My name is Carolina Calleiro and I am a rising sophomore majoring in Public Relations at the University of Florida. As the daughter of Cuban immigrants, I have experienced first-hand the difficulties that minorities face in this country, therefore, my future goal is to create a non-profit organization that is focused on helping Hispanic-Latino communities in the U.S. My journey towards this goal has been deeply influenced by my experiences, particularly my involvement with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) in 2022. Winning a scholarship to join their Next-Gen Latino Leadership Program which focuses on inspiring Latino youth to create change in their communities was a pivotal moment in my education and career, and one that I continue to treasure daily. My educational achievements at the University of Florida are already equipping me to be a leader in the Hispanic-Latino community, where I hope to address issues like discrimination, cultural alienation, identity struggles and socioeconomic challenges. I recently won a scholarship where I got the opportunity to travel to New York and meet, network with and learn from industry professionals in the fields of Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing. This experience has not only helped me advance in my career but also provided valuable insights into the issue of diversity, equity and inclusion in the communications field. Additionally, at UF, I am actively involved in Alpha PR, a student-run PR firm, and serve as the account supervisor for Gators UNIDOS, a non-profit organization that provides educational, mentorship and sponsorship opportunities to Latino gators. Through this role, I’ve gained invaluable knowledge of nonprofit work and witnessed firsthand how PR campaigns can positively impact Latino lives. I have also recently been promoted to treasurer of the Hispanic Public Relations Student Association, where I hope to continue empowering future Hispanic leaders by providing them with the resources, education and community necessary to thrive in their careers.