The most influential persons in my life are more than people, they are the ideals and pillars I strive to embody as I grow. My parents come from challenging backgrounds which built the people they are today from struggle. My mother fled from war in Iran at 18 and sought refuge in the American dream. Here she learned to adapt to a newly evolving culture to begin her future. This future, at first uncertain and exhausting, persevered to intertwine with my father. Being raised by a single mother in the heart of Greenville, Mississippi– one of the poorest cities in Mississippi–his life was similarly defined by overcoming adversity. Starting from nothing, my parents cultivated a seed that, with the backbone of formal education, persisted into what became our family. I was raised alongside their hardened life lessons emphasizing education so that I knew its privilege and its modern importance to personal growth. My parents’ difficult upbringing never weakened them, instead molding them into compassionate and community oriented people. Becoming an adult, this aspect is what truly elevates them as more than just people, but the pillars I strive to one day uphold in service of others. Using their higher education, they embraced commercial real estate and focused on helping those most in need through section 8 renting. Their own learned challenges in poverty and marginalization provided a unique insight through their work. They understood what it meant to walk in the shoes of the hungry, overlooked, and underserved. Every day I strive to continue my parent’s legacy whether it’s helping Boulder’s homeless population through Colorado Friendship or focusing on my business degree to improve access to affordable housing. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to build on the foundations my parents laid— combining business with community to build a better space for all people. However, affording college at CU Boulder is a steep challenge as the number one business school in Colorado. This opportunity allows me to fully prioritize education and professional development without the overwhelming burden of financial debt. My degree is not a tool for financial gain but rather something more important, a base to uplift communities, especially those walked by my parents. Commercial real estate provides a vehicle to promote ethical development in the expansion of affordable housing. This school, this scholarship, and this once in a lifetime opportunity brings me closer to that mission of cultivating a community that will persevere across generations.