Growing up as the child of parents new to the United States has been overwhelming at times, but also one of the greatest learning experiences of my life. I became more than just the oldest sibling; I was a translator, a guide through school systems, and, in many ways, a third “mini-parent” to my three younger siblings.

Surprisingly, my parents never placed high expectations on me when it came to school. So, I set those expectations for myself. I wanted to be someone my siblings could look up to and someone my parents could be proud of. I will never forget the day I asked my parents to guess my class rank during my senior year of high school. There were over six hundred students in my class, and they both guessed somewhere in the two hundreds. I smiled and said, “No, estoy en el ocho por ciento superior de mi clase,” which means, “No, I’m in the top eight percent of my class.” The look on their faces was priceless!

I may not have been in the top five percent, but as a first-generation student with no one at home to turn to for school-related help, I am proud of what I achieved. I learned to be independent while also becoming someone my siblings could lean on, so they would not have to struggle the same way I did. Now, when they need help picking classes, applying to college, writing essays, or figuring out that confusing math or science homework, they have someone they can count on.

I often wished I had an older sibling or a parent who could guide me through school. But my parents gave me and my siblings everything they could a loving home, support in their own way, and the opportunity to build a better future. And I took that opportunity.

Today, I am attending Texas A&M University, studying architecture and one step closer to my dream of becoming an architect. Along the way, I have learned new skills, programs, and met others who share the same passion. I have also realized the importance of connections in this field. Finding internships and jobs is not just about what you know, it is about who you know.

If I could give my younger self some advice, it would be this: Do not wait for opportunities, make them. Build connections. Talk to people in your field. Use the resources your school offers. Reach out to professors and upperclassmen. You will be surprised how many people are willing to help you. Just have to ask.

That is how I got help refining my portfolio, which led me to land my first architecture internship. Now, I am not just a first-generation student—I am a first-generation student working at an architecture firm, taking one more step toward my dream. I am becoming someone my parents can be proud of and, most importantly, a role model my younger siblings can look up to.

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