Aylin

Growing up in a low-income household in San Diego, I found joy in the simple things like gifted Barbies, insects in my grandma's backyard, and the comfort of my favorite Barbie movie. Despite financial challenges, my happiest moments revolved around creativity and imagination, driven by my Mayan roots in Guatemala and El Salvador. I was born on August 23, 2008, in San Diego, California. My first language was Spanish. I had a happy childhood, loving to watch Barbie movies, my favorite being Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses. I grew up in a low-income household, so I never really had expensive toys.

I still remember that my favorite songs at the time were songs in Spanish like “El Pollito Pio” and “En el bosque de la china”. I was often called "Chinita," a term of endearment, due to my Mayan heritage from both my Guatemalan and Salvadoran roots. My dad, while present, struggled with alcohol, which is why I’m a big advocate for the anti-use of drugs. Karate and ballet were my go-to activities growing up, they instilled discipline and passion for movement. Though I no longer dance, the joy and love of ballet stay with me. Relaxing with a movie or video game helps me unwind. These activities heal my mind and bring me calm.

I love indie music, especially The Marias, Beabadoobee, and Clairo. These activities slow down time and take me to a place where I can just relax and think about myself. My favorite book at the moment is “Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer” by Katie Alender. I enjoy a range of hobbies from crossword puzzles, crocheting, reading, and roller skating to making jewelry and snorkeling. I like to watch My Little Pony, Hello Kitty and Friends, and Barbie Life the Dreamhouse. I like these shows because they are interesting and entertaining.

I do prefer movies from the 2000s like Legally Blonde and Princess Diaries. These activities heal my mind and bring me to calm. In addition to my other hobbies, I played tennis for one season and threw for 2 seasons in track and field but my favorite sport to play is basketball. Basketball was the very first sport I played in high school. I started in 9th not knowing a single thing about basketball, but now it has an extraordinary place in my heart and is my favorite thing to do during the winter. It has helped me in so many ways and I have built so many special friendships with both players and coaches during every season. Basketball became my favorite sport, despite being just 5’1”. I learned that it's not about height but the heart you put into the game and sportsmanship. Although I may not be the tallest or the fastest I know all the best strategies to win a game.

One thing I have grown significantly in is my sportsmanship. I always want to be kind to my opponents and teammates. Even when playing against them I still have to respect them in every way and form. Sometimes I have even become friends with the girls I play against because we are all human and deserve the same respect. This is my key to having a peaceful life, as I like to do things that are healthy for my mind. It taught me that heart, not height, is what matters.

Some good qualities about me are that I am kind to others, growth-oriented, take criticism well, have good communication skills, am selfless, respectful, and understanding. I like to be a calm person and have a private life. I have never been the type to go to parties or be with a group of people I’m not comfortable with for long. The only exception is my friends whom I love dearly. Ever since I was little I have always been introverted. I never really liked sharing out loud or doing presentations. However, peers and teachers at my current school have helped me get out of my comfort zone and volunteer to present more. I am very proud of myself for that because my younger self would have never imagined that I would come this far with my anxiety in public speaking. My favorite feeling in the whole world is finally overcoming something I have feared. I always think about my younger self and what she would think. Sometimes I have had a hard time thinking positively and seeing certain things well but I am actively trying to have a healthy mindset.

Helping others has always been a big passion of mine. I’ve always had a big heart for the people I love. If I ever felt like I was accidentally mean to someone, I would always deny myself good things afterward. I got this trait from the people who raised me. My grandparents and my immigrant mother. I look up to them every day and I credit them for the person I have become today. One thing I can’t live without in my daily life is my grandpa. He picks me up every single day from school and feeds me. I love how much he cares about me. He was the first person to teach me how to drive. I will always admire and appreciate his patience and caring acts towards me. My mother is the type of person who is kind to everyone, even if they aren’t kind to her. I strongly aspire to be the same person that she has always been. One way I try to show my kindness to people and animals is through putting myself in their shoes and trying to understand how they feel. I also try to think about how certain words might affect them. I love all animals, and they sometimes can have feelings of sadness or madness too.

When it comes to my career in the future, I would love to study at UCSD and become either an Animal Care Specialist or a Marine biologist because my passion for animals and their well-being is central to my life. A big goal I have in life is to reduce the amount of pollution in the oceans. Humans often neglect to consider how trash affects marine life and land animals. I want to contribute to protests and become an activist for ocean pollution and climate change. Whenever I go snorkeling, I pick up any trash I find to protect sea life.

Academically, I strive for excellence. I work hard to maintain a 4.0 and straight A’s. I am currently taking three AP classes. AP Lang, APUSH, and AP Spanish and I plan on taking all three AP exams. I am involved in Star Pal, a drug campaign, and will be volunteering at the San Diego Humane Society. I also want to do ocean clean-ups and am searching for opportunities to do internships in marine biology. My academic goals consist of getting honor roll and having more engagement in community service which I can achieve by being committed and disciplined enough to put in all my hard work.

I would be a good candidate for A Bridge for Kids because they would help me achieve my academic and career goals. Being prepared is a crucial component of success. ABFK offers SAT prep and college tours which would significantly help me prepare for my future and decide which college would be best fit for me before the deadline for deciding arrives. SAT prep would also help me be prepared for the real thing and I would appreciate even a glimpse of what the test would eventually look like. The financial support would relieve some of the burdens from my single mother, allowing me to focus on my studies and extracurricular activities. Some things I would like to buy for school are a new computer or iPad and supplies like equipment that support me for sports during the year. Thank you for considering my application.