Being a good role model for my loved ones while managing my own responsibilities has been, and always will be, exceptionally challenging—especially in a world that demands constant time and attention. My faith has been my guiding force, helping me not only navigate obstacles but also grow from my family's struggles. When I was growing up in Nepal, my family endured significant financial and emotional hardships. Long before I was even born, my father had an accident that left him struggling with severe depression. Despite years of medication and psychiatric treatment, recovery seemed out of reach. My mother, a teacher, teaching during the day and taking care during the night, was the only glimmer battling against this dark shadow for a long time. Her job in the private sector was never secure, and with my father unable to hold steady employment, uncertainty became a constant presence in our household. I was born into this instability with an overwhelming sense of responsibility, but my faith provided a source of strength and hope. I poured my heart into education, knowing it was the clearest path to success. However, academics alone cannot keep a family at bay from all the worries. Faith gave me the strength to see challenges as opportunities rather than limitations. I sought guidance from religious gurus and astrologers, searching for direction in my career and life. Their insights helped me define my path, but more importantly, my unwavering belief that things could change kept me going. Every night, I prayed—not just for miracles, but for the strength to create them. I studied relentlessly, tutored younger students to earn some income, and pushed myself beyond what seemed possible. Slowly, my family's situation improved. My father began to recover, regaining his ability to work, and my mother no longer had to shoulder the burden alone. My faith and perseverance paid off—I secured a place at Drexel University, where I am now pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. This milestone once felt like a distant dream. Prayer and belief in a more excellent plan reminded me that I was never alone in this journey. My faith taught me patience when change felt slow, gratitude for our progress, and perseverance when the road ahead seemed daunting. Through faith, I learned to find purpose in my struggles rather than feeling weighed down by them. I worked on becoming emotionally more potent, a reliable pillar for my loved ones, and a more resourceful individual who could turn adversity into opportunity. Today, I continue to rely on my faith as I pursue my education in the United States. As an international student from Nepal, I belong to a demographic that is vastly underrepresented in higher education. Many students from my background do not have the financial means or exposure to study abroad, and even fewer have overcome the hardships my family faced. However, through faith and determination, I have defied the odds. My journey has been one of resilience, and I am committed to using my education to uplift others—just as faith has uplifted me.

The weight of responsibility had been settled on my shoulders long before I understood its denomination. My father had been suffering from severe depression and anxiety from long before when I was born, and medicines seemed to have no impact. His battle with this mental disability cast our home with long shadows as we struggled to rise above this darkness. For the first fifteen years of my life, my mother was the only minute glimmer of light- as she carried the whole world alone- teaching by day, caring by night, stretching every ounce of energy and rupees to keep us at bay from the depth of despair. I grew up knowing that love could be cumbersomely hefty. It looked like late-night lesson plans, quiet sacrifices, and holding my breath when the rent was due. And in that silence, I learned to shoulder my burdens, finally understanding what the words "the weight of responsibility" meant. Education was a very important factor in this process. I studied with very little guidance outside of school, not just to pass the exams but to carve a future where my mother's struggle was not a daily reality. Ever since I was a child, I have heard that education and knowledge open all doors, and today, here I am, against all odds, doing my undergrad in the United States and pursuing a college education. Miraculously, even my father has started working, and my educational journey has had a significant impact. For me, this scholarship is more than financial relief—it is the difference between surviving and thriving. It allows me to focus on my education without worrying about stretching my already scarce family resources too thin. More than that, it gives me the freedom to give back. As someone whose life was shaped by education, I want to be the mentor I once needed. I plan to organize free tutoring for deserving students, making knowledge accessible to those who, like me, have learned to find solace in learning stuff. I hope to liven my dream; that learning is not a privilege but a right. This was my story—a reminder of the value of education and how small things can have profound impacts. A small stamp, for example, can carry this weight too. Stamps are not just pieces of paper; they are lessons in history, reminders of how nations rise and fall, how progress and struggle intertwine across time and borders. Philately, or stamp collecting, is more than a hobby—it is an educational journey. Each stamp is like a page in a textbook, offering stories of voyages, revolutions, and moments of change. In a way, each stamp was a light in the darkness of my world, much like the lessons I clung to while building a better future. When I think about introducing young people to philately, I see it as a way to teach them more than just collecting. Stamps offer windows into different cultures, historical events, and the resilience of people. Just like I used education to shape my future, stamps can help young people understand how the past influences the present. It is about using these small pieces of history to spark curiosity, just as education sparked my hope. How these stories are told is the key to getting children excited about philately. For example, imagine telling a child who loves chocolates how a stamp once commemorated the origins of chocolate and its journey through history!! Connecting stamps to real-life interests can ignite a passion for learning and discovery. Let philately be not a chore, but a journey for them. Aahoot Neupane Drexel University aahoot03@gmail.com

Hi there, I am Aahoot Neupane, a Mechanical Engineering Major currently studying at Drexel University. The second year of high school was the day before our computer science practicals, and we had a group project. This project was an incredible 40% of our total marks, hence significant. The deadline was rapidly approaching. We had each allocated different sections of the projects we would be working on, but one of our peers needed help to attend school with his part. This situation left us with a dilemma. This easy-looking project had morphed, as I had been given a technical challenge at the last minute—one that would either make it or break it. My task was simple in theory: build a system that would allow a series of sensors to communicate wirelessly with each other. However, the catch was that we had no equipment for the experiments; our friend had taken them to his house. There was no reliable hardware on hand, and the solution had to be implemented within hours; the stakes were high, and my mind raced through possible solutions. I started using whatever I found in the computer Science building: an old TP-link router, a few black telephone cables, and an assortment of broken used devices. Our friend's original idea was to use Wi-Fi to transmit data, but this setup needed to be more straightforward due to the constraints. Fortunately, the old Tp-link router still worked, so I used it as a makeshift communication hub. The device was meant for something other than this project, but that is where the challenge lay. I reconfigured the router's firmware and hacked together an alternative method of transmitting the data—one that had not been tried before, at least not in this context. This was not a perfect solution, but it could be decent for make-up. The real breakthrough came when I figured out how to make the sensors communicate via a mesh network. By using a clever combination of low-power signals and reprogramming the old router to handle different frequencies, I got them to link up. Each sensor was now relaying information to the others in a chain, something I had not initially planned for but adapted on the fly. With minutes to spare, I could demonstrate that the system worked—even though it was not the sleek, polished solution I had envisioned. I had built something functional that pushed the boundaries of what the hardware was meant to do. In doing so, I delighted the team with a solution that no one expected, using only what we had. In the end, the project was a success. It met the essential criteria and set the stage for a new approach to the problem to inspire future innovations. That experience was the first time I had an opportunity to experiment on stuff outside my laboratory, and it left me with a further craving to think outside of the box. There is no blueprint for what can be achieved when you embrace the "hacker spirit," that day, I was reminded of just how much you can accomplish when you innovate under pressure. We got a decent grade at the end, and my night with no sleep had paid off.

I am Aahoot Neupane, a student from Nepal currently studying at Drexel University in the United States, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. I am a sophomore, and as I move through life, I see it as a process of passing the baton to a better version of myself each year. I promise my future self three things to ensure a fulfilling life: to strive for independence, give back to my community, and pursue excellence in my field. This scholarship plays a crucial role in helping me fulfill these promises. A significant aspect of independence is financial independence. Living in the USA has been a significant financial burden due to the weak value of the Nepali rupee compared to the USD. My relatives currently fund a large portion of my tuition, and their support has been invaluable. However, I am committed to reducing this reliance by securing scholarships like this one. This will not only ease the financial strain on my family but also allow me to fully concentrate on my studies without the constant worry of financial challenges. Secondly, I am dedicated to giving back to my community. My father’s long-term struggle with depression from 2000 to 2020 limited his ability to work, and my mother’s dedication as a teacher became the foundation of our family’s support. Witnessing their sacrifices has inspired me to help others in similar situations. By achieving financial stability and career success, I aim to contribute to my community and support initiatives that assist underrepresented students in STEM fields, just as I have been supported. Lastly, I promise to pursue excellence in my field. My passion for mechanics and mathematics drives my ambition to excel in STEM. This scholarship will not only provide the necessary financial support to continue my education but also allow me to engage in research and projects that push the boundaries of my knowledge and skills. It will enable me to focus on my academic and career goals, striving for innovation and excellence in mechanical engineering. Your contribution will be a significant stepping stone in my journey. Financially, since I am not legally allowed to work in the United States, I have no direct source of income. I am heavily dependent on my parents and relatives for financial support. As time passes, my options for assistance are dwindling, and I am uncertain if I can pay my next tuition on time. Receiving this scholarship would help alleviate these uncertainties over the coming year. I am a hardworking student, and I will ensure that the award will not go to waste. In conclusion, this scholarship represents more than just financial assistance—it is a necessary step toward fulfilling my promises to myself and making a meaningful impact on my community. It will help alleviate the financial burden on my family, support my educational goals, and empower me to contribute positively to the field of STEM. I am deeply grateful for your consideration and the potential opportunity to receive this scholarship.