Going to college means access—access to knowledge, to new ways of thinking, and to opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. Growing up as a Pakistani student, I often saw how barriers, whether financial, social, or systemic, limited what students like me could achieve. Ambition alone is rarely enough; guidance, resources, and networks are essential. For me, college is the place where those gaps can start to close, not just for myself, but for others in my community who are navigating similar obstacles. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to challenges that require both creativity and discipline. In high school, I explored science, math, and technology through independent STEM research and projects, while also learning how to manage small entrepreneurial and personal projects. These experiences taught me that learning doesn’t stop in the classroom—every experiment, every project, every calculated risk is an opportunity to grow, adapt, and think critically. College is the next step in that growth, a chance to deepen my understanding of complex systems, develop professional skills, and gain exposure to ideas I haven’t yet encountered. Education has the power to create ripple effects. When students from underrepresented communities succeed, they show that barriers can be overcome, and that success isn’t limited by background or circumstance. For me, pursuing a degree is about learning how to build, innovate, and contribute in ways that are meaningful—not just personally, but socially. I hope to apply what I learn in college to help others navigate educational and professional paths, particularly those who face challenges similar to those I’ve observed in my community. By mentoring, sharing knowledge, and providing practical guidance, I want to make opportunities feel tangible and attainable for students who may otherwise feel discouraged. Going to college also represents a commitment to curiosity and growth. It’s a space where ideas can be tested, perspectives broadened, and skills refined. Beyond earning a degree, I hope to use my time in higher education to challenge myself, take intellectual risks, and build the foundation for a future where I can contribute to meaningful change. College is not an endpoint but rather a launchpad. For students like me, and for the generations that come after, the value of education is immeasurable. It is a tool to break limitations and empower others to do the same. Going to college means not only achieving personal goals, but also creating pathways for others to follow, proving that ambition paired with opportunity can lead to real impact. The ability to learn, grow, and uplift others is what drives my pursuit of higher education.

Growing up as a Pakistani student, I noticed very few people in business or finance who shared my background. I learned early that sometimes you have to create your own opportunities. Many students in my community have strong ambition. Yet, they often lack the networks, resources, or guidance to turn that ambition into real opportunity. That reality is one of the biggest reasons I’m pursuing a degree in business and finance: I want to understand how wealth is built, how businesses grow, and how economic systems work, so I can not only build a strong future for myself but also help others who come from similar backgrounds do the same. My interest in business began early in middle school. I started a sneaker reselling business that taught me lessons no classroom ever could. Throughout high school, I learned how to analyze trends, forecast demand, track profit margins, and reinvest earnings to grow my operations. What started with small sales eventually turned into a system I built from scratch—entering raffles, managing inventory, negotiating prices, and tracking every dollar. I learned that business is less about luck and more about consistency, strategy, and being willing to take calculated risks. That same mindset followed me into everything I do. I’m part of my school’s Alpha STEM honors program and Investing Club. From managing mock portfolios to participating in science fairs, I’ve always tried to combine creativity with discipline. My experiences taught me to think long-term, stay curious, and always build from the ground up. As a Pakistani student pursuing business, I also recognize how underrepresented students like me are in the field. Pakistani and South Asian students often gravitate toward engineering or medicine, but business—especially fields like finance, entrepreneurship, and investing—remains far less diverse. Representation matters because people follow examples they can relate to. When young students don’t see people who look like them in business leadership, investing, or entrepreneurship, they unconsciously assume these paths “aren’t for them.” I want to change that. My long-term goal is to build my own company involving something innovative, high-impact, and widely accessible and then use that experience to help mentor younger students, especially those from BIPOC communities. I want to help them understand financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and the opportunities that exist beyond traditional career paths. Whether it’s teaching students how to budget, invest their first $100, start a small business, or reinvest profits the way I learned to do, I want to create a ripple effect that makes the world of business feel less intimidating and more attainable. By pursuing this degree, I’m not just trying to improve my future but I’m trying to build a pathway for others. If I can succeed, then others who share similar backgrounds with me will see that they can succeed too. Representation creates opportunity, and opportunity drives change. I want to be part of that change, and I want to help lift the next generation with me.

Mental health is one of the most important challenges facing my generation, especially for young people of color. What I notice most is not just the rise in anxiety or depression but the silence around it. Many students keep their struggles hidden because treatment feels too expensive, too complicated, or too far removed from their everyday life. I want to contribute to a future where support feels accessible and built into the spaces young people already exist in. My long-term goal is to combine my interests in business, design, problem-solving, and self-improvement to make mental health care more affordable and approachable. I’m especially drawn to solutions that remove pressure and lower barriers—tools that help students before they reach a crisis. One idea I hope to work toward is creating low-cost digital platforms that partner with schools and community centers to offer brief check-ins, anonymous resources, and early intervention without the high costs of traditional therapy. I also want to support youth-led groups, because the people closest to the problem often understand the needs best. By building services around culture-specific communication styles and community trust, we can help more BIPOC students feel seen rather than overlooked. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I do know that affordability and accessibility must be part of the next generation of solutions. My contribution will be using my business mindset to help design mental health systems that are not only effective, but reachable for every young person who needs them.

Math is probably the only thing in my life that has stayed consistent. Everything else changes, relationships shift, situations get messy, emotions go up and down, but math stays solid. It never lies, never sugarcoats, never pretends. If something is wrong, it shows you it’s wrong. If something works, you know exactly why. I think that honesty is what made me love it. What I really appreciate about math is the way it forces me to think. It doesn’t let you guess your way through or rely on emotion. You have to slow down, break a problem apart, and find the exact steps that make everything click. And when it finally clicks, that feeling of “I figured this out myself” is unmatched. It’s the same feeling I get at the gym, when I hit a new PR or see progress after months of showing up. You don’t get results instantly but rather you earn them through consistency. Math works the same way. Math also changed how I look at the world. The more I learned, the more I realized that everything is built off patterns, trends, and logic whether it’s in business, investing, economics, or technology—it all goes back to math. Understanding that made me feel like I was learning the “code” behind how things actually work. It made the world feel less random and more navigable, like if I learn enough and think hard enough, I can actually make things happen instead of just hoping they do. However, the biggest reason I love math is because it taught me discipline and confidence. Some problems look impossible at first. You stare at them thinking you’ll never get it. But then you start trying, messing up, trying again, and eventually the whole thing makes sense. That process shaped the way I handle challenges outside the classroom. It taught me that every “hard problem” in life has a solution—you just haven’t found it yet. Math isn’t just a subject to me. It’s a mindset I use every single day.