Over the years that I was in high school, I attended two different ones, and at each one, I tried my best to make a difference that others would be able to benefit from. The first one was in the Rio Grande valley, and during my time there I have involved in my nature and conservation club as well as the Leo club. The clubs that I were involved in did multiple volunteer opportunities for the community as well as the region that I lived in. For the environment we helped manage a reforestation initiative where we helped plant around 500 trees in an effort to combat the deforestation occurring around the globe. Another initiative that we undertook was a beach clean-up on south padre island, tx, where we cleaned up a lot of the messes that families and college students had been leaving behind during there spring breaks. We also made this to make it more enjoyable for the people coming onto the beach, and help the local wildlife so they didn't eat or get entangled in human's trash or food scrapings. There were some other community events we did, where we would collect non-parishables or do a garage sell to make money for the school so we could help buy books. In the leo club, we also did some food drives and clothing drives, one I led was called the Teens For Jean Drive which was a campaign done with AeroPastel and DoSomething to provide local young youth with jeans/pants that don't have the financial capabilities to be able to get it for themselves. This wasn't only to help them get the clothing they so needed, but also to help raise awareness of the need for simple things that people needed to get clothing or even toiletries, which was something we also did. We rana drive to help support local women who needed toiletries, because a lot of people in the area at local shelters needed a more bulky supply of them to help support the local community of young ladies and women who didn't have the money to get them. At my school that I moved to senior year was in the dallas area, and at this school we also had an environmental movement going on. Within it we planted some trees and flowers around campus, and had the opportunity to use recycled materials to create some cool ornaments around the holidays. We also had some opportunities as a student body to help support all sort of drives from food, to toys, and so on. I felt this as a great way to get an outreach at my school, since we did have a larger student body as a 6a school, and it did help to have more support there. Overall, as I move on to my first year in college, I'm getting to know my community more around where I have gone, and I have realized that anywhere I go there is something I could help with. It doesn't even have to be a big gesture, but something as small as giving a little help to someone who is shivering in the cold could make that much a difference or offering someone some emotional support if they are struggling. That is what I hope to continue to do, even if it means giving up something, that is just a part of life and I'd like to help in whatever way I can.

Creativity isn't just how an artistic mind perceives the world, but how any mind can problem-solve or create an idea from scratch. This shows just how important imagination is to the creation of all sorts of inventions, such as new food or new medicine. One way that my creativity and experiences as a Latina led me to Architecture was when I first learned about it, at a parent-job day at my school in fourth grade, and one of the parents taught us about their job in architecture and I became very interested. Once I had researched it and I wanted to go see some of the older more well-known structures in existence, but unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to go see them, but in my own way I want to be able to create places that people who are less fortunate can have access too. From this though, I realized I wanted to build something that would last for millennia and that other people could draw inspiration. I choose this career because I loved learning about how the bounds of whatever building I wanted to create were limited only by how much the mind wandered. Architecture is a sort of creative art form that can be used in all sorts of ways either for education, work, home life, or even music. I would like to learn how to create places that can help expand the minds of those within or see them. A place where they can feel comfortable expressing themselves in any work or education setting, and a place that helps them open up to their creative side or even their own cultural aspects. As a Latina in architecture, I would want to better express the different styles of architecture that Latin countries have evolved over time. Not only for me to be proud of but for my family and friends to be proud of and know that I created that, even if it only lasts for a few generations. I was adopted at a young age, and as a first-generation Latina college student in my own right, I want to be able to pave the way for young women who are trying to make their own way in the world, who don't know entirely where they come from but hope to lay down the roots for those to follow. I have learned so far that having mentors who have the same goals as I do have helped me keep my convictions on the right track, and have helped me stay focused on a creative path. Throughout my life, people had told me that my goals were unrealistic, but I ended up making it to where I wanted, and even though I try there is still a constant struggle within myself, because as people say you are your own worst critic, but through the support of my family and friends, as well as my fellow peers I have been able to keep pushing along just as Selena did.

Everyone has the book that makes them go Olala in the back of their minds whenever it is mentioned. In the book Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë we are introduced to a world where women must find their way in the most tumulus times during history, in order to show that willpower can raise us up, ultimately showing us this is a book worth picking up! This book shows us the importance of how we can be at our deepest points, like how Jane was treated at the orphanage as she was bullied and lost friends to disease, she found a way through it. Showing us the importance of moving past grief and torment. In another part of the story, whenever she learns to love and how overtime it has it’s bumps and obstacles, in the end it worked out. This shows us the importance of family as relationships. This book by Bontë shows us that Janes strong qualities to squander the societal norms and push through life against all obstacles, was what made her into the person she ended up becoming by the end of the book, and that we all have the potential to be great. Ultimately showing that Jane Eyre is a book full of life lessons that can be put into practice, even in today’s modern world.

Throughout my years of being a student in the traditional public school system has been quite banazas. Not only did I experience many different school districts but I had many times over the years where some of my teachers cared or some didn’t care whether we did good or not. I would say one change that would make education better would be to have more inclusive classroom settings in which some teachers will be able to intermingle their classrooms instead of being separate but also in a way that isn’t in a normal classroom setup but in a more sensible homey feeling environment in which the students feel more comfortable speaking to others and engaging in activities that are designed to be teachable but also fun. I would say that tests shouldn’t be given as much but in a more one on one basis where students are graded on their past tests and improvement, and the teachers would be able to compare students based on personal tests in which they could grade based on a system where students are taught in different ways based of off what will better improve their grades such as are they more of a visual learner or more hands on learner? do they like watching videos more or engaging in classroom discussions? do they like to be rewarded or do they expect to be challenged all the time? All in all, I believe a system like this could better improve how much better the students would engage in school as well as provide them with a more specific need based environment that isn’t just generalized but more centralized on the type of learner they are. I feel that this sort of system would take years to perfect but overall it would be much better for future generations by improving their educational level overall and grades, and maybe even help them become more comfortable with college and in their careers later down the line.

One person that I really admire is Chris Downey who is a blind architect who is continuing to revolutionize how architects approach projects and in the long run his blindness has helped him connect on a deeper level to the environment around him and better improve public spaces for the blind. One of his projects at a medical facility will help improve the rehabilitation for vision loss patients by including materials in the design that can help them navigate the space better and better lighting. Another way he helped improve public spaces was at a transportation docking station for a train by changing the textures of the concrete and inlaying grooves for people to use the walking cane across to get to the right station. Even though he had obstacles with his blindness to overcome he turned his so called weakness into a strength that not only improved his quality of life but also for visually impaired individuals as well. My hope is that I can follow in his footsteps and improve the lives of every person with architecture, whether they are visually impaired, deaf, depressed, going through financial troubles, or any life obstacles by providing them public spaces that will hopefully improve their overall outlook on their lives.

Applying for college is like searching for what to wear for the day, it seems pretty simple but so many question run through your mind. What will i be doing? Who will probably wear something like this? Is this too formal or casual? What even is this doing in my closet? Every single decision we make will affect our outlook on the day, and money is also a factor that determines how we will live our lives. So when applying to colleges we also take into account, will i be able to afford this? can i make the payment that is needed? do i need to get a loan? One big piece of advice I received was to research what my school offered in scholarships that I could apply for, as well as what financial aid i could receive based on my income. I was able to find scholarships I could apply to and more specifically for my degree that would offer me the opportunity to cover some of the college finances. But this isn’t about me this is about the financial needs everyone needs, so the best thing to do would be to research how to improve your economics by investing, saving, and spending to improve your quality of life. Another way you could do this more specifically is by take into account your income and how much your paying for bills or other expenses, make a graph of how much you need to spend and how much you don’t. Once you figure this out you can pick out things that you be an improve on and invest that money in stocks or put away in a savings account. These are just some ways that research helped me improve my finances overall.

BRRRrummm, the car looses its speed as the car slows to a stop, the gas meter reads zero. One major problem facing the world right now is the gas prices in many places across the world, and many people are struggling to have enough to pay for it. That includes getting from one place to another and back. We all use transportation in our day to day lives to get to work, to school, or to the food market. However with the shortage of supplies to be distributed by major gas companies, and the ongoing Ukrainian War, we are loosing a valuable commodity. One way that we could try to work on this problem would be to switch over to electric cars that are more environmentally friendly, but also make them to where they are affordable enough for the lower income households. That includes big companies like Tesla making changes to their production lines and pricing to match the buyer market that will be trying to switch over. This would also offer the world the opportunity to start truly caring about the planet that will not only have a positive impact on the environment but provide future generations the stability to use renewable resources more in the future. The option i choose not only will help us slowly transition over to a more sustainable option but will help us overcome the gas prices by hopefully lowering them as more people level out the playing field when it comes to consumption of the gas in our day to day lives around the world.

Music and art are some of my passions that help me cope with anxiety. All the arts give me an opening to find myself when I'm feeling lost, and I hope it can do the same for you. I would say music has been something that has followed me as a passion, from singing in the car to learning to play ukulele, to recording my first single. It has allowed me to dance my heart out, and to listen to it while I paint, and most of all it had helped me pass hardships. Whenever I play the ukulele I let the notes flow out of me, after much practice, to create a melody that may have been written by someone else, expresses what I'm feeling in the moment. How music is made is what comes before the actual sounds, the thoughts that shape each strum, the rhythm of the beat, it all winds together to create a note. The same goes for singing, the build-up of the breath into words that radiate out from the conscious mind. I wish to be able to express myself because as the world turns and the stresses of daily life build-up, it's one of the only ways for me to relieve it all. Painting has also been a way for me to grow into someone that loves the art, not only because I can connect with the other way people show themselves through it, but because I can admire and learn from each individual. From someone expressing themselves through sculpture or creating neurography art to the graffiti of low-income towns, each tells its own story that I hope to learn from. The Arts are something that will continue to have an impact on my life and will help me overcome many obstacles along the way, by helping me focus on the goal at hand.

Kindness begins with the idea that we all struggle said by Charles Glassman, which is the first step in understanding what empathy truly is. One other thing that should be remembered is that empathy is being able to place yourself in other people's shoes whenever they are struggling mentally, physically, or financially. We must remember that everything takes time to heal and that any person has the capacity to help others, and it is just up to you if you want to be that person. One way that I treat people with empathy is realizing that not everyone is as fortunate to be able to have new clothes or food to eat. That is why I try to partake in clothing donations, food/ canned food drives, as well as toys drives, and by doing this I not only donate but I volunteer to help others do the same. There's only so much empathy will do for me and that's why I have to put my thoughts into action, to make it worthwhile. Some other things I do to treat others with empathy is whenever one of my friends is struggling with some problems in a relationship either that be with family or a loved one, I listen to what is wrong, and try to help if they ask me too, and if not I try to be that support if they need someone to talk too or if they just need a hug. Empathy is about having the capacity to feel compassion and care for others, and sometimes we may not realize others are struggling, so always keep an open mind just in case.

Breath, in and out slowly, close your mind off to everything else while you read this because meditation is a way to help you relax. Before you wake up in the morning most of us are either dreaming, having a nightmare, or not dreaming at all but at that moment when you emerge from that state, there is a moment of peace before reality strikes the mind. Meditation and all forms of relaxation are meant to tap into this peace to reach a place where stress is in the distant background. For me, my meditation is painting because I can focus my mind on that one single task without thinking about the bustling world around me. It invigorates me to also start thinking about what I need to do first and plan out what I need to do to finish my schoolwork or an important conversation that needs to be had. One time when I was around eight years old, I got hit by a car, and when I was in the hospital someone brought me some canvases and paints, and I passed the time doing that. It helped me focus on needing to get better and I soon was out of there, and ever since painting has been an outlet for me. I believe that sometimes we lose ourselves whenever we feel like everything around us is falling apart, but as long as there is some semblance of hope, that may seem as small as a crack in a door. Any sort of meditation can help find that little bit of hope, of that moment of peace. In the end, mental health is important, and as long as it's taken care of the right way it will surely allow you to survive any hardships that may come.

They say music is a way for our souls to express themselves, and a way for our subconsciousness to show its true feelings. I would say music has been something that has followed me as a dear hobby, from singing in the car to learning to play ukulele, to recording my first single. It has allowed me to dance my heart out, and to listen to it while I paint, and most of all it had helped me pass hardships because music is an expression of oneself that shows your true nature. Whenever I play the ukulele I let the notes flow out of me, after much practice, to create a melody that may have been written by someone else, expresses what I'm feeling in the moment. How music is made is what comes before the actual sounds, the thoughts that shape each strum, the rhythm of the beat, it all winds together to create a note. The same goes for singing, the build-up of the breath into words that radiate out from the conscious mind. I wish to be able to express myself because as the world turns and the stresses of daily life build-up, it's one of the only ways for me to relieve it all. Painting has also been a way for me to grow into someone that loves the art, not only because I can connect with the other way people show themselves through it, but because I can admire and learn from each individual. From someone expressing themselves through sculpture or creating neurography art, to the graffiti of low-income towns, each tells its own story that I hope to learn from. All the arts give me an opening to find myself when I'm feeling lost, and I hope it can do the same for you.