I am a 25 year old Korean American, Army veteran, and current graduate student in the Master of Science in Real Estate Development program at Columbia University. I graduated from the United States Military Academy West Point with a degree in systems engineering where I was a student athlete on the boxing team. Upon graduation, I served three years in the military as an Infantry officer where I led a platoon of soldiers in addition to developing technical systems for combat drones before receiving an honorable discharge. I believe in pursuing excellence in all I do, and I love to learn. I chose to pursue a career in real estate because I am drawn by its unique intersection of design and public needs. The effort to build spaces that provide homes and add to the character of the community is critical to the future of our cities, and I believe responsible development has the potential to foster community engagement and drive growth. Personally, I am interested in working on deals that incorporate mixed-use buildings combining housing, retail, and public space to help create more vibrant and walkable cities. This scholarship would remove some of the financial pressures I face as a self-supporting graduate student, and I would use the funding to pursue additional certifications in financial modeling to prepare for employment. I am not eligible for the GI Bill and every dollar helps me close the gap between where I am now and my transition. My short term goal is to work at a community-focused firm to build my experience in underwriting deals and taking a deal from start to finish. My long term goal is to lead at such a firm that is mission driven and community oriented developing new and exciting spaces. Without a doubt the most influential person in my life has been and always will be my mother. At a young age, she immigrated here without knowing the language or the system but still built her own life through sheer determination. She taught me to value education and to utilize these types of opportunities to create options and leverage. Watching her go to work every day no matter all that we were going through made me want to do more with my life, not just for myself but also for others. Her example is why I pursue excellence in everything I do and why I know I will make the most of the support this scholarship provides to pursue a career in development.