Growing up, I saw my mom push herself time and time again to not only provide for my brother and I, but also achieve the dreams she has. Her determination and belief in herself instilled in me that same determination, but also a motivation that formulates my future goals. As kids, my mom enrolled my brother and I in Mandarin and Spanish classes as soon as we were fairly fluent in English. She would say, “One day, these languages are going to help you in ways you wouldn’t have guessed,” using out-of-the-box examples to make her point. At the time, my brother and I couldn’t understand why she encouraged us to learn languages that felt so foreign. We stopped taking Mandarin and slowly lost our Spanish skills through time. But, as I got older, I began to realize the purpose of her approach. She did what my brother and I could not; she saw languages as more than a communicator but also as a bridge to connect and understand people across the world. She wanted a future where we could easily navigate through different cultures and language barriers, and now that I am older, I am determined to make that future a reality. Being raised in a single-parent household taught me the value of resilience and dedication, but also the ability to seize my dreams. My mom worked hard to provide for us, never letting us see the full extent of her struggle, but instead showing us how to be independent and resourceful. She taught me that success isn’t handed to you—it’s all a matter of luck. A luck that’s achieved through working hard and being dedicated to preparing for when that luck comes upon you, and never once, losing faith in yourself. This mindset has been key to my decision to pursue a career that has a meaningful impact on people's lives. As I reflected on my interest, I found a career where I can use my love of languages to help others. As an international lawyer, I would use languages I know, like Italian and Greek, and more I hope to learn, to advocate for people the legal system attempts to push down. Through international agreements, providing counsel, immigration laws, and human rights laws, I will utilize these languages to communicate efficiently with clients. These days, the ability to communicate is crucial. My passion for language learning and human rights advocacy will guide me to achieving my goals. Wherever my career takes me, I know I will use my time to create the difference in the world my mom always hoped I could. Without her, I would not be the person I am today, and I am taking her hopes for me and making them my own.