My father’s cancer diagnosis and battle with the illness was devastating yet fueled my interest in the healthcare field and furthered my curiosity of the diverse studies of medicine including the various roles of doctors particularly oncology. This experience presented many challenges both emotionally and financially for my family during the beginning of my high school career as well as the affects the Covid-19 pandemic brought. However, this catastrophe was only the beginning of the challenges I faced during this season of my life. Imagine being trapped in a never-ending maze, with no escape in sight. This is what crisis my family crisis felt like. It greatly affected my mental health, my ability to focus. From the 9th grade to my sophomore year of high school I was lost in this labyrinth, and it felt like eternity. I was desperate to uncover the answer to a haunting question: Who am I, really? The more I heard that I was different, the more I panicked. I didn’t possess the passion for sports that seemed to consume everyone else, but I forced myself onto the basketball court, the baseball and football fields, and the tennis court anyway as I didn't want to be an outcast. I tried so desperately to fit in, to be one of the cool kids. But no matter how hard I tried, I stuck out like a sore thumb. So, I reinvented myself. I started wearing trendy clothes, changing the way I spoke with the latest lingo. I quickly realized, this was only causing me to feel empty, as if I was just a puppet with someone else pulling the strings. The more I focused on fitting in, the less I focused on what really mattered, my education. My freshman year grades were a disaster. Me, the kid who had always excelled in school. That moment of clarity sparked something within me. I realized I had the power to break free from this toxic cycle and made a vow to myself to focus more on being a leader, setting my own trends and being the person God called me to be. I also realize that my identity was more about my character than how I was viewed on the outside. The more I looked inward the more I came to like myself and saw my difference as uniqueness. Since then, my academics strengthened and I was ultimately admitted my dream college and 27 other colleges and universities in total. I addition, I actively served in various leadership roles in my church, my former high school and my community. Through extra-curricular activities, ministry, and internships, I have had opportunities to hold positions that foster my commitment to service and impacting others. Particularly, my peers. I currently serve as President of the Northeastern Region of VICYC (Varick International Christian Youth Council) where I mentor younger members, execute goals for youth ministry members, coordinate activities, channel their concerns and make recommendations in those areas to the Board of Christian Education. I also enjoyed mentoring younger students through my internship with the Denson Admissions Group. This internship has helped me grow in ways I didn’t know I needed. Tutoring my mentees, ensuring they remain on track and meeting their academic goals strengthened my own academics as a student. Assisting unaccompanied youth and students with shelter and food insecurities who are striving for a chance at higher learning was a rewarding experience and a full circle moment for me, a student who too experienced challenges during my high school career now able to help others overcome their challenges.