The financial struggles my parents faced never discouraged their commitment to provide me with the best possible education. As the child of a Hispanic mother who was only nineteen years old when I was born, my earliest days started out in Brooklyn, New York. Although parenthood must have been overwhelming, my mother never let life’s challenges dismiss her own education. Despite the financial struggles of raising a family while young, my parents emphasized the importance of education by making it a priority, which often meant working harder than most to make ends meet. Graduating from St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School in Islip, New York in 2014 was the first step in showing gratitude for my parents.
After graduating high school I began attending Washington College in Maryland. My long-term plan of pursuing a PhD in Psychology or entering medical school for Psychiatry guides my decision to attend Penn State to begin my study of Psychology. As one of the schools known for their Psychology program, I see it as the ideal choice in the next step of my educational career. It would be an honor to build my foundational knowledge from a school that ranks as one of the best in the field of Psychology. If admitted to the school, I am confident that my enthusiasm and perseverance will be an asset to the student body. I am a student committed to excellence in my personal work ethic, along with my sincere obligation to contribute to my peers.
I would like to share a personal story of the unfortunate events of my first semester attending Washington College in the fall of 2014. Here it was, the very first semester, and I was facing a severe health problem resulting in a lengthy hospitalization. The effort I had put into my first semester was lost in vain when I had to withdraw from classes. Instead of becoming discouraged, I returned to school in the spring semester (2015), completing with a GPA of 3.58 and my name on the Dean’s list. I shared this story to display my staunchness to overcome obstacles whenever they cross my path.
With a genuine sense of purpose, I am encouraged to live life passionately and provide superior effort in each endeavor. My determination goes beyond the academic realm, but is evident in my participation of extracurricular activities as well. For example, I remained a tremendous asset for my Club Lacrosse regardless of the daily grind. My dedication was also apparent in the four years of competitive Rowing where I learned irreplaceable lessons of leadership and team work that remain with me to this day. I participated in a variety of community services, including volunteering at the local animal shelter, as well as participating in experiments to help senior Psychology students with their theses. As a student I strive for excellence versus mediocrity, and therefore Pennsylvania State University is where I see the next phase of my academic future.
