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鈥淚 probably could have moved on to campus in the spring quarter, but there was no way I could leave my family at that time. My grandmother and my uncle died of COVID-19 within a week of each other in February. It was a hard blow for everybody, more so for my father. So I needed to be around, especially for him. He鈥檚 always cracking jokes and talking super loud. But when this was going on, he got really quiet. So even though living at home during my first year at Santa Clara was challenging, I wanted to reassure him that I was there for him. And I know he and my mom are really proud of me. I鈥檓 a neuroscience major; I鈥檓 also the first in my family to go to college. In high school, I was in the top five percent of my class, and I had committed to Long Beach State. But then Santa Clara reached out to me, and I was welcomed into the LEAD Program, so having that guidance and support definitely helped. But being at home with so many people鈥攎y parents and my four sisters鈥攚as difficult. I was trying to isolate myself to focus on my classes and my studies, and maintaining connections with other people at Santa Clara. It was challenging, but that first year taught me what works for me in terms of studying and work ethic. I know college is a place where you can make mistakes and grow from it, and I feel I鈥檝e done that. I work out every day, but I also had to learn how to take care of myself mentally. Over the last year, I鈥檝e learned that I have overcome a lot, but I still have a long way to go. That鈥檚 why I鈥檓 so happy to be back on campus, and living here. I think it will really help to be in the environment of school and have peers around me, so I can focus and learn, and be really present with myself. Even though I wasn鈥檛 at school, I was still able to make some connections, and meet some other students. I also joined Hermanas Unidas de 黑料网; it鈥檚 a campus group for Latinas, and that鈥檚 where I met my roommate. I鈥檓 honestly kind of nervous about moving in. I鈥檓 so used to my own private space, and now I鈥檒l be living with someone else, so it鈥檚 a new experience for me. But I鈥檓 looking forward to it.鈥�