In computer science, an algorithm known as the "do-while loop" allows for the programmer to execute a series of actions only when a certain condition is true. The syntax of the coding statement is self-fulfilling, as it explains the function of the code exactly: DO a specific task WHILE a condition remains true. Amidst the tech jargon that made my head spin as my professor explained this concept, my mind wandered to a common saying I grew up with in my native tongue. When translated, it states: "DO good in this life WHILE you are still here to live it." Throughout my 18 years of life, I have been raised learning about the power of service and volunteering. Growing up in the city of Chennai in India, a densely populated third-world country, I was exposed to how poverty can break people. Poverty-stricken families scattered the sidewalks asking for financial help. My family and I gave anything we could to the less fortunate. Additionally, we constantly donated to local Hindu temples near us. When my family decided to move to West Virginia, I made sure to continue our practices of service. In elementary school, I helped with our local "Backpack Buddies" program which involved filling backpacks with food and other essentials for children in need. In middle school, I volunteered at a local church's food pantry, was involved in a student service group (NJHS) and participated in "Adopt A Highway" programs, where we cleaned up local highways and roads. In high school, I became the Vice President for our student service group (NHS), participated in a student volunteering group (Key Club), helped with our school's homecoming festivities every year, and frequently volunteered at a local food pantry. Alongside this volunteering, high school was the time I discovered my other passion: coding. When scheduling for my senior year classes, I had decided to take AP Computer Science for fun. It sounded interesting, and I had no prior coding experience so it would prove to be a fun challenge. After the first day of class, I was immediately hooked. The computing world was one I had never delved in before and I was fascinated to see how much writing code felt like solving a puzzle. I was finally beginning to understand how a computer, a device I have used my whole life, operated based on man-made code declaration. Thanks to this course, I knew exactly what to major in during my next leap in life. Now, as a student at WVU majoring in computer science, two of my biggest passions, coding and service, have helped me narrow down my dream choices for my post-college career: medical software engineering. Medical software engineers are responsible for creating the software behind wearable devices such as hearing aids and medical imaging machines such as MRI machines. My passion for servicing others fueled this dream as I want to better the healthcare system and help build advanced software for medical devices made for those in need. By creating efficient software for medical devices, we can lower the cost of healthcare and make it more accessible. Volunteering and coding, two separate paths in my life, proved to intersect and pave the path for my future dream career. By servicing others, I proved to also service myself: I developed a strong ambition and drive for my ultimate goal after college.

My initial experience with West Virginia is certainly one that I will never forget. I was introduced to West Virginia during an extremely stressful time of my life. I was born in the metropolis of Chennai, India. Growing up in the hustle and bustle of a lively city in India, I experienced a massive cultural shock when my family moved to a small town in West Virginia. I was six years old, anxious about the relocation. My father, mother, sister, and I all say our goodbyes and venture to the foreign land to get a taste of the American Dream. Tall office buildings were suddenly replaced by lush green mountains. The astronomical population of 10 million people soon dwindled to a mere 2300 in my small hometown. Boiling temperatures under the sun-drenched city morphed into the bone-chilling cold of the Appalachians. While the winters here are known to be harsh and snowy, the hearts of West Virginians seemed to warm the atmosphere. After moving to West Virginia, there was one main thing that was making my stomach turn: school. I feared the new environment. Forget a new school, I was in a brand new country! Anxiety-riddled questions clouded my mind. Will I make friends? Will people like me? Will I be accepted for my differences? I soon learned that I had no reason to worry. During my first couple of months in elementary school, I was met with excitement and curiosity surrounding my ethnicity and culture. I was happy to inform people of my customs, food, celebrations, and my mother tongue. My teachers were understanding of the stress I was under and showered me with nothing but care and love. I felt unique and special, yet a part of the community. I made a lot of friends who I still talk to a decade later. This experience continued throughout my middle and high school experience. As I wrap up my senior year, I continue to treasure the appreciation I have received over the years from my community. Apart from the affectionate hearts of West Virginians, one thing that has always stuck out to me is the incredible hospitality in this state. One case I keep close to my heart relates to the 2014 water crisis. As a resident of Putnam County, our water supply was contaminated by a chemical spill in Charleston. Our house, and thousands of others, went weeks with unusable water. Bottled water was quickly selling out at nearby stores as people frantically rushed to grocery stores. Amid this chaos, local organizations quickly began providing safe water for residents in the affected counties. We filled up gallons of water from these organizations. Our town was incredibly grateful for the generosity being spread during a difficult time. The beauty of West Virginia truly lies within its people. Even with its breathtaking mountains and gorgeous greenery, the state would not have the sense of community it has without its people. West Virginia, with its escapist nature from the harsh realities of life, has shaped my view of the world positively by serving as an anomaly in this divided world. Here, differences are put aside for the ultimate betterment of society. I was met with immediate acceptance, love, and appreciation upon my move here. While I entered West Virginia as a young and anxious immigrant, the wild and wonderful state has raised me to become the loved and confident woman I am today.