Susanna Lopez Perez.Teresa Perez Santiago, mi mami, she died when I was 9-years-old but before she died, she taught me a lot of values that are important in life. She was a really strong woman, helpful, smart, caring and independent. Mi mami showed me how to be strong, how to be helpful, and how to forgive people and the most important value she showed me was not to give up on my dreams. Mi mami was really helpful and nice with people. I remembered mami send a lot of clothes and food to the people on Puerto Escondido, a beach three hours from where we live in México because a hurricane passed and destroyed the homes, and many people did not have any clothes and food. At this moment in life she showed me that I have to help people no matter if they are rich or poor. She said to me in Spanish: “Susy siempre ayuda a la gente que necesita ayuda sin esperar nada a cambio ayudalos que tal vez despues necesitaras ayuda de alguien mas y ellos te ayudaran.†English: “Susy. I want you to always help everyone that needs help without asking for anything in return because later on you will need help from someone else and they will help you.†She was strong because she was with mi papilingo, who wasn’t a really good person, mi papilingo was violent with mami, he used to treat her badly, but mami was always strong to withstand the abuse. She always tried not to cry in front of us, but (oh god how many times I saw her crying) obviously my siblings and I knew what was happening. Mami decided to come to USA to get a lawyer who could help her to take us away from papi because my siblings and I, were born in the USA. She wanted the custody of us so she could take us away from papi. On her way to USA she had a car accident and passed away. At this point she showed me not to let go of my dreams because she didn’t give up her decision and her dream to be happy with her children. She died thinking about her kids. She also showed me how to forgive people, because she forgave mi papi for all the abuse he caused her. She never hated him even after all the violence. Before she went on her trip to USA she said this to me: “Hija nunca odies o le guardes rencor a nadie no importa si ellos se portaron mal contigo o te odien siempre perdona a todo aquel que te lastimo o quiso lastimar. Perdona a tu papa por la vida que nos a dado y quierelo con todo el Corazon, cuida a tus hermanas y se fuerte te prometo que yo volvere.†Which in English would be: Susy , please don’t ever hate people! Never, no matter if they treat you badly. Always forgive every person who hurt you or who wants to hurt you. Forgive your papi for the life that he had been given us and love him with all your heart, take care of your sisters and be strong I promise you ,I will come back..†Mi mami passed through a lot of things for us. She sacrificed for us and that’s why she is the most influential person in my life. She will always be on my heart and my mind. (te amo mami y siempre estaras en mi mente.) Now I want you to know that my dream is to go to college and graduate from college, have a career, a good job and a good future. I’m applying because I think I deserve an opportunity to show that I can, and to show who I am .I think I’m pretty strong to succeed in my education. I will never give up my education and my dreams. However, to make a dream come true, we have to make it happen and fight for it. I may not have the best grades at school, I may not have a good score on the SAT‘s, but I tried my best, and now I want you to know something about me I’m 18 years old, almost 19 years old. I work and I go to school but I also have my own apartment and I pay my own rent. I may not have a car but that is not an obstacle for me. I don’t want you to feel sorry for me. I just want you to give me an opportunity, let me show you personally who I am, that way you will not said that I was just writing this because I wanted to look good in front of you. I appreciate your time reading my essay and I hope to get into your collegue. Sincerely Susana Lopez Perez.