When I was just eighteen, I moved from California to the Philippines for college. Despite being born there and having a Filipino family, I was met with a new culture, rigorous academics with mixed languages, and a seemingly dissipating grasp on my future. Through the trenches of learning to do things differently and picking myself up when I was faced with a wall of uncertainty, I discovered an appreciation for the people here, and what they do to live in a country with under-developed welfare, infrastructure, social justice system, and healthcare system. And through my own difficulties, I was better enabled to understand theirs. They were my classmates, my teachers, the people who gave me directions when I was lost, eventual friends and passersby. During that time, I immersed myself in this different way of living through school, extracurriculars, friends and social justice advocacy. Because I did not learn Filipino history and was more detached from mainland culture, I dedicated time to researching information, history, and hearing and seeing different opinions. Living in the Philippines during my formative college years essentially gave me a more matured, larger perspective that grew me and better informed my goals and awareness of what matters most. Studying other cultures and nations, even those that we come from, is necessary. By learning about other ways of doing things, different experiences, norms, values and realities, we are forced to reflect on our own, those that we have grown up with, and recognize any biases we may harbor. Greater self awareness increases cultural sensitivity, and subsequently, improves our relationships, empowering, value, celebration, and respect of those with different cultures than us. It is important to normalize differences, because the world is much larger than one city, and diversifying our knowledge of others' lived experiences will reflect greater inclusivity and equity in our actions and the work we put out into the world. Global exploration is also valuable for the ideas and stories that are exchanged through it. Different cultures and environments also mean different processes and ways of thinking. By being exposed to these, we are able to integrate those ideas into our materials and methods in the United States. Inspiration and innovation go hand in hand with exploration. Ideas like vaccinations from the United Kingdom, light bulbs from Germany, and paper money from China were brought to the US. Diversity and collaboration can widen the reach of positive change. In addition, different customs are also valuable as they can set examples. Practices like collectively wearing masks, something Asians have been doing for years, were vital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Global exploration also provides insight into ways of living that traditional teaching cannot convey. The Philippine lifestyle has a much slower pace than America, like many other countries. Certain practices and norms of work may be just what some Americans need. There is always something to be learned from different cultures and nations, and openness to them is the key to progress. With the goal of approaching healthcare and public health from a global point of view, I am pursuing my master’s degree in the global health sciences to learn how I can analyze different nations’ systems and cultures and produce cross-national, holistic health efforts with what I have learned.

Pursuing one's dreams is one of the greatest things anyone can do. It is a blessing and privilege, and more than anything, I would love to pursue my dreams. But my dreams, like everyone's, require sacrifice and hard work. They demand me to face fears and be pushed out of my comfort zone. My dream is to obtain a master's degree in global health and go to medical school after. Guided by my passion for healthcare and international development, I want to make a difference in my local communities both in America and the Philippines. But this means leaving the only home I've ever known, my family, and braving a future of uncertainty, because all goals come with the risk of missteps and failures along the way. I worry all the time. Coming from a home with a lot of pressure and a college experience littered with culture shocks due to moving abroad created a lot of anxiety for me. For years, I felt that I was not meant to pursue what I wanted, how I wanted, and that I should just find something less competitive and demanding to pursue. Luckily, with the support and help of friends, family, peers and pushing myself little by little, I learned that I deserve to go after a future I want on my own terms. Everyday, pursuing my goals of graduate education in America despite coming from a foreign college is how I practice bravery. I embrace the unknown. I challenge myself to bask in the nerves, to do my best in applying to scholarships in order to finance my education, to seek out ways for me to make this happen, and to prove those who have told me that I may not succeed wrong, because the only thing for certain is uncertainty.

When I was 18 years old, I witnessed the polarizing effects of what being an immigrant, minority, and POC in America meant-- to its full capacity. I grew up in the Central Valley of California. Relatively small town, good high school and a plain but enjoyable upbringing. But growing up dual-cultured meant I had consistent conflicts with my parents who grew up as part of the urban poor community in the Philippines. With the utmost respect for them, I know that they have endured more than I ever will in my lifetime. However, this doesn't mean that my life was devoid of difficulty. I grew up oblivious to the fact that the emotional and mental abuse I underwent as a child affected my education and opportunities greatly, especially with the familial responsibilities I was tied to. In 2018, I was met with the biggest conflict of them all. To my disagreement, I had to move to the Philippines for college after being consistently pressured and backed into a corner. My parents felt that it was time for all of us to move, and in my culture, the children moving away for college is not a commonly accepted idea. It was a sudden decision, and in the span of a few days, I found out my life had turned upside-down. Adjusting to life in the Philippines was extremely difficult. My fluency in the language was a bit shaky, I didn't have any friends outside of family, it was a tough city to navigate physically, and most ground-breakingly (what I felt at the time), I felt like I had lost a future and sense of security that I had worked so hard to build. My high school years appeared to slip down a drain while I was attending college on the opposite-and seemingly wrong- side of the world. School didn't make things any easier. My university in the Philippines averaged a class schedule of 30 units every semester. It was exorbitant, and I didn't have much of a choice. For the first year and a half, I felt drained, and eventually, empty. All of my energy went towards school and trying to cope with a new, bizarre reality, and the life I thought I lost. In 2020, the pandemic hit, and like the rest of the world, everybody transitioned to online school and work- including my siblings and parents. The world shutting down meant uncertainty in internships during a time when I needed them the most. Despite this, I looked at the brighter side of it. Time finally slowed down; I was finally able to catch a breath or two. That time also allowed me to do a lot of healing- one that required shadow-work, learning to overcome anxious tendencies and self-doubt that had first appeared as a result of the move. I joined the student publication at my university, and throughout the years, I discovered a passion for journalism, writing, and advocacy- so much so that it influenced me to pursue my masters in global health this year. I also grew more comfortable after establishing a wonderful and kind group of friends. They remind me, everyday, who I want to see change for in this country the most: the poor and the working class. As a biology major, I also had great experiences in research that propelled me into finding knowledge that makes some sense of the biological world around us. The slower pace of the pandemic also afforded me time to work a bit. With online school, I was still pretty busy, but during breaks and weekends I would work on my home baking business. Baking has always been a hobby of mine since I was a child. I sold various baked goods online, all produced by myself-with the occasional help from my sisters- and was able to make extra money that I saved. A home business isn't the typical food service job, but the strain of trying to balance it with school reminded me of the nightmares of my retail job in high school. I would stay up late and get up early to fill people's orders. People were kind enough to recommend me and become returning customers. In April of 2022, I am now a senior, a month away from finishing my college career. If you told me that I would have triumphed hurdles, doubts, and see the light at the end of it all, feel excited even, back when I was a freshman, I wouldn't have believed you. I reminisce on my entire college experience and obstacles with a sense of gratitude and purpose now because I grew. I learned what matters most to me and how I hope to bring change to communities. Yes, growing up in the States while being tied to a traditional culture caused much turmoil, but I’m proud of beating the unconventionality of my path; it shaped me to be a more resilient and empathetic person. So you see, much like Jae'Sean, I was built. I was built by my story, my insecurities, my accomplishments, and especially, the people around me. To my friends who took extra care in making sure I didn't get lost on the way home and tried to help me understand how classes operate, to my research mentors who took a chance on me and accepted me into their labs, to my professors who were compassionate during one of the world's biggest crises, and to my family, who did their best in a world where the odds were stacked against them: this is all for you. And like the sponsor of this scholarship, I want to use current and future achievements to give back. This scholarship is not only a way to make furthering my education feasible, but it's also a way to spread greater change. Through me. For people like me. Who never give up in the face of adversity, and want to diversify the leaders who spearhead change.