I grew up in a low-income neighborhood of Hispanic/Latino immigrants on the south side of Chicago. Unfortunately, my neighborhood suffers from gun violence. On my 14th birthday, I lost a friend to gun violence, and I witnessed the impact that the tragedy of shootings had on my community. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved being involved in helping my community and making a change. In 2011, I was able to participate in Urban Dolorosa, a 6-day movement that brought many communities together to memorialize children who lost their lives to gun violence. Around this time, I started volunteering with Lo Que Puede Venir, a nonprofit aiding families with disabled children. 13 years later, my commitment to service has evolved. I advocate for the rights of unaccompanied/separated immigrant children through the Young Center and provide social-emotional learning opportunities for children with Oakley Square's ExSEL Program. Through these experiences, I have gained valuable insights and skills working with diverse populations, fostering a vision of establishing my own counseling clinic. My aspiration is to offer mental health services and expand access to healing resources, particularly within marginalized, low-income communities like the one where I grew up.