I have always known my love for traveling and exploration. From the excitement I felt in the airport, to boarding the plane with it’s loud engine roaring, to reaching the location, the thrill never ended. Seeing the world from above the clouds showed me how much smaller our lives are, and how beautiful the world is. As I got older traveling became therapeutic and educational. I began to see how life looked differently depending on your location accessibility, which I found so culturally fascinating. It unlocked the drive to explore and adventure. The drive to learn more and further my education on travel and transport. My uncle, a captain for a major airline, knew about the passion I felt and suggested I go for a test flight with him in a small fixed wing aircraft a couple miles away from home. I remember how it felt being in that tiny Cessna 172. Ever since then, flying has not left my mind and the feeling I get when I do it. Exhilaration and completeness. That is how I know exactly that I want to go into the field of aviation, because I feel truly passionate about my experiences with airplanes. I have always loved to learn more about the function behind machinery or transportation vehicles, excelling in classes such as automotive, engineering, and physics. Seeing my talents lied heavily in STEM, I always encouraged myself to go into a male-dominated field and create change in an industry, which is where I developed my ideology that I would feel no higher calling than to represent women and minorities in aviation. Showing up to alter the course of a workforce is certainly not completed just by one candidate but I would love to contribute to a significant difference through my education. That is why receiving this scholarship would benefit me greatly, because through my education I can expand my knowledge and provide a truly great public service. I have always applied myself heavily to school and love learning, which makes me more thrilled to continue on my journey after high school, making myself and my family proud. I will do anything to achieve my goals of becoming a pilot, as it is where my love lies and I know that it is my destiny. Seeking adventure is something that is largely part of who I am, and I am ready to face challenges that I may meet, head on.

I am an Asian, First generation American student, graduating in June 2026 with the hopes of pursuing a career in the field of Aviation. I have always felt a calling to the pilot profession, with my love of travel, leadership, and fascination with technology or mechanics. I have know what I've wanted to do with my life since the seventh grade, when my uncle took me on a discovery flight in a tiny Cessna 172. The feeling of being up in the sky, with no limits or boundaries. Success and representation have always been driving motivations for me to work hard and achieve my goals. From the feeling of winning a race during track, to scoring slightly stronger than I anticipated on a test. The feeling of accomplishing my goals is what drives me to persevere and push for excellence. This desire to face challenges and achieve is what makes me a strong student, but also a candidate. With large plans, I hope to become a first captain for a major airline and represent women and minorities in the industry of aviation after college. As I was always encouraged to find diversity in what I succeed in, it led me to desire a job where I am continuously using critical thinking and skill application. Earning this scholarship would support me financially in attending college to receive a bachelor's degree in Professional Flight or Aeronautics. Knowing that my families income is two teachers salaries is frightening, knowing financial support is limited, but does not deter me from seeking higher education. I will have the ability to expand my knowledge and provide a truly noble public service. It will also provide me the opportunity to represent thousands of young women who have the same dream as I do, showing them that achievement of our dreams are possible with hard work and dedication. My greatest motivation is what the feeling of success feels or looks like for myself personally, and the ideology that I am helping revolutionize a male-dominated industry. I will always continue to value education and growth, helping me challenge adversity in everything. Remembering that this industry has so much waiting for me, and I am thrilled to continue my journey into it. I always felt my successes lied heavily in areas that are less commonly succeeded in. For example, in elementary school when it was unanimously decided that the fastest boys were most popular, I wanted to be the fastest girl and beat the quickest boy. Not because I wanted popularity, but for the love of the game, and to be better than any boy. Little stories like this are looked over in young age, but as you get older, begin to bite. People began to use my desire to be different against me, calling me terms like "try hard" because I showed more interest in successes than stereotypical subjects. Even now, in high school, as I've decided to enter the male-dominated field of aviation, people still ask me "Why don't you just find a more comfortable profession?" or "I haven't heard many women wanting to do that." These questions feel accusatory. Like it is my fault I was born for greater things than comfort. However, now I don't respond with getting myself worked up. I take pride in my differences and have realized that my future successes lie beyond the comprehension of those adversaries. I have learned that the greatest accomplishments are not those that blend in, but those that win the races. Even when the races aren't meant to be won by someone like you.

I am an Asian, First generation American student, graduating in June 2026 with the hopes of pursuing a career in the field of Aviation. I have always felt a calling to the pilot profession, with my love of travel, leadership, and fascination with technology or mechanics. Always loving to learn about functions of machinery or transportation vehicles, and excelling in classes such as automotive, engineering, and physics. I have know what I've wanted to do with my life since the seventh grade, when my uncle took me on a discovery flight in a tiny Cessna 172. The feeling of being up in the sky, with no limits or boundaries. Everything felt possible. Success and representation have always been driving motivations for me to work hard and achieve my goals. From the feeling of winning a race during track, to scoring slightly stronger than I anticipated on a test. The feeling of accomplishing my goals is what drives me to persevere and push for excellence. This desire to face challenges and achieve is what makes me a strong student, but also a candidate. With large scale plans, I hope to become a first captain for a major airline and represent women and minorities in the industry of aviation after college. As I was always encouraged to find diversity in what I succeed in, it led me to desire a job where I am continuously using critical thinking and skill application. Earning this scholarship would support me financially in attending college to receive a bachelor's degree in Professional Flight or Aeronautics, where my strive for success will never falter. I will have the ability to expand my knowledge and provide a truly noble public service. It will also provide me the opportunity to represent thousands of young women who have the same dream as I do, showing them that achievement of our dreams are possible with hard work and dedication. Women in STEM are the future, and I would feel no higher calling then to be part of this change. My greatest motivation is what the feeling of success feels or looks like for myself personally, and the ideology that I am helping revolutionize a male-dominated industry. I will always continue to value education and growth, helping me challenge adversity in everything I face. Remembering that this industry has so much waiting for me, and I am thrilled to continue my journey into it.

As a kid, I always noticed differences between myself and the kids I played with at recess. I liked to chase, they liked to run. They liked the colors pink and purple, I liked the color purple but despised pink. Their hair is blonde, my hair is black. These differences, barely recognizable. As time passed, others began to point them out. “Why are you eating that for lunch?” or “Why does your skin get so dark in the sun?”. Observations became questions, and questions became accusations. Slowly, I became insecure about these moments and my identity. The biggest blow happened in fifth grade when I was at an art camp after school. In the cafeteria, we were making hand-turkeys for Thanksgiving. I got up to switch out the paint for a darker brown when it was taken out of my hands. A girl, another fifth grader, much taller, glared bitterly at me before spitting out the words, “Go back to where you came from.” I remember feeling like all of my words were caught in my chest, an ache forming in place of them. I had no idea what this meant, but her words were biting. I am from here. What does she mean by " where I came from”? I went to the bathroom to wash my hands and began crying. And I couldn't stop. I went home and sobbed to my grandparents, who were there to watch over me until Mom got home. When my grandma realized what had happened, fury grew in her eyes. “What girl?” she demanded. “Ba!” She yelled to my grandpa, demanding he translate. Sadness cloaked his face as he sat me down on the sofa. That is when I first learned of the Khmer Rouge. Telling your granddaughter of the war that caused your entire family to flee their homeland is certainly not an easy conversation, especially when she is more concerned about being different than her classmates. “Come here, Oun.” My grandfather whispered gently. “We immigrated here for opportunities and a new life. Do you know how lucky we are? How lucky you are?” Lucky? I didn't feel lucky. Not at the time. As the years went by, I learned. I learned about the atrocities the people of Cambodia endured during the civil war. I began listening, listening to the experiences of the survivors, gruesome details that made me taste bile. I watched as tears were brought to my grandparents as they prayed for their brothers and sisters who weren't so fortunate. 2 million people in the span of 4 years. These people were all more than numbers. It wasn't until I grew older that I fully grasped the expanse of this loss and what it meant for my family - and me. Only time could teach me why the shame I felt in elementary school was stupid. Only stories could make me hear the whispered truths. My grandparents and my family's stories showed me how survival is built with resilience and pain. The emotions that are brought with it must be faced head-on. They taught me my worldview on what success looks like to different people, from different places, and how lucky I truly am. My identity has been molded by my family's story and triumphs. Everything I do is for them, because they gave me this chance to build something incredible, as they did.