Two hundred Vietnamese Christians of all ages pack our church pews to be a part of a community every Sunday. Yet, despite sharing the same prayers and traditions, a quiet divide runs through our congregation. Vietnamese elders saw us Vietnamese-Americans as too different because we didn’t “appreciate Vietnamese culture.” But that wasn’t the case; it was the challenges of rekindling with our heritage in America that made it difficult to learn our language and cultural traditions. It was the loss of direction of being first-generation and the uncertainty elders faced integrating into American life. As a first-generation Vietnamese-American, I always felt lost between the sides, searching for a way to bridge the connections we were slowly losing every Sunday. Volunteering in my church for many years, I knew it was important to reach over the aisle and connect with the older generation. As a Sunday school teacher, I taught English to non-native English speakers to lessen our language barrier. During my weekly duties, I aided the elderly members with setting up for mass, taking part in their prayers, and conversing with them a few minutes before mass started. These small conversations sparked a sense of unity among the elderly members. Bonding over prayer and a light-hearted lunch let us see our shared beliefs and values beyond culture and appearance. “Chao biết tiếng Việt à?” (“Wait, you know Vietnamese? ”) “A little bit, ma’am.” “I’m learning!” These small interactions gave warmth and trust to our community. I also encouraged my students to do the same. “Class, this week’s assignment is to spend time with your relatives and lend a hand.” When I was appointed vice-chairman of our parish committee, this passion motivated me to develop community events that could bring our church together. During our New Year festival, I remember fondly seeing each child laughing and eating with their older relatives, close-knit and joyful. I saw the sticky rice cakes and the spring rolls they made together. I heard the stories of childhood being spread to the kids. That experience taught me that community is built through patience, humility, and intentional connection. I’m grateful to have helped create a space that honors our shared heritage while respecting one another’s differences. While my church is a small sample of the divide in our society, I’ll carry the same lessons to unite people from different backgrounds just as I did with my own community.

Sickness and disease have long affected my loved ones. Growing up, I constantly heard stories of my family struggling to eat full, nutritious foods and how that impacted their health and wellness. Today, all of them have type 2 diabetes. Every pill taken and every finger-pricking machine I saw gave me a glimpse of what it meant to struggle with chronic diseases. My first research experience began with Penn Medicine, where I researched ways to alleviate diabetic symptoms. I studied how fonio, an African iron- and amino acid-rich grain, can stabilize blood sugar. From there, I began studying how carbohydrate digestion rate, fiber content, and glycemic index influence insulin demand and long-term metabolic health. My fascination with studying chronic diseases gave me the aspiration of becoming a physician-scientist, where my scientific discoveries on the bench and compassion at the bedside can improve human life. Later on, I pursued a research opportunity at Harvard Medical School, where I utilized artificial intelligence alongside computational analysis to produce novel drug candidates that could provide more efficacy. These pivotal moments changed my educational path. I knew from there that I wanted to be in the life sciences and do biomedical research. Not only was science an intellectual passion, but it then became a personal pursuit. I’m intrigued by how biological systems can be modulated and how our current knowledge can be harnessed to advance the field. That motive and passion solidified my commitment to becoming a physician-scientist, where I can be on the forefront of patient care and scientific research. Within the intersection of computational chemistry and translational medicine, I’m particularly interested in structure-based drug design to develop small-molecule therapies that enhance insulin receptor signaling or improve glucose uptake through targeted modulation of metabolic pathways. In general, I hope to use molecular docking and structure-activity relationship analysis to accelerate the development of targeted therapeutics for metabolic diseases to help those affected by illnesses like my mother. Looking back, what began as fear now fuels my commitment to understand disease at the molecular and chemical level. Going to the University of Pennsylvania next fall, I’ll major in chemistry, where I can continue researching chemical reactions and molecular interactions in the context of drug discovery. I also aim to expand on my Alzheimer’s research with Professor Pranam Chatterjee at the Penn Institute for Computational Science to identify potential inhibitors for Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, I’ll take part in public health research to study how minority groups are disproportionately affected by neurodegenerative diseases. In the long term, I hope to pursue an MD/PhD and become a physician-scientist who connects scientific excellence with compassionate patient care and public health advocacy. As a low-income, first-generation student, funding is a major barrier to these goals. The Honorable Shawn Long Memorial scholarship would significantly reduce my financial burden, allowing me to devote myself fully to research and academic excellence. At Penn, I will be able to sustain high academic performance while remaining deeply engaged in laboratory research focused on advancing Alzheimer’s therapeutics. Ultimately, this scholarship will support my education that will help me become a leader in medicine who makes a profound impact through patient-centered care and scientific discovery that can help the global community.

Sickness and disease have long affected my loved ones. Growing up, I constantly heard stories of my family struggling to eat full, nutritious foods and how that impacted their health and wellness. Today, all of them have type 2 diabetes. Every pill taken and every finger-pricking machine I saw gave me a glimpse of what it meant to struggle with chronic diseases. My first research experience began with Penn Medicine, where I researched ways to alleviate diabetic symptoms. I studied how fonio, an African iron- and amino acid-rich grain, can stabilize blood sugar. From there, I began studying how carbohydrate digestion rate, fiber content, and glycemic index influence insulin demand and long-term metabolic health. My fascination with studying chronic diseases gave me the aspiration of becoming a physician-scientist, where my scientific discoveries on the bench and compassion at the bedside can improve human life. Later on, I pursued a research opportunity at Harvard Medical School, where I utilized artificial intelligence alongside computational analysis to produce novel drug candidates that could provide more efficacy. These pivotal moments changed my educational path. I knew from there that I wanted to be in the life sciences and do biomedical research. Not only was science an intellectual passion, but it then became a personal pursuit. I’m intrigued by how biological systems can be modulated and how our current knowledge can be harnessed to advance the field. That motive and passion solidified my commitment to becoming a physician-scientist, where I can be on the forefront of patient care and scientific research. Within the intersection of computational chemistry and translational medicine, I’m particularly interested in structure-based drug design to develop small-molecule therapies that enhance insulin receptor signaling or improve glucose uptake through targeted modulation of metabolic pathways. In general, I hope to use molecular docking and structure-activity relationship analysis to accelerate the development of targeted therapeutics for metabolic diseases to help those affected by illnesses like my mother. Looking back, what began as fear now fuels my commitment to understand disease at the molecular and chemical level. My passion for research also helped me discover a passion for teaching and mentorship. During my sophomore year, I founded the ACS Chemistry Club Chapter at my school to host workshops, tutoring sessions, and lab demonstrations. As president and founder, I led my club to mentor and teach over 100 students. I also founded Power In Code to teach programming to underrepresented students. As president and founder, I’ve led in helping over 80 students understand programming through hands-on learning and engaging activities. For me, STEM is a field where it’s crucial to provide training and support for younger students so that they may have that same experience.

Sickness and disease have long affected my loved ones. Growing up, I constantly heard stories of my family struggling to eat full, nutritious foods and how that impacted their health and wellness. Today, all of them have type 2 diabetes. Every pill taken and every finger-pricking machine I saw gave me a glimpse of what it meant to struggle with chronic diseases. My first research experience began with Penn Medicine, where I researched ways to alleviate diabetic symptoms. I studied how fonio, an African iron- and amino acid-rich grain, can stabilize blood sugar. From there, I began studying how carbohydrate digestion rate, fiber content, and glycemic index influence insulin demand and long-term metabolic health. My fascination with studying chronic diseases gave me the aspiration of becoming a physician-scientist, where my scientific discoveries on the bench and compassion at the bedside can improve human life. Later on, I pursued a research opportunity at Harvard Medical School, where I utilized artificial intelligence alongside computational analysis to produce novel drug candidates that could provide more efficacy. These pivotal moments changed my educational path. I knew from there that I wanted to be in the life sciences and do biomedical research. Not only was science an intellectual passion, but it then became a personal pursuit. I’m intrigued by how biological systems can be modulated and how our current knowledge can be harnessed to advance the field. That motive and passion solidified my commitment to becoming a physician-scientist, where I can be on the forefront of patient care and scientific research. Within the intersection of computational chemistry and translational medicine, I’m particularly interested in structure-based drug design to develop small-molecule therapies that enhance insulin receptor signaling or improve glucose uptake through targeted modulation of metabolic pathways. In general, I hope to use molecular docking and structure-activity relationship analysis to accelerate the development of targeted therapeutics for metabolic diseases to help those affected by illnesses like my mother. Looking back, what began as fear now fuels my commitment to understand disease at the molecular and chemical level. My passion for research also helped me discover a passion for teaching and mentorship. During my sophomore year, I founded the ACS Chemistry Club Chapter at my school to host workshops, tutoring sessions, and lab demonstrations. As president and founder, I led my club to mentor and teach over 100 students. I also founded Power In Code to teach programming to underrepresented students. As president and founder, I’ve led in helping over 80 students understand programming through hands-on learning and engaging activities. For me, STEM is a field where it’s crucial to provide training and support for younger students so that they may have that same experience.

Sickness and disease have long affected my loved ones. Growing up, I constantly heard stories of my family struggling to eat full, nutritious foods and how that impacted their health and wellness. Today, all of them have type 2 diabetes. Every pill taken and every finger-pricking machine I saw gave me a glimpse of what it meant to struggle with chronic diseases. My first research experience began with Penn Medicine, where I researched ways to alleviate diabetic symptoms. I studied how fonio, an African iron- and amino acid-rich grain, can stabilize blood sugar. From there, I began studying how carbohydrate digestion rate, fiber content, and glycemic index influence insulin demand and long-term metabolic health. My fascination with studying chronic diseases gave me the aspiration of becoming a physician-scientist, where my scientific discoveries on the bench and compassion at the bedside can improve human life. Later on, I pursued a research opportunity at Harvard Medical School, where I utilized artificial intelligence alongside computational analysis to produce novel drug candidates that could provide more efficacy. These pivotal moments changed my educational path. I knew from there that I wanted to be in the life sciences and do biomedical research. Not only was science an intellectual passion, but it then became a personal pursuit. I’m intrigued by how biological systems can be modulated and how our current knowledge can be harnessed to advance the field. That motive and passion solidified my commitment to becoming a physician-scientist, where I can be on the forefront of patient care and scientific research. Within the intersection of computational chemistry and translational medicine, I’m particularly interested in structure-based drug design to develop small-molecule therapies that enhance insulin receptor signaling or improve glucose uptake through targeted modulation of metabolic pathways. In general, I hope to use molecular docking and structure-activity relationship analysis to accelerate the development of targeted therapeutics for metabolic diseases to help those affected by illnesses like my mother. Looking back, what began as fear now fuels my commitment to understand disease at the molecular and chemical level. My passion for research also helped me discover a passion for teaching and mentorship. During my sophomore year, I founded the ACS Chemistry Club Chapter at my school to host workshops, tutoring sessions, and lab demonstrations. As president and founder, I led my club to mentor and teach over 100 students. I also founded Power In Code to teach programming to underrepresented students. As president and founder, I’ve led in helping over 80 students understand programming through hands-on learning and engaging activities. For me, STEM is a field where it’s crucial to provide training and support for younger students so that they may have that same experience.

Sickness and disease have long affected my loved ones. Growing up, I constantly heard stories of my family struggling to eat full, nutritious foods and how that impacted their health and wellness. Today, all of them have type 2 diabetes. Every pill taken and every finger-pricking machine I saw gave me a glimpse of what it meant to struggle with chronic diseases. My first research experience began with Penn Medicine, where I researched ways to alleviate diabetic symptoms. I studied how fonio, an African iron- and amino acid-rich grain, can stabilize blood sugar. From there, I began studying how carbohydrate digestion rate, fiber content, and glycemic index influence insulin demand and long-term metabolic health. My fascination with studying chronic diseases gave me the aspiration of becoming a physician-scientist, where my scientific discoveries on the bench and compassion at the bedside can improve human life. Later on, I pursued a research opportunity at Harvard Medical School, where I utilized artificial intelligence alongside computational analysis to produce novel drug candidates that could provide more efficacy. These pivotal moments changed my educational path. I knew from there that I wanted to be in the life sciences and do biomedical research. Not only was science an intellectual passion, but it then became a personal pursuit. I’m intrigued by how biological systems can be modulated and how our current knowledge can be harnessed to advance the field. That motive and passion solidified my commitment to becoming a physician-scientist, where I can be on the forefront of patient care and scientific research. Within the intersection of computational chemistry and translational medicine, I’m particularly interested in structure-based drug design to develop small-molecule therapies that enhance insulin receptor signaling or improve glucose uptake through targeted modulation of metabolic pathways. In general, I hope to use molecular docking and structure-activity relationship analysis to accelerate the development of targeted therapeutics for metabolic diseases to help those affected by illnesses like my mother. Looking back, what began as fear now fuels my commitment to understand disease at the molecular and chemical level. My passion for research also helped me discover a passion for teaching and mentorship. During my sophomore year, I founded the ACS Chemistry Club Chapter at my school to host workshops, tutoring sessions, and lab demonstrations. As president and founder, I led my club to mentor and teach over 100 students. I also founded Power In Code to teach programming to underrepresented students. As president and founder, I’ve led in helping over 80 students understand programming through hands-on learning and engaging activities. For me, STEM is a field where it’s crucial to provide training and support for younger students so that they may have that same experience.

Sickness and disease have long affected my loved ones. Growing up, I constantly heard stories of my family struggling to eat full, nutritious foods and how that impacted their health and wellness. Today, all of them have type 2 diabetes. Every pill taken and every finger-pricking machine I saw gave me a glimpse of what it meant to struggle with chronic diseases. My first research experience began with Penn Medicine, where I researched ways to alleviate diabetic symptoms. I studied how fonio, an African iron- and amino acid-rich grain, can stabilize blood sugar. From there, I began studying how carbohydrate digestion rate, fiber content, and glycemic index influence insulin demand and long-term metabolic health. My fascination with studying chronic diseases gave me the aspiration of becoming a physician-scientist, where my scientific discoveries on the bench and compassion at the bedside can improve human life. Later on, I pursued a research opportunity at Harvard Medical School, where I utilized artificial intelligence alongside computational analysis to produce novel drug candidates that could provide more efficacy. This pivotal moment changed my educational path. I knew from there that I wanted to be in the life sciences and do biomedical research. Not only was science an intellectual passion, but it then became a personal pursuit. I’m intrigued by how biological systems can be modulated and how our current knowledge can be harnessed to advance the field. That motive and passion solidified my commitment to becoming a physician-scientist, where I can be on the forefront of patient care and scientific research. Within the intersection of computational chemistry and translational medicine, I’m particularly interested in structure-based drug design to develop small-molecule therapies that enhance insulin receptor signaling or improve glucose uptake through targeted modulation of metabolic pathways. In general, I hope to use molecular docking and structure-activity relationship analysis to accelerate the development of targeted therapeutics for metabolic diseases to help those affected by illnesses like my mother. Looking back, what began as fear now fuels my commitment to understand disease at the molecular and chemical level. My passion for research also helped me discover a passion for teaching and mentorship. During my sophomore year, I founded the ACS Chemistry Club Chapter at my school to host workshops, tutoring sessions, and lab demonstrations. As president and founder, I led my club to mentor and teach over 100 students. I also founded Power In Code to teach programming to underrepresented students. As president and founder, I’ve led in helping over 80 students understand programming through hands-on learning and engaging activities. For me, STEM is a field where it’s crucial to provide training and support for younger students so that they may have that same experience.

Sickness and disease have long affected my loved ones. Growing up, I constantly heard stories of my family struggling to eat full, nutritious foods and how that impacted their health and wellness. Today, all of them have type 2 diabetes. Every pill taken and every finger-pricking machine I saw gave me a glimpse of what it meant to struggle with chronic diseases. My first research experience began with Penn Medicine, where I researched ways to alleviate diabetic symptoms. I studied how fonio, an African iron- and amino acid-rich grain, can stabilize blood sugar. From there, I began studying how carbohydrate digestion rate, fiber content, and glycemic index influence insulin demand and long-term metabolic health. My fascination with studying chronic diseases gave me the aspiration of becoming a physician-scientist, where my scientific discoveries on the bench and compassion at the bedside can improve human life. Later on, I pursued a research opportunity at Harvard Medical School, where I utilized artificial intelligence alongside computational analysis to produce novel drug candidates that could provide more efficacy. This pivotal moment changed my educational path. I knew from there that I wanted to be in the life sciences and do biomedical research. Not only was science an intellectual passion, but it then became a personal pursuit. I’m intrigued by how biological systems can be modulated and how our current knowledge can be harnessed to advance the field. That motive and passion solidified my commitment to becoming a physician-scientist, where I can be on the forefront of patient care and scientific research. Within the intersection of computational chemistry and translational medicine, I’m particularly interested in structure-based drug design to develop small-molecule therapies that enhance insulin receptor signaling or improve glucose uptake through targeted modulation of metabolic pathways. In general, I hope to use molecular docking and structure-activity relationship analysis to accelerate the development of targeted therapeutics for metabolic diseases to help those affected by illnesses like my mother. Looking back, what began as fear now fuels my commitment to understand disease at the molecular and chemical level. My passion for research also helped me discover a passion for teaching and mentorship. During my sophomore year, I founded the ACS Chemistry Club Chapter at my school to host workshops, tutoring sessions, and lab demonstrations. As president and founder, I led my club to mentor and teach over 100 students. I also founded Power In Code to teach programming to underrepresented students. As president and founder, I’ve led in helping over 80 students understand programming through hands-on learning and engaging activities. For me, STEM is a field where it’s crucial to provide training and support for younger students so that they may have that same experience.