I was a starry-eyed 17-year-old when I moved to America by myself for college. Behind those starry eyes, however, was a mountain of fear over the fact that I could not fully afford school in the U.S. and could possibly go back to Nigeria without a degree. I had been blessed to receive a full tuition scholarship; however, there was a huge strain on my family to afford miscellaneous fees and housing. With my family's entire savings, we could only cover housing for one year and a one-way plane ticket. Upon arriving on campus, I desperately searched for any available on-campus job, hoping to make enough money to support myself and ease the burden on my family. During that period, when I would send out numerous applications and hear nothing, there were times when I felt it would have been easier to give up; however, I persevered by focusing on my goals. I finally got a break when I became a Resident Assistant, which came with the benefit of free housing. It also came with a belief in my ability to overcome hardship— one of many lessons I have learned since moving to America. Another aspect I have come to appreciate is the wide range of diversity that exists here. Even though Nigeria is also diverse in its culture, I have been exposed to other forms of diversity that I knew little about. Working closely with individuals vastly different from myself has significantly deepened my understanding, empathy, and ability to relate to others in my daily life. The greatest thing I have learned from my time here has been the importance of having a support system. While I used to believe that success in America was solely determined by one's hard work, I now understand that my achievements were only made possible through the countless sacrifices my family made for me to come here. Furthermore, I could not have gotten through college without my friends supporting me. I truly believe that no one can succeed on their own, and having people who can see your potential and invest in it is complementary to hard work. These lessons and experiences have inspired my two life goals: to serve my family and to serve others. My first goal, serving my family, involves me supporting my family financially and ensuring my mother lives comfortably as she reaches retirement age. I understand that to achieve this, I must first attain a degree of financial security that requires a lot of grit and effort. My time in America, however, has taught me that I can overcome any challenge as long as I have resilience and drive. Thus, I am confident I can fulfill this goal and repay my family for the immense support they have provided me. My second goal, to serve others, consists of me paying it forward. Experiencing diversity in America has made me aware of how much people’s backgrounds determine their fate, and this has made me more passionate about uplifting the marginalized. A particular way I can think of doing this is through research. I aim to do developmental economic research within African countries, specifically Nigeria, with the hope of developing actionable solutions that alleviate the economic suffering millions face. Going to Yale has given me hope that I could achieve these goals. I am aware that this will provide yet another obstacle for me to overcome, especially in terms of financing such an education. Therefore, the chance of receiving this scholarship will enable me to take full advantage of this wonderful opportunity.