My earliest memory of my father is of him chain-smoking in the backyard. I asked him why, and he said it was in his genes. That made me worry if I would smoke as well. After all, people are formed by biology, and my family's genes are in iron-clad chains to cigarettes. My grandfather smoked chronically, and so did my father. My grandpa drinks two bottles of beer with every meal, and my mother has an incredibly high alcohol tolerance. Addiction runs in my family, and its running shoes are mental illness. I have struggled with depression my whole life, fighting an uphill battle like Sisyphus pushes his rock. Eventually, everything does come falling back down. But even if I can't control the weather, I can open an umbrella. I can control the things I do and the decisions I make, because I am my own person, not controlled by addiction or mental illness. Still, knowing nicotine’s detrimental effects, I didn’t want to follow in my father’s footsteps. I was terrified of being controlled by an invisible hand that wasn't God or well-intentioned. So, I took AP biology to learn more about how our genes can shape us. From this class, I discovered my passion for developmental processes, which led me to intern at an ultrasound clinic. There, I learned that while biology is beautiful, it can also be cruel. Stillborns, birth defects, unwanted pregnancies, I saw it all during my internship at the clinic. I asked the ultrasound technician if these mothers were doomed from the start, destined to have these negative outcomes. She responded that in some cases yes, but more often than not, it’s heavily influenced by how the individual chooses to live their life. Hearing this, I found myself curious about how someone, mother or not, could control the outcome of their life. Wanting a deeper understanding of how our biology and psychology influence one another, I decided to enroll in AP Psychology. For the longest time, I had viewed the world through the lens of Biology: impartial and deterministic. But once I took Psychology, I realized that while nature is the sandbox, nurture is the shovel. Social interaction, exposure, and stress—they all work together to determine how your gene expression will ultimately affect you. With this perspective, I took control of my life— just as I can choose how I react, I can change how my genes are expressed. I built up my support network by strengthening relationships with my peers, stayed away from cigarettes by investing my time in community service, and found healthy coping mechanisms through hobbies. Still, without knowing it, a person might be predisposed to something, whether through a psychological or biological influence. As such, I’ve decided to study psychology and biology to learn how both external and internal influences affect me and develop the tools to overcome them. Psychology and biology have given me the perspective that I always have a choice, no matter how helpless the situation. I want to use my lived experiences to help others in the same or similar situations as me because everybody deserves a say in their own life. Dance to the beat of your own drums and no one else's. Thank you for your consideration for this scholarship.

My earliest memory of my father is of him chain-smoking in the backyard. I asked him why, and he said it was in his genes. That made me worry if I would smoke as well. After all, people are formed by biology. Knowing nicotine’s detrimental effects, I didn’t want to follow in my father’s footsteps. So, I took AP biology to learn more about how our genes can shape us. From this class, I discovered my passion for developmental processes, which led me to intern at an ultrasound clinic. There, I learned that while biology is beautiful, it can also be cruel. Stillborns, birth defects, unwanted pregnancies, I saw it all during my internship at the clinic. I asked the ultrasound technician if these mothers were doomed from the start, destined to have these negative outcomes. She responded that in some cases yes, but more often than not, it’s heavily influenced by how the individual chooses to live their life. Hearing this, I found myself curious about how someone, mother or not, could control the outcome of their life. Wanting a deeper understanding of how our biology and psychology influence one another, I decided to enroll in AP Psychology. For the longest time, I had viewed the world through the lens of Biology: impartial and deterministic. But once I took Psychology, I realized that while nature is the sandbox, nurture is the shovel. Social interaction, exposure, and stress—they all work together to determine how your gene expression will ultimately affect you. With this perspective, I took control of my life— just as I can choose how I react, I can change how my genes are expressed. I built up my support network by strengthening relationships with my peers, stayed away from cigarettes by investing my time in community service, and found healthy coping mechanisms through hobbies. Still, without knowing it, a person might be predisposed to something, whether through a psychological or biological influence. As such, I’ve decided to study psychology and biology to learn how both external and internal influences affect me and develop the tools to overcome them. With my Asian American background, I can bring a pair of fresh eyes into the field, adjusting the lens to include the cultural differences that Asian Americans face. I will expand the reach of psychology research and dental care. For instance, autism is very unlikely to be diagnosed in women because all the research was done on white men. So, for a woman of color to receive an autism diagnosis, or most diagnoses, as a matter of fact, is like Sisyphus pushing his boulder up the hill over and over again. It is excessively difficult and notorious for making people want to give up. By having a diverse range of researchers, we can ensure that oversights like these do not happen again. The world is not one big white demographic. There are a lot more shades of people than that. In the future, I want to research the effects of mental health on oral hygiene. There are so many different factors in taking care of one's teeth, but a bunch of brain chemicals are always overlooked and dismissed. As someone who has faces depression on a daily basis, it is essential to research ways we can support people who just need a little extra help.

IPads have become the coolest babysitter on the block. I often see young kids engrossed in eye-catching videos at restaurants. My very own brother would rather scroll on his phone than speak with our family. While I understand the importance of technology as a tool for today’s modern world, there’s a part of me that values human interaction and building connections, which I instill in all the relationships I develop. I especially see how the younger generation has become increasingly disconnected from each other and even from themselves, leading to loneliness, low confidence, and other unhealthy issues. Bullying is a symptom of the problem: kids do not understand each other, nor the pain that they cause others. Seeking an opportunity to make a difference, I volunteered to help lead a “no-technology” summer camp. Yes, I was there to teach English, but my main responsibility was to keep the campers engaged and help them form long-lasting friendships. Unfortunately, the classroom was dead silent and the kids looked half-asleep. Everyone was so disconnected, despite being unplugged from the screen. A perfect example of this was Katherine, a sixth grader hidden behind her hoodie. For a brief moment, I thought about giving up. But then I remembered that throughout my life, there have always been people who have supported me. So I took a deep breath and greeted Katherine with a big smile. Rather than view her as an out-of-touch iPad kid that I had nothing in common with, I approached her the same way I would a friend: with curiosity, an open-mind, and a smile. Through this lens, I discovered that we both loved drawing. Not only that, but Sofia, a camper sitting next to Katherine, eagerly showed off her drawings when she overheard our conversation. The two of them bonding encouraged the other campers to open up. I showed them that they were all equals, and that they were more alike than they originally thought. By the end of camp, we all couldn’t wait to come back: they hadn't just learned English, but to lead with kindness and to think of the other person. In the mean time, however, they asked for my social media and number, to which I declined. I taught them the importance of boundaries, and how the internet is unsafe, especially for kids their age. As someone who experienced first-hand the Wild West that was unlimited internet access, I encouraged them to stick to the basics until they were old enough to fully process and comprehend the things they would be exposed to. Through my work with the kids, I truly saw the power and positive impacts of building meaningful connections. The relationships that kids build now help define them, and thus their future, and I'm proud to be part of their journey. People need connection, and seeing how the kids lit up once they realized somebody believed in them gave me confidence as an instructor and leader, and for them, the confidence to face the world. Not from behind a screen, but as their authentic selves. As I enter higher education, I need help paying for tuition and housing. I'm going to take on loans and I appreciate any support I receive. Our family only recently started making good money and we need to take care of my autistic younger brother. He struggles to communicate, making adjusting to society so much harder for him. As they enter retirement, I will take over his care. Thank you for your consideration in this scholarship.

IPads have become the coolest babysitter on the block. I often see young kids engrossed in eye-catching videos at restaurants. My very own brother would rather scroll on his phone than speak with our family. While I understand the importance of technology as a tool for today’s modern world, there’s a part of me that values human interaction and building connections, which I instill in all the relationships I develop. I especially see how the younger generation has become increasingly disconnected from each other and even from themselves, leading to loneliness, low confidence, and other unhealthy issues. Seeking an opportunity to make a difference, I volunteered to help lead a “no-technology” summer camp. Yes, I was there to teach English, but my main responsibility was to keep the campers engaged and help them form long-lasting friendships. Unfortunately, the classroom was dead silent and the kids looked half-asleep. A perfect example of this was Katherine, a sixth grader hidden behind her hoodie. For a brief moment, I thought about giving up. It would be way easier to clap my hands, sigh awkwardly, and plow through the lesson. But then I remembered that throughout my life, there have always been people who have supported me. So I took a deep breath and greeted Katherine with a big smile. Rather than view her as an out-of-touch iPad kid that I had nothing in common with, I approached her the same way I would a friend: with curiosity, an open-mind, and a smile. Through this lens, I discovered that we both loved drawing. Not only that, but Sofia, a camper sitting next to Katherine, eagerly showed off her drawings when she overheard our conversation. The two of them bonding encouraged the other campers to open up. By the end of camp, we all couldn’t wait to come back. Through my work with the kids, I truly saw the power and positive impacts of building meaningful connections. People need connection, and seeing how the kids lit up once they realized somebody believed in them gave me confidence as an instructor and leader, and for them, the confidence to face the world. Not from behind a screen, but as their authentic selves. In the future, I see myself becoming a pediatric dentist, helping kids become confident and comfortable in their own smiles. I understand that I can't help everyone, but this way, I can help as many people possible.

I wasn’t adopted, kidnapped, or switched at birth, but I met my parents for the first time when I was five-years old. I’m an accidental anchor baby born to two undocumented immigrants. My existence was unplanned but it allowed my parents to remain in the States in a legal limbo. Soon after birth, I was shipped across the ocean to be raised by my grandparents because my parents could not afford to take care of me. I grew up on Chinese food, Mandarin, an expired visa, and eventually, it was time for me to come back to America, grandmother in tow. I struggled to assimilate into American culture. I didn't know a lick of English, and there were many times when I wished so desperately to be white. For my hair to be blonde, my eyes to be blue, and to be seen as a student first and Asian second. Countless times, English teachers approached me in the quiet lulls of class to ask if I needed extra help with assignments. Then proceeding to attribute my success to "she's Asian", as if that magically explained away all the hard work I put in. It was frustrating, but at least I could turn to my friends. Except when my best friend asked me if I was going to eat his dog. Because I was Chinese. And he had heard from his parents that Chinese people ate dogs. Needless to say, living in a predominantly white area, I struggled to find my footing. But I'm not ashamed to be Chinese American. I'm proud. I love China, our rich culture, and our community. But I'm also the first American of my family, and I want to keep making firsts in our family history. I'm going to be the first in my family to attend college. We were ripped apart by the Cultural Revolution, but now it is time to rebuild. This will be a huge step for our family. Going from a generation that didn't know how to read to one that is pursuing higher education. It would be an honor to hold this flame for our future generations. I'm going to pursue Pediatric Dentistry after completing my bachelors in Biology at a public California university. Not because of familial obligations or cultural pressures, but because I want to help people as they have helped me. When I first came to America, the first big thing I ever did was see the dentist. Santa Claus Doctor, I called him, for his big, bushy beard, and even bigger laugh. I had ten cavities: nine were filled and one was removed. At five years old, I was so scared, but despite the language barrier, Santa Claus reassured me that I would be alright. And I believed him, because who wouldn't? To this day, I love going to the dentist and taking care of my teeth. I am going to be Santa Claus Doctor for countless other kids. Even if there are drills and needles, I hope every future patient that sits in my dental chair feels safe and reassured. To me, my Asian American background means that I have a community to fall back on if I need to. We are all connected through our shared experiences, and I'm relying on my community to help me become a fully-fledged member that they can depend on in turn. I'm going to attend college no matter what. If I can't find the money to go, I'll go military. Come hell or high waters, I'll always be here to care. Thank you for your consideration for this scholarship.

I want to be Santa Claus. I know I can’t suddenly shift into a merry old man, but I can carry his sunny spirit and bring joy to those around me. My dentist is Santa Claus. He has a big, bushy beard, a jolly laugh, and a jovial personality. At the ripe old age of five, I faced the daunting task of having my teeth pulled. But even when surrounded by loud, humming drills and sharp syringe needles, I wasn’t scared. Because he reassured me with the promise of candy and stickers at the end. To this day, I love going to the dentist because it has become a safe space for me. My doctor was the Grinch. He was old, traditional, and hated kids. A bit ironic if you’re a family doctor, but alas. He denied my brother an autism diagnosis despite multiple referrals and obvious symptoms. I struggled with extreme anxiety to the point where I could not speak to most adults normally. Our family struggled for years to accommodate us without the resources nor knowledge to understand what was going on. To this day, I hate going to the doctor because of these experiences. So many people hate going to the doctor because of how they are treated. Their symptoms are not heard and they are left in the dark about what is happening to their body and mind. So while I am grateful to receive any medical care at all, my goal for the next generation is for everybody to receive stellar care. As both a first-generation American and college student, I work hard to excel in both school and work. I’m going to work a part-time job in college and ’m taking AP classes right now both to challenge myself and to receive college credit that’ll let me graduate earlier. I plan to go straight to a four-year university and double major in Biology and Psychology. With this, I’ll go to medical school and focus on pediatrics. I want to work with kids because doctor offices and dentist visits can so easily be scary, even for adults, but I will make sure every kid feels safe and comfortable getting the treatment they need. Medical treatment should be something that everybody has access to, so I’ll work in underserved communities because everybody deserves to feel good, healthy, and comfortable in their body. People, especially children, should not have to wait until they feel so ill and in pain to the point that they cannot function to seek help. Prevention is the best medicine but in the current healthcare climate, it is not viable for most. So in addition to treating patients, I will spread awareness about government funded programs that make healthcare more accessible. I am eternally grateful to Medi-Cal and Covered California, because their policies ensured that no matter a person’s citizenship, income, or age, they could receive medical care. For the first chapter of my life, my family depended on these subsidized healthcare programs in order to receive the care we needed. But many people aren’t aware of these programs because of the hurdles. It feels like jumping through hoops just to receive a pretty penny from the government. I’ll help people who don’t know English, how to read, or simply how to navigate the system, receive the benefits that they are entitled to. I will soothe and fix the flaws that our healthcare system has, because medicine should not be about the money; it should be about the people.