be a place where I can take care of the people I love. This Barbie Dream House of mine would also have its very own garden because my Dad has a passion for growing various kinds of plants. Back in the Philippines, I would often get sick with pneumonia and asthma, and he gave me a rose plant to take care of so that I can keep my mind off of such worries for myself. I just want a place wherein we would not have to worry about living in darkness for days because we didn’t have electricity or having not enough water to wash and clean the shampoo on our hair. Adding onto my personal preferences, this house would also have a small lovely library. As harsh as the reality was, books were one of my means of escape. They’ve allowed me to dream of the impossible, and I intend to bring this along with me to my dream house. After all, it has allowed me to dream of a lovely home that I intend to achieve in the future. I also want a small movie theater for our family movie nights. I am one who values spending time with our loved ones, so I wish for this future house to be one full of fun and happy memories of family. There is a quote that says, “It’s not how big the house is, it’s how happy the home is.” In the end, that is all I wish for for my Barbie Dream House—a house with a sense of belonging.

“Habang may buhay, may pag-asa.” In English, this says, “When there’s life, there’s hope.” This is a Filipino saying that I would often hear when I was a kid. I grew up in the rural side of the Philippines with particularly not the best of influences. Just upstairs from where I was living was a drunkard, and people would sell stolen goods and do drugs on the sides. Adding onto that, we didn’t have as many resources as the others. We would often experience power outages as well as water outages, leading us to have to pump water for ourselves to get ready for the day. Also, we were living with about more than 15 people or so. All in all, my life back in my home country was chaotic yet there’s a reason why I still call it my home. It was at one of the many discouraging moments in my life that I managed to find hope. My parents saw the condition of where we were living and what possibly awaits us in the future, so they decided to move to the United States to give ourselves a second chance—to give their daughter a better chance in life. As a young kid, the idea of embarking upon a new journey was thrilling and exciting; yet, little did I know that everything was going to change. Due to how life was like for us back in the Philippines, people looked down on us, saying that we could never achieve our dreams and hopes here in the U.S. My gullibility and vulnerability were taken advantage of on so many occasions, affecting me in ways I could never have imagined. Eventually, I suffered from mental health issues and had multiple suicidal attempts with how much struggle I had to go through in a new environment. However, I remembered one valuable thing, “When there’s life, there’s hope,” and in my situation, wherein hope was nowhere to be found in myself, I was reminded that my parents still had hope for me. With that, I worked on getting better, going to therapy sessions as well as prioritizing my mental and physical well-being. Another thing I prioritized as well was my education. Ever since I was young, I have always wanted to pursue a career in law, and I never really knew where to start; however, now that I am in the United States, I was met with a lot of opportunities. After I was working on my recovery to get better, I dedicated myself to my high school, which had a law magnet program to help with honing my abilities and skills to achieve my dream—my hope. From there, I won competitions for Mock Trial as well as our We The People Congressional Debate Team, and, on top of that, I was able to graduate as the Class of 2023’s Salutatorian. Six years ago, I was in a horrible place, surrounded by harmful influences; yet, I still took it within me to have hope in life. Now, I am met with amazing people, who are willing to lend a helping hand no matter what, and opportunities that I never thought I could have. In the midst of pain and suffering, all one needs is hope and a dream… to be a dreamer amid nightmares.

As Bella Blueu once said, "Your body holds deep wisdom. Trust in it. Learn from it. Nourish it. Watch your life transform and be healthy." In my 19 years of living, I only realized the importance of managing one's wellness in my senior year of high school. It was only when my body and mind started breaking down before my eyes that I finally learned. As a determined and goal-driven student, I had plans I intended to fulfill and accomplish. For my last year of high school, I took about five AP and two law magnet classes. I also participated in our varsity cheerleading team and two other competitive teams, including our We The People Congressional Debate Team and Mock Trial. These were challenging tasks. For cheerleading, I would be at games cheering every day until around 9 pm, leading me to stay at school until the game started, not having the proper meal to help me for the day. For my We The People Congressional Debate and Mock Trial, we occasionally had all-day practices, which resulted in me missing many of my classes. I needed to pass these classes as I could not afford to have a B and ruin my four years' worth of hard work. When I got home, I barely ate dinner because I had to study and do my homework for the next day's classes. I would be up until around 4:30 in the morning, giving me at least 30 minutes of sleep since I would have to get ready for school, again, barely eating breakfast—and the loop starts again. Over time, my body started breaking down. I felt sick coming to school every day, throwing up on an empty stomach nonstop. I started getting sick more often, and I could not concentrate on the work I needed. My anxiety attacks and depression started to worsen, even returning to my self-harm. When life seemed to have been going downhill fast for me, I realized something was wrong—something was wrong in how I was treating my personal wellness. Since then, I tried to treat myself better, giving myself breaks and ensuring I sleep and eat healthy. It was at that point that I saw improvements in my health. I felt refreshed and prepared to face any challenges life gave me. From there, as I started to love my body and mind more, I started seeing results fast, such as winning competitions for our We The People Congressional Debate Team and Mock Trial and even qualifying for State competitions. Last but not least, I also graduated as the Class of 2023's Salutatorian, the person with the second-highest GPA. As Lalah Delia quotes, "Self-care is how you take your power back," and I intend to be more powerful than the person I was yesterday through a much healthier journey.

As Bella Blueu once said, "Your body holds deep wisdom. Trust in it. Learn from it. Nourish it. Watch your life transform and be healthy." In my 19 years of living, I only realized the importance of managing one's wellness in my senior year of high school. It was only when my body and mind started breaking down before my eyes that I finally learned. As a determined and goal-driven student, I had plans I intended to fulfill and accomplish. For my last year of high school, I took about five AP and two law magnet classes. I also participated in our varsity cheerleading team and two other competitive teams, including our We The People Congressional Debate Team and Mock Trial. These were challenging tasks. For cheerleading, I would be at games cheering every day until around 9 pm, leading me to stay at school until the game started, not having the proper meal to help me for the day. For my We The People Congressional Debate and Mock Trial, we occasionally had all-day practices, which resulted in me missing many of my classes. I needed to pass these classes as I could not afford to have a B and ruin my four years' worth of hard work. When I got home, I barely ate dinner because I had to study and do my homework for the next day's classes. I would be up until around 4:30 in the morning, giving me at least 30 minutes of sleep since I would have to get ready for school, again, barely eating breakfast—and the loop starts again. Over time, my body started breaking down. I felt sick coming to school every day, throwing up on an empty stomach nonstop. I started getting sick more often, and I could not concentrate on the work I needed. My anxiety attacks and depression started to worsen, even returning to my self-harm. When life seemed to have been going downhill fast for me, I realized something was wrong—something was wrong in how I was treating my personal wellness. Since then, I tried to treat myself better, giving myself breaks and ensuring I sleep and eat healthy. It was at that point that I saw improvements in my health. I felt refreshed and prepared to face any challenges life gave me. From there, as I started to love my body and mind more, I started seeing results fast, such as winning competitions for our We The People Congressional Debate Team and Mock Trial and even qualifying for State competitions. Last but not least, I also graduated as the Class of 2023's Salutatorian, the person with the second-highest GPA. Lalah Delia quotes, "Self-care is how you take your power back," I intend to be more powerful than the person I was yesterday with the help of my personal wellness.

Walt Disney once quoted, “Don’t let your fears take the place of your dreams.” I grew up in the rural side of the Philippines with particularly not the best of influences. Just upstairs by where we were living was a drunk, and people were doing drugs and selling stolen goods on the side. Besides that, we were also living in poverty with not being able to pay for our bills which would end up in having to spend days without electricity or water. Yet, despite such circumstances, my younger self never feared dreaming of the endless possibilities I could achieve in life. It is because no matter how displeasing a situation is, I never fail to see the beauty in it—the lessons I could learn for a better future. When people ask me what my favorite Disney movie is, I would always say Beauty and the Beast. As a young kid watching it for the first time, I’ve always admired the character Belle. You see, the movie Beauty and The Beast holds numerous life lessons, such as how beauty is measured within and not through appearances. For a long time, I’ve applied this principle to people, accepting them as who they are and not what they look like. With that, I was able to have multiple genuine friends who were always there for me in times of need—and I had many encounters of situations where I was left vulnerable. You see, six years ago, my parents and I moved from the Philippines to the United States, and we lived with a relative for over a year. Everything was going smoothly until things started to escalate. Over time, I observed that my relative had anger management issues. When he would often get mad, he would hurt his wife and kids. And, every time that happens, I would find my 13-year-old self hiding in the bathroom, sobbing, wondering when it would be my turn to get hurt. After a year passed, we were able to move out; however, my mind seemed to have not been liberated. My experience there left me with depression, anxiety attacks, and multiple suicide attempts. However, over time as I worked on healing my wounds, I’ve realized that I have been holding myself back due to the mistakes of others. I’ve realized something worth it in a situation full of darkness. This was what I learned from Beauty and the Beast, there is beauty within everything. We just need to open our eyes. This self-realization has led me to achieve many accomplishments, such as winning competitions for our Mock Trial and We The People Congressional Debate, even qualifying for State, and graduating as the Class of 2023’s Salutatorian. So, what does Disney mean to me? It allowed me to see the lessons in every situation I’m in. It allowed me to dream. It allowed me to believe that I deserve better. Just as Moana said, “Sometimes our strengths lie beneath the surface.”

Stacy Kaiser, a licensed psychotherapist and relationship expert, once said, “I was a child. I didn’t need to be stronger. I needed to be safe.” I grew up in the rural side of the Philippines with particularly not the best of influences. Just upstairs by where we were living was a drunk, and people were doing drugs and selling stolen goods on the side. Besides that, we were also living in poverty with not being able to pay for our bills which would end up in having to spend days without electricity or water. As a young kid, I would often watch shows—a few of them being American shows. I have always admired the lifestyle that was being shown: yellow school buses, lunchables, and fancy houses. A lot that I don’t get to enjoy much in the Philippines. Since then, I’ve always dreamt of the American Dream, a second chance, and when I found out from my parents that we get to live in the United States, I felt liberated. Little did I know this great dream would result into a nightmare which would haunt me forever. Six years ago, we moved into the United States, sharing a roof with a family member. Everything was going smoothly until things started to escalate. Over time, I observed that my relative had anger management issues. When he would often get mad, he would hurt his wife and kids. And, every time that happens, I would find my 13-year-old self hiding in the bathroom, sobbing, wondering when it would be my turn to get hurt. As a young immigrant kid, I couldn’t quite wrap my head around what was happening at that time until my relative’s wife had sat with me in her car and told me that it was my fault that he was acting like that. Since then, I had carried that burden, thinking that I was the reason people were getting hurt. I was just a child then. Eventually, I started having anxiety attacks to depression then multiple suicide attempts. Thankfully, my parents understood my struggles and worked with me to get better and work with healthy coping mechanisms. Now, as I grew older and shared my experiences with others, they told me something I was not quite expecting: “He was just preparing you for the real world.” Preparing me for the real world? I ended up having to fear the real world, thinking that my every action would result in hurting others. However, with multiple therapy sessions, I was reminded that I was just a child back then and that I didn’t need to be prepared for the real world but I needed to be assured that I was safe. The question was how do I plan to raise awareness of domestic violence? Well, I intend to remind those who have fallen victim to such a tragic and misfortunate event that it was or is not their fault. You do not need to apologize for the horrible mistakes of others. You deserve to feel safe, and you deserve better just as much as I do. Based on the National Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, about 20 people per minute are being physically abused in the United States, and I plan on having this simple action—this simple reminder—allow themselves to get rid of the pain and the burden they’re bottling up inside and have some room for themselves. Just as Emma Thompson once said, “We all need somewhere where we are safe.” You just need to get out of the one that’s not making you feel safe first.

Every time people would ask me which Hogwarts house I would want to be sorted in, they would always be surprised to hear what my answer is: Slytherin. Now, why would they be surprised? Well, those in Slytherin have often been described as strong and admirable. I, on the other hand, have been frequently called to be timid, shy, and soft-hearted. So, why on Earth would I want to be sorted in Slytherin? Six years ago, my own Hagrid had swooped me up from poverty in the Philippines and flew me to the United States. Being in a foreign place felt so magical to me as I allowed myself to wonder about the amazing things that I can do and the second chance in life I was just given. However, little did I know that just as I had my own Hagrid and magic, I also had a Voldemort in my life. See, everywhere I went, people had looked down upon me, preying on my downfall. Multiple times, I have been told that I would not be able to succeed and accomplish my goals in the United States as an immigrant who was fairly new to the overall surroundings. I was struggling with adjusting to the language, culture, and I also had trouble taking care of my mental health. You see, being in the United States felt like being at Hogwarts. Despite how mystical the place is, every corner is filled with unanswered questions and mysteries. It was too big of a place for me to process. Yet, no matter how much people have told me that I was weak, it was always within me to prove them wrong—that I can be strong and admirable too. No, I am strong and admirable. As I was struggling in the United States, watching the Harry Potter series has always been such a therapeutic experience for me. One thing in particular that caught my attention were those in Slytherin. My perspective and observation of those in Slytherin have always been confident in themselves and their abilities. Since then, I realized something very important. Over time, I have allowed people to identify me and measure my value, allowing them to call me timid, shy, and soft-hearted when in reality I am much more than that. I am a powerful young female immigrant who believes that I can reach the impossible and seemingly unbelievable power. After this realization, I have always taken it to heart that I am a Slytherin, cunning and knowledgeable, positive and self-assured, and resolute and determined. With that, I have accomplished many things in this foreign country in just six years, such as excelling in my varsity cheerleading team, winning competitions for Mock Trial and We The People Congressional Debate Team and qualifying for the State, and, lastly, I was able to graduate as the Class of 2023’s Salutatorian. Now, why on Earth would I want to be sorted in Slytherin? Well, it is because I am confident in myself and my abilities. I believe that I am capable of doing amazing things. If there is one thing to know about immigrants, it is that we never give up and our ambition can surpass all challenges in life. No matter what, I’m not going to let my parents and my sacrifices go to waste. Just as Snape once said, “Always.” I’ll always remind myself that I am a Slytherin—that I am strong and admirable.

Charles Rangel, a former politician once said, “Immigrants have faced huge obstacles to achieving the American Dream, yet have persevered to overcome them.” I grew up in the rural side of the Philippines with not the best of influences around me. The person living upstairs from our house was an alcoholic, and those on the sides of our place would often be found doing drugs or selling stolen goods. Nevertheless, my parents and I held onto finding a better opportunity for ourselves—the American Dream. For years, my parents have waited for our documents to be approved until six years ago when we were finally able to move from the Philippines to the United States. It was a huge blessing for us as it felt like we were given a second chance on rebuilding our lives for a better future. However, things didn’t go quite the way we planned. We were struggling with adjusting to the new language, culture, and the overall surroundings. We were unlucky enough to get trapped into an abusive household, who took our disadvantages and turned it against us, reminding us on a daily basis that given what our lives were like back in the Philippines that we would never be able to succeed in the United States without their help. Every day they belittled us, taunting us with our struggles and differences. I was around 13 years old at that time, and I did not know how to defend myself from them so I ended up taking their words to heart. We lived in that nightmare for almost a year until my Mom found us a place to move into, separating us from them. Despite being away from them, my mind and soul seemed to not have been liberated. Eventually, I ended up having anxiety attacks to depression then multiple suicide attempts. Over time, I have lost the understanding of the American Dream that I dreamt so hard when I was a kid. I didn’t know dreams could shatter you into pieces. However, I remembered how much my parents have given up in order to provide not only a better future for themselves but also for me, their one and only daughter. I have been so blind to the true American Dream—our second chance. With that, I have been dedicating myself to my academics and expanding my knowledge about the world around me and what I can do to help change and improve it. Finally, I was able to prove that I can achieve amazing accomplishments despite my background of winning competitions for Mock Trial and We The People Congressional Debate Team and qualifying for State and as well as graduating as the Class of 2023’s Salutatorian. Now, I am pursuing a career in personal injury law to help other people who have been harmed by the actions of others because I am aware of what it feels like. From my experiences, it is necessary for society to change its way of responding to the problems of the disadvantaged, especially immigrants. We have always been looked down upon as we are not particularly used to foreign surroundings. However, if there is one thing about us immigrants is that we don’t ever give up. Despite how cruel the American Dream is, we have no choice but to persevere and hold onto that dream no matter what as it is our second chance for a better future for ourselves.

“How big would you dream if you knew you could not fail?” Believe it or not, but I actually heard this phrase from TikTok and I could not stop thinking about it. I grew up in the Philippines for almost all my life in the rural side of the country, and I was not surrounded by particularly the best of influences. Just upstairs from where we were living at that time, there was a person who would get drunk quite often and had given up on pursuing education and finding a job. On the other hand, by the sides of our house were people who would do drugs and sell stolen goods. Nevertheless, I still took it within myself to hope—to dream for a better future for myself and for my parents as well. Ever since I was young, I have always wanted to help the people around me in the best way I could, especially coming from such an environment. I have seen people who have let down their talents and capabilities just because there were not enough opportunities and resources given to them. As a kid, I have always looked up to the lawyers I’ve seen on television. Other than the cool suits and sassy attitudes, I have always admired their confidence and determination to help those in need. Since then, I have always wanted to pursue a career in law; however, from where I came from, it seemed impossible for me to achieve such a goal, yet that never stopped me from dreaming big despite the fear of failing until life started to give me an opportunity. Six years ago, my parents and I moved from the Philippines to the United States after years of waiting for our passports to be approved. At first, I was looking forward to embarking upon a new journey in life; yet I never realized that life was never going to be that easy. I had trouble adjusting to the new language, culture, and overall surroundings. Our first few years here were off to a rocky start as my parents and I lived in an abusive household here, which left us in shambles. Eventually, I ended up having anxiety attacks to depression then multiple suicide attempts. I was so blinded by my fears that I forgot to remember my dreams—I forgot to dream big, to dream of the wildest dreams. I forgot that my younger self wanted to become a lawyer and eventually a judge. Since then, despite my disadvantages, I have dedicated myself to focusing on my education. I got enrolled in a law preparatory high school to hone my skills further and even joined our Mock Trial team and We The People Congressional Debate Team, both winning regionals in high standing and qualifying for state. Now, as I head on to college for my undergraduate, I will be majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Psychology as well as planning on expanding my knowledge and experience in personal injury by working in a personal injury law firm. All of this to make my dream into reality. The dream of being able to help not only the people in need here in the United States but also those in the Philippines who don't get the same opportunities and resources as we do. So, how big would I dream if I knew I could not fail? Big enough to not be afraid of failing.

There is a saying that goes, “Your trauma is not your fault, but healing is your responsibility.” However, it was a shame that nobody said this to my 13-year-old self as, at that time, I thought that I needed—that it was my responsibility to punish myself for the actions of others. I grew up in the Philippines for almost all my life until six years ago, when my parents and I moved to the United States to embark on a new life journey. The idea of starting from the beginning was intimidating yet thrilling at the same time. I was in several sports back in the Philippines, such as rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, and ballet. I assumed that my liking for sports had led me to not cower from challenges and face them head-on, so I was looking forward to starting anew in a foreign country. Little did I know life had something more for me. Our first year in the United States has been struggles and suffering. Of course, we had trouble adjusting to the new culture, language, and overall surroundings. However, there was more to it than that; we were, unfortunately, unlucky to get entangled with an abusive household. We were living with a family member then, but things did not go how we planned. They were being emotionally and physically abusive to each other, and we were left with no choice but to hide in our rooms—our little bubble. For the very first time in my life, I had to cower away from challenges. We hid in that little bubble for a year until my parents could save up to move into a small place for us to live in. However, my mind seemed not to have been liberated from that place ever since. My experience in that place has left me with depression, anxiety attacks, and multiple suicide attempts. Nevertheless, my parents and I worked with each other to help me get better, and it worked, though it took a few years to do so. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and convinced myself to trust the people there, such as volunteering at my local library. From my time there, I have worked helping out with the activity for kids, and as I quietly observed these little angels, I realized how innocent and fragile they were—just as I was a few years ago, crying and hiding inside the bathroom as I hid away from the screams. At that moment, I realized that I had been punishing myself for other people’s mistakes and that I ended up making one myself: not realizing my worth. Through volunteering, I have opened my eyes to see that if I break out from the chains restricting me from going above and beyond, then the abilities I possess are more than enough to surprise even myself. As I realized my actual value, I saw the potential that I could excel in a career in law, and I have been working towards that goal ever since. Now, why do I need this scholarship? Well, it is to help invest in my education—my capabilities- to repay my debt. You see, my parents have given up a lot to provide me with a better future here in the United States, and I was too blind to see and was selfish enough to even think about leaving them behind here. Since then, I have taken it upon myself to ensure that I pay them back for the burden that I have been recently to them. After all, they have helped me with my healing journey.

Aristotle once said, “Education is the best provision for life’s journey.” Education has always been one of my priorities as a young immigrant. My parents and I grew up in the Philippines until six years ago when we moved to the United States, and I have seen the differences in both countries. I lived in the rural side of the Philippines, and we did not have many resources nor opportunities as compared to others. I have witnessed people drop their education for the sake of providing for themselves and their families despite the capabilities they have to accomplish amazing things in life. People would have given others a ride using motorized tricycles as a form of their financial income, which would result in not being able to earn much; however, they bear within themselves such a talent to be able to go much more above and beyond than where they are currently at. It is at that moment that I realized the importance of education and if utilized correctly and earnestly would be able to bring you wonderful paths. From there on, I dedicated myself to making sure I work on the education I need to be able to help others, especially my family back in the Philippines. So, what exactly excites me about college? Well, it is the idea of being able to expand my knowledge to learn more about the world around me and what I can do to bring changes and improvements to it. You see, I am pursuing a career in law in the hopes of becoming a well-efficient lawyer, then a judge. I have seen how others have been trampled and hurt by the actions of others, and I intend to help them in the best way I can. So, being in college—being able to gain more of an understanding of how the order works and how to use it to be of service to those in need is what excites me about college. Now, how would I plan on maintaining a healthy mind, body, and soul amidst the challenges I would face in school? For my body, I plan to use every resource my college plan to provide me, such as their gym. I have been working on my fitness for a while now, especially being active in sports, and I intend to continue to do so in college. Next, as for someone who struggles with depression and anxiety attacks, a little break every now and then would do me a great favor, such as spending time with my family and going to counseling as given by my school. Lastly, for my soul, one thing that truly makes me feel alive and happy is dancing. You see, I have always been dancing my whole life ever since I was a kid. From ballet to rhythmic gymnastics then to cheerleading. So, for college, I am interested in joining their dance team to carry on with my passion. “The best way to predict the future is to create it,” Abraham Lincoln once said, and it is within my hopes to create a future where I have an education help me to provide for my family and others in need.

The question asks me to talk about myself. Well, I grew up in the rural side of the Philippines for fourteen years until moving to the United States six years ago. Life back then was not easy. We could not enjoy many people’s resources, such as basic needs like electricity or water. When I was still young, I already learned how to pump water to take a shower and deal with power outages for an extended period. However, despite such disadvantaged circumstances, I never backed down from a challenge. Despite being sick often because of pneumonia, I still focused on my academics, only having A’s and B’s. I participated in extracurriculars, such as aerial silk, art, modeling, and many more. Adding onto that, I was also in rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, and folk dancing competitions—even earning a few bucks to help provide for my family. That was until life started to change for me. My parents and I finally moved to the United States six years ago. At first, I was excited to embark upon a new journey in life. Little did I know it was going to take much work. We struggled to adjust to the new surroundings, language, and culture. It would have been nice if our financial situation had been better. We decided to put an end to my sports in order to save money. Imagine having to let go of something that has given you a purpose—that has given you life. It was a heartbreaking and devastating decision; however, I was also aware of the many things my parents had to give up to give me a better life. Again, one thing about me is that I do not back down from a challenge. One phrase I often hear in the United States is, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” When life prevented me from excelling in sports, I chose to excel in my education. As I am pursuing a career in law, I decided to start working on that goal by enrolling in a law magnet high school and focusing on my studies. I was also a part of our varsity cheerleading team and joined competitive teams, such as our We The People Congressional Debate Team and Mock Trial Team. For both of those teams, we were able to win regionals in high standings and even qualify for state competition. Lastly, my high school hard work and dedication were repaid by graduating as the Class of 2023’s Salutatorian. As an upcoming undergraduate majoring in Criminal Justice, I intend to do whatever it takes to reach my endgame—to become a lawyer and, eventually, a judge. This is because, after experiencing my experiences, I have realized how there are people out there falling victim to the actions of others and thinking that there is no one to protect or defend them. However, I intend to prove them wrong and show them that others, such as myself, are willing to lend a helping hand. Adding onto that, I also plan on being able to help provide for my family in the Philippines, who are unable to enjoy the resources and opportunities that I am lucky to have. However, I am met with a familiar adversary: finances. So, now the question asks how I would use the money to create a better life. I intend to use this money to help support my education to a pathway that leads to helping those in need and also to be able to provide for my family. All in the vision of creating improved lives.

As Bella Blueu once said, "Your body holds deep wisdom. Trust in it. Learn from it. Nourish it. Watch your life transform and be healthy." In my 19 years of living, I only realized the importance of managing one's wellness in my senior year of high school. It was only when my body and mind started breaking down before my eyes that I finally learned. As a determined and goal-driven student, I had plans I intended to fulfill and accomplish. For my last year of high school, I took about five AP and two law magnet classes. I also participated in our varsity cheerleading team and two other competitive teams, including our We The People Congressional Debate Team and Mock Trial. These were challenging tasks. For cheerleading, I would be at games cheering every day until around 9 pm, leading me to stay at school until the game started. For my We The People Congressional Debate and Mock Trial, we occasionally had all-day practices, which resulted in me missing many of my classes. I needed to pass these classes as I could not afford to have a B and ruin my four years' worth of hard work. When I got home, I barely ate dinner because I had to study and do my homework for the next day's classes. I would be up until around 4:30 in the morning, giving me at least 30 minutes of sleep since I would have to get ready for school—and the loop starts again. Over time, my body started breaking down. I felt sick coming to school every day, vomiting day in and day out. I started getting sick more often, and I could not concentrate on the work I needed. My anxiety attacks and depression started to worsen, even returning to my self-harm. When life seemed to have been going downhill fast for me, I realized something was wrong—something was wrong in how I was treating my personal wellness. Since then, I tried to treat myself better, giving myself breaks and ensuring I sleep and eat healthy. It was at that point that I saw improvements in my health. I felt refreshed and prepared to face any challenges life gave me. From there, as I started to love my body and mind more, I started seeing results fast, such as winning competitions for our We The People Congressional Debate Team and Mock Trial and even qualifying for State competitions. Last but not least, I also graduated as the Class of 2023's Salutatorian, the person with the second-highest GPA. Now, how do I intend to continue this while I attend college? It has been brought to my attention that there is a gym in my college, and I plan on utilizing every resource I can get. So, as I proceed with my undergraduate duties and working and doing extracurriculars, I also plan on prioritizing my physical, mental, and emotional health as they help determine my daily performance by using their gym at every chance I get. Lalah Delia quotes, "Self-care is how you take your power back," I intend to be more powerful than the person I was yesterday with the help of my personal wellness.

America is a land full of opportunities—even freedom. My younger self has always dreamt of being able to live in such a seemingly wonderful country. Six years ago, when I discovered that my parents and I were moving from the Philippines to the United States, I lay on my bed dreaming of the beautiful things I could do there. One of them is enjoying the American dream school life—the ones I have been watching on TV. Little did I know that behind that dream was a place covered in tragic red. I remember being in my Trial Advocacy class when I asked the teacher to excuse me for going to the restroom. As I arrived at my destination, I walked into one of the stalls, closed the door behind me, and went to do my business. However, as I looked up, I was surprised to see what I saw. A threat was written on my stall’s door, saying someone would shoot up the school. Of course, my first thought was to report this to the teacher, and the school locked down that restroom. I have made my other peers aware of such a threat, and surprisingly, they never seemed so bothered about it, and I am not going to lie; I felt the same too. During my time in high school, school shooting threats seemed to have been a common occurrence among the students. That should not be the case at all. Just as Fred Blackwell said, “We cannot treat gun violence like it is somebody else’s issue.” Furthermore, that is what this issue is being treated as. This should not be normal for students nowadays. We have seen how gun violence has affected schools and is not slowing down. But, it is within me that I can hope to give justice to those red-stained floors. Ever since I was young, I have always looked up to my uncle, who is a lawyer. He made me want to become a lawyer myself as well. I just admired the thought of being able to help those in need—those who have fallen victim to the actions of others. All this time, I perceived the law as a form of protector for today’s society. However, I am not seeing the law being served or used as a shield against those bullets directed at young kids, and I intend to change that. As I pursue a career in law, I plan on reforming and improving our gun laws so that we can make a change in the future. A future where students neither fear for their lives because of shootings nor find school shooting threats a part of their norm. A school should be a place to learn how to have a better future, not a place where kids are being torn from their future. I would love to see myself continue my extracurriculars in the future, such as dance, cheerleading, and even mock trial. You see, back in the Philippines, I was a competitive Rhythmic Gymnast for a while, and when I moved to the United States, I became a varsity cheerleader in my high school and even joined Mock Trial. Moreover, I do not plan on having an insolent individual decide my future with a bullet. Former President Barack Obama once said, “We know we cannot stop every act of violence, every act of evil in the world, but maybe we could try to stop one act of evil, one act of violence,” and I want to help stop this one act of violence.

If someone were to tell me six years ago that I would be in the United States, living life with my parents and even graduating as Salutatorian for the Class of 2023, I would not believe it—not one bit. You see, I never took my academics that seriously back in the Philippines. In a way, I did take my education earnestly enough, considering that I was not necessarily in a situation where I could just be reckless and drop school. I just realized that I had more passion for other things instead. I thought since I was excelling in Rhythmic Gymnastics and even earning a few bucks for it that, I would be able to help provide for my family. Not only that, but I also excelled in multiple other sports, such as swimming and badminton. However, when my parents and I finally moved to the United States, I could not continue my sports and activities due to our financial circumstances at that time. It felt like a piece of myself was ripped out of me so mercilessly; despite how young I was, I could see how much my parents had sacrificed to have us move from the poor conditions in the Philippines to a much brighter future here in the United States. No matter how devastating it was to give up my hard work and dedication, I diverted this passion to my education instead. As someone relatively new to the country, I was not used to the language and the overall culture here. It felt like no matter how hard I tried, I could never seem to fit in. Moreover, let me tell you, that messes with one’s psyche, and it sure did mess with mine. This significant change in my life has led me to develop an anxiety disorder, depression, and even multiple suicide attempts. At that dark moment in my life, as I continuously try to give my life up, I have failed to remember how much my parents have given up to get me here. I was their one and only baby girl, and I was being selfish. From then on, I decided to pull myself together and prioritize my dreams and goals, and I remember I wanted to pursue a career in law—to become a judge that serves justice. With this in mind, I even enrolled in a law magnet program to continue to hone my skills to become a better lawyer. I want to be able to help and provide for the people in need, as well as my parents and my family back in my home country, who do not get to enjoy the same opportunities and resources we get in the United States.

It was the year 2013 when typhoon Yolanda, which is reportedly one of the most destructive typhoons, hit the Philippines, and unfortunately, my family and I happened to get caught up in it before my parents and I were lucky enough to move to the United States six years ago. We live in a small rural area in the Philippines, and we did not necessarily get the privilege of enjoying the resources and opportunities we get here in the United States. Back then, we lived in a house with about three families, which was efficient for our financial situation. I remember having to face problems with electricity—having power outages as a common occurrence. As a kid, I learned how to adjust and adapt in the dark to be able to do homework for school. We would also have our water line cut off quite often, having us pump water out to get ready for the day. When we were made aware that typhoon Yolanda would hit us, I thought we were more than ready to face such a threat. As my family and I did the regular packing to get ready for this typhoon, I made sure to bring the things and the necessities I needed for school because as much as this typhoon can change a life, I am not going to let it take away my education—one of the only keys out from poverty for my family and me. Little did we know that the typhoon was no ordinary one. As we stayed upstairs away from the chaos enveloping our house, living room, and bedroom—our whole line of hard work- we were kept safe upstairs. I remember the terror I felt when I first heard the roaring sound of the winds, how the woods started creaking everywhere around us, and how we were surrounded by darkness. I remember praying to keep my family safe and calming myself and my cousins. The next day when the typhoon started to calm down for a bit, I was more than relieved to return to the comforts of my home… a home that was so horribly wrecked. All we felt was devastation as we saw everything—the typhoon destroyed most of our things, crops, and much more. Everything we worked hard for day and night was just down the drain. However, I was determined to help us out of this catastrophe. Despite being unable to have money, I gave my blood, sweat, and tears to excel in sports. I was a part of the NOPSSCEA team for Rhythmic Gymnastics, and I managed to get paid for the hard work I put into our competitions. With that, I could at least help my parents with our finances. With that, I managed to take in a mindset of seeing the importance of education to be able to reach a bright and stable future. I have seen multiple young kids give up their school to ask for change by the side of the street despite having the ability to succeed. This is why when we got the opportunity to live in the United States. I made sure to use every resource that was given to me and took my education seriously, which eventually led me to graduate as the Class of 2023’s Salutatorian, pursuing a career in law. Just as Viktor Yanukovych once said, “I came from a poor family, and my main dream in life was to break out of this poverty,” and I intend to provide a better life for my parents and family back in the Philippines.

The question asks what kind of career I’m planning on exploring in college. Well, this brings me back to when I was a young kid, watching this TV show called “Suits.” You see, if you are not familiar with this, it is a series revolving around lawyers. Ever since I watched that show, I have always found myself dreaming of becoming one of them. Guaranteed this whole show is unrealistic in a lot of different ways—also portraying lawyers as mean, straightforward, in it for the money, and their infinite amount of smart little comebacks; however, it doesn’t stop a kid from dreaming. Despite the perspective that is being shown, one thing that amuses me without fail upon watching this series is how lawyers are able to help out those in need of protection. Henry Hyde once said, “The law exists to protect the weak from the strong.” So, from there, I have built on working on myself to achieve my goal, of pursuing a career in law and hoping to work as a personal injury lawyer and then to become a judge. It is my goal to be able to help out people who have fallen victim to the actions of others and simply think that there is nothing out there to protect and stand up for them. With that, I enrolled in a law magnet program for high school, joining and winning competitions for our We The People Congressional Debate Team and Mock Trial. I have been honing my skills to become a capable lawyer, expanding my knowledge by joining an internship for a personal injury law firm. Another thing I was involved in was participating in numerous law programs and workshops. By the end of my high school year, I was able to graduate as Salutatorian. All in favor of achieving my dreams and aspirations. Next, the question asks whether or not I believe that this career would bring me fulfillment. Well, I have always been the type of person to want to lend a helping hand to those around me, especially my family and friends. The law can be used in many ways—like a gun pointed at an innocent person, and I intend to be a shield for my loved ones and others. The very idea of being able to be of service to those who need it is by itself fulfilling. Fulfilling my dreams. Fulfilling my goals. Fulfilling what I can do.

Henry Hyde once said, “The law exists to protect the weak from the strong.” Over time, the law has been perceived by society to be one that serves as a shield from injustice and unfairness. However, as time continues to pass, people have been growing smarter, finding their way around the law and instead giving more power to the strong, leaving the weak stranded and lost. My parents and I have only been in the United States for about six years, and we have been here long enough to realize one important thing. One needs to learn how to utilize the cards they are playing in a game to play it well and win. Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in law, so for high school, I decided to learn more and signed up to be an intern for a local personal injury law firm. From there, I observed and took notes and learned from my experience, and I have seen how today’s society has taken advantage of numerous individuals who are not aware that there are laws out there that protect them. I have bear witness to struggling immigrants, like my parents and I, asking for legal representation with complications they have faced as well as multiple other citizens who have fallen victim to the mistakes of bigger corporations. That is what amuses me with personal injury law. In my perspective, they are like this individual who stands up for you when you are getting bullied. As I sat there and observed during my internship, I was touched by how willing they were to help those that are in need of protection and be served justice. My time in this internship has led me to realize that my parents, families, and friends are susceptible to falling victim as well, and I took it with me to protect them from people who take the law against those that are being used by others’ advantage. The idea of having my parents feel powerless, letting other people step on them as they think that there is no such thing that could protect them, haunts me in my dreams, and I wish to never have them go through such an experience. So, the question about what issues I’m passionate about? I’m passionate about protecting, not only my loved ones but also those that are at a disadvantage from the law by using the law. The following question asks how I plan to work towards making a difference in this area. Well, as I plan on pursuing a career in personal injury law and to build upon the idea of serving to give aid to people who have gotten hurt by the actions of others, I am majoring in Criminal Justice for my undergraduate then head towards law school. I also intend to be involved with more law firms that specialize in personal injury to fully widen my knowledge and experience. I intend to do all this to prove what Henry Hyde quote—to prove that the law can protect those that need protection.

Six years ago, my parents and I finally arrived in the United States from the Philippines, and I was thrilled to start a new journey. However, despite being at a young age at that time, I have witnessed the sacrifices that my parents had given just to be able to provide me with a better future. With that, I have dedicated myself to making sure that I get to pay them back one way or the other. As I entered high school, I was set on working to achieve my goals and aspirations. You see, I am pursuing a career in law, so I decided to get enrolled in a high school with a law magnet program. From there, I joined my varsity cheerleading team, the We The People Congressional Debate Team, as well as our competitive Mock Trial Team. My experience with Mock Trial has been an amazing ride. It was the closest I ever got to feeling what it feels like to be a lawyer working on a case. However, as much as the excitement was there, it required a lot of work and patience— a lot of improvement and determination. I have given up a lot of things from myself to work on my mock trial team, but it felt like no matter how much I gave, I didn’t have what it takes to achieve my dream. That realization has broken me more than a million times. However, my Coach saw my doubts and sat me down for a conversation. From there, I was honest and told him that I was starting to lose hope. He smiled and told me, “If you don’t have the confidence in yourself, take some of the confidence I have in you.” Someone who believes that I can achieve my dreams. I was so lost in the doubts and uncertainties that I was blind to the fact that I have people who still hold onto the fact that I can be someone who can do amazing things in the future. Someone who wishes to pay back their parents’ hard work. When one has a dream, one can be unstoppable. From there, I worked to improve myself and my skills day and night, practicing non-stop. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to make myself better. I was determined to be more than who my mind sets myself to be, and then finally our mock trial team was the only team from our high school’s history to ever place in the top 3 for regionals and be qualified to compete for the state. So how do I paint a good example for my children? I show them that I am confident in them to work on themselves and be determined to reach whatever goals they have in mind just as how I was reminded that I have people who back me up—remind you as to why you are doing what you do in the first place.

Jhumpa Lahiri once said, “That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.” In my case, books have helped me travel from the Philippines to the United States to winning competitions for Mock Trial and We The People Congressional Debate Team, and to becoming the Class of 2023’s Salutatorian. Ever since I was a young kid in the Philippines, I have already felt a connection with my heart to books. I would always borrow books from the library every single day without fail from my elementary to middle school days. When I was in high school, the library was a second home to me as I would come in, sit, and read a book. Then, of course, I started saving money, and I was now able to actually purchase my own books of liking. Our minds are like an infinite amount of blank pages, and books are the ones that fill it with words and colors. It is as if in a society full of pain, we can make our own euphoria. The knowledge within those pages can be used in so many wonderful ways, such as by helping impact the world around us. With this, I have done community service at my local library, which I absolutely love. I help with organizing the surroundings for a better working environment for the staff as well as packing books that are being donated or are being shipped to another library. Another would be to help with arranging activities for kids to also be encouraged with reading more books. From this experience, I realized that reading can really play a vital role in helping younger and older generations become knowledgeable about what has happened or what is happening around us. Now, the question is, how do I plan to make a positive impact on the world? Well, as someone who has lived in the Philippines for about 14 years before arriving in the United States six years ago, I have seen quite the difference in the opportunities and resources that we get to have here, especially when it comes to education, as compared to other countries. There are a lot of people there who are capable of doing such amazing things there; however, with limited education, they are unable to achieve such feats, which is why I plan on making a positive impact on the world by helping improve the educational system, such as providing those missing opportunities and resources.

The prompt asks me to talk about myself. Well, where do I begin? My name is Heart, and I’m a young Filipino woman, who has been living in the United States for about six years now. In those six years, I have dedicated myself to building upon who I am to face the future that I aspire to be a part of. My journey here has not been an easy one as my parents and I were fairly new to the community. We faced challenges, such as language barriers, culture shock, and many more. However, if there’s one thing about immigrants is that we don’t back down no matter what. For about 14 years, I have seen my parents and I build a life with ourselves, the people around us, and our home country—the Philippines. Then, six years ago, I watched my parents give everything up to give me a better life. From there, I made a promise to myself not to let their sacrifices go to waste. As much as it pained me to be away from my family, friends, and the overall life I’ve worked hard on, I did not have time to be sulking around and tried to focus on where I am now, who I can be, and what I can prove. From there, I have spent my blood, sweat, and tears to earn myself the education needed to be able to provide a stable future for myself and my parents. With that, I was able to excel in high school, such as having Straight A’s, being picked multiple times for Student of the Month, doing Varsity Cheerleading, winning competitions for Mock Trial and our We The People Congressional Debate Team, and lastly, I was able to graduate as the Class of 2023’s Salutatorian with a GPA of 5.385. You see, one thing about myself as well is that I am very dedicated and goal-driven. If there is one thing that I want to achieve, you can bet that I will give my everything to accomplish it. I am planning on pursuing a career in law—working myself up to being a court judge, which is why I involved myself in my high school’s law magnet program as well as our Mock Trial Team and We The People Congressional Debate Team. All these to hone my abilities and life skills to become a great lawyer and judge. Now, how would I be able to make a positive impact on the world through my career? Well, I plan on saving to be able to help with providing for my family back in the Philippines who are not able to have the resources and opportunities that we get to have in the United States. Another goal I have is to help other immigrants on settling here and being able to have the assets to achieve whatever it is they want to achieve. In a world where discrimination and unfairness are present, there is no harm in lending a helping hand to those that are most disadvantaged in excelling in a society such as the one we have today. So, who am I? Well, just as Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach previously said, “I want to show the world, the universe rather, that I am confidently beautiful with a HEART.”

1) The question asks me to share my story. Where do I begin? Well, it took my parents about three years to have a baby. Finally, on the 17th of October, they had me—their little miracle baby. When they had me, they knew they wanted to name me “Heart" because I came from the deepest parts of their hearts and they wanted me to grow up, touching everyone else’s just as I did theirs. I grew up in the Philippines for about 14 years and did about 12 sports and extracurriculars. I was a ballerina, model, artist, guitarist, swimmer, badminton player, rhythmic gymnast, belly dancer, folk dancer, aerialist, and even acting. I was pretty decent in my academics back in the Philippines as well, having A’s and B’s. However, one thing to take out in my life back then would be that I am a very determined and goal-oriented individual, who is willing to give her blood, sweat, and tears to achieve her dreams. 2) Six years ago, my parents and I moved to the States from the Philippines. In our first year, we lived with our uncle and his family. As immigrants, we were prepared to face whatever challenges such as culture shock and language barriers. Little did we know, those were the least of our concerns. We got trapped in what they call a “toxic” household with my uncle. If I were to describe my experience in that house it would be words like controlling, abusive, and high sets of expectations. If we were ever to disappoint such expectations, we would get hurt. As we were new here, we had no power to back ourselves up and leave such a household. We were left to endure it for a year until we finally were able to save up and move. Despite being able to leave, I was heavily impacted by it. A year I took in their mindset that if I ever have not met expectations, I should be punished for it. I applied such a thought in my academics, setting a standard for myself of only having Straight A’s. If I were to have anything lower than an A, I resorted to self-harm. This led to the worsening of my depression, which eventually led to multiple suicidal attempts. So, what has life been like as an immigrant? Difficult. However, one thing about us immigrants is that we don’t back down. 3) I learned about myself and my family. Filipinos have been known to persevere in every task that we do, and it has been proven true in my experience here. America is no easy place, and I almost succumbed to its hardship not until I remembered who I can be—I am a proud Filipino woman. Upon that realization came a lot of achievements. In just six years here, I have achieved Straight A’s, been picked as Student of the Month, won competitions for Mock Trial and our We The People Congressional Debate Team, and lastly, I graduated as the Class of 2023’s Salutatorian. 4) This journey was no easy one. However, it would be a lie to say I didn’t realize a few things in it as well. As someone who was enrolled in a law magnet program for high school, it has helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in law and be a federal court judge as well. Also, I want to have a stable job to provide for my parents and family back in the Philippines who don’t get to enjoy the same resources I have here in the United States.

"Our Salutatorian earned a remarkable weighted GPA this year out of a class of 525 students, earning a GPA of 5.385. Please join me in congratulating Heart Aiene Tabusares," they announced. Just like that, the crowd's applause booms through the arena as I walk towards the podium, realizing that after four years of blood, sweat, and a lot of tears, I have finally made it. Being Salutatorian is one of my greatest achievements to date. Not only is it because my hard work has been prized with such a feat, but also that I was able to prove to those who did not believe that I can succeed that I absolutely can. Six years ago, my parents and I moved to the United States from the Philippines. We were like babies, finally opening our eyes to the world and seeing its wonder. Of course, the journey to where we are now was not easy. We just wanted to live a normal life and settle in without any complications. However, little did they know I still carried a flame of motivation within me just as I excelled in multiple extracurricular activities back in the Philippines. When I was still in middle school, my friends told me that once I enter high school that it would be impossible to have Straight A's. There was something within me that day that had the feeling that I wanted to prove them wrong. No, I needed to prove them wrong and I can. Once high school rolled around, I worked relentlessly, proving to them and myself that I am more than capable enough to dream big despite being at a disadvantage. English was not my first language. The culture was different compared back to my home country. It was as if I was stepping on the Moon. Despite that, I still kept on pushing my odds. In my freshman year, I was ranked fourth in my class. Then for sophomore year, my class rank went from fourth to third. So close. I was so close. Junior year comes in, and it just started going downhill from there. My depression got worse, and I was getting overwhelmed with everything that it bled through my grades. I started having B's, and it brought my class rank to 7th then back up to 5th. I only have about a year left to put my rank up, and it must have seemed impossible for others. Not me, though. I went to my counselor and told her that I was still determined to be in the top rankings, so we worked through it and decided to further drown myself for senior year by taking five more AP classes. I wanted to take more, but I needed to save space for my two magnet law classes. After a year, I finally raised my rank to Salutatorian. So, the question now is, what did this experience teach me about myself? Well, it is a fact that once I just put my mind to it, I can achieve anything and everything that I wish to accomplish. In my four years of high school, I realized that there was more in myself that I have yet to discover; one of them being the fact that I am very determined and goal-oriented. Other than that, I also realize one thing: all I do is for my parents. I have seen how much they have given up just so they can guarantee a bright future for me. Because of that, I have made a vow to myself that I will return the favor to them a million folds. With this, I wish to achieve even better things in the future as I hone my life skills and abilities to be of better use. You see, I am aspiring to become a judge, and I am working my way there. I plan to save a lot of money with my job occupation, so I can help my parents and family back in the Philippines who don't get to enjoy the opportunities and resources we have here in the United States.

The world darkens around me. Well, at least that was what it felt like—as if the world was draining out of its color. Everything around me starts to blur out, and I can’t decipher what my classmates around me were saying. My eyes are glued shut on the wooden-like table before me, and my hands are wrapped around my phone as if it’s the only thing that is keeping me from going insane. I was in the suicide prevention lifeline chat. They do their little protocol, asking me what has been bothering me and if I am in any danger to myself. Never in my life did I ever find it difficult to type a word: yes. Of course, they start to ask me questions as to why I particularly feel this way—why I particularly feel as if life is a sword pierced through my sake of reality. “I have a B,” I responded. Can’t you believe it? A letter has proven my soul to be weak and my mind fragile. A letter that pushes me towards the feeling of nothingness and utter despair. A letter that seemed to have spoken millions of words, explaining to me that I am completely worthless. I guess that is what getting stuck in an abusive household does to you. Living day after day in fear of what is to be done to you if your grade ever goes lower than an A. My parents and I moved to the United States six years ago from the Philippines, and we decided to live with my uncle and his family until we fully settled in. Back then, we thought of this as a great idea as not only would we be able to find a place to live in temporarily but we also found a family source to be with. Little did we know we would be met with a suffocating room and facing a fear like no other. At least that was what it felt like to me living in that house. Despair and bottled-up anxiety. There was nothing but high standards within that household and if it were anything lower than that, they would be faced by my uncle’s wrath—and boy was it a painful one. Thankfully, for what felt like ages, we were able to move out from them. It was as if a bird was finally being set free from its cages. However, we should have known things weren’t just going to get better in a snap of a finger. They still followed us like nightmares. There was not a day where we were judged, ridiculed, and looked down upon. They reminded us without fail that we would not be able to accomplish anything without their help and for a while we actually believed them. It was as if despite the bird being free, its wings had already been cut off. A few months later, I started following their ways. I set high expectations for myself, tying my worth to things that I can find validation in, such as grades. I became hard on myself. So hard that my heart beat for nothing but my ability to have straight A’s. Every time I had anything lower than that, I would feel the need to beat myself up as if I had committed a grave mistake. At the sight of a B for a grade, I find myself back in my uncle’s bathroom, crying on the floor as I listen to scream after scream. That was how I started to develop anxiety attacks, then depression, then self-harm, then multiple suicide attempts. Now, going back to the part where the world was finally ending around me, the person I was in chat with for the suicidal prevention lifeline chat told me to tell my parents that I needed to be admitted into a hospital as soon as possible. Never in my six years of living here have I admitted to my parents that I need help. The thought of that gives shivers down my spine. However, it also felt like something that I needed to do. Just like that, my parents were understanding enough to realize that I need medical help for my tendencies and they cooperated with me every step of the way. Moments like this where I open my eyes to the realization that I have narrowed my life’s purpose to a letter that I forgot to look at my parents who have always been there for me no matter what. My image of life has been locked back in my uncle’s house where you deserve love if you have great accomplishments that I blind myself to a family who would accept me no matter what. Although the journey to recovery has not been easy even up to this day, my parents stuck beside me. I momentarily forgot that that is what unconditional love is. At least that was what it felt like to me. It was also then that I realized that I needed to prove them wrong. Despite our wings being taken away from us, we can always find another way to fly. Just like that, people give praise to my Mom for her hard work and dedication with having to work two jobs in the medical field. My Dad is highly respected in his workplace as well, even being promoted to a higher position. Of course, there was me as well: Class of 2023’s Salutatorian as well as other accomplishments for being in the Competitive Mock Trial Team, We The People Congressional Debate Team, and the Varsity Cheerleading Team for my high school. Day after day, my parents and I proved to them that we don’t need them to survive in this world. So, how did my mental health shape my understanding of the world? They helped me shape who I am and who I will be in the future. One who sees the color in the world around me.

As I landed in the United States six years ago, I left behind a tale worth 14 years back in my home country, the Philippines. As a 14-year-old, stepping on foreign lands for the first time, I saw America as the land of opportunity—where I could fulfill my dreams. However, after living here for a while, I realized there is more to America than meets the eye. It is the land of hard work and perseverance. Many times I have felt like the air was too suffocating, the land too unfamiliar, the language hard to understand, and the culture hard to adapt to. As a young kid, I had spent days and nights missing the sense of home, crying to sleep, calling my families and friends in the Philippines, and feeling ousted by society. I had been made fun of with the way I looked, the way I dressed, the way I acted, and the way I talked. Eventually, I started to lose a sense of identity and forgot who I was as I broke and bent myself over to feel connected and one with the people around me. I was met with bad decisions in every corner I turned to until I realized I was drifting away from who I was: a proud Filipino. I mended my ways, reflected on my wrongdoings, and learned from my bad decisions. I broke through the sense of being unable to fit in a place like this and became confident in myself. See, the problem was not because I had moved here to the United States and was shocked by how culturally different it is from home, but it was the fact that I lost sight of the value I possess. Ever since that self-realization, I have been through above and beyond expectations. I was in the law magnet program for my high school, had straight A's, won competitions for our We The People Congressional Debate Team and Mock Trial, and was acknowledged as a Distinguished Student for the Law Program and the World Language Department. Lastly, I am also the Salutatorian for the graduating Class of 2023. This is all because I realized what I am capable of doing once I accept who I truly am. Sometimes, there is comfort in knowing someone is there for you, willing to lend a helping hand no matter the hardship. If I were to have the money and the resources, I would help build towards a plan for a project wherein immigrants are to be aided with adjusting and adapting to the States. This program entails an immigrant being partnered with a knowledgeable individual who can help give the resources and the tips on how to survive on foreign grounds, but, most significantly, to be a friend. Applications would be set up on an online website, which also includes information about what services can be provided for them, such as helping them adjust to the English language, setting up apartments or houses, and helping them with their mental health. Hopefully, this program will be spread throughout the states so that they can help these immigrants in person if the opportunity is there. Otherwise, online services would be more than helpful as well. Six years ago, it felt like I was the only one fighting a hopeless battle. Now, I wish to the sun and ground for no one to face such obstacles alone.

In my 13 years of life in the Philippines, the United States just seemed like a dream that was impossible to reach. However, everything changed when about six years ago we were able to officially go to Las Vegas as permanent residents. Of course, as my parents and I were new to the surroundings we had to live with another family member for about a year. What can go wrong, right? Little did we know that one year would lead to a nightmare that will haunt us for the rest of our lives. We accepted their offer as if we had any choice, to begin with, to live with them for the time being while we save our money and look for another place to live. As they were our relatives, we thought everything was going to go smoothly. It all changed when we realized just how utterly toxic that household was. My uncle was physically and mentally abusive towards his wife and two kids, and my aunt was mentally abusive. However, my trauma mostly stems from my uncle's abuse. Excelling academically and athletically were two of the most prioritized within that household, and they took such matters very seriously. If the kids were to ever get a grade lower than 100 or if they were ever to lose in a taekwondo tournament, a painful demise and beating awaits them. There is this room called the "office," wherein the kids would get called up there by my uncle. Usually, they would get called up if my uncle wanted to talk about their grades but it ended up being a nightmare for not only the kids but also for myself. Every time they get a grade lower than 100, he would call them up, and I can still remember the screams and cries from these younglings. I remember I would hide in the bathroom every time my uncle would go to his eldest son's room, and I would just hear utter chaos. All of these are for a low A. Just as I could feel myself on the verge of completely breaking down, my parents were able to successfully find a new place for us to live in. However, the damage had already been done. I took in their mentality and have been hard on myself regarding my academics and extracurriculars. I fought hard trying to keep up with my Straight A's until I had my first B during my junior year of high school. My mental health declined at a rapid pace, leading me to have anxiety attacks and depressive episodes. I have been in and out with therapists and have been admitted to the mental hospital after attempting to commit suicide. A year living in an environment such as that had broken me into pieces that I just don't think I can ever fix. Nonetheless, this did not stop me from finding new meaning in life and slowly stripping my self-identity away from my grades and focusing on who I truly am and what I'm capable of. It is after this that I realize I have a strong passion for law and helping out my parents as much as I could. I wanted to be there for them just as how they were there for me. This is where I realize how important my mental health is because I realized later on that I do not deserve to feel in disgust with myself for a fault that was not mine to deal with. By being aware of my mental health, I can realize my worth.