My racial and ethnic identity has strongly impacted my academic development. Throughout my growth, I was constantly reminded by my parents and family that not only am I a girl but that I am also Hispanic. My dad mostly reminded me that because of my gender and my ethnicity, I would have to work harder for my dreams. I grew up understanding the stereotypes set for Hispanics in society, and from a very young age I told myself that I will never allow people to group me into that stereotype. The knowledge that people were expecting me to fail, only led me to work harder in not only my academic setting but also in every aspect of my life. Every single time I was told what I could and could not do based on my ethnicity and gender only led me to want
