Before I ever stepped into a classroom, my grandparents sold their only car so my father could attend a better school. After my father immigrated, he began his life in the US in a relative's basement while washing dishes in a hospital to build a greater life. After years, I benefited from these sacrifices without fully understanding their weight. Growing up as a first generation Filipino American, my Filipino culture was limited to family functions and phone calls with Titas I have never met before. Since I was not taught Tagalog as a child I was further disconnected from the culture that my parents came from. The understanding of the sacrifices my parents made did not come until I returned to the Philippines for my Lola's funeral. I was surrounded by relatives speaking a language I didn't know. I felt both like an outsider and part of something larger than myself. Despite the grief, I saw the strength of Filipino community. For the first time, I saw whatshaped my parent's resilience. What once felt like a distant heritage became a personal responsibility to me. My parents' backstory shifted the way I understood my own opportunities. Education was not simply a path to personal success, but a continuation of a sacrifice that started long before me. Those before me gave up security and comfort so I could grow. Ever since my Philippines visit, my academic achievement became more about responsibility than recognition. The Filipino values of community and gratitude resonated with me deeply. I began to see education as something entrusted to me with the expectation that I would use it to uplift others. That shift in perspective started to shape how I lead and serve, especially as the varsity captain of my track team. I worked to ensure that every runner felt heard and supported. I saw it not as a title, but as a responsibility to strengthen others. This same mindset led me to co-found my school's Filipino Club. Since I rarely resonated with my heritage in my youth this club enabled me to build a cultural pride and belonging I once lacked, while giving other Filipino students a space to celebrate their identity. Beyond school, I volunteer at my local library, helping lead STEM and Builders club activities for younger children. Guiding children as they explore creativity reminds me how access to learning can spark long-term opportunity. In each of these roles, I strive to expand opportunity in the same way it was expanded for me. Pursuing a degree in civil engineering, I believe that infrastructure is also access rather than just concrete. After seeing the humble beginnings in my parents' hometowns and the opportunities available to me in the US, I am deeply aware of how poorly opportunity is distributed. My goal is to design structures that strengthen underserved communities, aiming to transform the sacrifices that built my education into service for others. Although my parents have worked tirelessly to create stability and opportunity, pursuing higher education is still a huge financial commitment for our family. This scholarship would ease that burden and allow me to honor the generational effort that made my education possible My grandparents' decision long ago to sell their only car in hopes for my dad's greater education is a decision that ultimately brought opportunities that would reach me. Today, I carry their sacrifice as a purpose and not pressure. I intend to honor the resilience that shaped my family and extend it outward. Just as opportunity was created for me, I am determined to create it for others.