My name is Sandra Nunez, I am a first-gen Mexicana who recently graduated with her Bachelor's in Sociology. I am part of the 3% of former foster youth that made it to college, and I am proud of my educational journey and the many doors it has opened for me, but more so the doors I opened by sharing my story. I quickly noticed that "the invite to have a seat at the table" wasn't coming, so I decided to begin using my platform to talk about education and empowerment. We must be the ones to create these spaces for ourselves as well as those we are paving the way for. Education has changed my life in so many ways for example increased confidence, gained knowledge, the ability to network, I feel empowered by those who believe in me, and I learned how powerful my story truly is. Coming from a world where education was never talked about, I am blessed that I have been able to continue my journey and create a healthy cycle for my kids, I changed the narrative for my family, and that’s a big deal. My passion is spreading empowerment and how education can be a transformative experience. Many will say “it is a waste of time,” but many more will say it has helped them flourish into cycle breakers, and we are contributing to the much-needed representation in academia. See, we’re not just doing it for us were doing it for the many others that don’t feel “they have what it takes” or “feel like they do not belong”. You belong, we belong, we all belong, college is a possibility. Links of your social media platforms: @educatedchingona @chingonaology. IG for Chicana & Latina Moms Podcast: @chicana_latinamomspodcast