Hello! My name is Guillermo. I'm a 19-year-old international student looking to continue my education here in the US.

I came to the US with my mother when I was just 14. When I got here, I faced a couple of difficulties, such as the language and the culture, but I liked the challenge of getting better at things that were new to me. I went to High School here in Gillette, Wyoming, and along the way, I discovered new things I love to spend time doing, such as learning about computers, how they work, and how to keep them secure. My curiosity spiked.

In our time here, I have appreciated the opportunity to learn about things I did not expect I’d be learning about, such as coding, drawing, and new sports. These things made me want to continue learning more.

One of the biggest values that my mother has instilled in me during our time here is the importance of giving back, because this country and the people in it have given us so much. My mother became an important part of the local community as a beloved teacher.

I chose a different path, working at the community college where I got my associate's degree. I became a student employee at the campus library. This gave me the opportunity to help my fellow students, the faculty, and the staff even as they were teaching me the skills I would need to move on to my Bachelor's degree and, ultimately, my career.

As much as I don’t like to brag, it's important to me that you know the ways I have given back to the community that has given me my start.

I want to accomplish as much as I can, but not just for myself—for my community, my family, my friends, and for those people who did not have the luck I have had. I feel like I have not been involved as much as I would have liked, and this is what I want to change wherever I go.

With the funds I receive from this GoFundMe, I plan to attend Dakota State University to get my degree in Cyber Operations. The threats in this world are increasingly online, and we need people who can protect our businesses and citizens from those threats. With this degree, I'll be able to do that.