Growing up, I learned independence much earlier than many of my classmates. My parents immigrated from Guangdong in China and Hanoi in Vietnam as teenagers with very little money and limited English. Without the opportunity to pursue higher education, they worked long hours in restaurant and service jobs to provide for my family. Today, my mother continues to work shifts as an Amazon delivery driver, often leaving before sunrise and returning home late in the evening. Watching my parents sacrifice so much has shaped the way I approach my own education. As a first-generation college student from a low-income household, I have always understood that earning a college degree is more than a personal achievement—it is an opportunity to change my family's future. Growing up, I often came home from elementary school to heat up my own meals or make instant noodles while my parents were still at work. I wore hand-me-down clothes from relatives and cousins and learned to appreciate what my family was able to provide rather than focus on what we lacked. Those experiences taught me gratitude, responsibility, and resilience from a young age. As I grew older, I naturally took on more responsibilities at home. I helped care for my younger brother, learned to cook, completed household chores, and earned my driver's license so I could drive us home from school and lessen the burden on my mother. At sixteen, I also took on part-time work as a sales development representative, hoping to save money for college and contribute toward my future. Although balancing school, athletics, work, and family responsibilities was challenging, it strengthened my time management skills and taught me how to persevere under pressure. Academically, I have always challenged myself. I currently hold a 4.45 weighted GPA while taking numerous AP and dual enrollment courses. I struggled at different points, particularly when adjusting to the rigor of AP coursework, but each setback motivated me to improve rather than give up. Outside the classroom, I immersed myself in activities that allowed me to grow as both a leader and a teammate. I became a varsity captain for my high school's cross-country team, competed in varsity track and field and varsity tennis, served as Director of Advocacy for an environmental nonprofit organization, volunteered at my local public library, and founded my own small e-commerce business. Each experience strengthened different skills, from leadership and communication to problem-solving and adaptability. I chose to pursue Industrial Engineering because I enjoy solving problems and finding ways to improve systems. Mathematics, technology, and optimization have always fascinated me, and I hope to use engineering to make workplaces more efficient while improving the lives of employees and consumers. I was especially drawn to Cal Poly's Learn by Doing philosophy because I learn best through hands-on experiences and practical applications. Growing up in an immigrant household has also influenced the values I carry with me. My experience as the child of immigrants and a first-generation college student has taught me the importance of hard work, perseverance, and making the most of every opportunity. I have seen firsthand the sacrifices my parents made to create opportunities that they never had themselves. Their determination motivates me to work just as hard so that one day I can provide them with the stability and opportunities they worked so hard to give me.