1: Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you

have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your
academic achievement?

Growing up I have faced many challenges, but the hardest one of all was self doubt. I
know that I am capable of many great things because I have been able to do so much
on my own. I am proud of everything I have accomplished such as maintaining a 4.0
throughout high school. However, I always feel like I could be doing more. I always push
myself to try my hardest in every single thing I do whether it be my academics or
something else. The way I see things is, what is the point in doing something if you
won’t do it right. In other words you could say I am a perfectionist. I know that is both
good and bad, but in most cases I believe it to be good. I am still learning how to deal
with self doubt because I always tend to tell myself “even if I try hard enough will I get
it?” Well sometimes I will, and other times I won’t. I am still learning that doubting myself
will not help me because I need to be positive towards myself and have seen the
reflection of that in my school work and so on. At one point I was feeling overwhelmed
with everything I had to do because I was feeling like I couldn’t get everything done.
Then I took a breath, and knew that I could do it all one thing at a time. My grades
automatically started going back up, and I was feeling less stressed because I knew I
could do it all.
In the end I knew that perhaps I had to go through this to learn that what I do will always
be enough because it is my best. I learned to not doubt myself because of the fear of
failing. You will never fail in life, you will only learn from your mistakes, and grow from
them to ensure you never do that same thing again. My academics improved greatly
from me learning this lesson, and I know to apply it in the future.

2: Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational

opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

I have always been someone who loves school because I love a good challenge.I
attended Farmdale Elementary school from k-4 grade. However, I moved houses which
meant I had to move schools, and ended up going to Alicia Reyes Elementary school
for 5 grade. While I was there, my teacher would always tell me how I needed more of a
challenge because I was someone who would always finish her assignments quickly
and accurately. Moreover, it was getting close to the school year ending when my
teacher Ms. Torres pulled me aside. She told me that she gave my transcripts and my
test scores to Marget Sheehy Elementary school to see if they would accept me into
their G.A.T.E (Gifted and Talented Education) program. I remember thinking that I didn’t
want this to happen because I had finally settled into the school, and now I would have
to be the “new girl” all over again. As time went by, my parents got a letter in the email
saying I would be accepted into the G.A.T.E program and that I should go to the school
to fill out the paperwork. I remember feeling scared because it was going to be with
students just like me who needed more of a challenge. I finally decided to do it because
my parents talked to me about it, and I did need a push because everything was too
easy for me.
Now when I look back and remember that moment, I thank my parents for convincing
me because I would’ve missed out on an amazing opportunity. When I went into middle
school I was put directly into the advanced English and Math classes that they had to
offer. I was already one step ahead, and the same goes for high school. If I would have
not taken that amazing opportunity, I would not be as advanced as I am now because I
would have begun to settle for less.

3: Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have
furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

Going into high school I believed that Math was always the subject which inspires me
because it came easy to me. However, that was only because I never struggled with
math. My first day of highschool, I had Biology as my first period of the day. Biology was
always something I found interesting because it is how the human body works, but
never really knew a lot about it. The more I learned about the subject, the more it began
to grow on me. I was happy going into class because the environment was fun and easy
to learn in.Well at first Biology was truly a challenge for me my Freshman year because
you mainly had to focus on how everything worked together versus not just
remembering a formula like I would for Math. Well I remember struggling a little at first
with knowing what was going on in the class and asking my peers questions alongside
my teacher for help. I truly wanted to learn and know the why, not just do it and get it
over with. Luckily I had this amazing teacher Mrs. Blake who pushed us to always try
our best. She wanted us to actually learn and made the learning process fun by having
us do projects to interact with the work versus just reading about it. I think that is why I
love Biology because it is hands on, and that is how I learn. I ended the school year with
an A both semesters, and loved it so much that I decided to take the AP Biology class
my Junior year. The class came easy to me because it is something I actually enjoyed
and could see myself wanting to do as a career. Now I know that I was to pursue a
career that has to do with Biology, first I wanted to be a Biology major. However, I love
interacting with people because I love hearing their stories and helping them. I want to
become an Nutritionist to help people with eating disorders and be able to pursue a
career which involves Biology.

4: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

Here at El Capitan High School we have something called Link Leaders. A Link Leader
helps incoming freshmen get to know the campus and we are people who can help
them in any way they need. I always wanted to do this because they are our future
generations and if learning from my mistakes will help them, then I am more than willing
to help. I wanted to do this since my Junior year, but sadly because of the pandemic I
was unable to. However, my Senior year is currently happening which means I get to
help my school by helping the incoming students make the school a better place for
when my senior class of 2022 is gone. So as a link leader along with many other
Juniors and Seniors who are willing to help will meet a couple days before Orientation
for the Freshman, and organize fun games and events to make them feel welcomed to
do with them the day of. In addition, we also decorate the school to make them feel
more welcomed. We do this to help them not feel as nervous because personally I was
a very shy Freshman. Over the years I learned that being shy gets you nowhere, so
stepping up to help others is something very huge to me in a big crowd. Honestly my
favorite part of Orientation was when all the Freshmen were in the main gym, it just felt
so nice seeing the class of 2025 get a normal Freshman year. I became a link leader
because I truly do hope that I make even a small impact for them because I know
transitioning from Middle School to High School can be challenging. I want them to
know that everyone struggles a little their first semester whole getting used to the new
environment. Overall I just wanted them to know that they have someone to reach out to
when they need it, since all I want is for them to do better than what I thought was
possible.