The BRAVE platform has taught me about respecting others. Although we have flaws, it certainly does not define who we are. Most importantly, BRAVE has taught me about respecting myself. No matter how many people decide to tear me down, having the respect and self-love for myself rises me up to any challenge. With self-love, I push through barriers and know that I am worthy of great accomplishments in life.
One of my missions in life is to continue keeping the conversations around BRAVE alive. As the student President of two honors societies, I want to have presentations about BRAVE and hold a safe space for people to be themselves and share their experiences with bullying. All our experiences are valid and deserve to be heard and acknowledged. The most comforting feeling is knowing that you are not alone. By connecting each and every person together, we can collectively come together and be united.
Now everywhere I go, I carry myself with a BRAVE heart.

Talk about being picked on and bullied. Fitting in was not easy and there were so many days I wondered why I was there and if I was good enough. I loved hockey but many of my teammates were mean and it made me hate going. B.R.A.V.E, building respect and values for everyone, is the national platform for Miss High School America, and hits very close to home for me for this very reason. 
Being bullied changes you and makes you feel alone. This is not how anyone should ever have to feel and I am excited to have been given the opportunity to promote this positive anti-bullying message through MHSA. Here is how I want to spread the word, in addition to talking with local schools and youth I want to get the attention of someone who has inspired me and ask for his help. James Charles! Yup you heard me correct the famous social media icon and makeup artist. After being inspired by his story and makeup designs I want to challenge him to create different makeup looks to promote B.R.A.V.E and show the affects bullying can have on someone emotionally. I know its a big challenge, but I am up for it and think with his help and support we can reach so many young people. I am going to start with my own creativity and show through makeup how bullying shaped me and hope to get his attention! Nelson Mandela once said, " It always seems impossible until it is done!" I hope to remind everyone through my actions and words that kindness, diversity, and standing up for what is right will change the world. I believe Courage is contagious, so let’s do this! 

To be honest, I was a tough little cookie in second grade. I made it a point to never let what she said get to me, but being bullied because of who my friends were hurt me more than anything. It got to a point where my friend and I wouldn't go to recess because we were bullied consistently. I eventually moved schools because the bullying got so bad. It was heartbreaking to leave my friends behind, but it benefited me in the long run.

 In 3rd grade I joined wrestling alongside my brothers. I absolutely loved the sport! Being the only girl in the room was nerve racking, but it helped me gain confidence. I remember being told by the boys in the room “girls can’t wrestle” “you won’t ever be as good as the guys”. And  I was determined to prove them wrong and I did. Fast forward to my eighth grade year; I was bullied again by two people who I thought were my friends. Each class they would write about me in the back of their planner. I never did anything about it for a while. One day they left the planner in class and I opened it to read what they wrote about me. It was horrifying. I remember reading things like “she isn’t even that pretty” “why does she even have any friends” “let's not talk to her at all anymore” “she should move schools” “no one even likes her”. I knew what they wrote were lies, however, what affected me most was the fact that I thought they were my friends, but the whole time they were faking it. 

Today, we constantly see people on social media being bullied for their appearance and where they come from. I was also a victim of this. When I first got musically, someone had left a comment on my video that said “she belongs on the other side of the wall”. During this time, the wall between the US and Mexico was being built. My dad is hispanic and I have a cacasian mom. Therefore, I am not 100% hispanic, but having a last name like “Lopez” shows I am of hispanic descent. Getting a comment like that opened my eyes like never before. I realized that no matter where I go or what I do, I will always receive hate. I also realized being able to come out the other side of backlash is important as well; from then on I kept a modo of “Keep your head held high and never let people tear you down”. I started not to care what people thought of me and I truly became a different person through my experiences.

Being apart of Miss High School America and representing BRAVE has given me the chance to share my story and what I learned from it. I have been able to talk to several schools and small groups about my story. I have helped young kids and teenagers open their eyes to realize respecting and valuing others; no matter who they are or where they come from, is of the utmost importance. I started “Find your Fire” which is a movement about who you are, who you want to be, and what makes you unique. When presenting, I have my participants cut out their hands and write “I AM {something}”. This helps them associate a word with who they believe they are. When you believe in yourself, who you are, and what you stand for no one can change or bring you down. When the kids finish I have them shoutout what they wrote, which helps show everyone listening that we are all unique, and we must respect and value each other for it.