My Fututre by Brenda

My Fututre by Brenda - December 2015 Scholarship Essay

The second you say “I would but…” That’s when it’s over. Having the courage to go after and set our mind to say “yes, I could do it” is what makes us stronger throughout our life. Immigrating from another country made me realize all the struggles I had to face just to get to where I am at today. There are so many options and opportunities that could help us with our goals. I had to go back and think of the struggles I had to cross the border for a better life. I remember saying to myself “my parents tried so hard for me to get a better education, and now it’s my turn to show them all my appreciation.
Immigrating into the United States was a big impact in my life that I will always look back to. The reason we had to move into another country was an emergency. I remember my mother getting a phone call saying “if we find your husband in your home tonight we will kill all your family.” The only thought we had in mind was to leave out the house as soon as possible. We slept over in different houses over 5 months until a lady helped us cross the border. My brothers and I crossed the border in different days, we weren’t together for 2 or 3 months until we all meet at California. We lived with my aunt for about 3 months waiting for my mom to cross the border and meet with my dad who was in Washington. The year of 2005 was the year that changed my family’s future.
One of my proudest goals was working to apply for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.) At the age of 15 I was working at a decoration and dressing store trying to do my best into helping the owner into what I was capable of. I worked 4 hours, the time that school was over up to 7:00 pm but I got fire due to my age. I was really disappointed but later that month I found a job at the flea market. It was only a weekend and a summer job but within my case it was worth it. At the end of the summer I hadn’t saved enough because I had to help my dad with bills due to him being the only one eligible to work. I realized I had to look out for more help, and that’s when I recruited to schools. During conference, my sister and I would sale cupcakes, fruit salad and anything that we could help out in school. We made good profit but my sister had to apply as well. I was very stressed and talked over to my counselor; he was very kind and talked to many other teachers to sponsor us money. I am very proud to say I am a DACA member, eligible to work as a resident in the United States over my hard work.
Now that I have the opportunity for a better education, I will take the chance of it. With the experiences my family has faced I would like to attend Washington State University and get my Master's degree. Looking back and seeing other families suffer, I am interested getting my Master’s degree in family and marriage therapy. Throughout the years I have seen families and couples having problems with each other or even economically. After seeing my parent’s difficulties, I would want to be someone that families could go to and have a solution to their problems. Having the experience in hearing our communities struggles and giving our opinion about it, gives me an experience of what I want my carrier to be. I want families to keep positive to their problems, because there is always so much help out here.
Also, it's always good to have a second thought into another career. I had the chance to help out in a community event with construction. Since that moment, construction has been my second thoughts. Not only because it's fun and it keeps you moving but also because you are helping many families providing them a safe home. To me, helping others means a lot to me because when my family and I needed a place to stay in nobody would want to help us for the fact that they didn't know us. But now experiencing what families have to face just for their children to have a better living makes me understand that everyone needs a hand. It makes me think over how many times I would wish for an opportunity, for someone to tell me “you will succeed" but now I look back and see all the struggles I had to face to have the opportunities I have now. I will not close the doors for my own good, I will take advantage of having the chance to go to college and succeed to my background story.