Andres Rivera-Vazquez

I am currently.

The most influential person in my life is my grandfather. He has been there to raise me when my biological father did not take responsibility as a parent. He has taught me the value of being an honest and straight-forward person that speaks their mind but without being rude. And most importantly he has shared the joy of living and inspiring me every day to go out and seize the moment, that he constantly reminds me will not “ return for you to try a do-over.”

He was raised in a farming community in Weimar, Texas, so he offers lots of stories and experiences that are not held by the average grandpa. He loved working with the animals and getting up early every morning to go milk the cows, feed the pigs, or whatever task needed completion for the day. It was a simple life that he loved with all of his soul. Nothing contented him more than to sit out on the porch and watch the sun come up. Later on after I was born, he would take me out to the farm my great-grandparents bought and would let me go play under the big oak trees, or ride around the farm on a tractor in his lap. The best part of growing up was that he always made everything fun and knew how to make me laugh when I was upset or crying and/or both. He understood me in a way I still think few of my other family members do and for that I am blessed and grateful to have him in my life.

If it were not for my grandfather, I do not know where I would be now or how I would have turned out. As anyone that knows me well will tell you is that sometimes I can be a worry wort and a workaholic, but my grandpa reminds me that while it is important to work hard, you have to have fun every once in a while. I think that he has shaped me as a person not in the fact that he has tried to “teach” me specific lessons explicitly in certain situations, but in a way where he has acted as role model that inadvertently extended his philosophy for life onto me. Either way I am grateful for having him as part of my life and cannot wait to earn a bachelors degree and demonstrate through my accomplishment the integral role he played in my life.

1) As a sophomore, I took PreAP chemistry and fell in love with the subject; not only did I have an amazing teacher that shared her love of chemistry, but pushed us to work a little harder everyday in class. As a result of my great experience with this class, I have decided to take AP chemistry my senior year, which also happens to be taught by the same teacher. This college level chemistry class has taught me what I need to know to survive even the most challenging college labs and courses. PreAp physics my junior year introduced the more involved math side of science that I had not yet associated with most of my science classes up to that point. In addition this class taught me valuable organization skills when it comes to setting up calculations, rearranging formulas to solve for particular variables, and other essential elements in a scientific profession.As far as my extra-curricular are concerned, I was involved with Science Olympiad my junior year. This program allowed me to see the real-world application of science and at the same time compete in an environment with like-minded individuals. The event I participated in my junior year that pertained to chemistry was technical problem solving; which involves a mix of chemistry and physics, focusing on chemistry to solve lab-setting situations.

2) My chemistry degree will contribute to my ability to pursue my interest in the area of food science. The possibilities are endless and I am so excited to begin exploring all the options along my journey. I personally want to specialize in food chemistry, so that I can learn ways to help people eat healthier or chemically modify the contents of the food so that they are more nutritious or satisfying. I think chemistry should be fun, and getting to work in a lab where I get to come up with new ice cream flavors or candy bar fillings I think would be amazing. Or on the other hand, I have a friend that is a body builder and I would love to know how the supplements he takes interact with his body’s chemistry to help him build muscle and strength. The manner in which modern society has so much control over what they are eating, down to a cellular level, fascinates me and I really want to focus on this in my studies during college.

3) My ethnic background has always been a component of my life and continues to fuel the experiences I have. My father is Colombian and my mother is of Mexican/Spanish decent. During the holidays my family would always get together for Christmas and New Year’s to celebrate like any big hispanic family does. My entire life I have always been reminded of my heritage through my legal name, which tends to confuse my friends because most of them call me Andrew, which I prefer. I would say that growing up my grandma would always make traditional Mexican dishes mixed in with other styles; I loved to be in the kitchen and smell the aromas of fresh tamales cooking or fideo. Sometimes my friends try to pinpoint my ancestry but cannot really tell because my features are mixed. But overall I would say that growing up with a minority background changes the way you perceive the world around you and alters the manner in which you approach situations. I am always quick to take on a new project and I am a very independent-minded person that is not afraid to inject my thoughts and ideas into a conversation.

4) My mother is a single mom. She receives child support at two hundred dollars a month, which ends June 2015 upon my graduation. My dad stated he is not helping with my college expenses. My mother was recently diagnosed in October 2014 with stage 2 breast cancer. The cancer was aggressive but caught early enough to be treated. My mother is a cosmetologist by trade and therefore is constantly required to work long hours on her feet and work with her hands. The news of her diagnosis was devastating and very shocking to my family, which includes my grandparents, my mother and myself. In order to reduce the burden of bills, my mother and I moved in with my grandparents and my mother sold our house that she had bought about two years ago. She was very depressed to lose so much in such a short time: her health, her house, her ability to work, and at the essence of it all, her independence. She had worked so hard after my dad and her divorced to provide for the two of us and make sure that I was happy and healthy. She felt like she had hit a brick wall and that now she would have no means by which to help me pay for college while she is undergoing treatment and relying on my grandparents to take care of us. On the positive side though, she has just undergone her second to last chemotherapy and will be done by the end of February. She will have to undergo a double mastectomy and receive another hormone regulator drug for another year. I would like to receive this scholarship so she would not have to worry so much about how much money it will take for me to go to college next year and focus more on her health and recovering where she will need all her strength.

Members of Selection Committee:
It is a joy to recommend Andrew Rivera for the Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones Scholarship. I’ve known Andrew for three years, during which time he was a student in my PreAP Chemistry class, has been an active member of the Science Olympiad team, and is now a student in my AP Chemistry class. In both the classroom and in Science Olympiad, Andrew has set an example for others by showing a fabulous work ethic, an interest in learning new things, a willingness to help others, and a desire to be sure he doesn’t just score well, but understands the material.
In PreAP Chemistry Andrew was one of my top performing students on tests and demonstrated great leadership by asking excellent questions in class. He was not afraid to ask for clarification to enhance his and others’ understanding. His work was always completed in a timely fashion and if he made mistakes on the work he always approached his corrections as an opportunity for better understanding. Andrew very much enjoyed demonstrations and labs that allowed him to make a connection between the theoretical and practical sides of chemistry; and he is continuing in that vein during AP Chemistry this year, working well with his lab partners and showing that wonderful work ethic.
Science Olympiad offered Andrew a new challenge to his academic plate. Having never participated in a building contest before, he jumped right into two different construction-based events to stretch his brain in a new way. Each time he tested his structures he learned something new that he incorporated into the next structure; and each time, the speed at which he worked and the skill set he brought showed improvement. Additionally, at our regional event, he volunteered to take on a couple of academic events that no one else wanted to do, recruited another student, and they ended up with medals in both.
Perhaps one of the most impressive things about Andrew’s level of achievement is that he has done so much while working. He has had an after-school and summer job for the past two years to help out his mother with expenses. Occasionally he’ll have to reschedule an activity or school related item to accommodate his work schedule, but he does so with planning, a smile, and a courteous manner. With Andrew’s work ethic and interest in life-long learning, I believe he will be a successful student at the university level and beyond; and it is an honor for me to recommend Andrew Rivera for the Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones Scholarship. Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully,

Amiee Modic
Katy High School
PreAP and AP Chemistry and Science Olympiad

My mother is a self-employed cosmetologist and therefore does not receive a W-2 form; enclosed is a copy of her 2014 tax return showing gross income. Currently, my mother is undergoing treatment for stage 2 breast cancer. Her last chemotherapy is this Wednesday, February 18th, 2015, and she plans on having reconstructive surgery for her breast after her double mastectomy in March. Right now we are living with my grandparents, who do not work and are helping my mother so I can go to school and work part-time. My mother has only intermittently worked a day here or there in between chemotherapy when she has “good days.”
My goal is to go to college and earn an undergraduate degree in chemistry as my major and nutrition as my minor. After I graduate, I plan on working for a few years to work off any debt that I have accumulated then go back to school once I am established to get my masters and specialize in a particular area of chemistry.
I have volunteered for the Katy High School Fish Camp for the past three years and have served on the leadership team for the past two. My responsibilities included organizing students into groups to get work done efficiently, planning events for the incoming freshmen, etc. I have also just recently started a GSA (gay-straight alliance) at my high school. The purpose of this club is to provide a safe, friendly environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight ally students the opportunity to talk about LGBTQ (acronym: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) issues that concern them; or to offer an opportunity for people to make friends with similar interest outside of the traditional social platforms offered in high school.
I am a straight “A” and all AP student. I participate in Mu Alpha Theta, a math-oriented club that offers tutoring to underclassmen that are struggling in math. I also participate in Interact, volunteer service organization that brings together students that have the desire to give back to their community and makes them aware of opportunities in the area to volunteer and get involved.
I swam on the Katy High School Varsity Swim Team my freshmen and sophomore year of high school, serving as part of the leadership team for part of my sophomore year; duties included: making sure younger swimmers were kept aware of their events so they did not miss them, reminding swimmers to warm-up before each race and cool-down afterwards, and bring up team morale by cheering on teammates during their races.
I hold a TSFA (Texas State Floral Association) Level 1 Certification which allows me to work as a florist at the Agave Brothers wedding venue (close to Firethorne). I have worked there for two years now and serve as the main assistant to the head florist. My skills have increased tremendously since the beginning of my employment and my leadership abilities have been refined as I have been given greater responsibility over more people in the department.

I believe that I should National PFLAG Scholarship because I am a persistent and perseverant individual that greatly desires to attend college but does not want to overburden his family with the cost of attending a four-year university. I participated in Science Olympiad my junior year of high school. I had never participated in an extra-curricular activity that involved a more academic approach instead of physical. I was surprised to find the time and level of effort that was needed to do well in regional and state events quite astounding. My partner and I stayed after school for hours testing prototypes for various events; including a wooden lever that was designed to hold a certain amount of weight and break exactly upon reaching that weight, in addition to making a bungee that could be adjusted to stretch a certain distance depending on the weight attached to it. Needless to say I built at least ten or twelve levers by the time we tested, broke, and rebuilt models that would eventually lead us to winning third place at our region competition and third at our state competition against multiple competitors. It taught me that not all tasks can be completed successfully the first time and that it often takes multiple, humiliating failures before success is achieved.

My mother was recently diagnosed in October 2014 with stage 2 breast cancer. The cancer was aggressive but caught early enough to be treated. My mother is a cosmetologist by trade and therefore is constantly required to work long hours on her feet and work with her hands. The news of her diagnosis was devastating and very shocking to my family, which includes my grandparents, my mother and myself. In order to reduce the burden of bills, my mother and I moved in with my grandparents and my mother sold our house that she had bought about two years ago. She was very depressed to lose so much in such a short time: her health, her house, her ability to work, and at the essence of it all her independence. She had worked so hard after my dad and her divorced to provide for the two of us and make sure that I was happy and healthy. She felt like she had hit a brick wall and that now she would have no means by which to help me pay for college while she was undergoing treatment and relying on my grandparents to take care of us. On the positive side though, she has just undergone her last chemotherapy. She has to undergone a double mastectomy and will have to receive another hormone regulator drug for another year. I would like to receive this scholarship so she would not have to worry so much about how much money it will take for me to go to college next year and focus more on her health and recovering where she will need all her strength.

My father is not part of my family, I have not spoken to him in four years that stem as a result from the grief and abuse he caused my mother and I. He pays $200 a month in child support plus about $100 to cover my insurance, which will end upon my graduation from high school this June.

Even at such a progressive time in our history, the challenges facing LGBT youth still are very relevant and pose a threat to the mental and physical health of adolescents and young adults. I realized I was gay during middle school when I noticed I was not attracted to girls like most of my guy friends; of course I dated to play the "normal" part, but always I felt as if I was missing out on something that my friends were experiencing. No girl gave me butterflies in my stomach, and even my first kiss felt more like someone was holding a vacuum cleaner up to my face rather than the "spark" writers describe in novels.. Despite my desires, I buried my emotions until I became a numb zombie. I used school work and swimming as an escape; I would exhaust myself, physically and mentally, to the point where I was void of thought.

My saving grace however, came in the form of my best friend or as we like to say “soul friend”, Hannah. We met at the start of my freshmen year of high school, when I made varsity swim team. Hannah was a junior at the time, but despite our difference in age we formed an instant connection. That summer, we participated in a swim club together and were almost inseparable. At this point and time, I decided I could trust her with my deepest secret. I came out to her and was pleasantly surprised to hear," ...and, I kind of already knew, you're too good of a listener to be straight." The nonchalant response took a huge weight off my shoulders. After that, I went to Hannah anytime I needed advice or just someone to talk to. Throughout my sophomore year, Hannah and I had multiple "group therapy" sessions from time to time, not only to bounce ideas off each other, but just to rant about the many problems we seemed to be facing in life.

I was so downtrodden when she graduated. However, the summer between my sophomore and junior year turned out to be a turning point in my life. My depression had reached new depths and I felt like I was drowning in my own self-pity, this was when I decided to come out to my family. I was overjoyed and relieved to find out that they loved me no matter what. What I thought would be one of the worst episodes of my life, ended up being one of my greatest triumphs.

Soon after, I started attending HATCH, a LGBT youth group, in downtown Houston. I have met and am continuing to meet the most wonderful people, many have sparked new friendships which I am sure will last for many years to come. My family goes with me to PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) meetings and even marched in the Houston Pride parade last June. Life for the first time seems full of possibilities and as something to be enjoyed and cherished. College I know is the next big step in my agenda, but at least I know that the scariest thing I will have to worry about is making good grades.

Now in the second semester of my senior year, I have decided to start a GSA at my school and help other LGBT youth in my area that are going through the same struggles I did. I love hearing other people’s stories and how they overcame obstacles in their life; they give me inspiration and hope at the resiliency of our community. I plan to stay an active member in the LGBT community no matter what city I settle in, whether that is participating in the local PFLAG chapter or other LGBT group. I want to earn a Chemistry B.S. from UT in Austin and work in private industry, possibly cosmetics or food, and after recovering from undergraduate student debt and establishing myself as an adult, going back to get my Masters and specialize.

As a senior at Katy High School and a student in Katy I.S.D. I have had the wonderful experience of having the chance to start a GSA (gay-straight alliance club) that has benefitted numerous students throughout the school. For many years I struggled with my sexuality and the problems that come with feeling an outcast in my own community. Early on, I confided with a few close friends that helped me to grow and understand who I was as an individual and learn to accept and love myself. So for my last year in high school, I wanted to create a safe space where youth of all gender identities and sexual orientations could come together and meet other people that shared their stories and struggles. I have been pleasantly surprised to find a large amount of support from not only my straight peers, but also numerous faculty members that have reached out and offered their help and advice in starting this club. I feel that I can now leave Katy High School knowing that I made a difference in the lives of not only students currently attending but for those in years to come.

Even at such a progressive time in our history, the challenges facing LGBT youth still are very relevant and pose a threat to the mental and physical health of adolescents and young adults. I realized I was gay during middle school when I noticed I was not attracted to girls like most of my guy friends; of course I dated to play the "normal" part, but always I felt as if I was missing out on something that my friends were experiencing. No girl gave me butterflies in my stomach, and even my first kiss felt more like someone was holding a vacuum cleaner up to my face rather than the "spark" writers describe in novels.. Despite my desires, I buried my emotions until I became a numb zombie. I used school work and swimming as an escape; I would exhaust myself, physically and mentally, to the point where I was void of thought.
My saving grace however, came in the form of my best friend, Hannah. At the start of my freshmen year, I made varsity swim team; which put me in the path of my now best friend or as we like to call "soul friends." Hannah was a junior at the time, but despite our difference in age we formed an instant connection. That summer, we participated in a swim club together and were almost inseparable. At this point and time, I decided I could trust her with my deepest secret. I came out to her and was pleasantly surprised to hear," ...and, I kind of already knew, you're too good of a listener to be straight." The nonchalant response took a huge weight off my shoulders. After that, I went to Hannah anytime I needed advice or just someone to talk to. Throughout my sophomore year, Hannah and I had multiple "group therapy" sessions from time to time, not only to bounce ideas off each other, but just to rant about how many problems we seemed to be facing in life.
I was so downtrodden when she graduated. However, the summer between my sophomore and junior year turned out to be a turning point in my life. My depression had reached new depths and I felt like I was drowning in my own self-pity, this was when I decided to come out to my family. I was overjoyed and relieved to find out that they loved me no matter what. What I thought would be one of the worst episodes of my life, ended up being one of my greatest triumphs.
Soon after, I started attending HATCH in Montrose. I have met and am continuing to meet the most wonderful people, many have sparked new friendships which I am sure will last for many years to come. My family goes with me to PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) meetings and even marched in the Houston Pride parade this past June. Life for the first time seems full of possibilities and as something to be enjoyed and cherished. College I know is the next big step in my agenda, but at least I know that the scariest thing I will have to worry about is making good grades.
Now in the second semester of my senior year, I have decided to start a GSA at my school and help other LGBT youth in my area that are going through the same struggles I did. I love hearing other people’s stories and how they overcame obstacles in their life; they give me inspiration and hope at the resiliency of our community. I plan to stay an active member in the LGBT community no matter what city I settle in, whether that is participating in the local PFLAG chapter or LGBT youth group. I want to earn a Chemistry B.S. from UT in Austin and work in private industry, possibly cosmetics or food, and after recovering from undergraduate and establishing myself as an adult, going back to get my Masters and specialize.

Even at such a progressive time in our history, the challenges facing LGBT youth still are very relevant and pose a threat to the mental and physical health of adolescents and young adults. I realized I was gay during middle school when I noticed I was not attracted to girls like most of my guy friends; of course I dated to play the "normal" part, but always I felt as if I was missing out on something that my friends were experiencing. No girl gave me butterflies in my stomach, and even my first kiss felt more like someone was holding a vacuum cleaner up to my face rather than the "spark" writers describe in novels.. Despite my desires, I buried my emotions until I became a numb zombie. I used school work and swimming as an escape; I would exhaust myself, physically and mentally, to the point where I was void of thought.
My saving grace however, came in the form of my best friend, Hannah. At the start of my freshmen year, I made varsity swim team; which put me in the path of my now best friend or as we like to call "soul friends." Hannah was a junior at the time, but despite our difference in age we formed an instant connection. That summer, we participated in a swim club together and were almost inseparable. At this point and time, I decided I could trust her with my deepest secret. I came out to her and was pleasantly surprised to hear," ...and, I kind of already knew, you're too good of a listener to be straight." The nonchalant response took a huge weight off my shoulders. After that, I went to Hannah anytime I needed advice or just someone to talk to. Throughout my sophomore year, Hannah and I had multiple "group therapy" sessions from time to time, not only to bounce ideas off each other, but just to rant about how many problems we seemed to be facing in life.
I was so downtrodden when she graduated. However, the summer between my sophomore and junior year turned out to be a turning point in my life. My depression had reached new depths and I felt like I was drowning in my own self-pity, this was when I decided to come out to my family. I was overjoyed and relieved to find out that they loved me no matter what. What I thought would be one of the worst episodes of my life, ended up being one of my greatest triumphs.
Soon after, I started attending HATCH in Montrose. I have met and am continuing to meet the most wonderful people, many have sparked new friendships which I am sure will last for many years to come. My family goes with me to PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) meetings and even marched in the Houston Pride parade this past June. Life for the first time seems full of possibilities and as something to be enjoyed and cherished. College I know is the next big step in my agenda, but at least I know that the scariest thing I will have to worry about is making good grades.
Now in the second semester of my senior year, I have decided to start a GSA at my school and help other LGBT youth in my area that are going through the same struggles I did. I love hearing other people’s stories and how they overcame obstacles in their life; they give me inspiration and hope at the resiliency of our community. I plan to stay an active member in the LGBT community no matter what city I settle in, whether that is participating in the local PFLAG chapter or LGBT youth group. I want to earn a Chemistry B.S. from UT in Austin and work in private industry, possibly cosmetics or food, and after recovering from undergraduate and establishing myself as an adult, going back to get my Masters and specialize.

As a sophomore, I took PreAP chemistry and fell in love with the subject; not only did I have an amazing teacher that shared her love of chemistry, but pushed us to work a little harder everyday in class. As a result of my great experience with this class, I have decided to take AP chemistry my senior year, which also happens to be taught by the same teacher. I was involved with Science Olympiad my junior year. This program allowed me to see the real-world application of science and at the same time compete in an environment with like-minded individuals. The event I participated in my junior year that pertained to chemistry was technical problem solving, which focused on solving lab-setting situations.
I want to earn a degree in chemistry, which will contribute to my ability to pursue my interest in the area of food science. The possibilities are endless and I am so excited to begin exploring all the options along my journey. I personally want to specialize in food chemistry, so that I can learn ways to help people eat healthier or chemically modify the contents of the food so that they are more nutritious or satisfying. I think chemistry should be fun, and getting to work in a lab where I get to come up with new ice cream flavors or candy bar fillings I think would be amazing. Or on the other hand, I have a friend that is a body builder and I would love to know how the supplements he takes interact with his body’s chemistry to help him build muscle and strength. The manner in which modern society has so much control over what they are eating, down to a cellular level, fascinates me and I really want to focus on this in my studies during college.
My mother was recently diagnosed in October 2014 with stage 2 breast cancer. In order to reduce the burden of bills, my mother and I moved in with my grandparents and my mother sold our house that she had bought about two years ago. She was very depressed to lose so much in such a short time: her health, her house, her ability to work, and at the essence of it all her independence. She felt like she had hit a brick wall and that now she would have no means by which to help me pay for college while she was undergoing treatment and relying on my grandparents to take care of us. On the positive side though, she has just undergone her last chemotherapy. She will have to undergo a double mastectomy and receive another hormone regulator drug for another year. I would like to receive this scholarship so she would not have to worry so much about how much money it will take for me to go to college next year and focus more on her health and recovering where she will need all her strength.