When I transferred to the University of Michigan, I wasn't simply changing schools. I was making a deliberate decision about the kind of career I wanted to build. At the United States Naval Academy, I discovered that what excited me most wasn't just programming, it was using technology to solve real problems. That became even clearer during my internship at Omionics, an AI startup developing software for genomic laboratories. Working alongside the founders, I saw how thoughtful software could simplify complicated workflows and save researchers hours of administrative work. It was the first time I saw how a small team with a good idea could create technology that genuinely improved people's daily work. That experience shaped my goals. After completing my Computer Science degree at the University of Michigan, I hope to begin my career as a software engineer, ideally at a startup or a company building AI products. I want to strengthen my technical skills, learn how successful products are developed, and understand every part of building software, from engineering and product design to working directly with customers. My long-term goal is to start my own company. I don't want to build AI simply because it's the newest technology. I want to build software that solves problems people have quietly accepted as "just the way things are." During my internship, I realized that the biggest opportunities often exist in industries that aren't traditionally associated with technology. Healthcare, scientific research, manufacturing, and logistics all have repetitive, time-consuming processes that could be improved with thoughtfully designed AI. Those are the kinds of problems I hope to spend my career solving. I also know that reaching that goal requires more than technical ability. I plan to continue building personal projects, participating in hackathons, finding mentors, and learning from experienced engineers and founders. I want to graduate not only with a degree, but with a portfolio of work that demonstrates I can turn ideas into products that people actually use. Financially, my path looks different from many of my classmates'. After religious changes in my life, my parents chose not to support my education financially. Because of that, I am responsible for funding my degree myself. Scholarships are not simply helpful, they determine how much debt I will carry after graduation and how much freedom I will have to pursue internships, research, and entrepreneurial opportunities instead of working solely to pay tuition. I have always approached my goals with a plan. In high school, that meant balancing academics, athletics, leadership, and community service while graduating in the top ten of my class. At the Naval Academy, it meant pursuing opportunities like the Navy Space satellite flight team, serving on the Computer Science Midshipman Advisory Board, earning Dean's List recognition, and completing an AI startup internship. Each experience was another step toward the career I want to build. My plan is ambitious, but it is already underway. Every class I take, every project I build, and every opportunity I pursue is moving me toward the same goal: creating technology that makes complicated work simpler and more accessible. This scholarship would help me continue following that plan by allowing me to focus more of my time on learning, building, and preparing for the company I hope to create one day.

When I chose to become Muslim, I knew my life would change. What I did not expect was that it would change how I would pay for college. My parents could not support my decision to convert, and as a result, they chose not to contribute to my education, even though they were able to pay for my twin sister's college. From that moment forward, I understood that if I wanted a college degree, I would have to earn it on my own. That reality has shaped every academic and professional decision I have made. Rather than allowing financial hardship to determine my future, I searched for another path. I accepted an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where I pursued Computer Science while developing the discipline, leadership, and resilience that continue to define me today. This fall, I will transfer to the University of Michigan as a junior, continuing to finance my education independently while pursuing my goal of building a career in artificial intelligence and software entrepreneurship. Long before college, I believed that opportunities were earned through commitment rather than circumstance. In high school, I graduated in the top ten of my class while balancing a demanding schedule of academics, athletics, journalism, music, and community service. I was a three-sport varsity athlete, competing in basketball, soccer, and track and field. Basketball became more than a sport for me; it became my first experience leading a team. As varsity captain, I learned how to encourage teammates through setbacks, communicate under pressure, and lead by example. That season, I was honored to be named the team's Most Valuable Player, an achievement that reflected not only athletic performance but also leadership and dedication. Outside athletics, I served as Editor-in-Chief of my school's newspaper, overseeing student writers, coordinating publications, and ensuring our team met deadlines. I also participated in band, balancing rehearsals alongside academics and athletics. Throughout high school, I completed more than 150 hours of community service, volunteering with organizations such as Hampton Youth Recreation, where I coached youth soccer and mentored young athletes. These experiences taught me that leadership is rarely about titles. It is about consistency, accountability, and showing up for others. At the Naval Academy, those lessons were tested every day. The Academy challenged me academically, physically, and personally. At the same time, I often found myself standing out before I had spoken a word. As one of the few women wearing hijab on campus, I learned to navigate unfamiliar environments with confidence while remaining true to my convictions. Rather than seeing my differences as obstacles, I chose to let my work define me. I continued pursuing leadership opportunities beyond the classroom. I served on the Computer Science Midshipman Advisory Board representing fellow students and helping improve communication between faculty and midshipmen. I joined the Navy Women's Club Soccer Team, continuing my commitment to athletics while balancing one of the most demanding academic and military programs. Academically, I was recognized on the Academic Dean's List while studying computer science in a rigorous engineering curriculum. Beyond coursework, I sought opportunities to apply my knowledge in meaningful ways. I joined the Navy Space team, where I developed embedded software for CubeSat hardware for USNA 20, a student built satellite. Seeing software control physical systems reinforced my passion for engineering and taught me the importance of precision, collaboration, and persistence. I also interned at Omionics, an artificial intelligence startup serving genomic laboratories. Working directly with the founders, I helped organize AI workflows, develop laboratory service specifications, and contribute to the company's website. That experience introduced me to startup culture and confirmed my desire to build software that solves meaningful problems. Together, these experiences have shaped my long-term ambition. After completing my degree at the University of Michigan, I hope to build a technology company focused on trustworthy AI systems for healthcare and scientific research. I want to create software that reduces complexity, supports better decision-making, and makes advanced technology more accessible to the people who need it most. Despite everything I have accomplished, one challenge remains constant: paying for my education. Every scholarship I receive directly reduces the financial burden I carry alone. Unlike many students, I cannot rely on my family to help pay tuition or living expenses. I am building my future independently, one semester at a time. I do not see that as a disadvantage. Instead, it has become my greatest source of motivation. Every opportunity I have earned, from graduating near the top of my class to attending the Naval Academy, contributing to a satellite project, interning at an AI startup, and transferring to the University of Michigan, has been built through persistence rather than circumstance. I hope you will consider me for this scholarship not simply because I have financial need, but because I have consistently turned challenges into opportunities for growth. An investment in my education is an investment in someone who has already demonstrated the determination to overcome adversity, the discipline to excel, and the ambition to use technology to make a meaningful impact on the world.

Growing up, some of my earliest stories about adulthood came from my dad's time in the Navy. He served for five years as a submarine lieutenant, and while he rarely talked about his service in a dramatic way, the values it taught him were present in our home every day. He believed in showing up prepared, taking responsibility for your work, and finishing what you started. Long before I understood what those lessons meant, I was learning them from him. His experience inspired me to apply to the United States Naval Academy after high school. I admired the opportunity to challenge myself academically while developing as a leader, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps by serving something larger than myself. Attending the Academy became one of the most formative experiences of my life. It pushed me further than I thought I could go, both inside and outside the classroom. While at the Naval Academy, I discovered that what excited me most was computer science. I loved the process of solving problems, building systems, and understanding how technology could improve people's lives. I worked on the Navy Space satellite flight team, developing embedded software and learning how even small pieces of code could contribute to a much larger mission. I also completed an internship at an AI startup, where I saw how software could simplify complex workflows for scientists and researchers. As I grew both personally and academically, I realized that although the Naval Academy had given me invaluable experiences, my long-term goals were leading me in a different direction. I decided to transfer to the University of Michigan, where I will begin my junior year studying computer science. It was not an easy decision, but it was the right one. One lesson my father taught me was the importance of integrity: being honest with yourself and having the courage to pursue the path that aligns with your values. In many ways, that lesson guided my decision. Today, my career aspirations center on artificial intelligence and software development. I hope to build technology that helps people solve complex problems more effectively, particularly through intelligent software systems. Although my career path will look different from my father's, I hope to carry forward the same commitment to service that inspired me as a child. Instead of serving through the military, I hope to serve through innovation by building technology that creates meaningful improvements in people's lives. Being the daughter of a veteran has shaped my career not because it determined exactly where I would end up, but because it taught me how to approach every challenge. The discipline, resilience, and sense of purpose I learned from my father continue to guide me today, and they will remain with me throughout my career in technology.

Growing up, my sister and I were known as "the twins." We wore the same clothes, played the same sports, and answered to each other's names more times than we could count. Teachers mixed us up, strangers smiled and asked if we were twins before we even spoke, and our family joked that they could never tell us apart in old photos. Then, almost overnight, that stopped. When I began wearing hijab, people no longer saw two identical sisters. They saw two different people. We could be standing side by side, laughing at the same joke, and strangers would assume we had nothing in common. Sometimes people would ask if we were friends. Other times, they would ask only one of us a question, as if we weren't together at all. At first, it felt strange. Growing up, I had spent years wishing people could tell us apart. Suddenly, they could, but not for the reason I expected. The funny part is that underneath it all, nothing really changed. My sister still finishes my sentences. We still have the same laugh. We still argue over whose turn it is to call our grandparents. We still know exactly what the other is thinking with a single look across a room. The only thing that changed was what people noticed first. That experience taught me something I carry into every new environment. People naturally make assumptions based on the first thing they see. Sometimes those assumptions are accurate. Often, they are incomplete. I experienced that at the United States Naval Academy as well, where I was frequently the only woman wearing hijab in classrooms or technical spaces. People were curious, and sometimes awkward, but I found that curiosity often opened the door to meaningful conversations. Once people got to know me, the things that initially made me stand out became much less important than the work I did, the questions I asked, and the relationships I built. Ironically, I no longer mind being the person who stands out in a room. It has taught me not to judge people by first impressions and has reminded me how much there is to learn about someone beyond what is immediately visible. So I guess my "awkward thing" is that I'm an identical twin who doesn't always look like one anymore. It took me a while to appreciate that. Now I see it as one of the experiences that has made me more open, more curious, and more willing to let people surprise me.

When I first discovered programming through Hour of Code and Scratch, I loved the feeling that I could create something from nothing. A few lines of code could become a game, solve a problem, or automate a tedious task. That curiosity led me to pursue computer science, but over time I realized that what excites me most about STEM is not the technology itself. It is the opportunity to build things that improve people's lives. My interest in computer science has continued to grow through experiences that connected software to real-world problems. At the United States Naval Academy, I worked on the Navy Space satellite flight team, where I developed embedded software for satellite hardware. Later, I interned at Omionics, an AI startup developing software for genomic laboratories. There, I saw how thoughtful software design could simplify complex workflows and allow scientists to spend more time on research instead of administrative tasks. Those experiences showed me that technology is most meaningful when it serves people. As a woman in STEM, I have also learned that representation matters in ways that are often quiet. At the Naval Academy, I was frequently the only woman wearing hijab in classrooms, meetings, or technical spaces. I knew I stood out before I even introduced myself. At first, that felt intimidating. Over time, I realized it also created opportunities. Classmates asked questions they might never have asked otherwise, and conversations that began with curiosity often became genuine friendships and mutual understanding. I learned that simply showing up authentically can help broaden people's perspectives. That experience shaped how I think about leadership. I do not want to be remembered simply as a woman who succeeded in computer science. I want to be remembered as an engineer who built thoughtful technology, treated others with respect, and helped create environments where more people feel they belong. Representation is important not because it changes statistics, but because it changes expectations. When someone sees a person who looks different contributing meaningfully in STEM, it quietly expands what they believe is possible. This fall, I will transfer to the University of Michigan to continue my studies in computer science. My long-term goal is to build artificial intelligence systems that are transparent, trustworthy, and genuinely useful. I hope to found a technology company that creates software solving real problems rather than chasing trends, with products designed around the people who use them. To me, STEM is ultimately about curiosity, creativity, and service. It is about asking better questions, building better solutions, and leaving things better than you found them. I hope to contribute not only through the technology I create but also by encouraging other young women to see that there is room for them in this field. The future of STEM will be stronger when it reflects the diversity of the people it is meant to serve, and I am excited to be part of building that future.

People often ask why I chose computer science, and the answer is simple: I love building things that make difficult problems easier to solve. When I first started programming through Hour of Code and Scratch, I was fascinated that a few lines of code could create something entirely new. As I learned more, I realized computer science was less about computers and more about solving problems. Every project became an opportunity to think creatively, experiment with different ideas, and build something that could have a real impact on people's lives. That curiosity is what eventually led me to pursue a degree in computer science. My interest in STEM continued to grow through experiences outside the classroom. At the United States Naval Academy, I worked on the Navy Space satellite flight team, where I developed embedded software for satellite hardware. Later, as a Founder's Associate intern at an AI startup, I helped build workflows for artificial intelligence systems serving genomic laboratories. These experiences showed me that technology is most powerful when it helps people focus on what matters most instead of getting lost in unnecessary complexity. My path to this point has not been straightforward. After high school, my parents chose not to financially support my education, even though they were able to support my sister's. I knew I still wanted to earn a college degree, so I chose the United States Naval Academy because it gave me an opportunity to continue my education. While I am grateful for everything I learned there, I eventually realized that the military path was not the future I wanted. Choosing to leave meant giving up stability and beginning again, but it also meant pursuing a future that better reflected my goals and values. This fall, I will transfer to the University of Michigan to continue studying computer science. Another challenge I have learned to navigate is being visibly different. As a woman who wears hijab, I was often the only person who looked like me in many classrooms and technical spaces. At first, I worried that standing out would make it harder to belong. Instead, I discovered that it created opportunities to build understanding. I learned to answer questions with patience, share my perspective openly, and let my work speak louder than assumptions. Those experiences strengthened my confidence and taught me that diversity in STEM is not only about representation but also about the different perspectives we bring to solving problems. My goal is to build intelligent software that helps people make better decisions and simplifies complex work. I hope to one day found a technology company developing AI systems that are transparent, trustworthy, and genuinely useful. STEM has already given me opportunities I never imagined possible, and I want to spend my career creating technology that opens similar opportunities for others. This scholarship would help me continue that journey by easing the financial burden of completing my education. More importantly, it would invest in someone who has remained committed to learning, adapting, and building a future through technology, even when the path has been uncertain.

The first time I wrote a program, I was surprised that a few lines of code could create something entirely new. I remember experimenting with Hour of Code and Scratch in middle school, changing small pieces of code just to see what would happen. Sometimes I broke everything. Sometimes I accidentally made something better. That feeling, that technology is something you can shape rather than simply use, has stayed with me ever since. As I continued learning, computer science became more than a school subject. I liked that every problem had multiple possible solutions and that curiosity was just as valuable as technical knowledge. Whether I was debugging a program or building a new feature, I enjoyed the process of figuring out why something worked and how it could work better. My path to earning a computer science degree has not been straightforward. After high school, my parents chose not to support my education financially, even though they were able to support my sister's. I had to find another way to continue my education, which led me to the United States Naval Academy. It was not the path I had originally imagined, but it gave me the opportunity to study computer science and continue pursuing the future I wanted. At the Naval Academy, I worked on embedded software for the Navy Space satellite flight team and later completed an internship at Omionics, where I helped develop AI workflows for genomic laboratories. Those experiences showed me that software is not just about writing code. It is about solving real problems for real people. They also confirmed that I wanted to dedicate my career to technology. Over time, I realized that the military path was not the future I wanted to pursue. Choosing to leave was difficult because it meant walking away from stability and beginning again. This fall, I will transfer to the University of Michigan as a junior studying Computer Science, where I hope to continue exploring artificial intelligence and intelligent software systems. My long-term goal is to build technology that helps people make better decisions and removes unnecessary complexity from everyday work. I believe I am a strong candidate for this scholarship not because my journey has been easy, but because I have continued moving forward when it would have been easier to stop. Financial challenges changed the route I took to get here, but they never changed my commitment to education. Like Chris Jackson, I understand how life-changing access to a computer science education can be. This scholarship would not only ease the financial burden of completing my degree, but it would also allow me to focus on becoming the kind of engineer who uses technology to improve the lives of others.

One of the reasons I love computer science is that it teaches you to look at everyday frustrations differently. Instead of accepting that something is slow or inefficient, you start asking, "Why does it work this way?" and "Could it be better?" That curiosity is what led me to one of the projects I have enjoyed most. Last year, I interned at Omionics, a startup building AI tools for genomic laboratories. One of the first things I learned was how much time laboratories spend simply getting an order started. Researchers often exchanged multiple emails just to describe a project, clarify requirements, and determine which services they needed. It was a process that everyone accepted as normal, but it seemed like there had to be a better way. As a Founder's Associate intern, I helped build structured workflows and organize laboratory service specifications that allowed an AI agent to guide customers through the ordering process. I also contributed to the company's website and worked closely with the founders as they tested new ideas. I enjoyed seeing how small changes to a workflow or a question could make the interaction much more intuitive for a customer. That experience changed the way I think about technology. Before my internship, I mostly viewed programming as solving technical problems. At Omionics, I realized that good software begins with understanding people. The challenge was not simply getting an AI to produce an answer. It was designing a system that understood what someone was trying to accomplish and guided them through a complicated process without making it feel complicated. This fall, I will transfer to the University of Michigan as a junior majoring in Computer Science. My experiences at Omionics sparked my interest in artificial intelligence and intelligent software systems, particularly how AI can help people make better decisions instead of simply automating tasks. As these technologies become more capable, I want to help build systems that people can understand and trust. Technology inspires me because it rewards curiosity. Every project teaches me something I did not know before, and every problem has more than one possible solution. Whether I am working on embedded software for a satellite, experimenting with AI workflows, or learning a new programming language, I enjoy the process of building, testing, improving, and learning. Looking back, my internship was valuable not because I worked with cutting-edge AI, but because it showed me that thoughtful technology can make someone's work noticeably easier. That is the kind of impact I hope to have throughout my career as a software engineer.

Education has always been something I have had to fight for, which is why I value it so deeply. When I was choosing where to go after high school, I was also learning what it meant to stand on my own. My parents were willing to help pay for my sister’s education, but they were not willing to do the same for mine. I do not think there is an easy way to explain how that felt. It was painful, and it made college feel less like an exciting next step and more like something I had to figure out alone. Still, I knew I wanted an education. I had worked hard in school, graduated in the top ten of my class, and believed that college could open a future for me that I could build myself. Because of my financial situation, I chose the United States Naval Academy. It was not the school I had always dreamed of, and it was not a place where I immediately felt like I belonged. But it gave me a chance to keep studying, and at that point, that mattered more than comfort. My experience changed how I understood education. It was not just about classes or grades. It was the thing I held onto when I felt unsupported, out of place, or unsure about my future. Studying computer science gave me something concrete to build toward. On the Navy Space satellite flight team, I worked with embedded software, simulations, data collection, and software testing. Through Omionics, an AI agent for genomic labs, I helped with workflows, lab service specifications, and website design. Those experiences helped me see that computer science is not only about writing code. It is about making tools that solve problems and help people work better. Eventually, I realized that the military path after graduation was not the future I wanted. Leaving meant giving up a stable plan and stepping into uncertainty again, but it also meant choosing a future that felt more honest to who I am. Now, I am transferring to the University of Michigan as a junior studying computer science, and for the first time, I feel like I am moving toward a path I chose fully for myself. My goal is to continue growing in computer science, especially in areas like software, artificial intelligence, and systems that support real decision-making. I want to build a career that gives me independence, but I also want my work to be useful to others. I know what it feels like to need opportunity and not have it handed to you. Because of that, I want to use my education to create more stability for myself and eventually help others who are trying to make their way forward without much support. This scholarship would help relieve some of the financial pressure that has shaped so many of my decisions. It would allow me to focus more fully on my education at Michigan and continue building the skills I have fought so hard to pursue. More than anything, it would support a student who has kept choosing education, even when the path to it was not easy.

When people hear "building a satellite," they often imagine the finished product orbiting Earth. What they do not see are the countless small experiments that happen long before anything is ready to fly. As a member of the Navy Space satellite flight team at the United States Naval Academy, I worked on the software responsible for controlling the satellite's LEDs. On paper, it sounded like a small piece of a much larger project. In reality, it became one of my favorite engineering experiences because it taught me what it means to tinker. The LEDs were more than lights. They provided visual feedback that helped verify whether the software and hardware were communicating correctly. Getting them to behave exactly as expected meant writing code, testing it, changing it, and trying again. Sometimes I would make what seemed like a minor adjustment only to discover that nothing happened. Other times, one small change would suddenly make everything work. Every failed attempt became another clue rather than another frustration. What I enjoyed most was the process itself. I found myself asking questions that were never answered by a textbook. What happens if I initialize this differently? Why is this sequence behaving unexpectedly? Is the problem in my code, or somewhere else in the system? Each question led to another experiment. Instead of feeling discouraged by bugs, I became curious about them. Solving them felt like solving a puzzle. I still remember the satisfaction of finally watching the LEDs respond exactly as they were supposed to. To someone walking into the lab, it may have looked like a few lights blinking on command. To our team, it represented hours of debugging, collaboration, and persistence. Seeing everyone smile when the software finally behaved as intended was one of those small engineering moments that reminded me why I love computer science. That experience changed how I think about technology. I realized that I enjoy building things not because they are impressive on paper, but because I genuinely enjoy understanding how they work. I like taking a problem apart, experimenting with different ideas, and learning something new every time an approach fails. The most rewarding moments are often the smallest ones: a line of code that finally behaves correctly, a test that finally passes, or hardware that finally responds the way you intended. Kyle Lam's story resonates with me because his curiosity was rooted in joy. He built things because he wanted to see what was possible. That is the mindset I hope to carry throughout my career. Whether I am writing embedded software, developing AI systems, or exploring a completely new technology, I want to keep approaching engineering with the same curiosity that first made a few blinking LEDs feel like a meaningful accomplishment.