Draft 1 by Maria

Who I am … I really never thought of who I am until today I had 17 years to ask myself that question but until today  that I'm writing a college essay, finally  I have the pleasure to meet myself.

I come from an environment where parties never lack color, where the mariachis and  music are a constant, and where the smell of the homemade street food from miles away lingers in the air.  I also come from a neighborhood where fast food restaurants exist on every corner, where every house lights up on Christmas, and something inside me sparks, too- so much light ! A place where polar opposites collide, especially the weather.. I was four years old when I immigrated to the US from Mexico. I  remember being terrified on my first day of pre-k. I didn`t know a single word of English. I remember thinking, “what if I get in trouble for not knowing or not understanding what I'm asked to do? How long will my mom leave me here?” I was just  an afraid 4 year old little girl. Negative thoughts rush through my mind like  a crowded place, and when you  can`t hear with clarity whoever is trying to tell you something important  because  the surroundings are louder than the voice next to you. I wanted them to stop but they felt stuck. Constantly emerging, dwindling, and re-emerging all over again. Years passed and I adapted to the school system. I eventually learned how to communicate in English well.  I graduated middle school in the top  5% of my class, something that I would not have expected.

I just gave it my all, the best I could. I realized that I do really enjoy school. I love learning about everything. In 2019, I was really excited when I found out I got accepted into a magnet high school . LASA is known for its rigorous and competitive academics. Since I loved school, I thought to myself, “what could go wrong?” One week passed by and I began to regret what I had thought. Some of my classes were draining me. I was exhausted and thought that I could not continue anymore. I was ready to move schools. But I stayed. I stayed because many people encouraged me to, and my mother especially was a great support. I stayed because looking at the demographics of a  primarily white and asian  school I knew I had to make a difference and stay. I stayed because I was given that opportunity and I was the only one that could take it away now - no one else. It was challenging, but I managed to continue overcoming academic and social obstacles. My optimism was something that really helped me along the way. My junior year I managed to pull through and get some of the highest grades I`ve ever gotten in high school. I still have space for improvement on my math skills. I will admit that because I don't want to sound like the perfect student because there is no such thing as that. Every student is unique in their own way. Now I’m one of the LASA ambassadors who represents the school. I look back and I'm proud of how far I have gotten. My identity is my power as well. I have gotten in trouble so many times for speaking my mind out and fighting for what I believe in, but I will never stop being outspoken because it has also given me so many opportinities. I became a teacher at Breakthrough in June of  2021. I wanted to teach because it's a program that helped me not only academically but as an individual. The goal of Breakthrough is to guide first-generation students to and through college. I’m also part of the North Dakota Study Group. This organization creates projects and within the community we come together and talk about the current issues going on in the US and what we can do as a community to support each other. I finally know who I am.  I'm a social justice activist, I'm a teacher, I'm a student and I'm a Hispanic woman, and I am not afraid.

Draft 2 by Maria

Who I am … I really never thought of who I am until today I had 17 years to ask myself that question but until today  that I'm writing a college essay, finally  I have the pleasure to meet myself.

I come from an environment where parties never lack color, where the mariachis and  music are a constant, and where the smell of the homemade street food from miles away lingers in the air.  I also come from a neighborhood where fast food restaurants exist on every corner, where every house lights up on Christmas, and something inside me sparks, too- so much light ! A place where polar opposites collide, especially the weather.. I was four years old when I immigrated to the US from Mexico. I  remember being terrified on my first day of pre-k. I didn`t know a single word of English. I remember thinking, “what if I get in trouble for not knowing or not understanding what I'm asked to do? How long will my mom leave me here?” I was just  an afraid 4 year old little girl. Negative thoughts rush through my mind like  a crowded place, and when you  can`t hear with clarity whoever is trying to tell you something important  because  the surroundings are louder than the voice next to you. I wanted them to stop but they felt stuck. Constantly emerging, dwindling, and re-emerging all over again. Years passed and I adapted to the school system. I eventually learned how to communicate in English well.  I graduated middle school in the top  5% of my class, something that I would not have expected.

I just gave it my all, the best I could. I realized that I do really enjoy school. I love learning about everything. In 2019, I was really excited when I found out I got accepted into a magnet high school . LASA is known for its rigorous and competitive academics. Since I loved school, I thought to myself, “what could go wrong?” One week passed by and I began to regret what I had thought. Some of my classes were draining me. I was exhausted and thought that I could not continue anymore. I was ready to move schools. But I stayed. I stayed because many people encouraged me to, and my mother especially was a great support. I stayed because looking at the demographics of a  primarily white and asian  school I knew I had to make a difference and stay. I stayed because I was given that opportunity and I was the only one that could take it away now - no one else. It was challenging, but I managed to continue overcoming academic and social obstacles. My optimism was something that really helped me along the way. My junior year I managed to pull through and get some of the highest grades I`ve ever gotten in high school. I still have space for improvement on my math skills. I will admit that because I don't want to sound like the perfect student because there is no such thing as that. Every student is unique in their own way. Now I’m one of the LASA ambassadors who represents the school. I look back and I'm proud of how far I have gotten. My identity is my power as well. I have gotten in trouble so many times for speaking my mind out and fighting for what I believe in, but I will never stop being outspoken because it has also given me so many opportinities. I became a teacher at Breakthrough in June of  2021. I wanted to teach because it's a program that helped me not only academically but as an individual. The goal of Breakthrough is to guide first-generation students to and through college. I’m also part of the North Dakota Study Group. This organization creates projects and within the community we come together and talk about the current issues going on in the US and what we can do as a community to support each other. I finally know who I am.  I'm a social justice activist, I'm a teacher, I'm a student and I'm a Hispanic woman, and I am not afraid.

Refining to the Final Draft by Maria

Who I am … I really never thought of who I am until today I had 17 years to ask myself that question but until today  that I'm writing a college essay, finally  I have the pleasure to meet myself.

  I come from an environment where parties never lack color, where the mariachis and  music are a constant, and where the smell of the homemade street food from miles away lingers in the air.  I also come from a neighborhood where fast food restaurants exist on every corner, where every house lights up on Christmas, and something inside me sparks, too- so much light ! A place where polar opposites collide, especially the weather.. I was four years old when I immigrated to the US from Mexico. I  remember being terrified on my first day of pre-k. I didn`t know a single word of English. I remember thinking, “what if I get in trouble for not knowing or not understanding what I'm asked to do? How long will my mom leave me here?” I was just  an afraid 4 year old little girl. Negative thoughts rush through my mind like  a crowded place, and when you  can`t hear with clarity whoever is trying to tell you something important  because  the surroundings are louder than the voice next to you. I wanted them to stop but they felt stuck. Constantly emerging, dwindling, and re-emerging all over again. Years passed and I adapted to the school system. I eventually learned how to communicate in English well.  I graduated middle school in the top  5% of my class, something that I would not have expected.

I just gave it my all, the best I could. I realized that I do really enjoy school. I love learning about everything. In 2019, I was really excited when I found out I got accepted into a magnet high school . LASA is known for its rigorous and competitive academics. Since I loved school, I thought to myself, “what could go wrong?” One week passed by and I began to regret what I had thought. Some of my classes were draining me. I was exhausted and thought that I could not continue anymore. I was ready to move schools. But I stayed. I stayed because many people encouraged me to, and my mother especially was a great support. I stayed because looking at the demographics of a  primarily white and asian  school I knew I had to make a difference and stay. I stayed because I was given that opportunity and I was the only one that could take it away now - no one else. It was challenging, but I managed to continue overcoming academic and social obstacles. My optimism was something that really helped me along the way. My junior year I managed to pull through and get some of the highest grades I`ve ever gotten in high school. I still have space for improvement on my math skills. I will admit that because I don't want to sound like the perfect student because there is no such thing as that. Every student is unique in their own way. Now I’m one of the LASA ambassadors who represents the school.

 I look back and I'm proud of how far I have gotten. My identity is my power as well. I have gotten in trouble so many times for speaking my mind out and fighting for what I believe in, but I will never stop being outspoken because it has also given me so many opportinities. I became a teacher at Breakthrough in June of  2021. I wanted to teach because it's a program that helped me not only academically but as an individual. The goal of Breakthrough is to guide first-generation students to and through college. I’m also part of the North Dakota Study Group. This organization creates projects and within the community we come together and talk about the current issues going on in the US and what we can do as a community to support each other. I finally know who I am.  I'm a social justice activist, I'm a teacher, I'm a student and I'm a Hispanic woman, and I am not afraid.

Final Draft by Maria

Who am I

Who am I  … I have  never thought of who I am until today . I'm writing a college essay finally, I have the pleasure to meet myself.

I come from an environment where parties never lack color, where the mariachis and  music are a constant, and where the smell of the homemade street food fills your nose with a tasty smell, from miles away lingers in the air.  I also come from a neighborhood where fast food restaurants exist on every corner, where every house lights up on Christmas, and something inside me sparks.  A place where polar opposites collide, especially the weather.. I was four years old when I immigrated to the US from Mexico. I  remember being terrified on my first day of pre-k. I didn`t know a single word of English. I remember thinking, “what if I get in trouble for not knowing or not understanding what I'm asked to do? How long will my mom leave me here?” I was just  an frightened  4 year old little girl. Negative thoughts rush through my mind like  a crowded place, when you  can`t hear with clarity whoever is trying to tell you something important  because  the surroundings are louder than the voice next to you. I wanted them to stop but they felt stuck. Constantly emerging, dwindling, and re-emerging all over again. Years passed and I adapted to the school system. I eventually learned how to communicate in English well.  I graduated middle school in the top  5% of my class, something that I would not have expected.

I just gave it my all, the best I could. I realized that I have a devotion for school. I love learning about everything. In 2019, I was really excited when I found out I got accepted into a magnet high school . LASA is known for its rigorous and competitive academics. Since I enjoyed  school, I thought to myself, “what could go wrong?” One week passed by and I began to regret what I had thought. Some of my classes were draining me.  I didn't feel prepared like my classmates. They could get a private tutor- but I couldn`t.  I was ready to move schools. But I stayed. I stayed because many people encouraged me to, and my mother especially was a great support. I stayed  because looking at the demographics of a  primarily white and asian  school I knew I had to make a difference and be the example. I stayed because I was given that opportunity and I was the only one that could take it away now - no one else. It was challenging, but I managed to continue overcoming academic and social obstacles.

 My optimism was something that really helped me along the way. My junior year I managed to pull through and get some of the highest grades I`ve ever gotten in high school. I still have space for improvement on my math skills. I will admit that because I don't want to sound like the perfect student because there is -no such thing as that. Every student is unique in their own way. Now I’m one of the LASA ambassadors who represents the school. I look back and I'm proud of how far I have gotten. My identity is my power as well.

I`ve faced many adversities for being outspoken and defending my beliefs,  but I will never stop being outspoken because it has also given me so many opportinities. I became a teacher at Breakthrough in June of  2021. I wanted to teach because it's a program that helped me not only academically but as an individual. The goal of Breakthrough is to guide first-generation students to and through college. I’m also part of the North Dakota Study Group. The NDSG organization works to promote equality in  marginalized communities based on community projects. I finally know who I am.  I'm a social Justice activist, I'm a teacher, I'm a student and I'm a Hispanic woman, and I am not intimidated.