Be Empowered. Every Vote Defends Democracy.
In 2025, my community continues to face one of its most painful challenges: ICE raids that tear families apart and instill fear in neighborhoods across the country. As a Mexican American and the child of an immigrant single mother, this issue is not political, it's personal. I've witnessed firsthand how policies passed by elected officials can either protect or endanger families like mine.
Democracy is not abstract. It’s in the laws that govern who gets to stay, who gets help, and who gets heard. It’s in the leaders we elect local, state, and national who have the power to end unjust practices or reinforce them. Voting is how we hold those leaders accountable.
When we don’t vote, we give others the power to decide our future for us. But when we show up at the polls, we protect our communities. Every vote becomes a shield defending our values, our families, and our hopes.
My mother came to this country looking for an opportunity. She worked tirelessly, often invisibly, to give me the chance to thrive. Now, I pursue a degree in computer science not just for my future, but to build tools that empower others, apps that connect immigrants with legal resources, platforms that raise awareness, and technology that amplifies marginalized voices.
But technology alone won’t change the system. We need policy. We need representation. We need voters who understand that democracy isn’t defended in one grand moment it’s defended every Election Day.
Being empowered means more than personal success; it means lifting others as we rise. I vote to protect families, to promote justice, and to ensure that no child goes to sleep fearing their parents might not be there in the morning.
Every vote matters. Every vote defends democracy. And every vote brings us closer to a country where everyone regardless of background can feel safe, valued, and free.