Throughout my time as a student and following into my career as a teacher and mentor to high school students, I learned that behavioral health and social services are frequently neglected and/or understaffed. Witnessing the impact that this negligence and inequitable access to resources had on students, especially those belonging to marginalized populations, inspired my desire to create positive change for my local community. As such, I joined the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) as a member of their marketing and public relations team. During my time as a volunteer, I acted as a point of communication between NAMI and municipalities, libraries, and fellow non-profit organizations within the Bay Area Peninsula region. I helped translate and publish articles in local newsletters to promote mental health awareness and resources available to the local community. However, I noted that individuals belonging to communities of low socioeconomic mobility had limited access or knowledge of the resources that I had shared information about. Moreover, I desired to work with these populations in a manner that would address these pertinent issues of inaccessibility. Motivated by my experiences as a volunteer at NAMI, I decided to continue my path by directly serving the local community. As a result, I joined Fresh Lifelines for Youth, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the school-to-prison pipeline. As a volunteer member of the Law Program, I facilitated weekly workshops to at-risk youth about the justice system, local laws, education rights, and similar relevant topics. Through each class, I built positive connections with the youth that I taught, becoming an adept mentor and further growing my skills as an educator. Once again, a pattern emerged in the manner in which these young students accessed and navigated resources such as mental health care and social services. Following the amalgamation of my lived, professional, and volunteer experiences, I established my passion for serving marginalized populations in order to create equitable spaces and systemic change within societal structures, including healthcare and education. As a future social worker, I strive to continue focusing my efforts on creating systemic change by pursuing a career in the nonprofit sector. I intend to advocate for youth and their families and provide streamlined pathways to culturally competent behavioral health care and social services, in particular to underserved communities. Through my efforts, I hope to develop equitable access to vital resources while simultaneously positively impacting public policy and dismantling systemic barriers.

1. I first found TXT in the summer of 2019, just before my second year of college. From streaming their music show performances to watching ONE DREAM while doing my homework, TXT guided me through daily life. However, I would soon face difficult circumstances including deep bouts of anxiety and a looming pandemic that would impact my academic performance. During this period TXT would have their first comeback with Run Away. This song provided comfort in a time where the world as it were and my future were unclear and made me a dedicated MOA. 2. I can still remember the day that our fandom name was announced. I thought the Korean meaning of coming “to gather” as individuals to build one dream perfectly defined us. MOAs come from all walks of life; regardless of our identities, we share a bond over TXT that unites us beyond borders and physical appearance. 3. I immediately became a Huening Kai biased MOA when I learned about the similarities I shared with him. From plushie collections to our love for egg tarts, I felt a strong sense of familiarity. When I learned how he had moved to a completely new country in middle school and dedicated much of his teenage years to training in order to debut, I earned a deeper appreciation for him that has remained strong for nearly a decade! 4. Despite enjoying other groups casually, I will always come back to TXT and my ult bias, Huening Kai. Seeing how their passion for music and performing has not wavered in over seven years is truly inspiring. I can only hope in seven years from now that I am continuing to excel and reinvent myself just like the members have. 5. Cat and Dog is still my favorite song in TXT’s expansive discography as it was what made me become a MOA. With its unexpectedly hard-hitting trap beats, kitschy visuals, and creative choreography, it is a unique song that charmed my 18-year-old heart. 6. I spent my first 3 years as a MOA yearning for the day I could see TXT perform in person. In 2022, I was finally able to see TXT live on their first world tour. It was cathartic to scream out the lyrics of Run Away in earnest as I looked back on my teenage years and how the song ultimately helped shape me as a person. 7. My favorite album concept is Version R from minisode1: Blue Hour! This concept is known for making the iconic Gummy Bear Soobin photocard. I appreciate its creativity and ‘kidcore’ aesthetic as a lover of trinkets and bright colors. 8. I am currently depending on federal student loans, stipends, and scholarships to fund my education. 9. As a first-generation student coming into graduate school with increased budget cuts, it has been tough to find opportunities for funding outside of federal loans, which have also been depleted within the past year. Additionally, due to the competitive nature of most scholarships and stipends, it has become increasingly difficult for students like myself to afford our education. This scholarship will not only aid me in pursuing my education but allow me to create change in the field of social work and for the people that I serve. 10. There is one quote written by a fellow MOA to TXT that I can vividly remember impacting me deeply, “If TXT is my youth, then my life will always be my youth.” Although my youth consisted of hardships, it was also a period of self-growth, learning, and healing. Without the guidance of TXT and their music, I would not have been able to become the person I am today, including my passion for social work. TXT has truly influenced me to help others enjoy their youths to the fullest extent, which is why I hope to pursue a career in school social work. 11. I intend to use my education, including its comprehensive curriculum and practicum, to become a culturally competent Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I aim to create true systemic change within the K-12 education system and bridge the gap in access to behavioral health care and social services for historically underserved student populations.