I was eight years old when I learned how unpredictable and challenging life could be. My dad was a police officer for Maplewood; someone I looked up to for his courage and strength. In 2014, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, and he was forced to medically retire from the Police Department. Although he never showed it, I knew it affected him deeply. As time progressed, so did his disease, and he became increasingly dependent on medical devices and medicine just to be able to carry out everyday tasks. My dad is the whole reason why I became interested in Biomedical Engineering. Helping people maintain their independence and quality of life is what inspired me to pursue an education in STEM. Additionally, my family’s financial situation has been heavily impacted by my father's medical bills. My dad underwent genetic testing to be able to understand his condition and if it would be passed on to my siblings and me. Over the past 12 years, thousands of dollars have gone towards medications and treatments in hopes of improving his life. Because of this, my parents have a lot of medical debt, and it's been a constant uphill battle in both hope and finances. This scholarship will help me have the funds to pay for school, which would help ease financial burden and allow me to pursue my goals without adding additional strain on my family. Despite the constant financial pressure, I am committed to my education and challenging myself to do well in college-level classes, dedicating myself to my grades and my community. Outside of the classroom, I spend my free time studying, volunteering, working two jobs, and playing sports. These experiences have helped strengthen my work ethic and taught me the importance of discipline, time management, and perseverance. I understand what it takes to do well, and that is what drives me to push through hard challenges. With this motive, I am confident that I will achieve my goals and that my hard work will pay off. As a result of my dad being diagnosed, I have felt a strong responsibility to dedicate myself to my studies in hopes of helping others like him. While this commitment has required some sacrifices, I view these trade-offs as worthwhile. In college, I plan to take on internships and focus on keeping my GPA up. I hope that in the future I will be able to join companies like Medtronic and Boston Scientific to help create innovative medical advancements to improve people's quality of life. Ultimately, I hope to represent that STEM can and should be a more inclusive field. As an Asian American woman, my identity has shaped my educational experience. At times, I have felt overlooked and defined by my academic performance rather than my ideas and contributions. But in spite of all this, I want to prove that diverse perspectives are essential in STEM fields. Throughout my academic career, I have continuously shown my dedication to my grades and my community, whether through late nights studying or volunteering my time. I plan to use my education to improve the lives of others in ways both big and small, continuing to give back just as I have throughout high school. What began as hope for what others could do for my father grew into the goal of creating that change for others. With my strong academic background combined with my ambition and drive for change, I am determined to make an impact through my work in engineering.