As a first-year resident of Flint House, I truly wish to make a meaningful contribution to the University of Chicago community by continuing initiatives to help others create an impact. I am inspired by Tony Scherer’s commitment to service, and I hope to utilize my experiences and education to create a tangible impact in the lives of those around me. At the start of 11th grade, I read an article on CNBC Africa that highlighted how a lack of basic financial education perpetuated the never-ending cycle of poverty. Since financial literacy is in areas of lower economic wealth in India, I decided to take action. This led me to create a course on personal finance. I met with school principals to advocate for the importance of financial literacy, and talked with both small groups and entire student bodies. My curriculum focused on the basics of personal finance – credit cards, taxes, loans, and insurance – while leaving out irrelevant topics such as 401k’s. My online course lectures reached over 100 students. One girl I spoke with mentioned she wanted to buy a bicycle, and after my budgeting and saving lesson, she realized she’d be able to allocate her money from chores to reach her goal. Moments like these demonstrated the tangible impact of accessible education, and reinforced my belief that knowledge can empower individuals to break out of the cycle of poverty. Through these lessons, I not only developed skills in public speaking and communication, but also gained a deeper understanding of the transformative power of education and learning. By working with organizations such as Junior Achievement, which target exactly these issues, I hope to continue this work to bring financial literacy to the youth of Chicago. My commitment to service also extends to food insecurity issues. While a student in an international school in Brussels, I volunteered at the Holy Trinity soup kitchen, helping to prepare and package hundreds of meals to be sent to those in need. I often stayed beyond my shift to ensure that the soup kitchen was running smoothly. Again, this highlights the need to work consistently to address basic needs. At UChicago, I hope to expand initiatives like the UChicago Food Recovery Network by coordinating with supermarkets and restaurants, in order to have an impact in the greater Chicago community. With the help of my peers, such as those in computer science, I would love to have the opportunity to design an app which would assess the daily food requirements of various families, and I’d collaborate with external organizations, such as Feeding America, to facilitate communication with potential donors, as well as identify specific locations in need. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, we can have a vast impact in reducing food waste and helping the less fortunate. The Tony Scherer scholarship would play a crucial role in supporting my journey at UChicago. It would enable me to pursue additional courses and certifications such as the FMVA by the CFI, strengthening my understanding of finance in preparation for a career in investment banking. Furthermore, these skills would allow me to contribute more meaningfully to student organizations like the UChicago M&A Group, where I can share knowledge and support my peers in their professional development as well. Ultimately, I hope to carry on the tradition of service at Flint House by combining my passion for economics with a commitment to community impact. I aim to make a difference in the world of UChicago and beyond by providing educational, innovative, and collaborative opportunities.