I am 14 years old and attend at SMASH Berkley as a 1st year scholar. I joined SMASH Berkley because it is a unique summer program that helps students of color or students from low income communities succeed in STEM fields. As a first generation to attend college and daughter of immigrants I decided to apply to SMASH because I wanted to experience living in a University and make my family proud of me. I also wanted to give back to my community by teaching them skills SMASH taught me. As a person with a strong ethnic background one of my cultures values is family. SMASH values that by helping us create a safe family with our RA groups, community meetings and suit meetings. If you did not know SMASH stands for Science Math And Science Honors. SMASH is very unique because you meet students from all over the Bay Area who want to persevere and have a purpose for the program. In addition I also love attending SMASH because the teachers make this program fun by relating science and math to the world. Although I am not very good at coding I continue to persevere in all my academics.
My daily motivation to continue to grind comes from my dad.My father has made a important role in my life. He is my support system and my idol. My father only made it into 3rd grade of education because his mother died at an early age of his life leaving the role of a mother and father to my grandpa. Knowing that my father only reached to a 3rd grade education made me realize to take advantage of any opportunities that come my way. One famous quote my dad tells me and my siblings is "Quierer es poder" meaning wanting is power. That quote resembles strength and hardwork to me. I feel that quote means if I really want something I should do anything in my hands to achieve that goal. My dad has always been ambitious and hardworking he started working when he was 8 polishing shoes. When he was 23 he immigrated to the United States leaving my mother and sister behind and searching for a better future. My dad came in the late 90's and he firstlanded in Los Angeles, then Salinas, and finally Oakland. When he came to the United States his first jobs were as a icecream man, in a carwash, and started getting into construction. Learning my parents story will always be something I embrace. My dad has always been a motivtion because he encourages me and my siblings to never stay in one place and always level up. Knowing my father went from a icecream man to a construction worker showed me how dedicated my dad is to his family.