I will go to George Washington University in D.C. to study political science and continue my journey to law school, which I plan to go to at Georgetown, NYU, or Columbia. I want to pursue my career as a governmental lawyer, working with Congress or the White House to help guide America in the right direction. The opportunity to succeed is what I seek the most. In school, the one thing every teacher highlights is civic participation. The one misconception I want to end is that our voices don’t count. Whether it's through voting, contacting local lawmakers, or small things such as volunteering, joining clubs, or even making friends, we are helping our community by using our voice. I seek every opportunity I get. As the president of Crochet Club, the secretary of National Art Honor Society, and a member of a few other clubs, I formed countless opportunities for our members by contacting nonprofits, hospitals, nursing homes, and even international donors and working together to donate money, cards, crocheted plushies, and art to impact the community. At the National Art Honor Society, I created artworks for nursing homes to bring comfort to residents, and illustrated portraits for pet shelters so the adopters could take home artwork of their new companions. Seeing my art bring joy to others showed me that creativity can be an act of service. By selling handmade plushies in the Crochet Club, I raised money for charities and supported causes I care about, shared my work with fellow students, and built a community by teaching club members how to crochet. Through painting a mural for the Italian Club and designing posters for the Japanese Club, I connected with various cultures and formed relationships with the people. I still often visit the teachers. Beyond school, I founded a small art business and sold my work at booths across Long Island. I connected with a wider artistic community that supported one another. I volunteered at major political elections from the New York mayoral election to small local elections in my county. I volunteered at the fire department, interned with law, and am seeking opportunities in the Navy. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to find more flexible opportunities that will allow me to reach my goals and alleviate the financial challenge. This scholarship will help me save up money for law school and will finally allow me to attend the prestigious colleges I've always dreamed of. Being afforded more opportunities and attending a top law school will enable me to reach my full potential and achieve my goals of being a world-changing lawyer.

I sneak into my mom’s office and peek over her shoulder to watch YouTube music videos on her computer as she makes jewelry. We browse through art projects on Pinterest for inspiration while painting glass jars and window mosaics on the backyard porch. When my stepdad comes home from work, he lights the fireplace, and the scent of burning wood fills the room as the three of us sit at the dinner table to eat scrambled eggs and pasta. The night ends with us on the living room couch while a Disney movie plays in the background. When I interrupt the film, my stepdad tickles me and I burst out in laughter. After the divorce in middle school, my mom and I moved to New York - a clean break for both of us. Although I braced myself for change, I had no idea how different my life would be. My mom worked tirelessly as a single parent to support us, but her heavy work hours meant she lacked time and energy to engage with me. I struggled with my meals. I could only reheat the leftovers in the microwave. When I wasn’t so fortunate, the Ritz crackers on top of the fridge would be my lunch. Sometimes, I wouldn’t eat at all. There were eggs and frozen dumplings in the fridge, but I didn’t know how to prepare them. As I grew older, I taught myself to boil the frozen dumplings on the stove. I watched videos on how to upgrade instant ramen and began making sandwiches with anything I could find. Then, I started my own grocery list so I could expand my menu and make pasta, oatmeal, and guacamole. Sometimes, I would open YouTube and watch 2010s music videos to reminisce about the days when the house felt full with conversations. It took years to fully accept that the days of watching videos, playing board games, and painting with family were gone. But I learned to adapt. I needed to be independent and discover my passions. I could no longer depend on family time as my source of emotional fulfillment. I filled my time with extracurriculars and hobbies to discover my identity. My mom’s work hours left me with no transportation. So when I saw volunteer and job opportunities pass me by, I decided to save up money to buy a bike. While I couldn’t attend my old ballet studio, I turned school dance classes, clubs, and events into my stage. I couldn’t afford plane tickets to connect with cultures, but I brewed matcha, learned new languages, and built pasta bridges in various cultural clubs without leaving town. I found my identity in extracurriculars when I lost it in family bonds. Independence became my biggest accomplishment. Following the principle of ‘survival of the fittest,’ I have the motivation and strength to achieve my goals through dedication and hard work. In college, I will overcome challenges by constantly evolving, finding other ways to pursue opportunities in order to follow my passions with no reservations. Using the opportunities granted by my mom’s perseverance, I hope to one day ease her workload and reclaim our family time. Where the path to success is hazy, I will never fail to pave my own.

I sneak into my mom’s office and peek over her shoulder to watch YouTube music videos on her computer as she makes jewelry. We browse through art projects on Pinterest for inspiration while painting glass jars and window mosaics on the backyard porch. When my stepdad comes home from work, he lights the fireplace, and the scent of burning wood fills the room as the three of us sit at the dinner table to eat scrambled eggs and pasta. The night ends with us on the living room couch while a Disney movie plays in the background. When I interrupt the film, my stepdad tickles me and I burst out in laughter. After the divorce in middle school, my mom and I moved to New York - a clean break for both of us. Although I braced myself for change, I had no idea how different my life would be. My mom worked tirelessly as a single parent to support us, but her heavy work hours meant she lacked time and energy to engage with me. I struggled with my meals. I could only reheat the leftovers in the microwave. When I wasn’t so fortunate, the Ritz crackers on top of the fridge would be my lunch. Sometimes, I wouldn’t eat at all. There were eggs and frozen dumplings in the fridge, but I didn’t know how to prepare them. As I grew older, I taught myself to boil the frozen dumplings on the stove. I watched videos on how to upgrade instant ramen and began making sandwiches with anything I could find. Then, I started my own grocery list so I could expand my menu and make pasta, oatmeal, and guacamole. Sometimes, I would open YouTube and watch 2010s music videos to reminisce about the days when the house felt full with conversations. It took years to fully accept that the days of watching videos, playing board games, and painting with family were gone. But I learned to adapt. I needed to be independent and discover my passions. I could no longer depend on family time as my source of emotional fulfillment. I filled my time with extracurriculars and hobbies to discover my identity. My mom’s work hours left me with no transportation. So when I saw volunteer and job opportunities pass me by, I decided to save up money to buy a bike. While I couldn’t attend my old ballet studio, I turned school dance classes, clubs, and events into my stage. I couldn’t afford plane tickets to connect with cultures, but I brewed matcha, learned new languages, and built pasta bridges in various cultural clubs without leaving town. I found my identity in extracurriculars when I lost it in family bonds. Independence became my biggest accomplishment. Following the principle of ‘survival of the fittest,’ I have the motivation and strength to achieve my goals through dedication and hard work. In college, I will overcome challenges by constantly evolving, finding other ways to pursue opportunities in order to follow my passions with no reservations. Using the opportunities granted by my mom’s perseverance, I hope to one day ease her workload and reclaim our family time. Where the path to success is hazy, I will never fail to pave my own.

Art is both a form of self-expression and a way for me to help others and build meaningful connections. I have been creating art since I could pick up a crayon. Over time, I saw that art could be transformed into a bridge between people, communities, and world issues. At the National Art Honor Society, I created artworks for nursing homes to bring comfort to residents, and illustrated portraits for pet shelters so the adopters could take home artwork of their new companions. Seeing my art bring joy to others showed me that creativity can be an act of service. By selling handmade plushies in the Crochet Club, I raised money for charities and supported causes I care about, shared my work with fellow students, and built a community by teaching club members how to crochet. I contacted cancer hospitals, children's hospitals, nonprofits, and even international donation groups so we can contribute to the community by donating money, cards, crocheted plushies, and artworks. By collaborating with teachers and students to paint murals around campus, I left a lasting visual impact while forming personal relationships in the process. Through painting a mural for the Italian Club and designing posters for the Japanese Club, I connected with various cultures and formed relationships with the people. I still often visit the teachers. Beyond school, I founded a small art business and sold my work at booths across Long Island. I connected with a wider artistic community that supported one another. I met people from all parts of the community, some were students like me, some were businessmen taking their artistic journey, some were art students and teachers, and somewere struggling families trying to make extra money. Engaging with local communities with my art makes me appreciate the opportunity I have to help others through their art while building relationships and experience. My art has become a way for me to give back while doing what I love. Following my hobbies of art, I can also help marginalized communities through my major and career interest of politics and law. Through social studies class and law-focused extracurriculars, I realized I can participate in the systems of governance and law that shape people’s lives. I can help find solutions by having a greater understanding of society and build a future that empowers diverse voices and promotes equal representation. As my business law teacher once said, “You are the future; You will be running society,” a statement that reinforced my responsibility to be intentional about the future I help shape.

My mom worked tirelessly as a single parent to support us, but her heavy work hours meant she lacked time and energy to engage with me. I struggled with my meals. I could only reheat the leftovers in the microwave. When I wasn’t so fortunate, the Ritz crackers on top of the fridge would be my lunch. Sometimes, I wouldn’t eat at all. There were eggs and frozen dumplings in the fridge, but I didn’t know how to prepare them. As I grew older, I taught myself to boil the frozen dumplings on the stove. I watched videos on how to upgrade instant ramen and began making sandwiches with anything I could find. Then, I started my own grocery list so I could expand my menu and make pasta, oatmeal, and guacamole. Growing up in a low-income single-mother family, I knew how important money was. Although no one taught me how to make and save money, I knew to always buy the cheapest item or not buy it at all. The only financial education I've received was from my physics teacher nd my economics teacher. They told me the most important financial decision was to earn passive income, whether it's through real estate or the stock market. Following their advice, I started my investment journey with my mom, and we put 20-30% of my income in the SP-500 and purchased dividend stocks. Although I've lost some money, I listened to the financial advice from adults around me who said you will fail and lose before you succeed and earn. Following my teacher's advice, they said the most responsible financial decision you can make is to not have any debt before you're 25. I took his advice into serious consideration when I was making my college commitment. I had the dream of attending New York University for years, but when I was accepted and realized I couldn't afford the $100,000, I had to reconsider the dream I had planned for years. I couldn't afford all of my dream colleges because I couldn't afford it, so I made the final decision to go to a cheaper, lower-ranked, less-known school. Since I'm an immigrant and none of my family knew the process of attending an American college, we had no idea what the process of financial aid or scholarships was, so we had to find out firsthand. I wish I had more financial education so I could go into my college applications taking the financial cost and process into account. Learning from my personal experience, I've become an activist for financial education and explain the process to many incoming seniors who have similar struggles as me. I also informed them of outside scholarships, such as the Scorenavigator Financial Literacy Scholarship that can help us in our academic journey financially. Now, I know how to overcome financial challenges by seeking financial education and advice. Using financial advice, I hope to one day ease my mom's workload and help her financially.

Coming from a single parent famiy, my mom worked tirelessly as a single parent to support us, but her heavy work hours meant she lacked time and energy to engage with me. I struggled with my meals. I could only reheat the leftovers in the microwave. When I wasn’t so fortunate, the Ritz crackers on top of the fridge would be my lunch. Sometimes, I wouldn’t eat at all. There were eggs and frozen dumplings in the fridge, but I didn’t know how to prepare them. As I grew older, I taught myself to boil the frozen dumplings on the stove. I watched videos on how to upgrade instant ramen and began making sandwiches with anything I could find. Then, I started my own grocery list so I could expand my menu and make pasta, oatmeal, and guacamole. But I learned to adapt. I needed to be independent and discover my passions. I could no longer depend on family time as my source of emotional fulfillment. I filled my time with extracurriculars and hobbies to discover my identity. My mom’s work hours left me with no transportation. So when I saw volunteer and job opportunities pass me by, I decided to save up money to buy a bike. While I couldn’t attend my old ballet studio, I turned school dance classes, clubs, and events into my stage. I couldn’t afford plane tickets to connect with cultures, but I brewed matcha, learned new languages, and built pasta bridges in various cultural clubs without leaving town. When my elementary school didn’t offer sports, or when I failed the middle school tryouts, I refused to let it stop me. I found a volunteering opportunity to teach children soccer in Brooklyn and joined every week. While I finally learned to play, it also showed me that my biggest strength lies in actively seeking out opportunities and forging my own path. I found my identity in extracurriculars when I lost it in family bonds. Independence became my biggest accomplishment. Following the principle of ‘survival of the fittest,’ I have the motivation and strength to achieve my goals through dedication and hard work. This scholarship will give me more opportunities financially and support my journey in college. This scholarship will support my ability to overcome challenges by constantly evolving, finding other ways to pursue opportunities in order to follow my passions with no reservations. Using the opportunities granted by my mom’s perseverance, I hope to one day ease her workload and reclaim our family time. Where the path to success is hazy, I will never fail to pave my own.

My biggest goal in life is to create an impact in the world through sharing voices. The climate clock in my city of New York is a constant warning that we have three years left to limit global warming before it’s too late. It should motivate action, but how come many people still feel powerless? The biggest misconception is that the average person can’t make an impact, ‘there’s no point in acting ourselves.’ This misconception is a crucial issue because anyone can make choices to create an impact. I learned about my ability to make a difference through my history classes, science classes, and important clubs. Now, I can spread this awareness and show others that their actions matter. The passion to help people realize their voices matter is why I'm determined to study political science at George Washington University in DC. I plan to be a lawyer and policymaker so I can be involved in enacting regulations on global warming and listen to people's voices. Not only do I want to study political science because I want to address important issues, but I also want to help others have their voices heard. When I first joined the Mock Trial club, I approached a number of cases with preconceived notions. One such case detailed an old couple that sued a radio company for broadcasting an alien invasion, claiming that it caused them emotional distress. Some of my classmates supported their actions, and I argued against them. It first appeared ridiculous to me - the broadcast was obviously satirical. It wasn’t until we dug into the nuances of the case that I truly learned the plaintiffs’ experiences. They were delirious - hidden, starved, and isolated for months. Children dressed up as aliens lurked outside their home, inadvertently terrorizing the couple. Only then did I understand where the plaintiff and my classmates were coming from. I realized that my initial judgment had failed to account for these unique circumstances. As the years went on, Mock Trial helped me learn more about the law, politics, and myself. I began to approach cases with an open mind, realizing that to make a fair judgment, I needed to understand the individual experience that lies behind every perspective. By learning to engage in law and politics through recognizing people’s core values and building compassion, I can build a future that empowers diverse voices and promotes equal representation. As my AP American government and politics teacher once said, “You are the future; You will be running society.” I am committed to fight for people’s values through politics by understanding their experiences with empathy and compassion. By supporting my political journey through this scholarship, I can participate in important issues by enhancing other people's voices and impacting the community on a national level. By supporting my academic life at DC, I'll be able to build the connections and have the experience to address issues through political science. I aim to contribute to political solutions and help others see the power they hold to do the same.

1. I grew up in Shanghai, China, and we learned beginner's English in elementary school. We had a class where an American teacher came, so we could learn from a native speaker. But when I moved to America in fourth grade, my English was not good enough. I was in ESL (English second language), and my mom taught me English from textbooks when she struggled too. Therefore, I had to mostly learn from my environment through my classmates and television. Since I was around eight years old, I was able to pick up English quickly. 2. a) Learning English was the easy part, but the judgment I received from the others was the hardest. When I moved to America in fourth grade, I wanted to say, “I brought this yesterday” at a Show and Tell, but learning English for the first time, I said, “I brought this tomorrow.” The whole class erupted in laughter. This was the day I'll never forget, for it reminds me of how separated I felt from American culture. b) As time went on, I realized I shouldn't be ashamed of my identity. Everyone around me has unique identities and goals. My Korean friend wants to be a nurse, my Puerto Rican friend wants to become the president, and I want to be a lawyer. My Venezuelan friend and I exchanged our experiences of being immigrants. Through connecting with my friends and peers' culture, we bonded through understanding, not separation. 3. My educational role models are actually historical figures I learned from YouTube channels Vsauce and Veritasium who told stories of scientific heroes – Curie, Mendeleev, and Ramanujan. After joining Science Olympiad and HOSA, I met those heroes in real life – scientists, nurses, and doctors. I realized they weren’t distant figures on screens or textbooks, but a community I could join. 4. a) I will go to George Washington University in D.C. to study political science and continue my journey to law school, which I plan to go to at Georgetown, NYU, or Columbia. b) I want to pursue my career as a governmental lawyer, working with Congress or the White House to help guide America in the right direction. 5. At the National Art Honor Society, I created artworks for nursing homes to bring comfort to residents, and illustrated portraits for pet shelters so the adopters could take home artwork of their new companions. Seeing my art bring joy to others showed me that creativity can be an act of service. By selling handmade plushies in the Crochet Club, I raised money for charities and support causes I care about, shared my work with fellow students, and built a community by teaching club members how to crochet. By collaborating with teachers and students to paint murals around campus, I left a lasting visual impact while forming personal relationships in the process. Through painting a mural for the Italian Club and designing posters for the Japanese Club, I connected with various cultures and formed relationships with the people. I still often visit the teachers. Beyond school, I founded a small art business and sold my work at booths across Long Island. I connected with a wider artistic community who supported one another. My art has become a way for me to give back while doing what I love.