Here is the corrected version without the em dash: My mom once threw a rock at her boyfriend’s car, which was the moment that brought her university education to a stop. Because her family couldn’t afford it, she relied on him to fund her studies. He controlled her financially, leading to conflicts that meant her education fully relied on a fragile relationship that eventually fell apart. She often tells me how she wishes she had the means to continue. To her, education was the gateway to a better life, but it remained an unfinished dream. Her story is not unique, as millions of youth in Madagascar cannot finish high school due to extreme poverty. As a Malagasy, witnessing education become an unattainable dream for my family and the people of my country created my sense of purpose. I wanted to devote my life to building a different future, a future where education is accessible for all youth globally. Building something requires a foundation. My foundation started at fourteen when I began volunteering at a child welfare NGO. The children I served were orphans and youth looked down upon by society. To truly help them, I focused on building a deep relationship of trust. I returned every summer; I taught them math, English, and arts, but more importantly, I helped them build confidence to pursue their passions and goals. For example, a boy named Isaac was incredibly talented at drawing but didn’t know he could pursue it professionally due to his mother’s harsh words. I gave him realistic steps to take and, every year, helped him work towards those dreams to help him see that they were within reach. This eventually led me to create a non-profit organization to help Malagasy youth in different areas needed to pursue their goals, which is lacking in traditional schools. Through our programs, we teach English, which is a critical tool for global opportunities that Malagasy people are often excluded from due to language barriers. We also build pathways to higher education by guiding students through university applications, career choices, and academic skill-building. Ultimately, what I am trying to build is a system of education that transforms lives. I firmly believe that a person stems from the education they receive. Because I recognize the barriers my country and others face, it is my responsibility to turn my future into one large act of kindness to build a better future for those who, like my mom, are fighting against the odds.

My mom once threw a rock at her ex-boyfriend's brand new car. It happened during one of the arguments that had become part of their routine. They were actually a long-distance couple, but when they did come into contact for a period of time, an eruption was bound to happen. My mom came from an impoverished family in eastern Madagascar; they struggled to afford even her high school fees, let alone the costs of university. After high school, she worked until she was independent enough to support herself, which is when she met her boyfriend. At first, he was supportive, encouraging her to move to the capital for better academic opportunities and even paying for her tuition and transport. However, the relationship soon turned into a cycle of control. He used his financial support as a weapon, and the arguments became frequent and increasingly physical. Why didn't my mom leave? She relied on him for her education. She needed that degree to change her life, so she forgave him once, then twice, until the endurance became a habit. He grew accustomed to this power, but one evening, after a particularly violent confrontation, she realized that no degree was worth her dignity. She threw that rock, ended the relationship, and walked away. She stayed as long as she did because she wanted the knowledge. To this day, she tells me this story as a lesson. She describes how she wishes she’d had the independent means to become the person she dreamed of being. Today, her story is my primary motivation. With the limited resources she has, like the internet and her knowledge of mathematics, she encourages me to go further than she could. She is teaching herself the complexities of the US college admissions process just to guide me. She often tells me, "I am doing for you what I wish my mother could have done for me." Personally, I want to pursue my college education for both of us. But my ambition goes beyond my own career. I have seen through my mother’s experience how the lack of educational resources can trap brilliant people in cycles of dependency. I am already working with an association dedicated to educational improvement in Madagascar, and I want to return here with the skills I gained. I want to be for my community what my mother was for me. I know the path in a foreign country will be difficult, but for the children in Madagascar who deserve a choice, it is a sacrifice I am proud to make.