prompt #1 "Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations."
Growing up in a big, close, Hispanic family, there wasn't one weekend I didn't spend with my grandparents when I was I child. My family met every Sunday morning for breakfast just to talk and be together. Each cousin, aunt, uncle, and grandchild brought some amazing irreplaceable quality that made each of us fit perfectly together. We were our own world.
My grandfather was the ultimate glue that held our family together. He and my grandmother only had an elementary school education but working on the ranches and the diaries for years he grew wise from experience; a different form of education. My mother absolutely adored him and wanted me and my two older brothers, now also attending universities, to know how much my grandparents and parents sacrificed for us and to show us that if you always have motivation and determination there is no limit on what you can accomplish. My grandparents wanted a better life for their children, and my mom succeeded by giving them their first child to attend to college out of eight.
In 2009 my grandfather was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The doctors said he had 6 months. He passed away 2 short weeks later. My family was in shock. And our world, my world, was broken. I watched my family try to fill the gap and come to terms with what happened but as the years passed by; my family's connection that was once so strong was lost.
Seeing my family struggle to recreate the bond we once shared I realized my dream of helping others deal with a sick loved one or the loss of one. I dedicated my junior and the rest of my senior year of high school to doing exactly that. I founded a club at my school that helped raise money for cancer and other sicknesses awareness. I organized a full calendar school year with 5 walks that were held within at least one hour driving distance and led each team at every walk. Hearing others stories and sharing my own of the people we lost was an amazing experience and motivated me to always want to be involved in walks like Relay for Life and Light the Night. I want to go to college to get an education in medicine so one day I can achieve my dream of helping others. Carrying with me the spirit of my grandfather's hard work I know I can achieve anything if I have the education that allows me to. College is a chance for me to start achieving my dreams not only for myself but for my family as well.
Growing up in a big, close, Hispanic family, there wasn't one weekend I didn't spend with my grandparents when I was I child. My family met every Sunday morning for breakfast just to talk and be together. Each cousin, aunt, uncle, and grandchild brought some amazing irreplaceable quality that made each of us fit perfectly together. We were our own world.
My grandfather was the ultimate glue that held our family together. He and my grandmother only had an elementary school education but working on the ranches and the diaries for years he grew wise from experience; a different form of education. My mother absolutely adored him and wanted me and my two older brothers, now also attending universities, to know how much my grandparents and parents sacrificed for us and to show us that if you always have motivation and determination there is no limit on what you can accomplish. My grandparents wanted a better life for their children, and my mom succeeded by giving them their first child to attend to college out of eight.
In 2009 my grandfather was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The doctors said he had 6 months. He passed away 2 short weeks later. My family was in shock. And our world, my world, was broken. I watched my family try to fill the gap and come to terms with what happened but as the years passed by; my family's connection that was once so strong was lost.
Seeing my family struggle to recreate the bond we once shared I realized my dream of helping others deal with a sick loved one or the loss of one. I dedicated my junior and the rest of my senior year of high school to doing exactly that. I founded a club at my school that helped raise money for cancer and other sicknesses awareness. I organized a full calendar school year with 5 walks that were held within at least one hour driving distance and led each team at every walk. Hearing others stories and sharing my own of the people we lost was an amazing experience and motivated me to always want to be involved in walks like Relay for Life and Light the Night. I want to go to college to get an education in medicine so one day I can achieve my dream of helping others. Carrying with me the spirit of my grandfather's hard work I know I can achieve anything if I have the education that allows me to. College is a chance for me to start achieving my dreams not only for myself but for my family as well.