I thought I understood what friendship and best friends were before I went to college. Growing up, many of my past “best friends” treated me with ridicule disguised as humor. They made fun of me to get laughs from others and brushed it off with phrases like, “it’s just a joke,” or, “you get angry easily, you must have anger issues.” Over time, this made me shrink myself and lower my expectations of what friendship could be. I learned to keep people at a distance as a way to protect myself. By the time I started college, I had convinced myself that I did not need close friends at all, only acquaintances, because it felt safer than to risk being hurt again. On the first day of college, I attended a library tour thinking it was mandatory, only to realize moments before it started that it wasn’t, and I almost walked away. Wanting to avoid feeling completely alone, I made it a habit to talk to at least one person at campus events. That day, I noticed Emily because she was wearing a BTS lanyard. As a fellow K-pop fan, I used it as an easy excuse to start a conversation. We talked throughout the tour and ended up eating together afterward. From there, our friendship grew naturally through shared classes, the same major, and eventually living on campus with each other. One tradition that came to define our friendship was going on late-night walks around campus. Those walks became our version of therapy sessions, where we talked through stress, fears, and parts of ourselves we had never really processed. During one of those walks, I opened up to Emily about a past relationship and had a realization out loud. I had unknowingly allowed a person to hold emotional power over me for years. As it finally sank in, I started crying, and Emily cried with me. She did not rush to fix anything or offer quick advice. She simply listened, validated my feelings, and helped me see the situation with honesty and compassion. Emily became the person I experienced life with during college. In many ways, we became adults together, learning how to navigate independence, responsibility, and life beyond our comfort zones. We traveled together, lived together, partied together, cried together, and truly enjoyed life side by side. Through both exciting and difficult moments, she showed up consistently. What makes this friendship so important to me is not just how much time we have spent together, but what she taught me about what real friendship looks like. With Emily, there is no judgment, no ridicule, and no need to minimize myself to be accepted. There is unconditional care, companionship, honesty, and support. I know Emily has other best friends, and she may not fully realize how much she has changed me and my understanding of friendship. She showed me that friendship does not have to hurt to be real, and that I am worthy of kindness, respect, and genuine connection. Because of her, I no longer fear closeness the way I once did with people outside my family. My friendship with Emily helped me heal parts of myself I did not realize were still hurting, and for that, it will always be one of the most important relationships in my life.

Growing up in a single-parent household in a low-income community was difficult, but it taught me perseverance at a very young age. I grew up quickly, often worrying about rent, phone bills, car insurance, loans, and debt instead of typical childhood concerns. When I later attended college in a modern, fast-growing area of Silicon Valley, I realized how different my experiences were. I had peers asking me what renter’s insurance was, while I had already learned how essential it was to protect what little my family had. These experiences made me realistic, aware, and deeply protective of my family, friends, and close community. Because I understood how vulnerable people can be when they lack resources or information, I wanted to learn how else I could help keep others safe. As technology becomes more integrated into daily life, new risks continue to emerge, especially for communities that may not have access to cybersecurity education or protection. I plan to make a positive impact through a career in cybersecurity. I am actively working toward this goal by developing a community-based application that alerts users to known malware, online threats, and digital risks. By combining my lived experiences with technical skills, I hope to create safer digital spaces for communities like the one that shaped me.

My name is Desiree Lopez, and I am a fourth-year undergraduate student at San José State University majoring in Business Management Information Systems. I plan to pursue a master’s degree in the future if circumstances allow. My passion lies in cybersecurity, and I aim to use that knowledge to make technology safer for those around me. I want to help my loved ones understand how to protect themselves online. In a world where nearly everything we value is stored digitally, such as our identities, finances, and memories, cyber safety is more important than ever. I currently pay for my education through financial aid and the support of my parents. Even so, making ends meet is a challenge, and every bit of assistance helps me stay focused on my studies and my future. I actually became a MOA twice. The first time was during Tomorrow X Together’s debut, when their youthful energy and storytelling immediately caught my attention. But as the pandemic deepened and the world felt heavier, my interest in music faded. For a while, I didn’t realize how much joy I had lost. Then, in January 2023, my best friend and I decided to watch the premiere of “Sugar Rush Ride.” As the countdown ended and the video began, I felt something awaken in me, a spark of excitement I hadn’t felt in years. Laughing and fangirling reminded me of a piece of myself I had forgotten. TXT brought that joy back into my life when I didn’t even know how much I needed it. Before long, that spark carried us all the way to Los Angeles for the Sweet Mirage Tour, an unforgettable experience that felt like coming home. My bias is Beomgyu. There’s something deeply comforting about his energy and the way he fills the room with laughter while also showing sincerity and care. As a middle child, I see a lot of myself in him: someone who uses humor to bring others together but sometimes feels misunderstood for being “too much.” For years, I struggled with people telling me to tone down my personality, to be less loud or expressive. Watching Beomgyu be unapologetically himself has been healing, reminding me that being genuine is something to be proud of. His balance of playfulness and emotional depth inspires me to live more authentically. My favorite TXT song is “Deja Vu.” In today’s dating world, love often feels fleeting or transactional, but that song reminds me that deep, unconditional love still exists, even if only in song. The lyrics “약속해, 몇 번을 반복해도 나의 미래는 너야 빛의 베일에 신부처럼 반짝일 널 세게 안을 거야 마치 déjà vu” (“I promise, no matter how many times I repeat, my future is you; I’ll hold you tight, shining like a bride in a veil of light, like déjà vu”) resonate deeply with me. The way those words are sung makes my heart ache in the best way. It’s the kind of emotional honesty that makes TXT’s music so special. Every time I listen, I find hope in their sincerity, even during moments when I’ve felt uncertain about my future or my worth. While TXT hasn’t directly influenced my career path, they’ve shaped who I am and who I aspire to be. There have been nights when I’ve felt completely drained from classes and work, sitting at my desk with my laptop open and “TO DO” playing softly in the background. Hearing Beomgyu laugh or the members getting loud in a childish way gives me strength. It reminds me that even when I’m struggling, I’m not alone. They remind me to keep working hard, to approach every challenge with sincerity, and to treat others with kindness. TXT represents growth, vulnerability, and perseverance, and those are the same values I want to carry into my professional and personal life. At their concerts, I look around and see thousands of fans singing together in different languages, united by the same emotion. That feeling of connection and belonging is what I hope to bring into the world in my own way. Whether through cybersecurity, friendship, or simply kindness, I want to make people feel safe, seen, and understood. Just like TXT did for me.