Personal Statement

There is a saying that “life isn’t about finding yourself, it’s about creating yourself” and
all my life experiences have taught me this is true. My name is Cyrex Cinco. I live in a diverse,
rural community, in Merced, California. Before I lived in Merced, I was born and raised in a
small, but busy city in New Rochelle, New York. I moved to California with my mother during my
freshman year of high school and these past few years have been the most challenging for me.
This not only shaped my character but also taught me invaluable lessons about perseverance,
self-belief, and personal growth. From financial struggles to personal setbacks, I learned to see
these obstacles as opportunities for my own self growth and discovery.

One of the most significant challenges for me was when me and my family faced financial
difficulties when we first moved to Merced. My mother was still trying to find a job, selling Filipino
food, and I worked as an assistant and got paid $16 dollars an hour just to take care of our
housing bills, food, and make ends meet. I was in a very dark place at the time. There were
times where I couldn’t go to the hospital even though I really needed it. This experience taught
me the value of hard work and the importance of never giving up. My mother was still trying to
find a job, selling Filipino food, and I worked as an assistant under a realtor and got paid $16
dollars an hour just to take care of our housing bills and food just to make ends meet while still
trying to maintain my academic goals. This taught me the importance of time management and
the value of every dollar I made. It made me appreciate the sacrifices my mom made to put food
on the plate for my family.

Later on, I faced a personal setback that affected my work and academics. My
grandmother had almost passed away from a sickness and barely survived her surgery. I had to
miss some of my practices and take some time off from school just to take care and watch over
her. I reached out to my teachers, counselors, and my loved ones in need of support. With their
support and my perseverance, I learned new ways how to manage my time between school,
watching over my grandma in the hospital for most of the time, and I regained my confidence
over time. I learned when to seek help when needed the most and the beautiful impact of our
community. This showed me the strength that lies within everyone when we refuse to let our
setbacks define us and our future.

These hardships that I have been through not only shaped me as a person, but it has also
given me motivation to make a positive impact on others and in our community. Everyone who
has helped me along the way has given me a deep sense of empathy and compassion for the
people that are facing similar challenges that I have faced. I want to use my college education to
advocate for the people in need, create a positive impact, and to help build a better society. I
want to pursue a future where I can lend a helping hand to the community and to the people
who are in need.

Throughout it all, I have learned that these hardships and challenges do not define us, they
refine us. These past few years have taught me to see these challenges as opportunities for self
growth, to find strength in resilience, and to never lose sight of what is at the end of the dark
tunnel. I am excited to bring my own experiences, perspective, and my determination for college
where I can continue to learn and grow as a whole.