My experience with congenital heart disease (CHD) began early in life and has quietly shaped how I approach health and exercise. At the age of seven, I underwent surgical repair of a congenital atrial septal defect, and while the procedure corrected the structural abnormality, its effects did not end in childhood. I continue to face physical complications and scars in my adulthood that require ongoing cardiac monitoring and regular medical appointments. As I grew older, I learned that my body required a heightened level of care due to my cardiac history. My cardiologist informed me that adult complications are common following CHD and often necessitate lifelong surveillance and health management. As an active athlete, I began to develop left ventricular hypertrophy and mitral regurgitation, secondary to CHD. These diagnoses have imposed physical limitations that were especially devastating to a 25-year-old athlete who otherwise felt healthy. Over time, I noticed that I struggled with stamina, shortness of breath, and strength building. I initially blamed myself, assuming I had neglected my conditioning and diet, which deepened my uncertainty and frustration surrounding my physical limitations. Having played badminton for nearly a decade, I was caught between the desire to push myself and the necessity to listen to my body. Beyond the physical barriers, cardiac disease carried significant emotional weight. Growing up with a chest scar instilled an early awareness of vulnerability at an age when most children feel invincible. There was an underlying anxiety at every annual cardiology visit and discussions about long-term cardiac health felt daunting for a child who barely understood his anatomy. I found that this emotional toll followed me into adulthood, and I found myself questioning whether my symptoms of fatigue and shortness of breath were benign or signals of something more serious. This constant vigilance contributed to health-related anxiety and distorted my relationship and love with my body. I noticed there were social consequences as well, especially when playing sports with friends. There were moments where I needed to rest after only 10 minutes of activity, which led to misinterpretations of poor sportsmanship or disinterest. Repeatedly explaining my cardiac condition becomes both emotionally and socially exhausting. Over time, my physical expectations and athletic confidence declined, and I decided to take a break from badminton. However, this decision marked the shift toward a more sustainable and compassionate form of discipline–one rooted in self-awareness and respect for my limits. Despite these challenges, my cardiac history has ultimately become a source of strength rather than limitation. It has shaped a lifestyle that prioritizes intentional rest, nutrition, and mindfulness. I developed a new emotional repertoire grounded in emotional resilience, introspective clarity, and unwavering discipline–qualities that influence how I navigate the world and how I connect with others. Living with a chronic cardiac condition has deepened my respect for the healthcare field and the intentional care put into preventive health, long-term monitoring, and patient education. It has also solidified my resolve to pursue a career as a physician assistant, where I can support patients through similar experiences of uncertainty and fear. Today, I manage my cardiac health through annual follow-ups and a proactive approach to wellness. With medical guidance and intentional training, I was able to return to badminton in improved health and reestablish my conditioning. Overcoming these challenges has fostered resilience and humility that bleeds into other sectors of my life. My experience with cardiac disease is not simply a part of my medical history but has also given me a “big heart,” both literally and metaphorically, and a deeper empathy for the experiences that have made me deeply human.

My experience with cardiac disease began early in life and has quietly shaped how I approach my health, exercise, and education. At the age of seven, I underwent surgical repair for a congenital atrial septal defect, and while the procedure corrected the structural abnormality, I still face physical complications and emotional scars in my adulthood that require cardiac monitoring and medical appointments. As I grew older, I learned that my body required a different level of care and attention due to my cardiac history. I continue to live with left ventricular hypertrophy and mild mitral regurgitation due to congenital heart disease. My cardiologist informed me that adult complications are common and may require ongoing surveillance and health management. These diagnoses have imposed physical limitations that were especially devastating to a 25-year-old athlete who otherwise felt healthy. Over the past few years, I noticed that I struggled with stamina, shortness of breath, and strength building. I felt discouraged thinking that I must have slacked off on my conditioning and diet. This gave me a lot of uncertainty about my physical limitations that I still face to this day. Having played badminton for nearly a decade, the sudden shift in physical ability caused a mind-body disconnect: I was caught between wanting to push myself and needing to listen to my body. Beyond the physical barriers, cardiac disease carried significant emotional weight. Growing up with a chest scar instilled a heightened awareness of vulnerability at an age when most children feel invincible. There was an underlying anxiety at every annual cardiology visit and discussions about long-term cardiac health felt daunting for a child who barely understood his anatomy. I found that this emotional toll followed me into adulthood, and I found myself questioning whether my symptoms of fatigue and shortness of breath were benign or signals of something more serious. This constant vigilance contributed to health-related anxiety and distorted my relationship and love with my body. I noticed there were social consequences as well, especially when playing sports with friends. There were moments where I needed to rest after only 10 minutes of activity, which led to misinterpretations of poor sportsmanship or disinterest. Repeatedly explaining my cardiac condition becomes both frustrating and exhausting. Over time, my physical and social expectations for myself declined; however, this marked the shift toward a more sustainable and compassionate form of discipline–one rooted in self-awareness and intentional exercise. Despite these health obstacles, my cardiac history has ultimately become a source of strength rather than limitation. It has fostered a lifestyle that pushed me to adopt healthier habits like intentional breaks, nutrition, and mindfulness. I developed a new emotional repertoire: emotional resilience, introspective clarity, and unwavering discipline–qualities that influence how I navigate the world and how I connect with others. Living with a chronic cardiac condition has deepened my respect for the healthcare field and understanding of preventative care, long-term monitoring, and patient education. It has also solidified my resolve to pursue a career as a physician assistant, where I can support patients through similar experiences of uncertainty and fear. Today, I manage my cardiac health through annual follow-ups and a proactive approach to wellness. Overcoming these challenges has fostered resilience and humility that bleeds into other sectors of my life. My experience with cardiac disease is not simply a part of my medical history but has also given me a “big heart,” both literally and metaphorically, to the experiences that have made me deeply human.

An impactful physician assistant (PA) is defined by clinical competence and the ability to view patients holistically. The PA profession will increasingly serve diverse communities which means PAs must have a diverse repertoire of skills like empathy, interdisciplinary insight, and commitment to lifelong learning. These qualities form a strong foundation for the provider I aspire to become. Empathy is at the forefront of excellent patient care and essential for an impactful PA. My understanding of empathy extends beyond sympathy; it is an active skill developed through deep introspection, emotional awareness, and lived experiences. As a future PA, I want to nurture a space where patients from marginalized backgrounds feel heard and respected. A formative experience that solidified my conviction to patient-centered care occurred while shadowing physicians in the Emergency Department. They would jokingly attribute symptoms as “anxiety” and many were dismissive saying, “psych would handle the patient.” It was a dehumanizing experience for the patient and reinforced my resolve to practice medicine with respect and attentiveness. I believe that empathetic and culturally responsive care begins with trust and validation, especially in a field where patients feel unseen or misunderstood. Empathy is not optional; it’s foundational to outstanding patient care. Equally vital to impactful care is interdisciplinary thinking, as modern healthcare is not delivered in isolation. I have intentionally shaped my work experiences to mirror the interdisciplinary dynamics of the PA profession by committing one year to multiple disciplines. My first role as a medical scribe provided extensive exposure to acute patient care. I documented patient procedures and physical exams conducted by physicians, PAs, and NPs. This strengthened my interpersonal communication and clinical reasoning. I then transitioned to Quest Diagnostics as a specimen technician, where I processed blood, CSF, tissue, and urine according to strict laboratory protocols. This position deepened my understanding of laboratory procedures and how lab work informs patient care decisions. Finally, I “rotated” into radiology, where I processed imaging cases daily, working across multiple imaging modalities: X-ray, ultrasound, CT, and MRI. My job was to deliver critical findings to physicians and nurses acting as the primary liaison for radiologists. In this role, I honed my ability to interpret and deliver time-sensitive information. These diverse clinical experiences have provided a rich understanding of patient care, diagnostic processes, and interdisciplinary collaboration. My goal is to bridge my clinical hands-on experience with my interpersonal communication skills to provide effective patient care. Finally, lifelong learning is a defining trait for an impactful PA, especially outside the classroom. At UCLA, I joined the Mind-Body research lab, where I did live poster presentations two years in a row at the “Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference” and “Undergraduate Research Week.” This cultivated a love for research because it grounded the chaos of intellectual curiosity through structured thinking and technical analysis. Under the guidance of my mentor, Dr. Theodore Robles, I conducted a year-long independent research study on the effects of regret on vaccination attitudes which culminated in a full thesis. Lifelong learning for me is transformative and central to an impactful PA. It is also a safeguard against burnout that encourages reflection, adaptability, and sustainability in a growing practice. Diversity in the PA field requires more than just representation; it demands providers who understand the intersections of identity and healthcare systems. By actively embodying empathetic care, interdisciplinary thinking, and commitment to lifelong learning, I am ready to become an impactful PA that is not only clinically skilled, but deeply human. These qualities will allow me to serve patients with compassion, competence and respect, especially for patients whose voices are often lost in the noise of healthcare.

There are two key life experiences that have profoundly shaped my academic journey: being a first-generation college student navigating higher education, and learning to live authentically as an Asian male. Together, these experiences created a world filled with complexity, expectation, and stigma. Growing up, there was always something to fix in the house, an errand to run, or a paper to translate—but there was never a pause long enough to ask “What do I want? Why do I want it?” Self-discovery felt dangerous. It felt as if questioning my path meant risking the sacrifices that brought us here and a permanent lock away from my true self. As a first-generation college student, education was presented as both an obligation and a lifeline. My parents emphasized academic success not out of pressure, but survival. College was the physical manifestation of security they never had. However, this expectation came with little guidance. I entered college without an understanding of how to navigate majors, financial aid, internships, or long-term career planning. I learned quickly that first-generation students are often expected to succeed independently in systems they were never taught to navigate. My battle with mental illness manifested and magnified the challenges of being first-generation. Tasks that once felt automatic became overwhelming, and imagining a future for myself felt inauthentic. Despite the heaviness on my psyche, I promised myself healing through therapy, psychiatry, and deep introspection. Slowly, I learned how to be “human” again allowing me to rebuild my emotional repertoire: emotional resilience, introspective clarity, and unwavering discipline. Healing gave me something unexpected — direction. I realized I wanted to give others what I never had: a safe space and someone who understood the first-generation college experience. This led to messy but intentional trial and error that reflected that search. I explored psychology, physician assistant studies, clinical laboratory science, and circled back to the PA profession with a clearer purpose each time. This was a deliberate process of figuring out where my lived experiences as a first-generation college student and my desire to help others intersected. Over the past year, I have been building a mental health-focused platform on TikTok to promote emotional and somatic awareness. I wanted to initiate small, actionable changes in my own community through mental health advocacy and emotional regulation strategies. This platform started as a way to improve my public speaking skills, so I participated in a 30-day challenge where I spoke to the camera for 60 seconds each day on topics, such as books and coffee recipes. I overcame my stage fright and strengthened my ability to articulate complex ideas. As my interests evolved, I became more intentional with my content. I began with conversations—simple but intentional moments of dialogue that could help reduce stigma and promote emotional development. My TikTok platform has become an integral part of my broader mission to encourage preventive health, emotional regulation strategies, and somatic awareness. I believe that mental health positivity is universal, but I aim to provide extra support for men to empower them with emotional skills through vulnerability and deconstructing toxic masculinity. I am proud to say that over the past 6 months, I have amassed a following of one thousand followers with a community that is supportive and encouraging toward each other’s growth. I hope to continue cultivating such initiatives, where I can foster intriguing dialogue, creativity and meaningful social impact. I truly hope that my platform continues to nurture a community grounded in compassion, education, and hope.