I grew up in an immigrant family with dreams of a better life in the United States. My parents came here after the collapse of the Soviet Union, seeking the American Dream. They left behind everything they knew, hoping to give me opportunities they never had. Despite their own challenges, including never having the chance to finish their education, they always emphasized the importance of learning and worked tirelessly to create a better future for me. I am incredibly proud to be the first in my family to attend college. For my parents, seeing me earn a degree is not just my success—it’s the fulfillment of their dreams. Every day, I carry the weight of their sacrifices, and I’m driven to honor them by achieving more than they could have imagined. Currently, I’m facing financial challenges in completing my final semester. Despite applying for loans, the cost of tuition, living expenses, and other necessities remains a significant burden. This scholarship will provide essential relief, helping to cover the costs that my federal loans do not, such as textbooks, school supplies, and transportation. Having this financial support will allow me to focus on my studies without the constant worry of how I’ll afford the resources needed to graduate and succeed. I am majoring in English, specializing in Language, Media, and Communications, and my long-term goal is to enter the technology sector, particularly in Silicon Valley. I’m drawn to tech sales, business development, or marketing, where I can leverage my communication skills in a fast-paced, innovative industry. Growing up as a translator for my Russian-speaking parents, I developed a unique ability to break down complex ideas into clear, accessible language. This skill has become one of my greatest strengths, and I believe it will serve me well in the tech field, where clear communication is essential to building relationships and persuading complex deals. Education has always been a central value in my family, and I’ve worked hard to make the most of the opportunities I’ve been given. One of my most fulfilling accomplishments was founding a food-tech AI startup with a group of classmates. In the spring of 2024, we competed in the New York Business Plan Competition, where we were recognized as one of the top 10 Ag and Food Tech startups in the state. This achievement was a turning point for me, as it showed me that, even as an English major, I have the skills and determination to succeed in the tech industry. This year, however, I learned an important lesson that went beyond academics. Despite my glowing grades and achievements, I found myself mentally and emotionally drained, struggling to balance the pressures of school, work, and life. I realized that, in my pursuit of success, I had neglected my own well-being. It took a toll on my mental health, and I knew something needed to change. Volunteering for RiseUpRiseman, a student-led organization focused on mental health advocacy, gave me the chance to not only support others but also take care of myself. Through organizing fundraisers, hosting mental health awareness events, and helping students access valuable resources, I discovered that by helping others, I was healing myself. Coming from an immigrant family, I’ve learned how to adapt and persevere in the face of adversity. I know that in any industry, especially one as dynamic as technology, clear communication, adaptability, and a strong work ethic are essential for navigating challenges and building lasting relationships. These are my strengths, and I will continue to build upon as I work toward my career goals in life.

As a Volunteer for RiseUpRiseman, my role has given me the opportunity to do something I deeply care about: helping others, particularly students, live healthier, happier lives. RiseUpRiseman is a student-led organization founded at the University of Rochester, dedicated to uplifting the community through both social media and partnerships with local organizations, like the Mental Health Association of Rochester (MHA), Anxiety Institute, EVOLVERE Mental Health, and more. Our goal is simple — create positive ripples everywhere we go. Over the last five months, I have been in charge of creating and executing fundraisers to raise money for mental health programming and research within the city of Rochester, New York. One of the first major projects I took on was creating an online merchandise fundraiser through Bonfire. I designed apparel, and organized digital marketing campaigns to build momentum. All the proceeds went to MHA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving mental health and well-being in the Rochester community. MHA provides a wide range of services, including counseling, support groups, and educational programs, aimed at raising awareness, reducing stigma, and offering resources for individuals affected by mental health challenges. Their work focuses on empowering individuals and fostering a more supportive, inclusive environment for mental health care. I also organized and hosted various bake sales at local university campuses in the city, like the Rochester Institute of Technology, where we continued to raise funds for MHA while also distributing free mental health resources to students. These resources included suicide prevention hotline pamphlets, MHA bracelets/pens, LGBTQ+ support groups cards, and other helpful services that students might not know about otherwise. While tabling at the university, I had many one-on-one conversations with students that moved me deeply. One student told me that, without the pamphlets we were handing out, they wouldn’t have known where to go for help — they let me know that this bake sale was a sign to keep going through the obstacles in their life. Hearing this reinforced why I do this work. It's not just about raising funds or awareness; it’s about reaching people who might be struggling and making sure they feel seen, heard, and supported. There is so much left to do to make my community better, but I will do everything I can to leave an everlasting positive ripple effect. This scholarship will be used toward supporting my fundraising projects, so that I can create larger-scale events, in addition to funding my education. I am so grateful for scholarships like this that highlight students’ dedication to using their skills and passions to bettering others’ lives. I plan to continue to grow my skills and passion in event planning, organizing, and marketing for non-profit work for the rest of my life.

Growing up, the atmosphere in my household was heavy with the stench of substance abuse — particularly my father’s struggle with painkillers. I remember the nights when he would lose his pills, only to come screaming at me, convinced I was the culprit. In those moments, I found myself crawling under his bed, searching for those tiny light blue pills, desperately trying to convince him of my innocence and calm his rage. This tumultuous upbringing instilled in me a deep well of anxiety and mistrust that would later surface in my relationships. When my best friend started experimenting with drugs during the first year of high school, I initially dismissed it as a phase. I was fourteen years old, and drugs were too normalized in my household for me to extend a judgmental and critical eye. The turning point came when she pulled out OxyContin in the bathroom of a Super Duper in downtown San Francisco, right as I was about to take a bite of my burger. I recognized those tiny blue pills, but did not say anything. She went into the bathroom, and overdosed. Finding her there, laying over the public toilet is an image I will never be able to forget. Luckily, I was able to find help just in time to save her life. She spent the night at the hospital — the doctors pumping her stomach —, while I spent the night dissociating between science homework and an engrossing guilt that I could have stopped her. That I could have snatched those pills out of her hand and thrown them in the trash. That I could have told her about my Dad. Maybe then she would have understood the path she was falling down. One of the most traumatizing nights of my life became one of her ‘crazy’ and ‘wild’ stories of getting high. It wasn’t long after that that I reached out to the school counselor for help. She was immediately sent home and forced into rehab. I didn't see her again for over a year. I lost my best friend, and worst of all, in her eyes, I was a snitch. She never spoke to me again. Therapy became a lifeline during those years alone in high school. I spent countless hours unpacking the guilt, wrestling with the idea that I was the one responsible for tearing her world apart. Each session was a painful process of reflecting on my life, and how that shaped my nervous system, mental health, perspective and belief system. It took time, a lot of time, to let go of the idea that I had betrayed her. But slowly, with each conversation, I started to understand that I wasn’t responsible for her choices, only for trying to save her from a fate far worse than losing a friendship. I can’t save my Dad from his challenges with substance abuse, but maybe I did save my friend’s. And although I didn’t see it quite like that at the young age of fourteen, I see it now. In this period of my life, as a Senior in college, I feel strong enough to talk about my past and help others struggling get the help that they deserve. Currently, I volunteer as the Head of Growth for RiseUpRiseMan, a community-based organization centered on spreading positivity and mental health advocacy. In my role, I host bake sales, create merchandise to fundraise for mental health programming in Rochester, New York, and speak directly to students at different college campuses about the importance of mental health. My goal is to create a world where open and honest conversations about well-being are the norm, where individuals feel supported rather than judged — a world where I would not have had to face the anxieties and pressures of drug abuse and relationships alone, a world where I would have felt safe sharing the images in my mind instead of carrying them in silence for too long.

Earlier this year, I turned a simple class idea into an AI-driven food-tech startup called FoodieBox, along with three peers from the University of Rochester. As an English major with no prior business, entrepreneurial, or engineering experience, I felt like an imposter fighting for an idea I couldn't even explain technically. However, I knew that I would be doing foodies across the world an injustice if I didn't at least try to bring this technology to life. FoodieBox is a mobile application that empowers users to discover new recipes, simplify meal preparation, and connect with fellow food lovers. Users can snap or upload a picture of food, and the app's AI will analyze the image to identify the recipe and then tailor it to the user's learned preferences, such as dietary restrictions, food palate, budget, or kitchen appliances. FoodieBox then seamlessly connects users' recipes with local grocery stores through Instacart for instant home-delivery. The app's AI Management tools also keep track of product and grocery usage, so it's aware of what's left in the fridge post-meal. By providing reminders for expiration dates and smart suggestions for leftover ingredient use, FoodieBox makes sure nothing goes to waste. Lastly, the app's social media feature invites users to share a bite of their creation/recipe with friends and followers through pictures and videos to strengthen the cooking community. In the Spring, I successfully pitched FoodieBox at the New York Business Plan Competition, advancing to the finals and competing against 60 startups from a pool of over 350 teams. Foodiebox became a top 10 food & agriculture-tech startup in the state. Later, we also achieved second place at the Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition, securing investment. We are now progressing toward developing our Minimum Viable Product (MVP). At the heart of the FoodieBox app is a recognition of the diverse challenges people face with food and cooking. If someone sees a meal online/in-person, I want them to have the opportunity to make it. I don't want their allergies, no-oven kitchen, or tight-budget to get in the way. Through Foodiebox, there is a personalized solution for everyone. The $1,040 from this scholarship can help Foodiebox in more ways than one. The funds can be used to hire a student engineer to create the MVP, incentivize students to try early prototypes and provide feedback, and support marketing and outreach efforts to build awareness and gain traction.