To me, leadership isn't about having a fancy title or corner office. It's about using your voice to help people, especially those who aren't heard. As a first-generation college student and eldest child of immigrants, I've learned that speaking up is most important when it comes from real experiences and consistent effort. Growing up in a low-income, single-parent household, I often felt isolated when it came to accessing educational opportunities. Many of the tools and resources that seemed to be readily available to others were either out of my reach or simply not accessible. I couldn't afford the monthly subscriptions or the private tutors. Whether it was finding scholarships, study aids, or even navigating college applications, there was no one guide that fit my circumstances. As I struggled to find and utilize resources effectively, I realized that there were many other students facing the same challenges. Helping others means more when you really get what they're going through and you're serious about fixing things, not just talking about it. Seeing my peers held back by these inequities inspired me to create Alina’s Study Hub, a platform that now serves over 2,000 students with scholarship databases, study tools, and mentorship. My goal is to level the playing field so students in my community can thrive academically and pursue their dreams; all reasons why I chose to study business. As a business major, I aim to scale Alina’s Study Hub into a sustainable organization. My coursework in entrepreneurship, finance, and operations management at UMD will equip me with the knowledge and resources needed to develop innovative solutions for educational challenges. For example, I envision partnering with the Dingman-Lamone Center for Entrepreneurship, local businesses, and nonprofits to provide laptops, tutoring, and college readiness workshops to underrepresented communities. I also hope to expand into financial literacy programs that will empower families to budget, save, and invest to aid in breaking the cycles of poverty. My most ambitious career goal is to launch a management agency that supports creators who don’t fit the normal “influencer mold”. Instead, they create meaningful content driven by values, not views. I’ll provide them with a platform while managing partnerships with large companies seeking authentic storytellers to spread their message. I hope to redefine digital partnerships by moving away from surface-level promotion and toward impact-driven collaboration. As I get ready for my second year of college, I'm committed to using my education to give back to my community. Whether through Study Hub or other community initiatives, I want to make sure that education is a path to success for all people, not just a select few. By combining my education with my passion for community service, I hope to create a lasting, positive impact around the world. I will forever be grateful for Alina's Study Hub as I aim to inspire other people and bring a change in the world, creating a ripple effect and an influence that lasts for many more generations to come.

At age eight, I sat beside my mother at the kitchen table, watching her pencil out a budget on the back of a crumpled supermarket receipt. Her pen paused over the page, worry in her eyes, and three words on the page: rent, electricity, and groceries. I remember trying to be still, pretending I was focused on my homework, but my eyes kept drifting back to the numbers. Something wasn't adding up. Though I didn't quite understand how money worked, I did know what it meant when my mom sighed and stashed the receipt. That memory stuck with me. That night, I learned to see numbers as more than just problems on a page in a math book. I had to know how to make an alternative life become feasible; not just for me, but for people like my family. I am the product of dreamers and doers. My parents came to America with hope and not much more, with the belief that their children could have a better future. They themselves didn't attend college, but they instilled in me a sense of respect for education as the door to freedom and power. My experiences have shaped me into a problem-solver, a leader, and a person highly dedicated to community. The only choice I was given was be resourceful. Finding ways to pay for school supplies, searching the internet late at night for scholarships, and figuring out how to apply to college when no one in my family had before. I've also figured out how to spin my setbacks into opportunities for other people. This is why I created Alina's Study Hub. It's a web-based, no-cost platform for academic resources, college application assistance, and scholarship websites for students who might not otherwise have such systems in place. What started out as a humble Google Site that I distributed to about a dozen classmates now assists thousands of students across the globe through my instagram page @studentlife.alina. This is just the beginning. I am studying business because I believe that financial literacy is the most precious asset that anyone could have. I plan to have a nonprofit organization that offers money mentoring, free workshops, and mentorship programs to empower communities that mainstream institutions have neglected; especially the Latinx community. Until I get there, I'll continue posting on my page and creating accessible content in English and Spanish so Hispanic kids around the world can have the role model I lacked growing up. But to get to that point, I need assistance. College is not cheap, and while I've worked hard to win scholarships and accolades, the price is still too high for my family. I know that this scholarship will not only help me cover my cost of attendance, but allow me to better immerse myself in the communities that I've helped build and the ones that continue to help me, starting with the beautiful Latinx community here in College Park.

Prince George’s County is full of promise yet many students encounter hurdles to success due to overcrowded classrooms, underfunding, and limited access to advanced courses. In 2023, only 33% of PGCPS students demonstrated math proficiency compared to 50% across the state. This gap widens as access to college prep resources diminishes, leaving talented students unprepared for higher education and lifelong careers. To me, leadership isn't about having a fancy title or corner office that comes with entitlement. It's about using your voice to help people, especially those who aren't heard. As a first-generation college student and eldest child of immigrants, I've learned that speaking up is most important when it comes from real experiences and consistent effort. Growing up in a low-income, single-parent household, I often felt a disquieting isolation when it came to accessing educational opportunities. Many of the tools and resources that seemed to be readily available to others were either out of my reach or simply not accessible. I couldn't afford the monthly subscriptions or the private tutors. Whether it was finding scholarships, study aids, or even navigating college applications, there was no one guide that fit my circumstances. As I struggled to find and utilize resources effectively, I realized that there were many other students facing the same challenges. Seeing my peers being held back inspired me to create Alina’s Study Hub, a web platform that now serves thousands of students with scholarship databases, study tools, and mentorship. But a platform run by one person is barely a prelude to the massive wave of automation and intelligence redefining our world. In order to truly close the proficiency gaps within our county, leaders must be equipped with the tools of the future, and today, that tool goes by the name of Artificial Intelligence. With the proper systemic implementation, the proficiency gap in Prince George’s County can close and AI will be an equalizer, not a luxury. To turn this vision into a reality, it is important to consult with the people who shape the way our country works: lawmakers. Lobbying for them to focus on legislation that creates equal funding, higher quality education, and getting the resources necessary to close the academic opportunity gap, particularly in areas where there is limited funding available for public schools. This legislation will allow us to repudiate the quality of a student's education being dependent on their zip code. I would work with legislators to secure funding for AI implementation in the classroom in a way that serves as an invigorating aid to learning, not a replacement. Utilizing AI can also help alleviate problems that our county’s education system faces due to staffing shortages such as increasing classroom sizes, providing students with access to Advanced Placement and dual enrollment programs. In the latest state testing results from 2025, PGCPS saw proficiency in math and English language Arts through MCAP scores. While PGCPS is seeing an upward trend, these numbers can be amplified with AI implementations into the curriculums. Additionally, this technology can also help students who are learning English as a second language, mentally or physically disabled, or coming from an economically disadvantaged background. As I get ready for my second year of college, I'm committed to using my education to give back to my community. Whether through Alina’s Study Hub or other community initiatives, I want to make sure that education is a path to success for all people, not just a select few. By combining technology and AI advancements with my passion for community service, I hope to create a lasting, positive impact around the world.

At sixteen, anchored by my identity as the hyper-prepared oldest daughter of immigrants, I held a rigid belief: if I out-worked everyone and planned perfectly, life would guarantee my success. I've always been the planner. The one who researches everything, rehearses every scenario, and double-checks the details. For me, preparation is more than aiming for success-it's about feeling safe. That mindset followed me right into one of the biggest moments of my academic life: applying for a super competitive leadership and need-based scholarship at my school. I not only matched all the qualifications but practice the pillars of the program in my daily life. It was life-changing money that would've covered all my expenses for my full four years. On paper, I was the perfect candidate. Years of leadership roles, community projects, and solid grades. I even started a student-run resource platform to help classmates find scholarships and study tools. I organized events, led councils, mentored younger students, kept my grades high; I was all in. By the time I hit "submit" on that application, I felt ready. I honestly believed I deserved it. Not because I was arrogant, but because I thought hard work always paid off. Then the rejection email landed. At first, it didn't seem real. I read it again and again, just to be sure. I wasn't only disappointed-I felt thrown off balance. The tears started flowing down my face before a thought could even form in my mind. For once, all my planning hadn't protected me. I'd done everything right, and still, the answer was no. The real turning point didn't come with the rejection itself, but with what happened after. I let myself feel the loss for a few days. I wondered if I'd misjudged my own readiness, or misunderstood what "merit" really meant. But after a while, something shifted. Instead of withdrawing, I went back to the work that had motivated me in the first place-helping others. I kept sharing scholarship resources, kept mentoring, kept answering late-night questions from students who needed advice. Strangely enough, losing out on what I thought I wanted brought me back to what actually mattered. That rejection changed how I go after opportunities now. I still prepare (can't really stop myself) but I don't see the outcome as a verdict on my value. I apply with purpose, not just expectation. I step up as a leader not because I need to prove myself, but because I know I can contribute, chosen or not. And honestly, I've learned to see "winning" in new ways. Sometimes it's just about not giving up. Sometimes it's about helping even when no one notices. Sometimes it's sticking around after things don't go the way you planned.

To me, leadership isn't about having a fancy title or corner office. It's about using your voice to help people, especially those who aren't heard. As a first-generation college student and eldest child of immigrants, I've learned that speaking up is most important when it comes from real experiences and consistent effort. Growing up in a low-income, single-parent household, I often felt isolated when it came to accessing educational opportunities. Many of the tools and resources that seemed to be readily available to others were either out of my reach or simply not accessible. I couldn't afford the monthly subscriptions or the private tutors. Whether it was finding scholarships, study aids, or even navigating college applications, there was no one guide that fit my circumstances. As I struggled to find and utilize resources effectively, I realized that there were many other students facing the same challenges. Helping others means more when you really get what they're going through and you're serious about fixing things, not just talking about it. My way of leading is making sure students like me feel valued, heard, and backed by their community. On campus, I'm the freshmen representative in student government where I serve as the voice for 5,000+ first-year students. I also work with the legislature to come up with ideas to get students involved and give them the resources they need. I engage with faculty and students across my constituency and work hard to turn their problems into real solutions. From sponsoring bills demanding price transparency from the registrar to hosting mental health events during finals week, I've learned to be caring but also practical. I ask questions and make sure promises are kept. This makes me a better communicator, decision-maker, and more confident in working with the university I call home. I don't just want to speak for students. I want them to feel good about speaking up for themselves. Whether it's recruiting members for the UMD Future Business Leaders of America, organizing informational sessions for my educational start-up Alina's Study Hub, or in my future career as an entrepreneur who fixes educational inequity, I aim to be a connector in a fast-paced environment that tends to leave people feeling left out. Leading and speaking up aren't just things I do. They're things I'm committed to. I believe that when students are heard and supported, everyone wins. Being a leader doesn't mean wearing a suit and tie and telling people what to do. It means being the one suited to tie things together and get things done.