"You'll be able to take care of me, right?" I never imagined that a simple question from my uncle would become the driving force to continue my dream of pursuing a career in medicine. Those words, spoken during one of our final conversations, continue to motivate me as I work toward my goal of becoming a physician assistant. Watching my uncle battle cancer while my family struggled at home gave me a deeper understanding of both hardship and compassion, shaping the person I hope to become. My uncle was diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer, a disease that not only affected his health but also the emotional structure of my entire family. Although he endured many complications, we remained hopeful with news of a full recovery. However, due to his treatments, I saw him less often, making the moments we did have even more meaningful. During one visit, he asked me about my future. I told him I hoped to become a physician assistant or doctor so I could care for others. He smiled and asked if I would be able to take care of him one day. Although meant as a lighthearted joke, that question stayed with me long after he passed, transforming my dream into a personal promise. After his sudden passing, my family faced challenges that went beyond grief. Medical bills, unresolved conflicts, and emotional strain caused arguments to erupt daily, creating distance where there had once been closeness. People I once relied on for support were no longer present, and I was forced to navigate loss on my own. As the oldest child, I felt pressure to stay strong, even while struggling internally. With my dad mourning the loss of his brother, I believed sharing my own pain would feel selfish or insensitive. This period of my life taught me resilience and self-awareness, as well as how easily people's struggles can go unseen. My desire to serve others has always been a part of who I am, but this loss solidified my path. This past summer, I interned in a women’s health clinic alongside medical assistants, nurse practitioners, and resident doctors. I witnessed firsthand how compassionate and empathetic care can ease fear and distress during vulnerable times. One day, I observed a patient visibly afraid of the procedure she would have done and what her results would mean. A nurse practitioner sat down with the patient, spoke calmly, and answered her concerns without rushing. Afterward, I saw how the patient's nerves calmed down. In that moment, I understood how meaningful presence and clear communication can be in healthcare, especially for individuals and families facing difficult circumstances like my own. That interaction confirmed that I wanted to be a part of a profession that supports patients not only through treatment but also through uncertainty. I plan to make a positive impact on the world by becoming a physician assistant who prioritizes empathy, patient trust, and care. I hope to work with underserved populations and families navigating serious illness, offering both medical and emotional support during challenging times. My background and experiences have prepared me to connect with people on a personal level, not just a professional one, and are something I hope to do in the future. Although my family continues to heal, we are slowly learning to support one another again. Through everything, my uncle's question remains both a challenge and a source of motivation. As I pursue my education and career, I strive to honor his memory by becoming someone who can truly take care of others, just as he once asked.

Science has always been the subject that sparks my curiosity the most. It is a field where we are constantly learning something new, and as a student who loves exploring different interests, science naturally became the path that I enjoyed the most. I have chosen to study science in college because of the endless opportunities it offers and the way it allows me to understand the world on a deeper level. ​ My interest in STEM began early. Whether I was learning about atoms, reading a periodic table, or understanding the human body, science has always been something that I have been able to understand and find intriguing. After school, fascinated by a lesson, I would come home and reteach the lessons to my parents. I remember explaining to my mom how DNA replicates or how Punnett squares could predict genetics. What seemed complicated to others felt exciting to me, and being able to explain those concepts brought me joy. Having a passion for science, I have always imagined myself in a career that is STEM-focused. Whether it was becoming a physiotherapist, forensic scientist, or doctor, I knew I wanted to have a career in science while being able to take care of others. ​ In addition, I have always been a very curious person. Growing up, I pursued many hobbies just because I wanted to try something new. Whenever something caught my attention, I followed it with passion. Some of the hobbies I have today are painting, reading, and decorating. I have always wanted to try new things and take risks, and by this, I live by the motto "You won’t know if you don't try." I believe this is what has led me to choose to study science. With an ever-evolving world and continuous research, there will always be something new to discover. STEM-based fields are the source of questions and the unknown and are a place where my curiosity will never be settled. ​ STEM is more than a group of subjects or skills for me but a source of unknowns that I am eager to discover. My interest in its complexities and my desire to have a career rooted in scientific understanding motivate me to continue on this path. I know that my passion, curiosity, and drive to help others will keep me connected to this field and are the reasons that I chose to study science.

As a first-generation student and daughter to teen parents, I have witnessed the financial struggles they had to endure to keep me and my siblings. As the oldest, I was more aware of the hardships my parents faced, specifically when they asked if I could help out after getting a job. However, with the Truist Financial Foundations courses, I believe I am more prepared to take on the challenges that come my way. I will have the foundations to not only assist me but also the knowledge to help my family and younger siblings to ensure a financial future. A time when my family faced a financial challenge was when one of our cars went out of service, leaving only one source of transportation for a family of five. Although we had a way to get around, my parents had difficulties getting to work and taking us to school, having to arrive at different times. With this, my parents could not afford to buy another car, and we would go on to use my grandmother's vehicle for transportation. We would eventually be given my grandmother's car permanently, fixing our problem of getting to work and school. After taking these courses, I learned that this challenge could have been avoided if my parents had saved up money for emergencies like this one. If my parents had more knowledge of financial literacy, they may have been more prepared when faced with an unexpected problem. Having taken the Truits Financial Foundation course, I have a better understanding of what I can do to prevent challenges such as the one my parents faced. I learned the importance of a savings account and the different ways I could set aside money to ensure I am ready for future financial hardships. I have also learned the importance of budgeting, and prioritizing my needs over my wants using the 50-30-20 method. These courses have given me foundational knowledge of ways I can be financially literate in my future. I know that these small skills will help me for life, but also to help my family and siblings to be successful. The Truist Financial Foundation had provided me with the knowledge and awareness of skills that we should use to ensure a financial future. I want to be able to live a life where I am prepared to face financial challenges to avoid what my parents had to endure.

"You'll be able to take care of me, right?" I never imagined that a simple question from my uncle would become the driving force to continue my dream of pursuing a career in medicine. Those words, spoken during one of our final conversations, continue to motivate me as I work toward my goal of becoming a physician assistant. Watching my uncle battle cancer while my family struggled at home gave me a deeper understanding of both hardship and compassion, shaping the person I hope to become. My uncle was diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer, a disease that not only affected his health but also the emotional structure of my entire family. Although he endured many complications, we remained hopeful with news of a full recovery. However, due to his treatments, I saw him less often, making the moments we did have even more meaningful. During one visit, he asked me about my future. I told him I hoped to become a physician assistant or doctor so I could care for others. He smiled and asked if I would be able to take care of him one day. Although meant as a joke, that question stayed with me long after he passed, turning my dream into a personal promise. After his sudden passing, my family faced challenges that went beyond grief. Medical bills, unresolved problems, and emotional stress caused arguments to happen daily, creating distance instead of connection. People I once relied on for support were no longer present, and I was forced to navigate loss on my own. As the oldest child, I felt pressure to stay strong, even while struggling internally. With my dad mourning the loss of his brother, I believed sharing my own pain would feel selfish or insensitive. This period of my life taught me resilience and self-awareness, as well as how easily people's struggles can go unseen. My desire to serve others has always been a part of who I am, but this loss solidified my path. The past summer, I interned in a women’s health clinic alongside medical assistants, nurse practitioners, and resident doctors. I saw firsthand how compassionate and empathetic care can ease fear during vulnerable times. One day, I observed a patient who was afraid of the procedure she would have done, and what her results would mean. A nurse practitioner sat down with the patient, spoke calmly, and answered her concerns without judgement. Afterward, I saw how the patient's nerves calmed down. In that moment, I understood how meaningful presence and clear communication can be in healthcare, especially for individuals and families facing difficult circumstances like my own. That interaction confirmed that I wanted to be a part of a profession that supports patients not only through treatment, but uncertainty. I plan to make a positive impact on the world by becoming a physician assistant who prioritizes empathy, patient trust, and care. I hope to work with underserved populations and families navigating serious illness, offering both medical and emotional support during challenging times. My background and experiences have prepared me to connect with people on a personal level, not just a professional one, and are something I hope to do in the future. Although my family continues to heal, we are slowly learning to support one another again. Through everything, my uncle's question remains both a challenge and a source of motivation. As I pursue my education and career, I hope to honor his memory by becoming someone who can truly take care of others, just as he once asked me to do for him.

"You have to be better than us." This wasn't a suggestion but a demand given to me by my parents the moment I was born. I heard these words every time my mom and I talked about my future during car rides home, a constant reminder of what I had to be. However, there was no guidance on how to get there. Being the oldest child didn't just shape me; it prepared me for a life of self-sufficiency and relentless personal drive. As the eldest child, I felt burdened by perfectionism. My parents urged me to become a professional to avoid the struggles they faced. While this motivated me, it instilled an expectation: always better. In elementary school, I received a bad grade on a math test on the same day as my parent-teacher conference. I cried throughout the day, in fear of the look of failure I would receive from my mom. Although she didn't get mad, the fear of disappointing her made me realize how much energy I spent chasing perfection. Over time, that fear turned into a personal drive, not as perfection but as motivation to be better for myself. It became my standard, not my burden. It pushed me to be the best version of myself, driving my work ethic and determination. Whether I was leading a club activity or collaborating in a class project, I committed fully, not because someone expected me to, but because I expected it of myself. This pressure became my purpose, shaping who I am and who I strive to be. This newfound personal standard was truly tested in middle school when a conflicting misunderstanding would negatively impact my grades. I spent the day longing for my mom's comfort, to talk to her and ask her for help. However, when I explained the situation, I was met with anger and disappointment, not reassurance. I left the conversation knowing that if I wanted to fix the situation, I had to do it myself, and I did. I went to school the next day, advocated for myself by talking to the principal, and resolved the situation on my own. That experience shifted my view of self-sufficiency. I was no longer mad that I didn’t have someone fighting for me, but instead I was proud to have the strength to fight for myself. This mindset helped me during my internship at Parkland Hospital, where I was placed in a department that did not align with my goals. Instead of settling, I advocated to transfer to a new department that corresponded with my career aspirations. A month later, I was told that because of my work ethic and advocacy, I would be transferred to a department with the patient care experience I wanted. This was liberating, not because I was given this opportunity, but because I created it for myself. Being the oldest is something that I have appreciated, as it taught me to be my own self-advocate and to take risks. It has shown me that I can build the life I want, on my own terms. Growing up I had to navigate expectations of perfection and a lack of guidance. However, it taught me to advocate for myself, work hard, and trust my own decisions. Being the oldest is not just a role but the foundation of who I am and who I will become.