A major life experience that helped me acquire traits like adaptiveness and integrity, contributing to my character development, was to move to the United States. My parents first set foot in the States from India back in 2003 owing to my father’s job. After moving back to India in 2004, they decided to send me back to the States in 2019 for me to pursue my higher education and acquire a successful career going forward. I started my high school career as a sophomore at Hoffman Estates High School in Illinois. Attending the most diverse public high school in Illinois and the 8th most diverse in the whole nation, I struggled to make friends with similar interests and that struggle led me to open my eyes to all varieties of rich cultures from all around the world. I joined various clubs and the school’s soccer team, which made me develop an appreciation and adoration for the cultural and religious differences my peers displayed. When working and learning with people from a variety of backgrounds present in the classroom, I gained a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. I also had the opportunity to learn how to use my strengths and points of view to contribute to a diverse working environment. Therefore, I became more comfortable with people from other races and ethnic backgrounds. My interest in aviation led me to explore the Civil Air Patrol community, but little did I know that CAP does not just pertain to aircraft. It is about Integrity, Volunteer Service, Excellence, and Respect, which are some of the essential ingredients for a successful military or civilian career. My first lesson itself was on Integrity. This lesson examined the challenges we face in maintaining our integrity. One of our squadron leaders brought up that integrity is to do the right thing even when nobody's watching. This comment could not have been more important, at a time when I moved in with my uncle without my parents, surrounded by minimal or no supervision. That discussion helped me grasp the consequences of a lapse in integrity and the best way to avoid those lapses. I realized that my regular decisions going forward would determine the fate of my integrity as well as the possibilities of attending the Air Force Academy and serving on active duty. Now having been a part of the program for this long, I can maintain more righteous ideas and make wiser decisions in the most unfamiliar situations. The United States of America is founded upon doing the right thing for the right reason while providing selfless service to others. Going into my senior year, I intend to continue sharing my ideas gathered over the past two years while adopting new values from my peers. Throughout my upbringing, I have realized there is a lot more one can do than just being focused on themselves. We can lift others by eliminating hate, encouraging faith, and inspiring confidence, which I aspire to do by joining the Air Force and serving on active duty.

One of the biggest challenges that I have faced as a teen, was to overcome my public speaking weaknesses. Public speaking is a skill that requires excellent communication, enthusiasm, and the ability to persuade an audience. So as a non-native speaker to be more confident in my speaking ability as well as eloquent on the subject matter in place, I went on to join the Student Congress (Debate Club) on the very first day of my high school and was informed that our team is the best in northwestern Illinois. On a fine Chicago morning, I woke up at 0500 hrs and got ready for my first public speaking meet. There were mixed emotions of anxiety, nervousness, and a strong feeling of discomfort. Then came a moment in an ongoing session when I was answering a fellow speaker and went blank. I did not know what to say and inadvertently became an amusement for nearly 25 representatives. My speaking time elapsed and I embarrassingly sat down feeling subordinate to my peers. I couldn't utter a word after that and in general, had a horrible meet. Analyzing the results of the meet hit me hard as they were exposed to the whole team. I couldn’t have been more ashamed of myself for not being able to perform at my expected standards. Looking at my deficiencies after every meet was more of a dilemma for me. I reached out to my debate coach, who guided me through the process of being more confident and eloquent while speaking. He made me believe that there is a lot of room for improvement. Just having an attitude of not quitting and the inquisitiveness of being a better debater made me persist through this battle as well as helped develop my overall personality. From being an obscure sophomore, I began approaching my peers and teachers and made new friends. The stimulation came to a halt in March 2020 courtesy of COVID-19, which crippled humanity. Those months were tough, but they taught me patience, gratitude, tenacity, and perseverance. I participated in virtual internships to help advance my leadership and communication. Explored the arenas of Spanish, coding, virtual reality, data science, etc. As fall arrived, I was ready for an amazing commencement of remote learning, and most of all I was ready to debate. I came out to perform better than usual during our first virtual meet. Our team was awarded 1st place in the first three meets of the year. I was able to earn maximum points and contributed to the team’s victories. This time analyzing results with the team was an honor for me. Later that year, I was also recognized as The Most Improved Debater of the Year. Throughout my upbringing, I have realized there is a lot more one can do than just being focused on themselves. We can lift the community by eliminating hate, encouraging faith, and inspiring confidence, which I aspire to do through some of the experiences that I have had in my life including living in two different countries, attending the most diverse high school in my state, etc.

I see the blue sky synonymous with countless opportunities that inspire me to push myself harder every morning. My intent is to major in Aeronautical Engineering intending to scrutinize every fragment of an aircraft and further substantiate my will to be a pilot. I consider myself honored by the thought of serving shoulder to shoulder with the finest men and women serving in the greatest military on earth. The summer of 2021 presented me with an opportunity to have a glimpse at the Air Force Academy through its annual summer program. While attending this acclaimed seminar, I comprehended how intriguing it is to learn and work alongside some of the brightest candidates complemented with the guidance of the best military leaders in the country who were once making the same decision as me. Despite the circumstances of the global pandemic, the virtual nature of the seminar did not deter the future leaders of character to thrive and motivate one another. This truly defines the esprit de corps of our Air Force and provides me with an additional reason to procure the skills and values our academy bestows. I had another opportunity to explore the Air Force at the 2021 Civil Air Patrol Summer Encampment, where I experienced strenuous physical training and challenging academic classes at the Army National Guard Base in Marseilles, Illinois. This week-long program helped me develop my perception of an esteemed academy curriculum. Moreover, flying a glider over the beautiful Illinois suburbs, greeting the UH-60 Blackhawks every morning, and waving the C-17 Globemaster fly over less than 1000 feet augmented my fascination for flying and propelled me to pursue a career in aviation. USAFA offers numerous Developmental Opportunities that will sharpen my leadership skills while performing significantly in a team. I have been able to develop these skills by leading my high school soccer team and joining the academy will further bolster my sportsmanship expertise, contributing towards a successful military career. As I grew up the son of a government official in India, the inclination to serve was ingrained in my blood since childhood which in turn ignited my will to serve this great nation in uniform. Throughout my upbringing, I have realized there is a lot more one can do than just being focused on themselves. We can lift others by eliminating hate, encouraging faith, and inspiring confidence, which I aspire to do by attending the Air Force Academy and serving on active duty. Diversity in the U.S. military is its strength and combat multiplier, and consequently, I believe my Indian background will add another feather to the academy’s diverse culture cap. I am inspired to join the long blue line to experience adventurous college life, realize my dream of becoming a military aviator, and hone my leadership skills to prepare for better service to this nation.