Imagine waking up every morning breathing in black mold or seeing a horde of 3-inch red cockroach crawl out of the cabinet? I know I grew up far from rich. But during that time, I felt my worth equivalent to the gum stuck under the desk. Holes in my shoes and only rice for my meals. I was jealous I didn't have the money to have what others had. My childhood became the toughest time of my life. Isn't your childhood supposed to be one of your best experiences? That's what I always wondered about. Even with these problems my parents did the best they could with their minimum paying jobs. But life was suffocating. What I looked forward to everyday was showing up to cross country practice. It was a place I can run away from all my problems. I found a community that supported me and I had a lot of fun. From then till now I carry this deep passion for not only running related sports but with all sports. As I got older, I realized that sports are one of the only places on school campuses that has the power to drastically change lives. Whether it's an escape from reality or their ticket to college. Many young athletes have a plethora of possibilities from athletics. But many of them are limited due to their financial status. My sole goal is to become an athletic director at a low-income high school so I can help these student athletes achieve their goals. I want to be able to help them have food on the table, a clean place to sleep, and shoes on their feet. I want to make the world a better place by helping those who can't affords to chase their dreams.

I want it to be filipino-american. Spend a day just being a filipino-american living their life. I want AI to see all the beautiful things life has to offer and all the nasty things too. But at the end of the day it can’t. No amount of words and programming will ever let it be conscious. Growing up I thought every one like me grew up the same. In a small home with a big family living from paycheck to paycheck eating chicken adobo once a week on a bed of hor white rice. But as I got older I noticed how different we are. We speak different dialects, eat different food, have different opinions, and even different beliefs. My experience was both good and bad. I love being able to smell the freshly made pandesal in Valerio’s bakery. I love the taste and crunch of hot turon my Lola bought me. I love seeing family every Pasko. But I hate being called dark by other filipinos and being reccomened to use papaya soap to look prettier. I hate being called “exotic” by other guys in my community. I hate the racist stares I get whenever I walk into a store in a richer neighborhood. AI can not understand how these things made me feel only other Filipino-Americans can. Will AI ever understand each of our stories? Will AI understand the colorism that divides us? Will AI understand why we feel and why we love? Will AI undertsand or care about pur everyday struggles no matter jow big or small? No. AI is not human it’s just programmed to imitate us. It won’t understand why, it will just do what it was programmed to do. AI will only see us in black and white, whatever it was programmed to think of us is all we ever will be. Even if it can “learn” it can not feel our emotions, smell our food, and be who we are. So I do not beleive AI can truly capture any of our stories as Filipino Americans. Every single one of us experiences are so rich because we are alive. As much as AI can pretend to understand us they will never truly be alive. It can not be us.

Finances have always been rough for my family and that prevented me and many others from many opportunities, specifically participating in sports. Growing up I learned that everything requires money and if you couldn't pay for it then too bad. Being a first-generation college student I want to change this motion that you can't do it because you are poor. I plan to support other low income students by becoming an athletic director. Sports have always been a big part of me mainly because it was a way for me to de-stress from things going on at home. I found my passion in running my freshman year of and I have been running ever since. When I joined my track & field team I immediately fell in love with it. I felt accomplished and my team supported me no matter how I did. I loved it. But I also noticed how expensive it was to participate in athletics. I wondered why students should be paying 90$ on a uniform if they are barely getting by? To me it just did not make sense. I also saw how many people ended up quitting their sport because they couldn't afford it. I believe that all students should be able to participate in sports. Kids deserve to be kids and deserve to have equal opportunities. As an athletic director I plan to be involved with every sports team on campus and not choose favorites. I want to hold fundraisers and donation drives so that all students no matter income are able to afford to participate. Finally I would like to focus on mental health and giving student-athletes a voice. Student-athletes need to be supported and encouraged in more ways than just saying a few words, actions speak louder than words. Needless to say without sports I wouldn't be the person I am today. And I want everyone no matter their background to follow their dreams. This scholarship will help bring me one step closer to helping my community.

The silence before the gun goes off is one of the best feelings in the world. The first few steps of the race feel unreal. But what I treasure most is seeing my younger teammates look up to me, just like I once looked up to Gabby. Growing up in a traditional religious Filipino household, I was taught that sports were for men. I was told not to go outside too much, or my skin would darken “too much” for boys to notice me. On top of that growing up in an era where beauty is the most important value in a woman, I felt self-conscious even at such a young age. These messages, with my self-consciousness, kept me small and silent for years. During COVID, I was stuck at home doom-scrolling through social media, comparing myself to everyone else, I felt invincible and unimportant. I tried volleyball and dance, hoping to find confidence and a community. But when I tried out for the track team everything changed. Not because I was naturally fast, but because of my teammates. Gabby, our team captain, became my role model, my big sister. Her kindness and support made me feel seen and valued, a new unknown feeling. When Gabby quit due to unhealthy pressure from a coach, I promised to be the supportive leader she was for me, especially for younger girls like myself who might feel unconfident and timid. Running gave me a voice in a world where women in sports are often discouraged, unsupported, and undermined. Balancing running with school was challenging, but it taught me discipline, resilience, and grit. Before track, I was timid and did the bare minimum academically, unsure of how to ask for help. Running gave me confidence not just on the track, but in the classroom and in life. Now, as captain of both the cross country and track teams, I strive to create a safe, supportive space where every girl can feel strong and capable. Athletics taught me how to rise above limiting beliefs and stereotypes about what women can or cannot do. Beyond high school, I’m grateful to continue my running journey at the University of Saint Mary, pursuing a degree in sports management. My goal is to become an athletic director, to nurture the next generation of female athletes. I have become a stronger woman in a male-dominated world. This scholarship will bring me closer to making sports more inclusive and empowering for all.

The silence before the gun goes off is the best feeling in the world. It's exhilarating. The first few steps of the race feel unreal. But my favorite part of it all is having my younger teammates watch me. In my childhood, I was always self-conscious of how others saw me or thought of me. That fear worsened during covid, I was consistently stuck at home on my phone, scrolling through countless pieces of media and comparing myself to others. Never once felt I could be good enough. In my freshman year, I tried activities to feel confident, happy, and content. But no matter what I did I wasn't happy, whether it was volleyball or dance. I didn't connect with anyone. Something was just missing. I first started running track in my freshman year of high school. Everything just clicked. Not because I was good at running, but because of my teammates. Gabby was the one I looked up to most, she was the team captain my sophomore year. What made her so special was her unconditional support and kindness. I never met someone like her. She made me feel so welcome and happy about myself. She was the older sister I never had. I remember watching her during her races wishing I was as cool as her, as confident and happy. But she sadly quit the sport due to pressure to lose weight from one of our coaches. The day she did that I promised myself to be just like her, supporting the younger teammates and being someone they could look up to. While also protecting them from being mistreated by others. Running was a way to put myself out there and feel empowered. It was a way my voice could be heard. I would have never thought I'd love running or that it would completely change my life, but it did. I became team captain for the girl's cross country and track & field teams in my junior year. Every year I focused on, unconditional support. I wanted my teammates to feel included. I know how it feels to be scared to try something new. I know how it feels to try so many things just to feel like you don't belong. Creating a safe and supportive community is key to having young athletes thrive in their sport. The best thing about running is not winning but the power to change lives. I was able to inspire others, especially the girls, who needed a little push to reach their true potential. Beyond helping just my teammates I want to help my community. Beyond high school, I was blessed with the opportunity to run at the University of Saint Mary. I plan to get my bachelor's degree in sports management to become an athletic director to support the next generation of athletes. I have experienced how athletics can change my life and now I want to change others. This scholarship brings me one step closer to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.

My family of 7 lives in a cramped 2-bedroom townhouse. My parents immigrated from the Philippines to the United States in the early 2000s for the "American Dream." In my childhood, my parents worked 2 jobs to support us. They would be working up to 7 days a week, surviving off of paycheck to paycheck. Most “meals” consisted of hot pockets, pizza bites, Lean Cuisine, and off-brand Maruchan. When I was younger I always wished I had the accessibility to fresh food, I was sick of frozen meals that hurt my stomach. I was jealous of what the other kids had, a fresh hot meal. But no matter how hard life got, my parents always supported my siblings and me, not worrying about money but our happiness. I love my parents a lot; they mean the world to me. They told me to follow my dreams no matter what. I knew I had to do well in my classes. Because I knew that getting an education was the only thing I could do for myself, my family, and my community. At the time I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to help struggling students like myself. During my junior year of high school, my family once again struggled. My dad was laid off from work, leaving my mother the only provider for our family. We lived paycheck to paycheck, but without my father’s income we couldn’t afford to buy enough groceries to feed our family of 7. Seeing my family suffer I worked 3-4 times a week. With every paycheck, I bought groceries and helped my mom with bills. Stressing about money and school sucked, and I felt unsupported by my school, who couldn’t offer help. I started wondering how many others are going through the same thing as me. And why didn’t anyone help us? Growing up Filipino-American, the most important things I was taught were God, kindness, and education. I was taught that everyone’s life has value. And reflecting on my struggle inspired me to help low-income families in any way I can. One job that caught my eye, where I can be involved in my community, was being an athletic director. For background I fell in love with running my freshman year since it helped me get through some of the toughest times of my life. But it was hard on my family to buy the team uniform, clothes, shoes, and nutritional meals. After weeks of research I decided to major in sports management to become an athletic director at one of the schools in my low-income community, because not only have I experienced how athletics could change someone's life, but I have also experienced the financial struggle it comes with. My upbringing inspired me to be the change I wish I had when I was younger. I wish I could've been a kid, not worrying about money. As an athletic director I want to give our next generation of student athletes a voice, where they feel valued and supported. I plan to make sports more affordable for low-income students by holding donation events, getting sponsorships from local businesses, and fundraisers. The focus of these events will be decided from what the student athletes vote for, ranging from clothing, food, and electronics. To change the world is to first initiate it. I hope that I can help better my community and support these kids. This scholarship brings me one step closer to becoming an athletic director and impacting the lives of many low-income youth.

My name is Christine Hart, and I am from San Jose, California. My family of 7 lives in a cramped 2-bedroom townhouse. The "American Dream" was what brought my parents to America. In my childhood, my parents had 2 jobs to support us. Even with them working sometimes 7 days a week, it was rough growing up with barely any money. Most “meals” consisted of hot pockets, pizza bites, Lean Cuisine, and off-brand Maruchan. My clothes were always from the local Goodwill or were off-brand. And I would share a twin-sized broken water bed covered in duct tape, with my little sister. Even today life is hard. The water heater would break and go months unfixed because it was too expensive. Or we would only be able to spend 100$ on groceries for a family of 7 every 2 weeks. Or I would be scared to go to the hospital because I don't want my mother to pay for the high costs. But no matter how hard life got, my parents always supported us. I promised them I’d go to college and get a good-paying job so we wouldn’t have to live like this anymore. Early on these experiences taught me that no one's gonna help you but yourself. At that time I could only get good grades and pray that those would help my future. After my junior year, my dad was laid off from work, leaving my mother the only provider for our family. I remember watching my mother cry every night about not having enough money for groceries. Watching your mother cry is a different type of pain, it feels horrible. That night I decided to get a part-time job where I would work 3-4 times a week. With every paycheck, I would buy our family groceries and help my mother. Having to grow up so early made me want to break this cycle of poverty. I don't want my mother, whose health is declining, to waste her life trying to keep our family alive. Additionally, this struggle inspired me to train hard for my sport in hopes of getting an athletic scholarship to make college more affordable. But even with that athletic scholarship of 2,000$, college is still too expensive. I just applied for a seasonal second job to help pay for tuition. My goal this summer is to work 35 hours every week to save money for college. I also put in countless hours every night applying to opportunities just like this to hopefully lessen the burden on my mother. Growing up Filipino-American, the most important things I learned included God and kindness. My father always told me that God was good to those who are good. Another thing I was taught was that I should help others because there are always other people out there doing worse than me. Even when I am struggling I always help others. My upbringing inspired me to help low-income families like my own. I fell in love with running my freshman year since it helped me get through some of the toughest times of my life. I decided to major in sports management to become an athletic director at one of the schools in my low-income community, because not only have I experienced how athletics could change lives, but I have also experienced the financial struggle it comes with. I want to make sports affordable for low-income students. This scholarship brings me one step closer to becoming an athletic director and impacting the lives of many low-income youth.

My family of 7 lives in a cramped 2-bedroom townhouse. My parents immigrated from the Philippines to the United States in the early 2000s for the "American Dream." In my childhood, my parents had 2 jobs to support us. Even with them working sometimes 7 days a week, it was rough growing up with little money and barely seeing my parents. Most “meals” consisted of hot pockets, pizza bites, Lean Cuisine, and off-brand Maruchan. The clothes were either from the local Goodwill or off-brand, making me feel different from the other kids. As a child, I hated how hard my parents worked to survive the day. It's ridiculous how immigrants come to America for this so-called "American Dream" but can barely make a living. Seeing my parents struggle so much inspired me to go to college. No matter how hard life got, my parents always encouraged my siblings and me to focus on school so that we wouldn’t have to live like they had to. I love my parents a lot; they mean the world to me, so I promised them I’d go to college and get a good-paying job so they wouldn’t have to live like this anymore. For as long as I can remember, I focused on my classes, seeking perfection in every small thing. I loved to learn. Not because it was fun but because it is an opportunity my parents never had, I am grateful that they came here for my future. Growing up I always knew that education was the only thing I could do for myself and my family. My father lost his job last May, causing massive problems for my family. One is bills and the other is that one person working can not sustain a family of 7. So to prepare for college I have been working a part-time job to help pay for it but also for groceries my mother couldn't afford. I would work 2-4 times a week, depending on if I had school that week. Even though my parents struggled with money they reminded me to focus on school before making money. But I knew I had to do everything to help pay for my education. On top of studying and working, I have been applying for countless scholarships to make my monthly tuition cheaper for my mother. I don't want to rely on my mother to pay my tuition because she has already done so much for me and my family. But also her health has been declining for some time now and she can barely walk. Even though this has been a stressful year preparing for college I am grateful for my supportive family, always encouraging me. This scholarship will help bring me one step closer to getting a degree and helping my parents finally achieve their American Dream.

My family of 7 lives in a cramped 2-bedroom townhouse. My parents immigrated from the Philippines to the United States in the early 2000s for the "American Dream." In my childhood, my parents had 2 jobs to support us. Even with them working sometimes 7 days a week, it was rough growing up with little money and barely seeing my parents. Most “meals” consisted of hot pockets, pizza bites, Lean Cuisine, and off-brand Maruchan. The clothes were either from the local Goodwill or off-brand, making me feel different from the other kids. We also never had money for me to get tutoring for school and coaching for a sport. But no matter how hard life got, my parents always encouraged my siblings and me to focus on school so that we wouldn’t have to live like they had to. I love my parents a lot; they mean the world to me, so I promised them I’d go to college and get a good-paying job so they wouldn’t have to live like this anymore. I always focused on my classes, seeking perfection in everything. And during high school, I sought help from my classmates and staff. I always knew that education was the only thing I could do for myself and my family. But right after my junior year, my dad was laid off from work, leaving my mother the only provider for our family. This led to us not having enough money for groceries, and seeing my family suffer like this again. I got a part-time job where I would work 3-4 times a week. Every paycheck, I would buy our family groceries and help my mom with some bills. This encouraged me to study harder during my senior year to get into a good college. Growing up Filipino-American, the most important things included God and kindness. My father always told me that God was good to those who are good. Another thing I was taught was that I should help others because there are always other people out there doing worse than me. I also learned that the smallest things can change someone’s life. My upbringing inspired me to help low-income families like my own in any way I can. I fell in love with running my freshman year since it helped me get through some of the toughest times of my life. I decided to major in sports management to become an athletic director at one of the schools in my community, because not only have I experienced how athletics could change someone's life, but I have also experienced the financial struggle it comes with. I want to make sports affordable for low-income students. This scholarship brings me one step closer to becoming an athletic director and impacting the lives of many low-income youth.

I am a first-generation Filipino from a family of 7. My parents immigrated to the United States from the Philippines with the hope of a better life, where their children would have more opportunities. We lived with my grandparents in a tiny 2 bedroom townhouse that barely had enough space for us. Growing up, my family never had a lot of money, preventing me and my siblings from many opportunities. In the Philippines, my father never finished 6th grade because it wasn’t an option and my mother never went to college because it was too expensive. My parents always encouraged me to go to college and get a degree, so that I wouldn't have to live like them. No matter how hard life was I always had my family to support me. Early on I learned the importance of hard work and sacrifice. When I was younger my parents would work their full-time job 5 times a week and then a part-time job on the weekend to pay for bills and put food on the table. I knew my parents sacrificed a lot for me and my siblings, they worked 8-hour shifts almost every day to just get paid minimum wage but they did that for our family. Seeing my parents at a young age working so hard for me and my siblings inspired me to go to college and get a good-paying job so they wouldn’t have to suffer like this just to make it till the end of the week. Last year my father was laid off from his job, resulting in my mother being the only provider of our family. Living in San Jose, California the cost of living has been extremely high, and only having one member of the family work made life suck. My mother barely had enough money to pay for bills and daily necessities. Seeing my family barely having enough money and barely eating every day caused me to get a part-time job. I would be working at least 3-4 times a week and with every paycheck, I would help buy my family groceries. When it comes to college, I never would have expected going out of state. I ran cross country and track & field at my high school and was team captain for my junior and senior years. The most unexpected thing that happened was being offered to run at the University of Saint Mary, in Kansas. At first, I didn't think my parents would let me go because of how expensive it was. But I am extremely happy and grateful for my parents who agreed to let me go. In college, I plan to major in sports management and minor in coaching. Mostly because sports have had the most impact on me. I plan to become an athletic director at a high school in my community to help nurture the next generation of athletes and also to be able to give them a voice. In my experience, I found that my athletic director did not address many problems student-athletes faced. I want to create the change I wish I had. Many others including myself couldn't afford to do sports. I plan to create a nonprofit sports club for children to get coaching and support no matter their financial background. I want to be the change in my community even if it's something as small as giving kids the ability to be kids. This scholarship would help lighten the burden of paying for college and allow me to pursue not only my dream but the dreams of my family.

Growing up poor shaped my everyday life. Whether I had food on the table or a new pair of shoes. Early on I learned that the world ran on money. My parents are immigrants from the Philipines who came here to live the "American Dream". My parents worked long hours, I would barely see them at home. I always knew they had to work because we never had enough money for daily expenses. So that also meant we never had money for me to join a club outside of school. After the pandemic, I found comfort in sports. While high school teams were free to join, there were hidden costs, the biggest one being gear, this limited student-athletes like me from participating fully or even joining. And the cheapest one was Cross Country and Track & Field because you only needed a pair of shoes and a bottle of water. I fell in love with running, the process, the people, the competition, and the discipline. Being a runner changed my life, I felt like it opened a door for me. I just wished I had been able to do the sport earlier in my life. During my childhood, I was always left out because I couldn't afford private lessons, private coaching, or even branded clothing. I remember watching others excel in sports and other activities, but looking back at it it's not because they were more talented, but because they had more resources. Growing up I believed that I wasn't good enough, not based on my capability, but because I couldn't afford to be good. Going to college would not only mean the world to me but also open the door for me to change other girls' lives. I know how it feels to be excluded because of cost. Money still heavily affects me today, especially since I am going to college 1,800 miles away from home. I know the struggle and want to help those who are struggling. I plan to major in Sports Management and minor in Coaching to create programs and help young girls, regardless of their financial situation. After college, I plan to become an athletic director in my school district to give back to my community. I would eventually start a nonprofit sports club where all kids can do sports and receive support. I want to eliminate the gap created by wealth in sports not only does it divide us, but it limits potential and crushes dreams. Every child, especially girls, deserves a fighting chance to reach their dreams no matter how big or small they may be. Education is my first step in making my dream and many others come true. Paying my college tuition is a financial burden on my family and receiving this scholarship would help ease that burden. I am ready to change the lives of kids like me, who grew up with limited opportunities but unlimited potential.

Growing up my family never had a lot of money. I have a mother, father, older brother, and younger sister. We lived with my grandparents in a cramped 2 bedroom townhouse in San Jose, California. I am first generation and both my parents immigrated from the Philippines to the United States in the early 2000s in the hopes of creating a better future for their children. In the Philippines, my father never finished 6th grade because he had to work to survive and my mother never went to college because it was too expensive. Their upbringing makes it clear that they do not have any financial education, causing them to not make smart financial decisions. These experiences inspired me to take financial education seriously, so I can break the cycle of poverty, help my family, and teach others in my community to do the same. Due to finances, my parents could only afford one bed, which they shared. My sister and I shared a water bed and my older brother shared a room with my grandparents. My parents both worked one full-time job and a part-time job on the weekend. My family of 7 was and is currently living paycheck to paycheck. My parents were never able to have enough money for the bills and basic living expenses, causing my mother to pull out loans. I vividly remember hearing my parents and grandmother stressing over money to pay bills. Many childhood memories like this left a lasting impression on me, teaching me that being financially responsible is essential in life. During middle school, life didn't get easier. My parents left their part-time weekend jobs to take care of my siblings, myself, and my aging grandparents. Around 7th grade, I was offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do an all-girl coding summer camp at Stanford University with a scholarship. The only problem was that my mother would have to pay 1,000$ for me to attend the 5-week summer program. Money my mother couldn't pay, resulting in me not going. At the time this made me extremely upset because I worked so hard in all my classes, studying hours on end, just to end up not being able to go because of money. This further made me realize how much money matters in education and how it can impact opportunities, especially in education. At first, I felt discouraged, but eventually, it became my motivation. I knew that if I wanted better opportunities, I had to become financially smart and independent. In April 2024, my dad got laid off from his job where he worked for over 10 years. Our financial situation already fragile, became worse. Some problems included not being able to pay for groceries or the electricity bill. This caused me to get a summer job to help support my family. I would work 3-4 times a week and every paycheck I would give my mother at least 200$ to help pay for expenses. This experience caused me to be smart with my money and save it as much as I could. Through personal experiences with financial struggles, I learned the importance of financial education. I plan to continue working, learning how to budget and invest. Utilizing college courses in personal finance. My long-term goal is to build stability for my family and avoid the mistakes my mother made in the past. And one day give back to low-income communities by supporting them through programs that help educate them about finances, to help with food, housing, and other aid for students. I want to be the change that I wish I had.