This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HSFstories #cbias#CollectiveBias

I grew up in a household where education was never viewed as an option, but an opportunity. My mother, who grew up poor and in the housing projects, was the first and only in her Hispanic family to graduate with a higher education degree. She never let her circumstances define her potential. This has had a major impact and influence on my life and how I am now raising my own children. I want to show my kids that as Latinos, we have much to be proud of and so many opportunities now that people like their grandmother, paved the way for. Education is the key to growing and thriving in this world. 

My mom and me on my college graduation day!

I'm so grateful that Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. also recognizes the importance of making higher education possible for Latinos. They are now an official partner with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.  My hope is that you'll help me in reaching out so that more of my fellow Hispanics know about this wonderful opportunity to further their education. Growing up, I was always told (by my parents) that I could do or be anything I wanted. And the route to getting there always included getting an education. This is something I am passing along to my own kids. My parents came from very poor upbringings. My mother grew up in housing projects but I am proud to say she was the first and ONLY of her siblings to graduate with a college degree. She's now working on her Masters! She never stops learning and growing. She is an inspiration to me and I am so grateful that she always encouraged me to finish my degree, even if I never "used" it. Education is something that no one can ever take away from you.

So, who do you know that is paying their own way through school? Or, maybe starting a college fund for a newborn? Maybe you're an educator who is passionate about finding opportunities for others to go to college. Whether you have nieces, nephews, friends, kids, or grand kids that are applying for scholarships, this is your opportunity to share the amazing opportunities available to Latinos through the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, along with Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.

Who do you know that could benefits from applying? I encourage you to share this post with them or have them visit the Hispanic Scholarship Fund online here: http://cbi.as/1-zaa