Gentle water droplets started turning into heavy rain as I was walking in Brooklyn. I was rushing to the bus stop to arrive as dry as possible. When I was a few blocks away from my bus stop, an old lady told me that she was lost and could not get back to her house. I examined the situation and figured out that the chances of it being a scam were minimal. I figured out that calling 911 would be the only solution. Two female technicians arrived in less than five minutes. They took her vitals and did what was necessary for her. At that moment, a deep interest in helping people at the times when it matters the most and at their most vulnerable states started to develop. Around twenty minutes later the cops arrived. The cops were able to connect the lady with her family. I waved her goodbye and then ran to catch my bus. On that evening, I was filled with content. I was happy that I was able to make a difference in that lady’s day by helping her in getting home safely. I was certain that I wanted a career that had a purposeful nature and provided me with daily doses of fulfillment. A career where I can help people when they need my help the most. Where my help had a tangible value in their lives. I assessed my strengths and weaknesses and reflected on what I enjoy doing. And after a deep reflection, I decided that I wanted to be a doctor. Being a doctor means that I can combine the satisfaction that comes from giving to people with my passion for science. Furthermore, what made me choose medicine over any other medical profession was the experience that I had when I volunteered at two doctors’ offices of different specialties. The first doctor I shadowed was a family medicine doctor. His relationship with his patients was very strong and he knew most of them by their names. The doctor always made the patients feel heard by giving them his undivided attention and the time they needed to communicate with him and to describe their pain. A praise that I often heard from his patients about him was ‘he listens’. Another experience that helped me in solidifying my opinion was shadowing a gynecologist. The trust that the patients had in the doctor was fascinating. They trusted her to treat them when they were most vulnerable. She was always able to make them feel safe and comfortable. I asked her about what she likes the most about being an ob-gyn. She told me that regardless of the difficulty she had in achieving a work-life balance while being a physician, the feeling of fulfillment that comes with the role that she plays in ensuring the mom’s and the child's safety makes her feel that she is a small part of whatever great things the baby is destined to do in the future which eases everything up and adds value to her life. An additional aspect that makes me particularly interested in medicine is my desire to leave a positive long-term impact, not limited by my physical presence on Earth. The education that medical students receive will enable me to provide the best care to my patients. Furthermore, medical training will open the doors for meaningful clinical research that contributes positively to science as it will be a result of both theoretical knowledge and real-life experience. Studying medicine will provide me with what I need to make an impact, achieve my goals, and reach my potential.

A healthy person can feel like they are the happiest person on Earth if they acknowledge the blessing of health. Health is the backbone of our happiness and well-being. But health and well-being aren’t only limited to physical health, it also includes mental health which is often neglected despite its importance. Mental health refers to psychological and emotional well-being. Good mental health can be reflected by a person’s harmony with themselves and their overall feeling of happiness and gratitude. Therefore, prioritizing my mental health is as important as maintaining my physical health as they go hand in hand. Protecting my mental health usually means that I am more motivated to be productive. I feel more harmonious with myself and my surroundings. This satisfaction with myself usually means more appreciation for all the blessings around me and more willingness to live my life to my highest potential. However, I find it easy to neglect my mental health, especially during stressful times. For instance, during the college application season, my mental health wasn’t at its best. I was always stressed over completing my essays and applications. I also found it easy to disregard my hard work and compare myself to others. It was very easy to feel that I was not good enough. It took me a while to calm down and understand how to deal with these emotions. After two months of stressing out, I sought help from my English Teacher who helped me in communicating my ideas through my essays and provided me with the confidence boost that I needed. Furthermore, journaling and writing down all my emotions, fears and doubts helped me identify the main problem. The main issue that was causing me a lot of stress was mainly the fear of the unknown. I didn’t know what my future would look like and that caused a lot of distress. I solved this problem by journaling, which helped me to write down all my thoughts to free my mind from them. Additionally, I focused more on living in the moment rather than worrying about the future. This shift in mindset allowed me to be relieved of my unnecessary stress. Additionally, I was able to enjoy my time with my friends and make the most out of my last year of high school. This experience made me gain more appreciation for the importance of mental health. I also realized that maintaining good mental health is a journey. It is very similar to maintaining physical health. Good physical health needs constant effort and awareness. Similarly, maintaining good mental health requires prioritizing it and hence seeking guidance to protect it. In my experience, a good way to start improving mental health is to journal and be around people who are supportive and encouraging. Additionally, seeking advice from a counselor or a psychologist is always a good idea to help put a person on the right path of mental wellness. Good mental health is worth all the effort. Being cheerful, content, and comfortable is among the best feelings that can fill anyone’s life with happiness. Although the mental health journey isn’t typically a straight and steady line, it’s important to never lose hope and continue to work towards better mental health as it’s the basis of a fulfilling life.

Gentle water droplets started to turn into heavy rain as I was walking along 4th Avenue, Brooklyn on a late afternoon. I was rushing to the bus stop to arrive as dry as possible. When I was a few blocks away from my bus stop, an old lady, appearing to be in her late seventies, stopped me. She asked me whether I spoke Arabic and proceeded to tell me that she was lost and could not get back to her house. I examined the situation and figured out that the chances of it being a scam were minimal. That lady had nothing in her hands, she didn’t have a bag or a phone. And not even an ID. Also, the fact that she didn’t ask me to get her anywhere specific made it safer. She told me that there is a restaurant in front of her house. However, that piece of information was not very helpful as restaurants are more than the residential buildings in the Bay Ride Area. After walking a bit with her I figured out that calling 911 would be the only solution especially since she mentioned that she was on blood pressure and diabetes medication. It took me some time to convince her that the police would only help her and not detain her. In the end, she agreed that it was the only option. I mentioned to the representative who answered my call that she was complaining of high blood pressure and she told me that she would send an EMT because they would arrive faster than the cops. Two female technicians arrived in less than five minutes. They took her vitals and did what was necessary for her. At that moment, a deep interest in helping people at the times when it matters the most and at their most vulnerable states started to develop. I chatted with the technicians while waiting for the cops to arrive about their job as healthcare providers and they seemed to admire it. Around twenty minutes later the cops arrived. The lady’s family reported her as missing, and the cops were able to connect the lady with her family. I waved her goodbye and then ran to catch my bus. On that evening, I was filled with content. I was happy that I was able to make a difference in that lady’s day by helping her in getting home safely. If I could think about something that made me proud, it would be the way I handled that situation. The fulfillment that I felt when I went to sleep that night changed my outlook on life and what I wanted my day to look like in the future. I was certain that I wanted a career that had a purposeful nature and provided me with daily doses of fulfillment. A career where I can help people when they need my help the most. Where my help had a tangible value in their lives. I assessed my strengths and weaknesses and reflected on what I enjoy doing. And after a deep reflection, I decided that I wanted to be a doctor. I think that medicine suits my personality the best, and that I have what it takes to study it. Being a doctor means that I can combine the satisfaction that comes from giving to people with my passion and aptitude for science. Furthermore, what made me choose medicine over any other medical profession was the experience that I had when I volunteered at two doctors’ offices of different specialties. The first doctor I shadowed was a family medicine doctor. His relationship with his patients was very strong and he knew most of them by their names. I was impressed by the dynamic of this relationship. The doctor always made the patients feel heard by giving them his undivided attention and the time they needed to communicate with him and to describe their pain. A praise that I often heard from his patients about him was ‘he listens’. I think that this type of relationship is hard to find in any other medical profession as usually the contact between the patients and the medical provider is limited to the time that the patient spends at the hospital for a particular emergency and the likelihood of them having meaningful interactions or meeting often is minimal, especially in a big city like New York. Another experience that helped me in solidifying my opinion was shadowing a gynecologist. The trust that the patients had in the doctor was fascinating. They trusted her to treat them when they were most vulnerable. And as a result of her extensive knowledge and experience, she was always able to make them feel safe and comfortable. I asked her about what she likes the most about being an ob-gyn. She told me that regardless of the difficulty she had in achieving a work-life balance while being a physician, the feeling of fulfillment that comes with the role that she plays in ensuring the mom’s and the child's safety makes her feel that she is a small part of whatever great things the baby is destined to do in the future which eases everything up and adds value to her life. An additional aspect that makes me particularly interested in medicine is my desire to leave a positive long-term impact, not limited by my physical presence on Earth. The thorough education that medical students receive will make me well-rounded and enable me to provide the best care to my patients. Furthermore, medical training will open the doors for meaningful clinical research that contributes positively to science as it will be a result of both theoretical knowledge and real-life experience. Linking these two aspects of research together will be very beneficial as they complement each other perfectly. Studying medicine will provide me with what I need to make an impact, achieve my goals, and reach my potential.

“ I want to be a scientist” was always my response to my elementary school teachers when they asked, “ Abrar, tell us what do you want to do when you grow up?” My teachers always encouraged me to participate in science fairs as I showed aptitude in science and math. As I grew my passion for science and math grew up with me. I always challenged myself by taking the most rigorous courses available and doing my best in them. Additionally, research has always been a way to feed my curiosity. Whenever I have a question or wonder about how something works, I dive into it deeply and try to read about its nuances. I enjoy the connections that I make after learning about something new. Additionally, the cool overlap of different topics never fails to fascinate me. And the more I learn the more I realize how limited my knowledge is. Considering what I want to achieve in life, I decided that majoring in Computer Science would give me the technological skills I need to create a change in the field of radiology. Creating a meaningful long-term impact on people’s lives has always been something that I have dreamt of. I want to combine my passion for science with my desire to make a difference in the world through integrating AI and machine learning to create a difference in the radiologists’ and patients' lives. As demand for radiology services increases, few radiologists get to deal with larger volumes of work which decreases the speed of sending the radiology reports to the treating physician which can impact the health of the patients in cases that need speedy treatment. Although some companies have already started working on enhancing radiology through AI, radiologists say that it is still inconvenient to use and needs a lot of improvement. I am motivated to be a part of that improvement and my Computer Science degree will help me in getting closer to my goal. After getting my CS degree, I plan to attend medical school to gain the clinical and scientific knowledge needed to meaningfully contribute to the projects that need integration of these two fields. I am highly motivated to be a part of the positive change possible through harnessing technology for the world’s well-being. I took the first step toward my dream and got accepted into an honors program at Stony Brook University. I am majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Biology. Additionally, the opportunities that my honors program will offer me in terms of getting access to a research lab are unmatched and I cannot wait to make use of them and work on something that benefits society. After completing my undergraduate degree, I am planning to pursue an MD-PhD degree which will be a significant milestone in my educational journey. It will equip me with the knowledge I need to be a successful physician and an innovative scientist. The idea of working with and learning from a potential Nobel Prize winner is very fascinating to me. Additionally, the intensity of a Ph.D. program brings up the best in the students eager to learn more. The M.D. part of the program will give me the required clinical expertise and basic scientific knowledge to interweave research, patient care, and real-life medical sciences applications. The combination of M.D. and PhD will give me the resources I need to be able to contribute to the advancement of healthcare. Albeit being intimidated, I am excited to embrace the journey and learn from it.

I wanted to create a collection of photos that provoke the warmth that delicious food has. The overall mode I tried to create with these pictures is coziness. Starting with the breakfast scene photo and the family gathering around the breakfast table. The movement in the photo communicates a science of energy and vibrancy. Moving on to the stuffed grape leaves, the action shot of the lemon squeeze allows the audience to taste the savory of the unique dish. The pizza preparation shot has the vibrant tomato sauce color creating the vibrancy of the scene and adding a needed pop of color to communicate the playfulness and warmth of the scene. Finally, the cake preparation shot has a dark and moody scene that adds a moody vibe to the shot and helps the viewers feel the depth of the scene. The common thing between all these pictures is that they remind me of my memories with my family around the kitchen table. Homemade food has something special about it. It has the element of love and warmth. Food for me isn’t just a way for us to satisfy our basic needs but rather a medium to communicate love, warmth, and culture.

Each wave was higher than the one that preceded it. It was a wave contest. Which wave was going to be mightier? Which wave would maintain its dominance longer? Fascinated by those Mediterranean Sea waves, I felt the necessity of reaching out to my phone to document its beauty. The picture was good, but it failed to depict the beauty that I was seeing. My cousin suggested bringing her new camera, and I strongly agreed. Neither I nor her knew how to use the camera, but we started figuring it out slowly. Although we weren't able to use the camera properly, the pictures turned out to be a beautiful recollection to remember our nice vacation in Alexandria. After the vacation, I was determined to learn everything about photography, all the technical and creative aspects of it. I learned whatever came under my hands from books, blogs, and photographers' gatherings. As days went by, I became more passionate about photography. I started paying closer attention to minute details, the lighting of my room at sunrise, the highlights on my friends' faces, and the shadows of our living room furniture. I was excited to put my newly learned skills into practice, but cameras were expensive and I had no job. However, I decided to start with my phone. I was photographing everything that came under my hands: food, landscape, and people; but when COVID hit, I was limited to food photography. Over time, my skills increased. I started thinking about a way to buy a camera. I began to tutor my young neighbors and started to pitch restaurants and small businesses to shoot pictures for their menus. For these photo shoots, I borrowed my uncle’s camera. Three months later, I bought a second-hand camera. However, I didn’t know how to market my skills. Searching for restaurants on social media, writing good pitches, and emailing them to the restaurants was completely out of my comfort zone. What was even harder was accepting the uncountable declines I received. Accepting rejection was a skill that I didn’t have, and if I would be grateful for only one thing that my journey with photography had taught me, it would be the skill of accepting rejection. It was tough at the beginning; but out of the tens of restaurants I reached, few hired me. As it turned out, there was always an opportunity waiting for me. Moreover, the work I produced impressed my clients which motivated me to further sharpen my technical and social skills. I tried to cope with rejection by looking up ways to improve my pitching techniques, creating a portfolio, and rewording my pitches. I got better results but rejections continued. Although I am not depending on my skills as a photographer to be my main source of income, the ability to overcome the negative emotions that come with rejection is a skill that will serve me well in the future. Rejection is not limited to creative professionals as I learned when in my junior year I was a transfer student in my school. I was given very easy classes and I felt that I could do more. I asked my counselor to change my Physics and History Classes to AP but she refused my request because we were in November and she was worried that I wouldn’t be able to catch up. Additionally, there weren't any empty seats. However, I refused to give up on that rejection and I decided to register to take these two exams. I self-studied until February and I decided to try again with my counselor and offered to be tested on the material covered. Luckily, a spot cleared and I was admitted to both classes. My Photography hustle has taught me that not everything is achieved easily or directly. It is never a bad idea to try differently.

“ I want to be a scientist” was always my response to my elementary school teachers when they asked, “ Abrar, tell us what do you want to do when you grow up?” My teachers always encouraged me to participate in science fairs as I showed aptitude in science and math. As I grew my passion for science and math grew up with me. I always challenged myself by taking the most rigorous courses available and doing my best in them. Additionally, research has always been a way to feed my curiosity. Whenever I have a question or wonder about how something works, I dive into it deeply and try to read about its nuances. I enjoy the connections that I make after learning about something new. Additionally, the cool overlap of different topics never fails to fascinate me. And the more I learn the more I realize how limited my knowledge is. Considering what I want to achieve in life, I decided that majoring in Computer Science would give me the technological skills I need to create a change in the field of radiology. Creating a meaningful long-term impact on people’s lives has always been something that I have dreamt of. I want to combine my passion for science with my desire to make a difference in the world through integrating AI and machine learning to create a difference in the radiologists’ and patients' lives. As demand for radiology services increases, few radiologists get to deal with larger volumes of work which decreases the speed of sending the radiology reports to the treating physician which can impact the health of the patients in cases that need speedy treatment. Although some companies have already started working on enhancing radiology through AI, radiologists say that it is still inconvenient to use and needs a lot of improvement. I am motivated to be a part of that improvement and my Computer Science degree will help me in getting closer to my goal. After getting my CS degree, I plan to attend medical school to gain the clinical and scientific knowledge needed to meaningfully contribute to the projects that need integration of these two fields. I am highly motivated to be a part of the positive change possible through harnessing technology for the world’s well-being. I took the first step toward my dream and got accepted into an honors program at Stony Brook University. I am majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Biology. Additionally, the opportunities that my honors program will offer me in terms of getting access to a research lab are unmatched and I cannot wait to make use of them and work on something that benefits society. After completing my undergraduate degree, I am planning to pursue an MD-PhD degree which will be a significant milestone in my educational journey. It will equip me with the knowledge I need to be a successful physician and an innovative scientist. The idea of working with and learning from a potential Nobel Prize winner is very fascinating to me. Additionally, the intensity of a Ph.D. program brings up the best in the students eager to learn more. The M.D. part of the program will give me the required clinical expertise and basic scientific knowledge to interweave research, patient care, and real-life medical sciences applications. The combination of M.D. and PhD will give me the resources I need to be able to contribute to the advancement of healthcare. Albeit being intimidated, I am excited to embrace the journey and learn from it.

“ I want to be a scientist” was always my response to my elementary school teachers when they asked, “ Abrar, tell us what do you want to do when you grow up?” My teachers always encouraged me to participate in science fairs as I showed aptitude in science and math. As I grew my passion for science and math grew up with me. I always challenged myself by taking the most rigorous courses available and doing my best in them. Additionally, research has always been a way to feed my curiosity. Whenever I have a question or wonder about how something works, I dive into it deeply and try to read about its nuances. I enjoy the connections that I make after learning about something new. Additionally, the cool overlap of different topics never fails to fascinate me. And the more I learn the more I realize how limited my knowledge is. Considering what I want to achieve in life, I decided that majoring in Computer Science would give me the technological skills I need to create a change in the field of radiology. Creating a meaningful long-term impact on people’s lives has always been something that I have dreamt of. I want to combine my passion for science with my desire to make a difference in the world through integrating AI and machine learning to create a difference in the radiologists’ and patients' lives. As demand for radiology services increases, few radiologists get to deal with larger volumes of work which decreases the speed of sending the radiology reports to the treating physician which can impact the health of the patients in cases that need speedy treatment. Although some companies have already started working on enhancing radiology through AI, radiologists say that it is still inconvenient to use and needs a lot of improvement. I am motivated to be a part of that improvement and my Computer Science degree will help me in getting closer to my goal. After getting my CS degree, I plan to attend medical school to gain the clinical and scientific knowledge needed to meaningfully contribute to the projects that need integration of these two fields. I am highly motivated to be a part of the positive change possible through harnessing technology for the world’s well-being. I took the first step toward my dream and got accepted into an honors program at Stony Brook University. I am majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Biology. Additionally, the opportunities that my honors program will offer me in terms of getting access to a research lab are unmatched and I cannot wait to make use of them and work on something that benefits society. After completing my undergraduate degree, I am planning to pursue an MD-PhD degree which will be a significant milestone in my educational journey. It will equip me with the knowledge I need to be a successful physician and an innovative scientist. The idea of working with and learning from a potential Nobel Prize winner is very fascinating to me. Additionally, the intensity of a Ph.D. program brings up the best in the students eager to learn more. The M.D. part of the program will give me the required clinical expertise and basic scientific knowledge to interweave research, patient care, and real-life medical sciences applications. The combination of M.D. and PhD will give me the resources I need to be able to contribute to the advancement of healthcare. Albeit being intimidated, I am excited to embrace the journey and learn from it.

“ I want to be a scientist” was always my response to my elementary school teachers when they asked, “ Abrar, tell us what do you want to do when you grow up?” My teachers always encouraged me to participate in science fairs as I showed aptitude in science and math. As I grew my passion for science and math grew up with me. I always challenged myself by taking the most rigorous courses available and doing my best in them. Additionally, research has always been a way to feed my curiosity. Whenever I have a question or wonder about how something works, I dive into it deeply and try to read about its nuances. I enjoy the connections that I make after learning about something new. Additionally, the cool overlap of different topics never fails to fascinate me. And the more I learn the more I realize how limited my knowledge is. Considering what I want to achieve in life, I decided that majoring in Computer Science would give me the technological skills I need to create a change in the field of radiology. Creating a meaningful long-term impact on people’s lives has always been something that I have dreamt of. I want to combine my passion for science with my desire to make a difference in the world through integrating AI and machine learning to create a difference in the radiologists’ and patients' lives. As demand for radiology services increases, few radiologists get to deal with larger volumes of work which decreases the speed of sending the radiology reports to the treating physician which can impact the health of the patients in cases that need speedy treatment. Although some companies have already started working on enhancing radiology through AI, radiologists say that it is still inconvenient to use and needs a lot of improvement. I am motivated to be a part of that improvement and my Computer Science degree will help me in getting closer to my goal. After getting my CS degree, I plan to attend medical school to gain the clinical and scientific knowledge needed to meaningfully contribute to the projects that need integration of these two fields. I am highly motivated to be a part of the positive change possible through harnessing technology for the world’s well-being. I took the first step toward my dream and got accepted into an honors program at Stony Brook University. I am majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Biology. Additionally, the opportunities that my honors program will offer me in terms of getting access to a research lab are unmatched and I cannot wait to make use of them and work on something that benefits society. After completing my undergraduate degree, I am planning to pursue an MD-PhD degree which will be a significant milestone in my educational journey. It will equip me with the knowledge I need to be a successful physician and an innovative scientist. The idea of working with and learning from a potential Nobel Prize winner is very fascinating to me. Additionally, the intensity of a Ph.D. program brings up the best in the students eager to learn more. The M.D. part of the program will give me the required clinical expertise and basic scientific knowledge to interweave research, patient care, and real-life medical sciences applications. The combination of M.D. and PhD will give me the resources I need to be able to contribute to the advancement of healthcare. Albeit being intimidated, I am excited to embrace the journey and learn from it.

“ I want to be a scientist” was always my response to my elementary school teachers when they asked, “ Abrar tell us what do you want to do when you grow up?” My teachers always encouraged me to participate in science fairs as I showed aptitude in science and math. As I grew my passion for science and math grew up with me. I always challenged myself by taking the most rigorous courses available and doing my best in them. Additionally, research has always been a way to feed my curiosity. Whenever I have a question or wonder about how something works, I dive into it deeply and try to read about its nuances. I enjoy the connections that I make after learning about something new. Additionally, the cool overlap of different topics never fails to fascinate me. And the more I learn the more I realize how limited my knowledge is. Considering what I want to achieve in life, I decided that majoring in Computer Science would give me the technological skills I need to create a change in the field of radiology. Creating a meaningful long-term impact on people’s lives has always been something that I have dreamt of. I want to combine my passion for science with my desire to make a difference in the world through integrating AI and machine learning to create a difference in the radiologists’ and patients' lives. As demand for radiology services increases, few radiologists get to deal with larger volumes of work which decreases the speed of sending the radiology reports to the treating physician which can impact the health of the patients in cases that need speedy treatment. Although some companies have already started working on enhancing radiology through AI, radiologists say that it is still inconvenient to use and needs a lot of improvement. I am motivated to be a part of that improvement and my Computer Science degree will help me in getting closer to my goal. After getting my CS degree, I plan to attend medical school to gain the clinical and scientific knowledge needed to meaningfully contribute to the projects that need integration of these two fields. I am highly motivated to be a part of the positive change possible through harnessing technology for the world’s well-being. I took the first step toward my dream and got accepted into an honors program at Stony Brook University. I am majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Biology. Additionally, the opportunities that my honors program will offer me in terms of getting access to a research lab are unmatched and I cannot wait to make use of them and work on something that benefits society. After completing my undergraduate degree, I am planning to pursue an MD-PhD degree which will be a significant milestone in my educational journey. It will equip me with the knowledge I need to be a successful physician and an innovative scientist. The knowledge, research skills, and experience that can be built through Ph.D. programs are unmatched. They provide an opportunity to deeply dive into a topic and thoroughly evaluate it. Furthermore, the idea of working with and learning from a potential Nobel Prize winner is very fascinating to me. Usually, the intensity of a Ph.D. program brings up the best in the students eager to learn more. What I am looking forward to the most is honing my critical thinking skills through conducting medical research and trials. The M.D. part of the program will give me the required clinical expertise and basic scientific knowledge to interweave research, patient care, and real-life medical sciences applications. The combination of M.D. and PhD will give me the resources I need to be able to contribute to the advancement of healthcare. Additionally, career-wise, a Ph.D. degree will make me more qualified for leadership positions and have broader influence. I also think that having sufficient credentials to be able to mentor and teach other students would be extremely fulfilling as I will get to be a part of educating future scientists. Albeit being intimidated, I am excited to embrace the journey and learn from it.

“ I want to be a scientist” was always my response to my elementary school teachers when they asked, “ Abrar tell us what do you want to do when you grow up?” My teachers always encouraged me to participate in science fairs as I showed aptitude in science and math. As I grew my passion for science and math grew up with me. I always challenged myself by taking the most rigorous courses available and doing my best in them. Additionally, research has always been a way to feed my curiosity. Whenever I have a question or wonder about how something works, I dive into it deeply and try to read about its nuances. I enjoy the connections that I make after learning about something new. Additionally, the cool overlap of different topics never fails to fascinate me. And the more I learn the more I realize how limited my knowledge is. Considering what I want to achieve in life, I decided that majoring in Computer Science would give me the technological skills I need to create a change in the field of radiology. Creating a meaningful long-term impact on people’s lives has always been something that I have dreamt of. I want to combine my passion for science with my desire to make a difference in the world through integrating AI and machine learning to create a difference in the radiologists’ and patients' lives. As demand for radiology services increases, few radiologists get to deal with larger volumes of work which decreases the speed of sending the radiology reports to the treating physician which can impact the health of the patients in cases that need speedy treatment. Although some companies have already started working on enhancing radiology through AI, radiologists say that it is still inconvenient to use and needs a lot of improvement. I am motivated to be a part of that improvement and my Computer Science degree will help me in getting closer to my goal. After getting my CS degree, I plan to attend medical school to gain the clinical and scientific knowledge needed to meaningfully contribute to the projects that need integration of these two fields. I am highly motivated to be a part of the positive change possible through harnessing technology for the world’s well-being. I hope that I can win enough scholarships to be able to attend college. Winning this scholarship will help me get closer to my goals in two ways. Firstly, it will motivate me to push forward and work harder on my goals as winning it would prove that someone else believes in me and my potential to have a positive influence on the world. Secondly, it will help in lifting some of the financial burden of attending college off my shoulders. The removed burden will give me more time to focus on my educational and career goals. Additionally, I will have more time to socialize and give back to my community.

“ I am so sorry but I cannot understand what you are saying” was a sentence that I always heard during my first two months in my junior year as I was a new immigrant. Although I had some previous exposure to English as a second language, I struggled hard to make understandable sentences. My grammar was always very off, learning a new language was a significant challenge that I knew that I had to overcome in order to start a successful educational journey in the US . I often felt misunderstood and unable to communicate what I meant clearly. The accumulation of the negative emotions that came with always being misunderstood discouraged me from speaking. Sometimes during class discussions, I wanted to participate and share my opinion but I was unable to. My tongue always got twisted when I wanted to speak. As my struggle continued, I decided to take actionable steps to overcome this language barrier. I forced myself to search in English instead of Arabic whenever I googled any topic. While doing so I came across articles that went into detail on how to get better at speaking a new language. I realized that the only way to do so was continuous practice. Determined to be a better speaker, I forced myself to deal with the discomfort that comes with being misunderstood. Sometimes, I raised my hand to share my opinion on different topics through simple sentences or used Google Translate to formulate my thoughts into sentences. I also attempted to expand my vocabulary by translating and learning every unfamiliar word I came through while reading or studying. Today, I can say that all my hard work has paid off. I am very confident in my ability to communicate in English and express my opinions during different discussions. I might even participate in a debate competition- I cannot guarantee winning though-. Certainly, there is more room for improvement, and I am determined to be a better communicator. My successful experience in learning a new language in a short period made me realize how far determination and hard work can take me. Whenever I encounter new challenges, I remind myself that I am capable of overcoming them if I work hard enough. For instance, as I was a transfer student last year, I was given very easy classes. However, I felt that I could do more. I asked my counselor to change my Physics and History Classes to AP, but she refused my request because we were in November and she was worried that I wouldn’t be able to catch up. Additionally, there weren't any empty seats. However, I refused to give up on that rejection, and I decided to register to take these two exams. I self-studied until February, and I decided to try again with my counselor and offered to be tested on the material covered. Luckily, a spot cleared and I was admitted to both classes. I came to realize that trying differently is always a good idea.

“ I am so sorry but I cannot understand what you are saying” was a sentence that I always heard during my first two months in my junior year as I was a new immigrant. Although I had some previous exposure to English as a second language, I struggled hard to make understandable sentences. My grammar was always very off, learning a new language was a significant challenge that I knew that I had to overcome in order to start a successful educational journey in the US . I often felt misunderstood and unable to communicate what I meant clearly. The accumulation of the negative emotions that came with always being misunderstood discouraged me from speaking. Sometimes during class discussions, I wanted to participate and share my opinion but I was unable to. My tongue always got twisted when I wanted to speak. As my struggle continued, I decided to take actionable steps to overcome this language barrier. I forced myself to search in English instead of Arabic whenever I googled any topic. While doing so I came across articles that went into detail on how to get better at speaking a new language. I realized that the only way to do so was continuous practice. Determined to be a better speaker, I forced myself to deal with the discomfort of being misunderstood. Sometimes, I raised my hand to share my opinion on different topics through simple sentences or used Google Translate to formulate my thoughts into sentences. I also attempted to expand my vocabulary by translating and learning every unfamiliar word I came through while reading or studying. Today, I can say that all my hard work has paid off. I am very confident in my ability to communicate in English and express my opinions during different discussions. I might even participate in a debate competition- I cannot guarantee winning though-. Certainly, there is more room for improvement, and I am determined to be a better communicator. My successful experience in learning a new language in a short period made me realize how far determination and hard work can take me. Whenever I encounter new challenges, I remind myself that I am capable of overcoming them if I work hard enough. For instance, as I was a transfer student last year, I was given very easy classes. However, I felt that I could do more. I asked my counselor to change my Physics and History Classes to AP, but she refused my request because we were in November and she was worried that I wouldn’t be able to catch up. Additionally, there weren't any empty seats. However, I refused to give up on that rejection, and I decided to register to take these two exams. I self-studied until February, and I decided to try again with my counselor and offered to be tested on the material covered. Luckily, a spot cleared and I was admitted to both classes. I came to realize that trying differently is always a good idea.

The scenery of the stacked cottony clouds from the plane window fueled a stream of flashbacks of the last sixteen years of my life. I started reflecting on all my previous experiences as an expat living in Kuwait. Everyone that I have interacted with has influenced the person I am today. My Kuwaiti friends taught me how to be ambitious. My Indian friends taught me the value of hard work. My Lebanese friends taught me how a good sense of humor could ease many turmoils. I realized that each person whom I have interacted with has influenced my personality through their character, culture, and approach toward life. I grew out to be a blend of all these cultures that I have encountered during my life in Kuwait. My mind went back to the present upon hearing the pilot announcing the expected weather in NY and the time left for arriving at our destination. I decided that I must implement all the positive values that I learned from my friends. I approached my new life with a desire to work hard to achieve my dreams and contribute to the world through my passion for science and technology. Considering what I want to achieve in life, I decided that majoring in Computer science would give me the technological skills I need to create a change in the field of radiology. Creating a meaningful long-term impact on people’s lives has always been something that I have dreamt of. I want to combine my passion for science with my desire to make a difference in the world through interrogating AI and machine learning to create a difference in the radiologists’ and patients' lives. As demand for radiology services increases, few radiologists get to deal with larger volumes of work which decreases the speed of sending the radiology reports to the treating physician which can impact the health of the patients in cases that need speedy treatment. I am highly motivated to be a part of the positive change possible through harnessing technology for the world’s well-being. Although some companies have already started working on enhancing radiology through AI, radiologists say that it is still inconvenient to use and needs a lot of improvement. I am motivated to be a part of that improvement and my Computer Science degree will help me in getting closer to my goal. After getting my CS degree, I plan to attend medical school to gain the clinical and scientific knowledge needed to meaningfully contribute to the projects that need integration of these two fields. I hope that I can win enough scholarships to be able to attend college and graduate on time. Winning this scholarship will help me get closer to my goals in two ways. Firstly, it will motivate me to push forward and work harder on my goals as winning it would prove that someone else believes in me and my potential to have a positive influence on the world. Secondly, it will help in lifting some of the financial burden of attending college off my shoulders. The removed burden will give me more time to focus on my educational and career goals. Additionally, I will have more time to socialize and give back to my community.

Stress, anxiety, and fear of missing out are all epidemics widely spread across Gen Z. Although we have not directly dealt with a famine or a World War so far, we are always on the verge of facing one. To add to that, we inherited a distracted planet on all levels. The environment, economy, and even international politics are all crashing which causes us to crash with them. Furthermore, the insanely fast-paced life is impossible to keep up with. The world is moving way faster than our brain processing capabilities. All these factors make the stress that Gen Z has to deal with unique and unpreceded. The atmosphere is always filled with tense air making us mentally on our toes ALL THE TIME. I think among the factors that contribute to this continuous stress is technology. Don’t get me wrong I am a typical Gen Zier who cannot live without her phone but I do acknowledge that it can be a reason for our continuous anxiety. For instance, the incredible potential of AI makes us always under the stress of being replaced. Additionally, with the limitless flow of ideas, it is always very hard to come up with new ideas and be creative. All the ideas seem to be excessively consumed. And guess what enters the scene to make matters worse; social media. It opens the doors to endless comparisons, incredibly unrealistic high standards, and pictures of perfect lifestyles at our fingertips. However, regardless of these factors, we manage to be extremely ambitious and bold. We deal with life as if it were a game that we have to win. We always work and hope for a better reality. We are the ones most concerned about our planet, always advocating for environmental protection measures and participating in raising awareness. Additionally, Gen Z always proves to be the kindest, most approachable, and most respectful to other cultures as we grow up to be global citizens through our exposure to other cultures through social media- it is not always bad-. I believe in the potential and drive of Gen Z and their capability to make the world a better place. I feel that the majority of our generation is extremely talented. Additionally, our hope for a better future and a better environment for the next generation, free from stress and full of peace, is a goal that we take seriously and actively work towards.

“ I am so sorry but I cannot understand what you are saying” was a sentence that I always heard during the first two months of my junior year as I was a new immigrant. Although I had some previous exposure to English as a second language in my educational journey, speaking was very heavy on my tongue. I struggled hard to make understandable sentences. My grammar was always very off, Learning a new language was a significant challenge through my educational journey in the US. I often felt misunderstood and unable to communicate what I meant clearly. The accumulation of the negative emotions that came with always being misunderstood discouraged me from speaking. Sometimes during class discussions, I wanted to participate and share my opinion but I was unable to. My tongue always got twisted when I wanted to speak. As my struggle continued, I decided to take actionable steps to overcome this language barrier. I forced myself to search in English instead of Arabic whenever I googled any topic. While doing so I came across articles that went into detail on how to get better at speaking a new language. I realized that the only way to do so was continuous practice. Determined to be a better speaker, I forced myself to deal with the discomfort of being misunderstood. Sometimes, I raise my hand to share my opinion on different topics through simple sentences or use Google Translate to formulate my thoughts in sentences. I also attempted to expand my vocabulary by translating and learning every unfamiliar word I came through while reading or studying. Today, I can say that all my hard work has paid off. I am very confident in my ability to communicate in English and express my opinions during different discussions. I might even participate in a debate competition. Certainly, there is more room for improvement and I am determined to be a better communicator. My successful experience in learning a new language in a short period made me realize how far determination and hard work can take me. Whenever I encounter new challenges I remind myself that I am capable of overcoming them if I work hard enough. I plan to approach my passion for science and my desire to contribute to the world with the same attitude. Reflecting on what I want to achieve in life, I decided that majoring in Computer Science would give me the technological skills I need to create a change in the field of radiology. I want to combine my passion for science with my desire to make a difference in the world through integrating AI and medicine to create a difference in the radiologists’ and patients' lives. As demand for radiology services increases, few radiologists get to deal with larger volumes of work which decreases the speed of sending the radiology reports to the treating physician which can impact the health of the patients in cases that need speedy treatment. Although some companies have already started working on enhancing radiology through AI, radiologists say that it is still inconvenient to use and needs a lot of improvement. I am motivated to be a part of that improvement. A Computer Science degree will help me get closer to my goal. After completing my CS degree, I plan to attend medical school to gain the clinical and scientific knowledge needed to be a part of the projects that require the integration of science and technology. I am highly motivated to be a part of the positive change possible through harnessing technology for the world’s well-being.

“ I am so sorry but I cannot understand what you are saying” was a sentence that I always heard during my first two months in my junior year as I was a new immigrant. Although I had some previous exposure to English as a second language in my educational journey, speaking was very heavy on my tongue. I struggled hard to make understandable sentences. My grammar was always very off, Learning a new language was a significant challenge through my educational journey in the US. I often felt misunderstood and unable to communicate what I meant clearly. The accumulation of the negative emotions that came with always being misunderstood discouraged me from speaking. Sometimes during class discussions, I wanted to participate and share my opinion but I was unable to. My tongue always got twisted when I wanted to speak. As my struggle continued, I decided to take actionable steps to overcome this language barrier. I forced myself to search in English instead of Arabic whenever I googled any topic. While doing so I came across articles that went into detail on how to get better at speaking a new language. Apparently, the only way to get better was continuous practice. Determined to be a better speaker, I forced myself to deal with the uncomfortability of being misunderstood. Sometimes, I raise my hand to share my opinion on different topics through simple sentences or use Google Translate to formulate my thoughts in sentences. Moreover, I attempted to expand my vocabulary by translating every unfamiliar word I came through while reading or studying. Today, I can say that all my hard work has paid off. I am very confident in my ability to communicate in English and express my opinions during different discussions. I might even participate in a debate competition- I cannot guarantee winning though-. Certainly, there is more room for improvement and I am determined to be a better communicator. My successful experience in learning a new language in a short period made me realize how far determination and hard work can take me. Whenever I encounter new challenges I remind myself that I am capable of overcoming them if I work hard enough. For instance, as I was a transfer student last year, I was given very easy classes. However, I felt that I could do more. I asked my counselor to change my Physics and History Classes to AP but she refused my request because we were in November and she was worried that I wouldn’t be able to catch up. Additionally, there weren't any empty seats. However, I refused to give up on that rejection and I decided to register to take these two exams. I self-studied until February and I decided to try again with my counselor and offered to be tested on the material covered. Luckily, a spot cleared and I was admitted to both classes. I came to realize that trying differently is always a good idea. Winning this scholarship will help me get closer to my goals in two ways. Firstly, it will motivate me to push forward and work harder on my goals as winning it would prove that someone else believes in me and my potential to have a positive influence on the world. Secondly, it will help in lifting some of the financial burden of attending college off my shoulders. The removed burden will give me more time to focus on my educational and career goals. Additionally, I will have more time to socialize and give back to my community.

“The most beloved people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to people.” - Muhammad Blessings of God be upon him as well as peace. My religion is what mainly inspires me to give to the world without expecting anything in return. It guides me through the true meaning of life and how meaningless it would be if I only cared about myself and my needs and was oblivious to the people whom I live with. Helping people provides my life with purpose and meaning. Until this day the most fulfilling experience I have ever had in my life was when I helped an elderly woman in need. Personal goals include leaving a mark in the world and elevating people’s living conditions, a thing that can only be achieved through community service. Moreover, during the organized effort of improving communities with non-profit organizations or different community initiatives, I get to interact with generous souls whom I share many values with. We usually become close friends and bond over our shared purpose. Additionally, many volunteer experiences provide me with valuable experiences that widen my horizons. For instance, much volunteer work involves communicating with people which strengthens my communication skills and gives me exposure to the different cultures of my diverse community. I dedicate several hours a week to community service to help in making my community better. One of the most meaningful volunteer work I did was providing translation services to patients in a medical center by helping them communicate their needs. I felt that what I was doing was meaningful because I was helping people in one of their most vulnerable states. That experience made me seriously consider pursuing medicine because I felt that helping elevate people’s quality of life would be extremely fulfilling. Another fulfilling volunteering experience I had was in education. I helped children to learn how to read. Although it was hard and energy-consuming, its purpose was very motivating. Realizing the amount of change I am participating in by helping these children learn how to read pushed me forward. Potentially, I could be helping a future teacher who would teach other children and create a lasting mark. That potential kept me moving. Community Service is what provides my life with purpose. It is human nature to have an ignited feeling to leave a good mark and feel good when positively impacting people's lives. I am continuously looking for ways to give back to my community because feeling that I help in improving others' lives makes me feel good about myself.

Since the beginning of humanity, we have taken a lot from Earth. We depend on it for not only our necessities but even for our luxuries. Yet we severely neglect it. Environmental problems have exponentially increased in the previous decades. Businesses think only about their profits while disregarding the common good. Although wiping forests might be profitable in the short term it indeed has severe effects in the long term. In Staten Island, where I live, deforestation is a serious problem. Trees are cut to make enough parking spots for shopping plazas. My fellow park rangers and I participated in eliminating this phenomenon by raising awareness in our schools and communities about the importance of preserving the trees and wildlife left on the island. We also worked on improving one of the parks by planting more native trees and removing invasive species. We also attempted to make the trail more accessible to help people have a better appreciation of the beauty of nature and the importance of preserving it. Speaking of the beauty of nature, I would like to experience the adrenaline rush of the adventure of climbing a mountain. Although I am not sure what would feel better, the journey or the moment of arrival, when I reach the top of the mountain, I would leave a message saying, "Hate makes life bitter, you only have one life, don't make it bitter." I wish that hate didn't exist. Life would have been much more peaceful.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, feminism is “the advocacy of women's rights based on the equality of the sexes.” Although I agree with this definition, I believe that feminism and the feminist movement have a deeper meaning and value. Throughout history, women have been marginalized and deprived of their most basic rights in life. They were often regarded as inferior to men, third or fourth-class citizens, incapable of handling the responsibility of voting, and unfit for receiving education. Women’s role was fixed on serving their families and instead of receiving appreciation, they were often harassed by the men who were supposed to protect them. From this misery, women came to understand that they are the only ones who can put an end to it and the feminist movement emerged. It focused on influencing the public’s opinion by exposing women’s hardships and educating women about their rights. Their right to freedom, education, work, and voting. The movement argued that women are equal to men. By the virtue of life, they were entitled to the right of getting the education that men received. Their right to work and be financially stable and independent. Their right to vote, petition and speak up for themselves and push the legislators to pass on rules that protect them. Without the feminist movement, we would be still locked up in the kitchen, with absolutely no rights and regarded as property to whoever man ‘protecting’ us. Feminism is important because it aims to ensure that women have the same rights, opportunities, and choices as men and that their voices are heard and valued in all aspects of life. Although the feminist movement achieved many successes in the US, women elsewhere are still suffering for their basic rights. Feminists like Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who took the initiative of empowering women in her society by advocating for education are a true inspiration for me. Her resilience in standing up against oppression and facing the danger that anyone trying to break social norms would face in an extremely conservative society is hard to imagine. It is women like Malala who should be credited for the rights we enjoy today. She impacted my view on feminism by giving me a glimpse of how my life would have been if our grandmothers didn't stand up for our rights. I am proud of how far the feminist movement has gone and the changes that it created. But, I believe that women haven't yet achieved absolute equality. Inequalities can still be seen in the workplace. For instance, women are getting lower pay for the same work that their male colleagues do for a higher rate. This is usually because employers exploit or underestimate women. I am passionate about advocating for this particular topic on my social media account and in my school’s clubs. In my school's sister keeper’s club, we raise awareness on these topics and help our female peers by empowering them and helping them in getting their voices heard. As feminists, we have achieved a lot but we still have to work on multiple issues to ensure a brighter future for our daughters.