I used to think my impact on the world would come in just one way, but I’ve realized it extends to everything I touch. Basketball had always defined me, and earning a varsity spot in my junior year while aspiring to play collegiately felt like a dream, until a life-threatening anaphylaxis attack led to my diagnosis with exercise-induced anaphylaxis and forced me to step away. Though heartbreaking, the experience pushed me to channel the leadership skills I learned on the court into new ways of inspiring others. I chose to run for Senior Class President with a mission to reach all students and increase voter participation, especially among underrepresented groups. As a “dark horse” candidate, I used my interpersonal and social media skills to connect across campus, and our sponsor later announced that the election had the highest and most diverse turnout in school history. My peers appreciated my willingness to accept everyone and represent a new generation of student leaders who may have strengths in other areas besides the norm. With ambition and optimism, I became the Senior Class President of the largest high school in Texas and applied these principles to create transformative change in my school. My most profound experience as Senior Class President thus far has been helping lead the “Walk Out of Darkness” rally sponsored by our student council, a memory I will always hold close to my heart. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness about suicide prevention and support students facing emotional challenges. This cause was deeply personal to me because my sister struggled with similar issues in high school. Speaking at the rally and sharing my family’s story, along with my own experiences, made me feel like I was making a significant difference. This kind of leadership is a humbling role that requires vulnerability to be effective. My path to becoming senior class president was different from those before me. What set me apart was my ability to relate to others and my goal of making our school more inclusive. Recently, students have come to me for advice on running for the 2027 senior class presidency. Seeing students who once doubted themselves pursue student government has shown me that leading by example means helping others believe in their own potential. My commitment to leading the way guides me as I define my long-term career goals. From a very young age, I noticed that although the schools I attended were filled with students from a variety of races and cultures, my teachers often came from similar backgrounds and did not reflect the diversity of the student population. I also observed that the principals shared similar backgrounds, which further highlighted the lack of representation. This awareness led me to reflect on my own South Asian heritage, and I realized there were very few teachers who shared my ethnicity. I believe this understanding is one of the reasons I decided to pursue a career as a teacher, and eventually, a principal. I am committed to ensuring that schools model cultural diversity, and I believe this begins with the staff. I have come to realize that society often overlooks the importance and value of educators. The greatest contribution I can make is to become a genuine, creative, and empathetic educator who always puts students first; someone who inspires, advocates for, and truly represents every student. On graduation day, I will speak at the ceremony to over 1,700 classmates about how true strength is found in the moments when you choose to rise and turn challenges into opportunities to grow and help others.

I used to think my impact on the world would come in just one way, but I’ve realized that my influence extends to everything I touch. For as long as I can remember, basketball has been my life. Growing up in Allen, Texas, where basketball is immensely popular but rarely played by South Asian girls, I knew I was setting a new standard every time I stepped on the court. The idea of becoming one of the few female South Asian basketball players to compete at the collegiate level ignited a fire within me. I aspired to be a trailblazer who inspires the next generation to break the mold and explore new possibilities. All the years of hard work paid off when I secured a position on the varsity team in my junior year of high school. Everything was perfect… until it wasn’t. Shortly after making the team, I suffered a life-threatening anaphylactic attack during a game and, after months of testing, was diagnosed with exercise-induced anaphylaxis, which required me to leave school during the day for infusions that ultimately failed. Forced to leave the sport that defined me, I used the leadership it taught me to inspire others in new ways. This choice led me to Student Council, where I ran for Senior Class President at Allen High School, the largest high school in Texas. My mission was to increase diverse voter representation. I intentionally connected with students from all backgrounds, drawing on the resilience I developed through my health and basketball challenges. Though I was a “dark horse” in a race typically won by top-ranked students, I created a campaign that showcased my interpersonal and social media strengths. My peers embraced my inclusive leadership, and before the results were announced, our sponsor shared that the election had the highest and most diverse voter turnout in school history, affirming the impact of my vision. My commitment to leading the way guides me as I define my long-term career goals. With a heart for mentoring children, I feel called to become an elementary teacher and eventually an administrator. I believe that, when done well, education has the potential to empower students to become well-rounded individuals who contribute their talents to society. If I can be a catalyst for positive change in even one student's life, it will matter. Looking further ahead, I aspire to open a Children's Advocacy Center. My leadership qualities and passion for making a difference have guided me toward helping children facing the greatest challenges find self-confidence and security. Once I have gained experience in classroom teaching and school leadership, I will be able to apply these skills in this meaningful work. I was able to turn my life around and overcome a major health setback that once threatened my future goals. This experience has prepared me to pour into the lives of children and guide them toward success.

I used to think my influence on the world would come in just one way, but I’ve realized it reaches everything I touch, a truth I learned while overcoming a major health setback. That experience has helped me inspire my peers now and will also let me guide children toward success as I work toward becoming an educator. Basketball has always been my life, and I wanted to be a trailblazer as one of the few Asian females to play collegiate basketball. I made the varsity team in my junior year of high school—everything was perfect… until it wasn’t. After experiencing an anaphylactic attack while playing basketball, I had to undergo school-day infusion shots to keep playing. When that failed, I faced the heartbreaking reality of stepping away from the sport that had defined me. Still, I knew I could be a spark for others, using the courage basketball had taught me. This choice led me to Student Council, where I ran for Senior Class President of the largest high school in Texas, aiming to engage all students and address voter apathy. Drawing on the fearlessness I developed through struggles with health and basketball, I connected with students of all backgrounds. Though I didn’t fit the typical class president, my campaign highlighted my people and social media skills, earning respect and support. Before the results were announced, our sponsor noted the election’s highest and most diverse voter turnout, bringing my vision to life. I won the election, and my peers valued my inclusivity and the new perspective I brought to student leadership. My path to becoming Senior Class President was different from those before me. What set me apart was my ability to relate to others and my goal of making our school more connected. Recently, students have come to me for advice on running for the 2027 senior class presidency. Seeing students who once doubted themselves pursue student government has shown me that leading by example means helping others believe in their own potential. My commitment to making a difference guides me as I define my long-term career goals. From a very young age, I noticed that although the schools I attended were filled with students from a variety of races and cultures, my teachers often came from similar backgrounds and did not reflect the diversity of the student population. I also observed that the principals shared similar backgrounds, which further highlighted the lack of representation. This awareness led me to reflect on my own South Asian heritage, and I realized there were very few teachers who shared my ethnicity. I believe this understanding is one of the reasons I decided to pursue a career as a teacher, and eventually, a principal. I am committed to ensuring that schools model cultural diversity, and I believe this begins with the staff. I believe that, when done well, education has the potential to empower students to become well-rounded individuals who contribute their talents to society. If I can be a catalyst for positive change, it will be transformative. On graduation day, I will speak at the ceremony to over 1,700 classmates about how true strength is found in the moments when you choose to rise and turn challenges into opportunities to grow and help others.

I had just earned a spot on the varsity basketball team, the first in my family to reach this level, when my dream began to slip away. As my future felt uncertain, resilience, a constant in my life, empowered me to take charge. I have always known I am called to make a difference, and discovering how made me stronger than I imagined. Basketball has been my life for as long as I can remember. I began intense training at age nine, dreaming of becoming one of the few female Asian collegiate players. I wanted to be a trailblazer for the next generation. Years of hard work paid off when I made the varsity team in my junior year. Everything was perfect until it wasn’t. Shortly after making the team, I experienced my first life-threatening anaphylaxis attack during my basketball game. I recall the most severe episode, when I was on the bench, gasping for breath and losing consciousness. The most terrifying moment came when I had to self-inject epinephrine into my body, only to be rushed away by an ambulance moments later. After months of testing, I was diagnosed with mast cell activation syndrome, which caused exercise-induced anaphylaxis. I underwent an aggressive treatment plan, leaving school for infusion shots to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis and allow me to keep playing varsity basketball. In the following weeks, another requirement was added to let me play: I could not eat for five hours before games, a restriction that made me feel robotic, as if I were no longer truly living. Ultimately, the treatment plan failed because my body could not handle the debilitating side effects. The sport that had defined me was no longer an option, and I had to face that painful reality. During this time, I recognized my goal was never just to be the best basketball player but to break barriers in my cultural community and inspire others through the leadership basketball had taught me. This realization led me to the Student Council and to run for Senior Class President at Allen High School, the largest high school in Texas. My mission was to reach all students and encourage participation. In the past, student representation was limited, and I wanted to change that. With this goal in mind, I made a conscious effort to connect with students of all backgrounds, taking the initiative to speak to strangers and share my ideas for the school. This willingness to engage came from the fearlessness and determination I gained through my struggle with health and basketball. I didn’t understand it then, but that situation developed my resiliency. I was the dark horse, not a top-ranked student, but I still had much to offer. I devised a unique campaign that showcased my interpersonal and social media skills, earning support and respect. My peers appreciated my willingness to accept everyone and represent a new generation of student leaders who may have strengths in other areas besides the norm. Before the election results were announced, our student council sponsor shared that it had the highest and most diverse voter turnout in our school’s history, bringing my vision to life. With ambition and optimism, I became Senior Class President and drove meaningful change in my school. Looking back, these experiences shaped an unforgettable journey. When one road closed, I stayed true to my values, striving to make a difference. On graduation day, I will speak to over 1,700 classmates about how true strength is found not just in success, but in courageously choosing to rise.