I was introduced to the healthcare system at a young age while living with my grandparents and having a single mother who was going back to school to be a nurse. Whether it was going to the doctor's office with my grandparents, attending classes with my mom when she was in nursing school, or visiting the hospital where my mom worked thereafter, I always took notice of how kind the staff was and how hard every person was working to ensure the best care was provided to both patients and their loved ones. I've always been intrigued by the idea that people can use their passions to establish careers that benefit others, and over time as I've gained more life experience, my desire to be a part of this has become stronger. After my grandfather developed Alzheimer's disease when I was in middle school my family and I were tasked with the responsibility of caring for him. Although it's not an easy job, seeing him be able to live a happy and peaceful life sparked a passion in me for caring for others and assisting those in need. It was only when I visited my mom's workplace and interacted with her patients, their loved ones, and the staff that I realized that I could also be working in an environment that would allow me to be a part of something bigger. Hearing her patients and co-workers talk about how she always treated them with kindness and worked hard to ensure that they received the assistance that they needed made me think that I also want to become a person who utilizes compassion to help others as a professional in the future. Being so close to the healthcare field my whole life, I began to realize that everything comes with its flaws. As my grandfather lost his ability to speak English due to his illness, I saw how much more difficult it became for him to communicate his needs to others. He could no longer verbally communicate his frustrations or concerns to the doctors or nurses because of the language barrier and this only worsened his health and morale. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many patients, as language barriers can make it difficult for patients to receive proper care and may even discourage them from seeing professionals when there is a concern about their health. This experience made me decide that I wanted to become someone who was able to provide care for many, and that's when I started to take up studying foreign languages in my spare time. So far I have studied many languages such as French, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, and I hope I can utilize my abilities to provide the best possible care for patients in the future. I truly believe that connecting with patients and being equipped with cultural knowledge is essential to providing the best possible patient care, and that is why I will continue to study language while I am pursuing this field. Even though things weren't always easy, I will always be passionate about improving healthcare thanks to my experiences. Connecting with patients through language is just one way I plan to do so, but as long as the healthcare field is evolving to find new ways to better patient care I will be seeking to do the same.

I was introduced to the healthcare system at a young age while living with my grandparents and having a single mother who was going back to school to be a nurse. Whether it was going to the doctor's office with my grandparents, attending classes with my mom when she was in nursing school, or visiting the hospital where my mom worked thereafter, I always took notice of how kind the staff was and how hard every person was working to ensure the best care was provided to both patients and their loved ones. I've always been intrigued by the idea that people can use their passions to establish careers that benefit others, and over time as I've gained more life experience, my desire to be a part of this has become stronger. After my grandfather developed Alzheimer's disease when I was in middle school my family and I were tasked with the responsibility of caring for him. Although it's not an easy job, seeing him be able to live a happy and peaceful life sparked a passion in me for caring for others and assisting those in need. It was only when I visited my mom's workplace and interacted with her patients, their loved ones, and the staff that I realized that I could also be working in an environment that would allow me to be a part of something bigger. Hearing her patients and co-workers talk about how she always treated them with kindness and worked hard to ensure that they received the assistance that they needed made me think that I also want to become a person who utilizes compassion to help others as a professional in the future. Being so close to the healthcare field my whole life, I began to realize that everything comes with its flaws. As my grandfather lost his ability to speak English due to his illness, I saw how much more difficult it became for him to communicate his needs to others. He could no longer verbally communicate his frustrations or concerns to the doctors or nurses because of the language barrier and this only worsened his health and morale. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many patients, as language barriers can make it difficult for patients to receive proper care and may even discourage them from seeing professionals when there is a concern about their health. This experience made me decide that I wanted to become someone who was able to provide care for many, and that's when I started to take up studying foreign languages in my spare time. So far I have studied many languages such as French, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, and I hope I can utilize my abilities to provide the best possible care for patients in the future. I truly believe that connecting with patients and being equipped with cultural knowledge is essential to providing the best possible patient care, and that is why I will continue to study language while I am pursuing this field. Even though things weren't always easy, I will always be passionate about improving healthcare thanks to my experiences. Connecting with patients through language is just one way I plan to do so, but as long as the healthcare field is evolving to find new ways to better patient care I will be seeking to do the same.

Living with my grandparents and having a single mother who was returning to school to become a nurse exposed me to the healthcare system at a young age. Whenever I visited the hospital where my mom worked after she graduated from nursing school or went to the doctor's office with my grandparents, I always took note of how kind the staff was and how hard everyone was working to ensure the best care was given to both patients and their loved ones. I've always found it fascinating that people can combine their interests to build careers that help others, and as I've grown older and received more life experience, my desire to be a part of this has become stronger. My family and I were entrusted with taking care of my grandfather when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease when I was in middle school. Seeing him be able to live a happy and tranquil life ignited a passion in me for helping others and helping those in need. I hadn't begun to understand that I could also be working in a setting that would enable me to be a part of something bigger until I went to my mom's workplace and engaged with her patients, their families, and the staff. When I heard her patients and coworkers talk about how she always treated them with kindness and worked hard to make sure that they got the care they needed, it made me realize how I too want to someday work as a professional who uses compassion to help others. I made one of the most important decisions of my life after the pandemic when I decided to switch from attending standard public school to an independent study program. I was motivated to pursue a career in nursing after watching my mom's journey, and I was ready to get started on finishing the requirements at community college to get into a program as soon as possible. I began enrolling in as many classes as I could, including those I would need for nursing. From critical thinking, psychology, chemistry, biology, communications, and so much more; I spent countless hours studying to make sure I maintained top grades to be eligible for selective nursing programs within California. I have now finished 15 classes with a 3.9 GPA after three years of college, and I'm prepared to proceed to the next chapter. After completing the lower division general education requirements, I intend to finish my upper general education requirements, which I can only achieve if I attend a 4-year university. Going to university would also allow me the opportunity to join a baccalaureate nursing program and obtain my degree; one of my long-term goals since I started this journey. Something that excites me about nursing is that it is always evolving. There will be new approaches that improve patient care and outlook as long as science, technology, and healthcare continue to advance. Additionally, there are several opportunities for nurses to use their diverse skill sets and talents within different settings from directly caring for patients as an ICU nurse to performing aesthetic treatments in medical spas. I want to contribute to the advancement of healthcare for a brighter future by using my special talents and abilities to assist others, and pursuing a higher education is essential to my goal. Despite the fact that things weren't always easy, my experiences have made me passionate about improving healthcare, and I will continue to work towards this goal as long as the medical field is working on developing new strategies for improving patient care.

Even though it was never easy being a single parent, my mom made sure to always put my future first before anything else. After a rough divorce, my mom my sister, and I were left with virtually nothing. We didn't have the money to keep running our family coffee shop, or to keep the dogs, the car, or the house. I remember my mom telling me that she had to make a choice: to stay in the relationship or to go back to school for the sake of me and my sister. "It was only natural," she told me, "my beautiful girls are my world." We packed up our things, hopped on a plane, and never looked back. Since then we have been living with my grandparents, and I have watched my mom work as hard as she can to create a better life for us; fascinated by her ability to do it all. From community college to working 2 to 3 jobs at once to support my sister and me, to transferring to a nursing program, to walking across the graduation stage on my 11th birthday, her accomplishments never cease to inspire and amaze me. Not only is she a hardworking person, but also a caring mother. No matter what, my mom has always supported my passions in life, even if our funds were tight. The money from her jobs and her extra time went towards my sister and me. From gymnastics, dance, figure skating, 4H, Girl Scouts, and taekwondo, to my art supplies, and my very first cello; she made all my dreams come true. She has always shown me that if I work hard I can accomplish anything, and I have carried that with me to this very moment. After the pandemic, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life when I decided to quit attending traditional public school, and instead transfer to an independent study program. Watching my mom's journey inspired me to work towards becoming a nurse myself, and I was eager to start working on completing the prerequisites in community college as soon as possible. The first person I consulted with was my mom, and she was just as supportive as she has always been. She took the time to walk me through the high school dual enrollment program, using her knowledge from working in the admissions and records office at her community college back when I was still in elementary school. The first class I took in person at college was an hour away from where we lived and ended at 10:00 p.m., but she still insisted on driving me when she wasn't working. Even after 12-hour shifts, she would still find the time to pick me up from the train station or help me with my homework. She always wants me to succeed, and her belief in what I can accomplish has always driven me to put forth my best effort. Without my mom's hard work and sacrifices, I wouldn't be in the position I am today, about to graduate high school and move on to university as a 3rd-year student. In the future, I want to become a dependable person for my mom to rely on just as she was for me. She has molded me into the person I am today and has shown me countless times to never give up on my dreams. I know that no matter what is to come, my mom will be there to support me, and I will always be there for her to do the same.

Living with my grandparents and having a single mother who was returning to school to become a nurse exposed me to the healthcare system at a young age. Whenever I visited the hospital where my mom worked after she graduated from nursing school or went to the doctor's office with my grandparents, I always took note of how kind the staff was and how hard everyone was working to ensure the best care was given to both patients and their loved ones. I've always found it fascinating that people can combine their skill sets to build careers that help others, and as I've grown older and received more life experience, my desire to be a part of this field has become stronger. My family and I were entrusted with taking care of my grandfather when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease when I was in middle school. Seeing him be able to live a happy and tranquil life ignited a passion in me for helping those in need. I hadn't begun to understand that I could also be working in a setting that would enable me to be a part of something bigger until I went to my mom's workplace and engaged with her patients, their families, and the staff. When I heard her patients and coworkers talk about how she always treated them with kindness and worked hard to make sure that they got the care they needed, it made me realize how I too want to someday work as a professional who uses compassion to help others. I believe preventing pandemics starts with top patient care. Communicating with patients who do not speak English, caring for their families, making sure everyone is treated with kindness, and providing information about diseases, ailments, vaccines, and treatments can help reduce stigma around health care; which is essential for preventing future pandemics. As my grandfather lost his ability to speak English due to his illness, I saw firsthand how much more difficult it became for him to communicate his needs to others. He could no longer easily communicate his frustrations or concerns to the doctors or nurses because of the language barrier and this only worsened his health and morale. This experience made me decide that I wanted to become someone who was able to provide care for many, and that's when I started to take up studying foreign languages in my spare time. So far I have studied many languages such as French, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, and I hope I can utilize my abilities to provide the best possible care for patients in the future. Coming into this field with vast amounts of cultural knowledge and being able to communicate information with patients and their families multilingually is one of my biggest goals, and that is why I will continue to study language while I am pursuing this field. Even though things weren't always easy, I will always be passionate about improving healthcare thanks to my experiences. Connecting with patients through language is just one way I plan to do so, but as long as the healthcare field is evolving to find new ways to better patient care I will be seeking to do the same.

Living with my grandparents and having a single mother who was returning to school to become a nurse exposed me to the healthcare system at a young age. Whenever I visited the hospital where my mom worked after she graduated from nursing school or went to the doctor's office with my grandparents, I always took note of how kind the staff was and how hard everyone was working to ensure the best care was given to both patients and their loved ones. I've always found it fascinating that people can combine their interests to build careers that help others, and as I've grown older and received more life experience, my desire to be a part of this has become stronger. My family and I were entrusted with taking care of my grandfather when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease when I was in middle school. Seeing him be able to live a happy and tranquil life ignited a passion in me for helping others and helping those in need. I hadn't begun to understand that I could also be working in a setting that would enable me to be a part of something bigger until I went to my mom's workplace and engaged with her patients, their families, and the staff. When I heard her patients and coworkers talk about how she always treated them with kindness and worked hard to make sure that they got the care they needed, it made me realize how I too want to someday work as a professional who uses compassion to help others. I made one of the most important decisions of my life after the pandemic when I decided to switch from attending standard public school to an independent study program. I was motivated to pursue a career in nursing after watching my mom's journey, and I was ready to get started on finishing the requirements at community college to get into a program as soon as possible. I began enrolling in as many classes as I could, including those I would need for nursing. From critical thinking, psychology, chemistry, biology, communications, and so much more; I spent countless hours studying to make sure I maintained top grades to be eligible for selective nursing programs within California. I have now finished 15 classes with a 3.9 GPA after three years of college, and I'm prepared to proceed to the next chapter. After completing the lower division general education requirements, I intend to finish my upper general education requirements, which I can only achieve if I attend a 4-year university. Going to university would also allow me the opportunity to join a baccalaureate nursing program and obtain my degree; one of my long-term goals since I started this journey. Something that excites me about nursing is that it is always evolving. There will be new approaches that improve patient care and outlook as long as science, technology, and healthcare continue to advance. Additionally, there are several opportunities for nurses to use their diverse skill sets and talents within different settings from directly caring for patients as an ICU nurse to performing aesthetic treatments in medical spas. I want to contribute to the advancement of healthcare for a brighter future by using my special talents and abilities to assist others, and pursuing a higher education is essential to my goal. Despite the fact that things weren't always easy, my experiences have made me passionate about improving healthcare, and I will continue to work towards this goal as long as the medical field is working on developing new strategies for improving patient care.

Even though it was never easy being a single parent, my mom made sure to always put my future first before anything else. After a rough divorce, my mom my sister, and I were left with virtually nothing. We didn't have the money to keep running our family coffee shop, or to keep the dogs, the car, or the house. I remember my mom telling me that she had to make a choice: to stay in the relationship or to go back to school for the sake of me and my sister. "It was only natural," she told me, "my beautiful girls are my world." We packed up our things, hopped on a plane, and never looked back. Since then we have been living with my grandparents. I have watched my mom work as hard as she can to create a better life for us; fascinated by her ability to do it all. From community college to working 2 to 3 jobs at once to support my sister and me, to transferring to a nursing program, to walking across the graduation stage on my 11th birthday, her accomplishments never cease to inspire and amaze me. Not only is she a hardworking person, but also a caring mother. No matter what, my mom has always supported my passions in life, even if our funds were tight. The money from her jobs and her extra time went towards my sister and me. From gymnastics, dance, figure skating, 4H, Girl Scouts, and taekwondo, to my art supplies, and my very first cello; she made all my dreams come true. She has always shown me that if I work hard I can accomplish anything, and I have carried that with me to this very moment. After the pandemic, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life when I decided to quit attending traditional public school, and instead transfer to an independent study program. Watching my mom's journey inspired me to work towards becoming a nurse myself, and I was eager to start working on completing the prerequisites in community college as soon as possible. The first person I consulted with was my mom, and she was just as supportive as she has always been. She took the time to walk me through the knowledge of the high school dual enrollment program, after working in the admissions and records office at her community college back when I was still in elementary school. The first class I took in person at college was an hour away from where we lived and ended at 10:00 p.m., but she still insisted on driving me when she wasn't working. Even after 12-hour shifts, she would still find the time to pick me up from the train station or help me with my homework. She always wants me to succeed, and her belief in what I can accomplish has always driven me to put forth my best effort. Without my mom's hard work and sacfrices I wouldn't be in the position I am today, about to graduate high school and move on to university as a 3rd-year student. In the future, I want to become a dependable person for my mom to rely on just as she was for me. I want to show her that her sacrifices meant something for my future, and that created an environment for me to succeed. I know that no matter what is to come, my mom will be there to support me, and I will always be there for her to do the same.

I was introduced to the healthcare system at a young age while living with my grandparents and having a single mother who was going back to school to be a nurse. Whether it was going to the doctor's office with my grandparents, attending classes with my mom when she was in nursing school, or visiting the hospital where my mom worked thereafter, I always took notice of how kind the staff was and how hard every person was working to ensure the best care was provided to both patients and their loved ones. I've always been intrigued by the idea that people can use their passions to establish careers that benefit others, and over time as I've gained more life experience, my desire to be a part of this has become stronger. After my grandfather developed Alzheimer's disease when I was in middle school my family and I were tasked with the responsibility of caring for him. Although it's not an easy job, seeing him be able to live a happy and peaceful life sparked a passion in me for caring for others and assisting those in need. It was only when I visited my mom's workplace and interacted with her patients, their loved ones, and the staff that I realized that I could also be working in an environment that would allow me to be a part of something bigger. Hearing her patients and co-workers talk about how she always treated them with kindness and worked hard to ensure that they received the assistance that they needed made me think that I also want to become a person who utilizes compassion to help others as a professional in the future. Being so close to the healthcare field my whole life, I began to realize that everything comes with its flaws. As my grandfather lost his ability to speak English due to his illness, I saw how much more difficult it became for him to communicate his needs to others. He could no longer verbally communicate his frustrations or concerns to the doctors or nurses because of the language barrier and this only worsened his health and morale. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many patients, as language barriers can make it difficult for patients to receive proper care and may even discourage them from seeing professionals when there is a concern about their health. This experience made me decide that I wanted to become someone who was able to provide care for many, and that's when I started to take up studying foreign languages in my spare time. So far I have studied many languages such as French, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, and I hope I can utilize my abilities to provide the best possible care for patients in the future. I truly believe that connecting with patients and being equipped with cultural knowledge is essential to providing the best possible patient care, and that is why I will continue to study language while I am pursuing this field. Even though things weren't always easy, I will always be passionate about improving healthcare thanks to my experiences. Connecting with patients through language is just one way I plan to do so, but as long as the healthcare field is evolving to find new ways to better patient care I will be seeking to do the same.

I wish to be a nurse who exercises compassion and uses her strengths to help those in need.

I can still remember the first time I listened to BTS's music. It was the spring of 2017, and I had just come home after spending the day at school, sitting right in my favorite spot on the couch listening to whatever random video came up on my tablet. Stumbling across their Spring Day music video, I was almost instantly entranced by their unique sound, beautiful vocals, incredible dancing skills, and meaningful lyrics. It's fair to say BTS has come a long way since then; they not only revolutionized the music industry, but they have also impacted countless lives, including my own. From the start, it seemed like the whole world was against them. They came from a small company, mocked and belittled by almost everyone in the industry. They weren't instant hits nor did they have some of the luxuries most would associate with being idols. They had far from a glamorous beginning in the spotlight, but they never let that stop them from pursuing their dreams. They worked hard day and night, creating music that was meaningful to them, embedding it with messages the world needed to hear, and sharing their pride in Korean culture. BTS has inspired me in so many ways, in fact, in almost too many ways to count. They inspired me to reconnect with my Korean heritage, which led me to learn the language through classes at my local community college during the pandemic. I would always listen to their music, whether it was late at night studying or a long train ride to school; thinking about their journey, reminding me to never give up on my dreams of becoming a nurse. When things got tough, not only did their message of loving yourself boost my morale, but it also inspired me to be that voice for others in need and help them to do the same. Not only has BTS's talent and hard work broken down walls in the music and entertainment industries, but they have also brought together entire communities of people. BTS becoming a centerpiece for conversation has led me to meet and befriend countless people, even people that I never thought I would have connected with. From people at school to people halfway around the world, to even the grocery store, I have been able to meet some of the kindest and most inspiring people because we connected through BTS's message. As a person of Korean heritage, BTS also helped me take pride in my identity by sharing the beauty of Korean culture with the world. Seeing others take an interest in the culture because of BTS has filled not only me with great joy, but also my family, and others within the community. Through their accomplishments, they have played a large role in paving the way for a more globalized future, one where everyone can take pride in their culture and be able to share it with the world. Growing alongside BTS has allowed me to accomplish things I would've never thought to be possible. Thanks to them, I am no longer the little girl on the couch watching them on her tablet, but the girl about to graduate high school and head off to university. I know both of our journeys will continue to lead us to great places as I continue to watch them flourish far into the future.

I was introduced to the healthcare system at a young age while living with my grandparents and having a single mother who was going back to school to be a nurse. Whether it was going to the doctor's office with my grandparents, attending classes with my mom when she was in nursing school, or visiting the hospital where my mom worked thereafter, I always took notice of how kind the staff was and how hard every person was working to ensure the best care was provided to both patients and their loved ones. I've always been intrigued by the idea that people can use their passions to establish careers that benefit others, and over time as I've gained more life experience, my desire to be a part of this has become stronger. After my grandfather developed Alzheimer's disease when I was in middle school my family and I were tasked with the responsibility of caring for him. Although it's not an easy job, seeing him be able to live a happy and peaceful life sparked a passion in me for caring for others and assisting those in need. It was only when I visited my mom's workplace and interacted with her patients, their loved ones, and the staff that I realized that I could also be working in an environment that would allow me to be a part of something bigger. Hearing her patients and co-workers talk about how she always treated them with kindness and worked hard to ensure that they received the assistance that they needed made me think that I also want to become a person who utilizes compassion to help others as a professional in the future. Being so close to the healthcare field my whole life, I began to realize that everything comes with its flaws. As my grandfather lost his ability to speak English due to his illness, I saw how much more difficult it became for him to communicate his needs to others. He could no longer verbally communicate his frustrations or concerns to the doctors or nurses because of the language barrier and this only worsened his health and morale. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many patients, as language barriers can make it difficult for patients to receive proper care and may even discourage them from seeing professionals when there is a concern about their health. This experience made me decide that I wanted to become someone who was able to provide care for many, and that's when I started to take up studying foreign languages in my spare time. So far I have studied many languages such as French, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, and I hope I can utilize my abilities to provide the best possible care for patients in the future. I truly believe that connecting with patients and being equipped with cultural knowledge is essential to providing the best possible patient care, and that is why I will continue to study language while I am pursuing this field. Even though things weren't always easy, I will always be passionate about improving healthcare thanks to my experiences. Connecting with patients through language is just one way I plan to do so, but as long as the healthcare field is evolving to find new ways to better patient care I will be seeking to do the same.