Growing up in a low-income household has been a defining aspect of my journey, shaping my character and influencing my determination to overcome challenges. As a pre-dental college student with a Pakistani background, my upbringing has instilled in me a resilient spirit that fuels my pursuit of higher education and a career in dentistry. In the backdrop of financial constraints, my father, an Uber driver, has been the sole provider for our five-sibling household. Witnessing his unwavering commitment to supporting our family has been both inspiring and humbling. The financial challenges we faced, however, became the crucible in which my perseverance was forged. It was not just about the scarcity of resources; it was about the grit and tenacity needed to navigate a path toward a better future. As a member of the "Multicultural Association of Pre-Health Students" and the "Student Health Advisory Board" at my university, I bring my unique background to these organizations. These platforms not only allow me to engage with my academic pursuits but also provide an avenue to connect with others who share similar aspirations and face comparable hurdles. Being part of these clubs is more than a commitment to academic excellence; it is a testament to my dedication to breaking barriers for individuals who, like me, come from underprivileged backgrounds. One of the key lessons I've learned from my upbringing is the value of education as a catalyst for change. I see my journey through college as a transformative experience not just for myself but for my family and community. I am driven by the desire to break the cycle of financial constraints and limited opportunities that often accompany a low-income background. Education, I believe, is the gateway to empowerment, and through my pursuit of a career in dentistry, I aim to exemplify the transformative power of learning. My dream of becoming a dentist is not merely a personal ambition but a commitment to making a positive impact in my community and the world. Dentistry, as a field, provides a unique intersection between healthcare and community service. I envision establishing clinics or participating in outreach programs that cater to underserved communities, offering dental care to those who may not have easy access to it. Oral health is a crucial component of overall well-being, and by addressing this need, I hope to contribute to the holistic betterment of the communities I serve. Moreover, my involvement in multicultural associations and health advisory boards equips me with a deeper understanding of the diverse healthcare needs within different communities. It empowers me to advocate for healthcare equity, ensuring that individuals from all backgrounds have access to quality dental care. By leveraging my personal experiences and cultural insights, I aspire to bridge gaps in healthcare disparities and promote inclusivity within the field of dentistry. Making my family proud is a driving force behind my aspirations. I see my journey as a testament to their sacrifices and a symbol of the opportunities that can arise from perseverance and determination. My success is not measured solely by personal achievements but by the positive impact, I can make on the lives of others who face similar challenges. In conclusion, coming from a low-income household has been a crucible that has shaped my resilience and determination. As a pre-dental college student with a Pakistani background, I carry these experiences into my involvement in clubs and my aspirations for the future. My journey is not just about personal success; it is about using my life experience to break barriers, promote healthcare equity, and make a positive impact in my community and the world.

There are many ways to stay true to yourself on a daily basis, with one of the best ways being to stick up for yourself. This includes to stop altering yourself in order to please or make others comfortable, and more importantly, saying "no" when you want to. It also includes choosing yourself in all aspects. So choosing to dress in the way that makes you happy, choosing to do what makes you happy, choosing to behave in the way that makes you happy, choosing to love people who make you happy, etc. No one else knows whats better for you than you do, so staying true to yourself, means being good to yourself and living your life by your own standards and terms. Another way to stay true to yourself is not to limit yourself. I have a belief that God does not put a dream in your heart, if you are not capable of achieving it. Pursuing your dreams daily, no matter how big or small, is a great way of staying true to yourself, as you are helping yourself slowly build the life you dream of. On a final note, I would say to stay true to yourself is to forgive and not be so hard on yourself. Forgiving yourself lifts many past burdens, stresses, and anxieties off of your shoulders, leading to a better emotional and mental well-being. The one person you will spend the most time with in your life is you, so it would be most logical that the person who is the kindest and truest to you, is yourself.

An experience that has shaped me into who I am today and who I will be for the rest of my life, happened fairly recently. In November 2020, my family and I made the collective decision that we would spend the next seven months in our home country, Pakistan. This was due to the fact that all schools were online and we knew they would remain online for a while. Taking into consideration that this was a rare occasion and would probably never happen again while all of us still lived together under the same roof, we knew that this was our opportunity to experience what it was like to actually live in Pakistan together. So we packed our bags and left. Throughout those many months, I got to fully experience the good and the bad, the ups and the downs, of where it is my family is from. I experienced everything from weddings to funerals. I saw and understood the differences between my culture and my religion, and how my life has been impacted by both. I met the people with whom my parents grew up and the places in which they spent their summers. I experienced all vast differences between my cousins and me, but also the many surprising similarities. All in all, I learned how lucky I am to have all the things I do and how lucky I am to come from the place that I come from, which is why this experience will forever have an impact on who I am and who I will become.

To be independent means to be in control of yourself and your life. It means to be able to make your own choices however and whenever you choose, without the guidance or influence of another party. It also means navigating through life without the need for someone else to help you through it. Independence has had a great impact on me, as it is what I strive to be more of. That's not to say that I want to be alone or be closed off from receiving any help, but rather to say that I want to be stable and confident in the way I choose to conduct my life. As someone who comes from a Muslim background, I could've simply chosen the easier way out and let someone take care of me. Yet, rather I chose my pursuit for independence and that's why I have as much as I do today. Graduating high school early, receiving my associate's degree at 18, working towards Dental school, are all the milestones I have collected in an attempt to become more of the independent woman I have always dreamt of becoming.

As I get older, I'm beginning to practice healthy self-care in a variety of ways. However, there are two main tasks that I often do which help me destress the most. One of those tasks includes going for a walk while listening to music. It's a very simple, yet very effective strategy of mine to do when I feel stressed and need to calm down. Whatever I am working on or doing, I leave it right as it is, and then I grab my phone and headphones and I head out. When it comes to the type of music I listen to, I don't limit myself to strictly positive music. If I am feeling a certain negative way, then I listen to music revolving around those feelings. This, on top of the walking, helps me feel like I am physically venting out my feelings, rather than just covering it up with false positivity and not addressing how I truly feel. A second effective self-care strategy of mine is what I call healthy snacking. My guilty pleasure is eating because when I’m stressed, it helps calm me down, but it also releases endorphins which help provide a sense of pleasure. However, when I eat junk food to help me release endorphins, I always end up feeling guilty afterward as I know junk food is not good for me and sometimes it makes me feel nauseous as well. To solve this issue, I try snacking on healthier options, such as fruit. Doing this causes my brain to release those sweet endorphins, which make me feel great, but I also don’t feel guilty and my stomach feels well, so it’s a win-win.

As someone who appreciates a wide variety of art forms, it's difficult to pinpoint which piece of art is my all-time favorite. With that being said, while I can't name one, I can name one of a few that are on my list. One of my favorite pieces of art is called "Saturn Devouring His Son", created by Francisco Goya in the early 19th century. The painting depicts the myth of Saturn, a Greek Titan, with a crazed look in his eyes as he is eating his newborn child. According to the myth, Saturn actually ate all fourteen of his kids because he feared that they would grow up to overthrow him. This painting is one of my favorites because it's the type of painting that turns heads, as it needs no help drawing attention to itself. Similar to other artworks made during the Romantic era, this painting leaves the viewer shocked, yet so impressed. The story and image itself are horrific, yet so magnificent. It's magnificent because of how Goya is able to showcase a derganed, yet worried look in Saturn's eyes. Also, how Saturns messy hair, the position of his body, his tight grip on the dead body, and the darkness in the back perfectly tells the fanatical tale of the Greek Titan. "Saturn Devouring His Son" is one of my favorites because of the eccentric story it tells, and because of how the artist is able to showcase the daunting environment perfectly through the use of minimal details.