One afternoon, after coming home from school, I sat on the couch next to my mom to study. I noticed she was watching the television, but all that was playing was an unentertaining commercial segment. Shortly after, the program began to play again. Though I was trying to study for an upcoming math exam, I couldn’t help but lift my head and peek up at the television to see what she was watching. Soon enough, my attention was completely drawn to it. To some people, all it would ever be is an episode of Untold Stories of the ER. For me, it was a pivotal and life-altering moment. From that moment, I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life not just learning about medicine, but also putting it into practice as a future career.  Everything about the television show seemed so intriguing to me. It wasn’t just the astonishing and life-threatening cases that caught my eye, but rather, it was the doctors, nurses, and their teamwork with one another. Together, they were able to take a person from being in a vulnerable state to healthy once again all through life-saving medications and practices. After seeing this work and feeling astounded, something clicked inside of me. I, too, wanted to save lives. I decided that no matter how hard I’d have to work, I would make this my future career. Still inspired by the show, I became certified in adult and pediatric first aid and CPR through the Red Cross Association. A month later, I began an infectious diseases class. As I began to invest myself more and more, I grew from enjoying medicine to falling in love with it. During my junior year, I took Honors Microbiology, and Anatomy and Physiology classes. Those courses easily became my favorite classes of the day. Everything we learned about, whether it was columnar tissue or hydrolytic cells, seemed to stick in my brain. What was mundane note-taking on the human body to some and lab dissections for others were, instead, highlights of my day. To continue this love for medicine outside of school, I completed a Stop The Bleed course regarding tourniquet use and wound packing.  When I’m learning about medicine, I feel as if I’m right where I’m supposed to be. I feel as if I’m home. When I’m learning about medicine, a newfound appreciation, confidence, and love appear inside me. I know that this deeply rooted-love for medicine will help drive me to new heights. It will help me achieve my dream of being in the emergency room just like the television show, Untold Stories of the ER.  This year, as a senior in high school, I am job shadowing at a nearby hospital during the afternoons. Not only do I love wearing my scrubs and spending time in the hospital's emergency room, but I see myself there for the rest of my life. In the hospital, I’m smiling and happier than ever.

The day that the medical side of the world was unveiled to me has easily become the most impactful day of my life. If it weren’t for that moment, I’m unsure where I’d be now and if I would’ve found my dream job of working in the Emergency Room. That afternoon, after coming home from school, I sat on the couch next to my mom to study. I noticed she was watching the television, but all that was playing was an unentertaining commercial segment. Shortly after, the program began to play again. Though I was trying to study for an upcoming math exam, I couldn’t help but lift my head and peek up at the television to see what she was watching. Soon enough, my attention was completely drawn into it. To some people, all it would ever be is an episode of Untold Stories of the ER. For me, it was a pivotal and life altering moment. From that moment, I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life not just learning about medicine, but also putting it into practice as a future career. Everything about the television show seemed so intriguing to me. It wasn’t just the astonishing and life threatening cases that caught my eye, but rather, it was the doctors, nurses and their teamwork among one another. Together, they were able to take a person from being in a vulnerable state to healthy once again all through life saving medications and practices. After seeing this work and feeling astounded by it, I realized that, I too, wanted to save lives. I decided that no matter how hard I’d have to work, I would make this my future career. Still feeling inspired by the show, I signed up for and began an Infectious Diseases course at my high school. With this introduction to the medical field, I realized how much I enjoyed it. As I began to invest myself more and more, I grew from enjoying medicine to falling in love with it. During my junior year, I took Honors Microbiology and Anatomy classes. Those classes easily became my favorite classes of the day. No matter what we were doing, whether it was lecturing and taking notes regarding the human body or heading to the lab for a dissection, I could count on it to make my day. What I invest into these hour-long classes is not only my passion, but also the drive to further my career. I know I’m able to smile because I’m bettering myself. Without my Anatomy teacher, Mrs. Comfort, I wouldn't have made it this far with my biology studies. She noticed the passion and drive I have for the medical field and helped me learn more and more every day. Even while filling out the application for the hospital where I now job shadow, she seemed to be the cheerleader I needed. It helped me remind myself of the ultimate goal I have. This year, as a senior in high school, I am job shadowing at a nearby hospital during the afternoons. Not only do I love wearing my scrubs and spending time in the hospital's emergency room, but I see myself there for the rest of my life. I am thrilled to begin the college application process and major in nursing because I know it is one step closer to my future. When I’m learning about medicine, I as if I am right where I’m supposed to be. I feel as if I’m home.

The day that the medical side of the world was unveiled to me has easily become the most impactful day of my life. If it weren’t for that moment, I’m unsure where I’d be now and if I would’ve found my dream job of working in the Emergency Room. That afternoon, after coming home from school, I sat on the couch next to my mom to study. I noticed she was watching the television, but all that was playing was an unentertaining commercial segment. Shortly after, the program began to play again. Though I was trying to study for an upcoming math exam, I couldn’t help but lift my head and peek up at the television to see what she was watching. Soon enough, my attention was completely drawn into it. To some people, all it would ever be is an episode of Untold Stories of the ER. For me, it was a pivotal and life altering moment. From that moment, I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life not just learning about medicine, but also putting it into practice as a future career. Everything about the television show seemed so intriguing to me. It wasn’t just the astonishing and life threatening cases that caught my eye, but rather, it was the doctors, nurses and their teamwork among one another. Together, they were able to take a person from being in a vulnerable state to healthy once again all through life saving medications and practices. After seeing this work and feeling astounded by it, I realized that, I too, wanted to save lives. I decided that no matter how hard I’d have to work, I would make this my future career. Still feeling inspired by the show, I signed up for and began an Infectious Diseases course at my high school. With this introduction to the medical field, I realized how much I enjoyed it. As I began to invest myself more and more, I grew from enjoying medicine to falling in love with it. During my junior year, I took Honors Microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology classes. Those classes easily became my favorite classes of the day. No matter what we were doing, whether it was lecturing and taking notes regarding the human body or heading to the lab for a dissection, I could count on it to make my day. What I invest into these hour-long classes is not only my passion, but also the drive to further my career. I know I’m able to smile because I’m bettering myself. Being a Hispanic woman, I already know that in the STEM field, there aren't many people who look like me or follow the same cultural traditions that I do. At first, I know that I might find it to be difficult and feel like a fish out of water, but I believe that my drive for the career will lead me to success. Ultimately, I want other women to see me and begin to follow in my footsteps. I aim to be a trailblazer for the community and show others they can follow their dreams.

In eighth grade, I started archery. When I first started the sport, I looked at everyone else in my age division. It seemed as if they were perfect, hitting the target perfectly time and time again. As I attended each class, my love and passion for the sport began to grow. A few months later, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics began. I remember watching the first round of archers on the USA team shoot arrows for the competition. Despite not knowing much about the sport, Casey Kaufhold stood out. She reminded me of me. Not only did she have bright-colored nails and a braid in her hair like me, but she also had a determination and fight that was unmatched. It was this trait that led her to win the silver medal in the women's event. This year, during the 2024 Paris Olympics, there was a fight and drive in both Casey and I. A few years ago, when I first started my archery journey, she was an inspirational figure that I admired. Today, I've learned from her to have confidence when I step up with my bow and arrow. Due to this, I still love to watch Casey. She's inspired me to play the sport that I love every day.

I despised reading. I'm aware that's a bold sentence to begin with but it's true! Growing up, I was the athletic one out of all of my siblings. You used to find me anywhere but curled up on the couch reading a book. I was far too dedicated to soccer and archery to even think about reading. In my freshman year of high school, I was at our local mall with a few of my friends. While shopping, one of my friends wanted to enter the bookstore to pick up a new release by one of her favorite authors. As we entered the Barnes and Noble, I trudged around. I wanted it to be as clear as daylight to everyone. I am not a bookworm! I do not belong in this store! While standing around in the young adult section, a brightly colored red and orange colored book caught my eye. The book seemed to scream, "Pick me" as it was placed on a shelf with other books wrapped in dull-looking colors. I picked up the copy titled, "With the Fire on High" by Elizabeth Acevedo and read the synopsis. Upon reading the back of the book, I was stunned. The main character reminded me of me. The book follows the journey of a Freshman girl, Emoni Santiago, who is from the Dominican Republic but now living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Little did I know that buying and reading the book would become life-changing. Seeing a girl like me being represented in a book helped me step out of the conformity box I was trapped in. It was as if the keys to get out were within the pages of the book. When I finished the novel, I knew I couldn't stop. When I read books with Hispanic characters, I feel like I am transported into another dimension. It makes me feel like I'm back home in Cuba. I read the rest of the books by Elizabeth Acevedo. Once I read every book by her, I proceeded to other Hispanic authors like Elena Armas and Laura Taylor Namey. With every page of a book I read, I feel more and more free. I didn't want this feeling all for myself. I wanted other Hispanic kids to see themselves illustrated. During my junior year of high school, I was elected for an officer position for my school's Spanish Club. I had an idea though. Something bold that we had never done before. I wanted to hold monthly fundraisers to buy and donate books with Hispanic characters to our district's elementary school libraries. At first, I feared this goal. I wondered if it was too big for me to complete. Sure enough, at the end of my junior year, 16 books were donated back to our district. I am so proud of myself, but I know, that my job still isn't done. There are still other kids who need to see themselves portrayed. This year, my goal is to be able to highlight these authors at each of our schools libraries for Hispanic heritage month. My reading journey has been life-changing and ultimately something that I am so grateful for. I want people to have the same special and out-of-body experience I had with my first book. I want people to see themselves represented in a book.

As a Cuban teenager living in the United States, my ideal bookshelf would be overflowing with empowering Hispanic authors. With my bookshelf, other Hispanic women would be able to feel themselves represented. The first book I ever decided to read from #BookTok was "With the Fire on High" by Elizabeth Acevedo. When I picked up this book, I was a sophomore in high school and facing a battle with my heritage. I often found myself feeling so different, like a fish out of water. It gets lonely when people don't speak the same language or eat the same foods as you. This book ultimately changed my perspective and has allowed me and others to embark on a self-love journey. The novel begins with a Dominican teenage girl and the struggles of taking care of her daughter. While reading the book, I took note more and more of all the references regarding Hispanic heritage. The main character, Emoni Santiago, was just like me. Being able to read of a girl who looked and acted similarly made me feel represented and heard. After reading this book, I couldn't stop. I felt as if for years I had locked myself in a box of conformity rather than letting who I am shine. Through reading, I finally had the key to get out of this box. I continued to read "Poet X" and "Clap When You Land" which is written by the same author. This newfound thrill of seeing characters like me had me racing to finish books and feeling excited to pick up the next. #BookTok allowed me to find another one of my new favorite authors, Elena Armas. In her books, "The Spanish Love Deception" and "The American Roommate Experiment" she added Spanish characters and even had them visit their hometown country of Spain. My ideal bookshelf would contain even more books from Hispanic authors with Hispanic characters. I currently cannot wait to indulge in "A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow" by Laura Taylor Namey and "Guava and Grudges" by Alexis Castellanos. Both of these books have main characters who are Cuban. I am excited to read these because my heart feels happy when I see myself represented. Books like the ones I've mentioned throughout my essay are trending all over #BookTok for a reason. People need to see themselves portrayed. Being able to resonate with characters and their surroundings strongly impacts us. It helps people like me learn to love themselves and appreciate their culture.

Playing Minecraft is something that has touched not just my childhood but also my life currently as a teenager. When my parents immigrated to the United States from Cuba, many of my close relatives were left behind. Other than being able to visit every few years, it left me with a sour and disconnected feeling. Growing up, I loved not only playing Minecraft but watching others play as well. I managed to watch every YouTube video about it. I remember feeling engulfed in the different realms and mods people like DanTDM and iBallisticSquid would post. A year or so later, during the winter break of second grade, my parents and I had the opportunity to return to Cuba and visit family. Being back with my family members was heartwarming and joyful. I thought that this feeling with them would be short-lived. After all, I only had two weeks to spend with them before returning home to the United States. I had felt this way until I realized that they also had Minecraft! We no longer had to feel like we were worlds apart. Once I arrived home, I remember cracking open my laptop and accepting all their friend requests. Together, we started a new world and began the challenge of surviving the first night. As time passed, of course, we had our ups and downs. Whether it was heading off to raid a village of its goods or exploring a cave and dying to a creeper, we were all in it together. Today, my relationship with my cousins is even stronger than before. Two of my cousins immigrated from Cuba to the United States. Despite them having jobs and me attending school, we still block out time for Minecraft. Though we've moved on from our first ever world together, we're still able to laugh and have fun like when we were kids. Being able to create a world and cherish time together is something I am so grateful for. No matter how many days we've spent in the world or how many achievements are being unlocked, we're with each other once more. I love how the game allows for connection among players. Despite being in different countries, Minecraft allowed me to stay close to my family. If it weren't for the game, I wouldn't have the astounding relationship that I have with my cousins today.