My home, surrounded by chains of islands deep in the Pacific and geographically isolated, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, is both a blessing and a challenge. I put so much love into this island despite its ongoing economic hardships within our struggling economy, lack of medical professionals, outdated infrastructure, and limited resources for higher education, which have not significantly improved and have put us at a high rate of poverty, including all U.S. territories. These factors remain inaccessible, relying on federal support programs and locals deciding to leave the island for better opportunities. These limitations affect our ability to thrive and imprints the weakened cultural heritage with the uncertainty of locals coming back. My aunt, forced to leave back home, sadly passed due to pancreatic cancer. She was a catalyst to my passion and a wake up call to my island. Despite our challenges, it has not stopped me from going beyond the shores. Living in this environment has redefined my goals and shaped my deep sense of passion for going abroad. I wanted to break free from the status quo in this land. Such influence came from one of my professors in community college, Northern Marianas College. I’m grateful to have had a professor who taught us about the real history of America and the colonial struggles our land has faced with other Pacific regions—he, who pursued higher education abroad and relayed his lessons to students of the CNMI, strengthening the community and love for culture. It inspired me to follow in his footsteps. Staying in my hometown to attend community college was a practical decision due to my challenging financial situation. This was the smart financial move I made. I remember seeing some of the students in my batch who went straight to university in the mainland U.S. or out of the island. I was upset and envied the life they had—why couldn’t I have it too? I felt that my values did not align with my purpose two years ago, but now it all makes sense after I graduated with my Associate’s in Liberal Arts, got my first two jobs as a barista and childcare attendant, and became an airport survey representative while being promoted to an airport survey supervisor. I had the opportunity to meet professors in my hometown who also went abroad to study and came back to teach us locals who had the passion for doing so, making connections with a marketing team, and traveling to places in the Asia and Pacific region, which opened my eyes in ways I couldn’t have imagined if I had gone straight to a four-year university after high school. I saved up enough, built up my skills in the professional field, and gained foundational knowledge through community college and moderate traveling. As an undergraduate student in Health Communication and Public Health at Purdue University, I aspire to work in the media through global outreach on improved health administrations and systems in places that are the most vulnerable to all kinds of sickness, most especially my home. I aim to be a representative and ambassador under organizations or the government that could share my voice, my skills, and my representation of where I come from, how I truly understand the lack of health facilities in places like mine, and globally. Staying in my hometown to attend community college was a practical decision, but now I’m ready go beyond the shores.

My home, surrounded by chains of islands deep in the Pacific and geographically isolated, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, is both a blessing and a challenge. I put so much love into this island despite its ongoing economic hardships within our struggling economy, lack of medical professionals, outdated infrastructure, and limited resources for higher education, which have not significantly improved and have put us at a high rate of poverty, including all U.S. territories. These factors remain inaccessible, relying on federal support programs and locals deciding to leave the island for better opportunities. These limitations affect our ability to thrive and imprints the weakened cultural heritage with the uncertainty of locals coming back. My aunt, forced to leave back home, sadly passed due to pancreatic cancer. She was a catalyst to my passion and a wake up call to my island. Staying in my hometown to attend community college was a practical decision due to my challenging financial situation. This was the smart financial move I made. I remember seeing some of the students in my batch who went straight to university in the mainland U.S. or out of the island. I was upset and envied the life they had—why couldn’t I have it too? I felt that my values did not align with my purpose two years ago, but now it all makes sense after I graduated with my Associate’s in Liberal Arts, got my first two jobs as a barista and childcare attendant, and became an airport survey representative while being promoted to an airport survey supervisor. I had the opportunity to meet professors in my hometown who also went abroad to study and came back to teach us locals who had the passion for doing so, making connections with a marketing team, and traveling to places in the Asia and Pacific region, which opened my eyes in ways I couldn’t have imagined if I had gone straight to a four-year university after high school. I saved up enough, built up my skills in the professional field, and gained foundational knowledge through community college and moderate traveling. As an undergraduate student in Health Communication and Public Health at Purdue University, I aspire to work in the media through global outreach on improved health administrations and systems in places that are the most vulnerable to all kinds of sickness, most especially my home. I aim to be a representative and ambassador under organizations or the government that could share my voice, my skills, and my representation of where I come from, how I truly understand the lack of health facilities in places like mine, and globally. Staying in my hometown to attend community college was a practical decision, but now I’m ready go beyond the shores.

My home, surrounded by chains of islands deep in the Pacific and geographically isolated, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, is both a blessing and a challenge. I put so much love into this island despite its ongoing economic hardships within our struggling economy, lack of medical professionals, outdated infrastructure, and limited resources for higher education, which have not significantly improved and have put us at a high rate of poverty, including all U.S. territories. My aunt, forced to leave back home, sadly passed due to pancreatic cancer. She was a catalyst to my passion and a wake up call to my island. As an undergraduate student in Health Communication and Public Health at Purdue University, I aspire to work in the media through global outreach on improved health administrations and systems in places that are the most vulnerable to all kinds of sickness, most especially my home. I aim to be a representative and ambassador under organizations or the government that could share my voice, my skills, and my representation of where I come from, how I truly understand the lack of health facilities in places like mine, and globally. Staying in my hometown to attend community college was a practical decision, but now I’m ready go beyond the shores.

My home, surrounded by chains of islands deep in the Pacific and geographically isolated, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, is both a blessing and a challenge. I put so much love into this island despite its ongoing economic hardships within our struggling economy, lack of medical professionals, outdated infrastructure, and limited resources for higher education, which have not significantly improved and have put us at a high rate of poverty, including all U.S. territories. These factors remain inaccessible, relying on federal support programs and locals deciding to leave the island for better opportunities. These limitations affect our ability to thrive and imprints the weakened cultural heritage with the uncertainty of locals coming back. Despite our challenges, it has not stopped me from going beyond the shores. Living in this environment has redefined my goals and shaped my deep sense of passion for going abroad. I wanted to break free from the status quo in this land. Such influence came from one of my professors in community college, Northern Marianas College. I’m grateful to have had a professor who taught us about the real history of America and the colonial struggles our land has faced with other Pacific regions—he, who pursued higher education abroad and relayed his lessons to students of the CNMI, strengthening the community and love for culture. It inspired me to follow in his footsteps. Staying in my hometown to attend community college was a practical decision due to my challenging financial situation. This was the smart financial move I made. I remember seeing some of the students in my batch who went straight to university in the mainland U.S. or out of the island. I was upset and envied the life they had—why couldn’t I have it too? I felt that my values did not align with my purpose two years ago, but now it all makes sense after I graduated with my Associate’s in Liberal Arts, got my first two jobs as a barista and childcare attendant, and became an airport survey representative while being promoted to an airport survey supervisor. I had the opportunity to meet professors in my hometown who also went abroad to study and came back to teach us locals who had the passion for doing so, making connections with a marketing team, and traveling to places in the Asia and Pacific region, which opened my eyes in ways I couldn’t have imagined if I had gone straight to a four-year university after high school. I saved up enough, built up my skills in the professional field, and gained foundational knowledge through community college and moderate traveling. Now, I have transferred to a four-year university to finish my undergraduate degree in Health Communication and Public Health. I got accepted into a well-regarded and prestigious school, Purdue University. However, I still need support with the tuition costs, so this scholarship would help me. I came in my first semester saving up enough money while building credit, paying my own rent, groceries, school requirements, and other costs while attending. I could not have imagined the difference of lifestyles back home in such a small island, transitioning to the U.S. mainland that will continue to reconstruct my character in which I can return home to my people. I’m ready to take bigger steps, continuing to make smart financial decisions while attending university, which gives me a strong head start in both the academic and professional fields. Although I didn’t get what I wanted right after high school, I gained exactly what I needed to prepare me for long-term success.

"I have never understood, why some people, are lucky enough to be born with the chance that I had, to have this path in life, and why accross the world, there's a woman just like me, with the same abilities, and the same desires, same work ethic and love for her family, who would most likely make better films and better speeches. Only she sits in a refugee camp, and she has no voice." - Angelina Jolie receiving the Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2013. One out of many speeches and out of the substantial wealthy individuals in the Hollywood Industry, using her voice and platform to shed light on the underprivileged in countries that are neglected and overlooked. Nowadays, it's rare to see media coverage on this. I think about this often and why I chose to pursue Public Health & Health Communication to work for social justice and health advocacy media outreach. I am fortunate enough, even though I am part of the low-income middle class. I may not be as wealthy, popular, and America's top beauty actress like Angelina Jolie, but we share one of the most powerful human abilities that everyone can use: our voice. Growing up in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, has been both a blessing and a challenge. I love my island deeply despite its ongoing hardships—our struggling economy, lack of medical professionals, outdated infrastructure, and limited access to higher education. These struggles contribute to poverty across U.S. territories, forcing many locals to leave for better opportunities. This weakens our cultural heritage and creates uncertainty. Living in this environment shaped my goals. I want to go abroad, gain knowledge, and return to improve healthcare access in my community. One of my professors at Northern Marianas College influenced me greatly. He pursued higher education abroad and came back to teach us about America’s real history and the colonial struggles faced by Pacific islands. His lessons inspired me to follow in his footsteps and reminded me that change starts within us. My family’s sacrifices have also driven me. My parents immigrated from the Philippines to provide a better life for me and my brother, working tirelessly despite financial struggles. My aunt’s story was a wake-up call. She was forced to return to the Philippines for medical treatment unavailable in Saipan and later passed away from pancreatic cancer. Experiencing this tragedy firsthand showed me the reality of inadequate healthcare access for both locals and immigrants. It was a wake-up call that solidified my decision to pursue Public Health and fight for social justice. Attending community college in Saipan was a practical decision due to financial limitations, but it taught me resilience. I saw how disasters like typhoons delayed education and recovery, and how federal aid kept us going without giving us the resources to thrive. These challenges redefined my vision: to expand healthcare services and advocate for underprivileged voices that are overlooked. My aspirations extend beyond Saipan. I want to connect with diverse communities, create global change, and bring new solutions home. Financial obstacles remain, but they do not weaken my determination. Though I come from a small and geographically isolated place, my dreams are bigger than this. I am ready to go beyond my horizons.

Throughout this essay, I went completely off my human brain— writing this down scraped from past lectures, reading articles, viewing the media, and professors who educated me on the power of learning organically through active engagement by using critical thinking and creativity– something AI can’t truly capture from each different human being. My parents immigrated to Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. A United States insular area. We’re second-class U.S. citizens and residents under U.S. jurisdiction. Although we don’t get full U.S. Constitutional rights, I am wholeheartedly proud to be a Filipino-American and Pacific Islander. It’s a blessing to be surrounded by the rich scenic nature of this island, crystal blue water, the sun illuminating through our skin, and most importantly, surrounded by diverse ethnic communities with Filipinos dominating the demographic chart, followed by many other groups; Chinese, Korean, and the indigenous peoples of the CNMI–the Chamorros and Refaluuwasch. We’re all living on a small, geographically isolated island, but the history remains strong, intense, and everlasting. We must not forget. Being Filipino-American is both a blessing and a challenge. Although I did not fully grow up in our own culture due to my parents seeking better opportunities, it has helped me to learn continuously. Learn about immersing myself in different cultures and adapting to an environment that could propel me to succeed in my future with those around me. Growing up in a different country apart from my motherland, I struggled to learn our language. I felt disconnected from family back home and talking to some of our community here. Language is the main factor in feeling a true connection with our people. I want to talk about anything and everything, but there is a certain barrier that pulls that away. Sometimes I feel cognitive dissonance. I want to embrace my culture so much and be represented as a Filipino, but how so if I can’t even speak the language fluently, dance to our traditions, or create art that embodies us? Our island heavily features in our history books. The Spanish Inquisition took over, almost eradicating the Indigenous peoples of the CNMI– the same experience in our motherland. While we bond over keeping both our community prosperous, we mustn’t forget how we came to be. Surviving treacherous colonialism years that built pride, resilience, power, legacy, and a voice. A voice we use to keep our history and legacy lasting.

To some people, it may not seem like a grandiose achievement. It’s just community college—what’s so special? I come from a geographically small and isolated place, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. We are a United States insular area. The U.S. Congress has determined that only selected parts of the U.S. apply to full Constitutional rights. As part of a U.S. territory, I’ve witnessed my beloved island go through immense economic hardships while experiencing the struggle myself. In the past ten years, we’ve endured two intense typhoons that delayed education and destroyed countless homes. With time and resilience, we have slowly recovered—rebuilding schools, roadways, electricity poles, and, most importantly, restoring access to water. We heavily rely on federal support programs just to sustain the necessities of life—food, housing, and medical care—yet we still lack what we need to truly thrive. Despite these struggles, I love this island deeply. Living here is both a blessing and a challenge. Because of these hardships, many locals leave for better opportunities, and our cultural heritage weakens with growing uncertainty about whether they will return. When I started community college in my hometown, I felt guilty staying home, where studying at a school with limited resources delayed my academic journey due to financial limitations. I eventually lost my drive to move forward for a few months, until an event struck me. My Aunt, an immigrant, recently passed away due to pancreatic cancer. She was forced to return home to seek better medical care, as we don’t have quality healthcare services here. This was like a wake-up call that ignited my passion to pursue Public Health and work for social justice. I didn’t truly understand the impact of these issues until they hit my family personally. This story is not new, but is present to the many locals and immigrants here. Stories like this should be addressed and worked on, not passed around to dwell on. My parents fought hard to financially support their family and ourselves, but it is very challenging when our cost of living and lack of resources are a barrier. Living in this environment has redefined my goals and shaped my deep sense of passion for going abroad. I want to break free from the status quo. One of my professors at Northern Marianas College, whom I would not have met if I hadn’t pushed myself to finish community college, changed my perspective. A professor who taught us about the real history of America and the colonial struggles our land has faced with other Pacific regions—he, who pursued higher education abroad and relayed his lessons to students of the CNMI, strengthening the community and love for culture. It inspired me to follow in his footsteps. He taught me that our voices and dedication are unstoppable—that change starts within us. Witnessing my land, my people, and my family continuously going through economic hardships has shaped my vision. I aspire to improve and expand public health services in my community while navigating the healthcare system in our land and abroad. My vision extends beyond that. I want to address and navigate the challenges in my community and elsewhere I step foot to drive political, economic, societal, and global changes tied with my love to cultivate diverse experiences and connect with people. The underprivileged need the most care. They are people who have voices and ambitions, but are overlooked due to financial challenges. Despite my limited living situation and growing up in a small, geographically isolated place, my aspirations remain strong and my unwavering faith continues to grow. I am ready to go beyond my horizons!

To some people, it may not seem like a grandiose achievement. It’s just community college—what’s so special? I come from a geographically small and isolated place, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. We are a United States insular area. The U.S. Congress has determined that only selected parts of the U.S. apply to full Constitutional rights. As part of a U.S. territory, I’ve witnessed my beloved island go through immense economic hardships while experiencing the struggle myself. In the past ten years, we’ve endured two intense typhoons that delayed education and destroyed countless homes. With time and resilience, we have slowly recovered—rebuilding schools, roadways, electricity poles, and, most importantly, restoring access to water. We heavily rely on federal support programs just to sustain the necessities of life—food, housing, and medical care—yet we still lack what we need to truly thrive. Despite these struggles, I love this island deeply. Living here is both a blessing and a challenge. Because of these hardships, many locals leave for better opportunities, and our cultural heritage weakens with growing uncertainty about whether they will return. When I started community college in my hometown, I felt guilty staying home, where studying at a school with limited resources delayed my academic journey due to financial limitations. I eventually lost my drive to move forward for a few months, until an event struck me. My Aunt, an immigrant, recently passed away due to pancreatic cancer. She was forced to return home to seek better medical care, as we don’t have quality healthcare services here. This was like a wake-up call that ignited my passion to pursue Public Health and work for social justice. I didn’t truly understand the impact of these issues until they hit my family personally. This story is not new, but is present to the many locals and immigrants here. Stories like this should be addressed and worked on, not passed around to dwell on. My parents fought hard to financially support their family and ourselves, but it is very challenging when our cost of living and lack of resources are a barrier. Living in this environment has redefined my goals and shaped my deep sense of passion for going abroad. I want to break free from the status quo. One of my professors at Northern Marianas College, whom I would not have met if I hadn’t pushed myself to finish community college, changed my perspective. A professor who taught us about the real history of America and the colonial struggles our land has faced with other Pacific regions—he, who pursued higher education abroad and relayed his lessons to students of the CNMI, strengthening the community and love for culture. It inspired me to follow in his footsteps. He taught me that our voices and dedication are unstoppable—that change starts within us. Witnessing my land, my people, and my family continuously going through economic hardships has shaped my vision. I aspire to improve and expand public health services in my community while navigating the healthcare system in our land and abroad. My vision extends beyond that. I want to address and navigate the challenges in my community and elsewhere I step foot to drive political, economic, societal, and global changes tied with my love to cultivate diverse experiences and connect with people. The underprivileged need the most care. They are people who have voices and ambitions, but are overlooked due to financial challenges. Despite my limited living situation and growing up in a small, geographically isolated place, my aspirations remain strong and my unwavering faith continues to grow. I am ready to go beyond my horizons!

To some people, it may not seem like a striking and grandiose achievement. It’s just community college—what’s so special? I come from a geographically small and isolated place, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. We are labeled as a United States insular area. The U.S. Congress has determined that only selected parts of the U.S. apply to full Constitutional rights. As part of a U.S. territory, I’ve witnessed my beloved island go through immense economic hardships while experiencing the struggle myself. In the past ten years, we’ve endured two intense typhoons that delayed education for many and destroyed countless homes. With time and resilience, we have slowly recovered—rebuilding schools, roadways, electricity poles, and, most importantly, restoring access to water. We heavily rely on federal support programs just to sustain the necessities of life—food, housing, and medical care—yet we still lack what we need to truly thrive. Despite these struggles, I love this island deeply. Living here is both a blessing and a challenge. Because of these hardships, many locals leave for better opportunities, and our cultural heritage weakens with growing uncertainty about whether they will return. When I started community college in my hometown, I felt guilty staying home, studying at a school where limited resources delayed my academic journey and goals. However, it was practical to stay due to financial limitations. I eventually lost my drive to move forward for a few months—until an event struck me. My Aunt, an immigrant, recently passed away due to pancreatic cancer. She was forced to return home to seek better medical care, as we don’t have quality healthcare services here. This was like a wake-up call that ignited my passion to pursue Public Health and work for social justice. I didn’t truly understand the impact of these issues until they hit my family personally. This story is not new, but is present to the many locals and immigrants here. Stories like this should be addressed and worked on, not passed around to dwell on. My parents fought hard to financially support their family and ourselves, but it is very challenging when our cost of living and lack of resources are a barrier. Living in this environment has redefined my goals and shaped my deep sense of passion for going abroad. I want to break free from the status quo. One of my professors at Northern Marianas College, whom I would not have met if I hadn’t pushed myself to finish community college, changed my perspective. A professor who taught us about the real history of America and the colonial struggles our land has faced with other Pacific regions—he, who pursued higher education abroad and relayed his lessons to students of the CNMI, strengthening the community and love for culture. It inspired me to follow in his footsteps. He taught me that our voices and dedication are unstoppable—that change starts within us. Witnessing my land, my people, and my family continuously going through economic hardships has shaped my vision. I aspire to improve and expand public health services in my community while navigating the healthcare system in our land and abroad. My vision extends beyond that. I want to address and navigate the challenges in my community and elsewhere I step foot to drive political, economic, societal, and global changes tied with my love to cultivate diverse experiences and connect with people. The underprivileged need the most care. They are people who have voices and ambitions, but are overlooked due to financial challenges. Despite my limited living situation and growing up in a small, geographically isolated place, my aspirations remain strong and my unwavering faith continues to grow. I am ready to go beyond my horizons!

Growing up in one of the U.S. unincorporated territories, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, has been both a blessing and a challenge. I put so much love into this island despite its ongoing economic hardships. The hardships faced are within our struggling economy, lack of medical professionals, outdated infrastructure, and resources for higher education, which have not significantly improved and have put us at a high rate of poverty, including all U.S. territories. These factors remain inaccessible, relying on federal support programs and locals deciding to leave the island for better opportunities. These limitations affect our ability to thrive. This imprints the weakened cultural heritage and the uncertainty of locals coming back. Living in this environment has redefined my goals and shaped my deep sense of passion for going abroad. I want to break free from the status quo in this land. Such influence came from one of my professors in community college, Northern Marians College. I’m grateful to have had a professor who taught us about the real history of America and the colonial struggles our land has faced with other Pacific regions—he, who pursued higher education abroad and relayed his lessons to students of the CNMI, strengthening the community and love for culture. It inspired me to follow in his footsteps. My parents, who immigrated here from the Philippines, sacrificed their lives and family away from home to sustain a better future and support me and my brother through our academic journey. Watching their sacrifices inspired me to dream big—not just for myself, but for the people I aim to serve. My Aunt, an immigrant, was forced to return home to the Philippines due to seeking better medical care. This was like a wake-up call that ignited my passion to pursue Public Health and work for social justice. It did not really hit me until I experienced it through my family. This story is not new, but is present to the many locals and immigrants here. Stories like this should be addressed and worked on, not passed around to dwell on. My aunt sadly passed away from pancreatic cancer. Even back home, it’s difficult to get the right treatment and care when my parents are financially trying to support them, but it is very challenging when our cost of living and lack of resources are a barrier. I aspire to improve and expand public health services in my community and navigate through the healthcare system in our land and abroad. My vision extends beyond that. I want to address and navigate through the challenges in my community and elsewhere I step foot to drive political, economic, societal, and global changes tied with my love to cultivate diverse experiences and connect with people. Financial barriers have been a significant hurdle in my academic journey. Staying in my hometown to attend community college was a practical decision, but now I’m ready to take bigger steps. This scholarship would not only transform my life but also help my community and my family. Although it's not easy, it's a journey worth taking. Despite my limited living situation and growing up in a small, geographically isolated place, my aspirations remain strong and my unwavering faith continues to grow.