While most five-year-olds were getting ready for kindergarten that summer, playing sports and swimming all summer long, I was getting ready for my mother’s funeral. At that age I didn’t fully understand what was happening, but as I’ve grown older the weight of that loss has become clearer. Sometimes I find myself wondering about the small things most people remember about their parents. I don’t even know what I called her. Was it mommy, mom, or mama? I can’t remember what her voice sounded like either. The only memories I really have of my mother are from when she was sick. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer and battled it for two long years. Those two years are the only years I have memories of her. Cancer changed so much during that time. As a child, I didn’t understand why the person I loved seemed different or why everything felt so confusing. Looking back now, I realize how cruel that illness was and how much my family was going through while trying to stay strong for one another. My earliest memory is actually being in a hospital room. I remember the quiet seriousness in the room and the feeling that something was wrong, even though I was too young to understand what was really happening. Cancer did not only affect my mother. My family has been impacted by this disease more than once. My half-sisters also lost their father and their aunt to the same terminal brain cancer that currently has no cure. Seeing how this disease has repeatedly affected the people closest to me has made me realize just how devastating cancer can be. It's not only the person who is sick who suffers, but everyone who loves them. Even though I was very young when my mother passed away, growing up without her has shaped who I am in many ways. It forced me to develop resilience at a young age and taught me that life can be fragile and unpredictable. It also made me appreciate the people I still have in my life and the time we get to spend together. Because of my family’s experience, I have become an active member of the brain cancer awareness community. What once felt like a painful part of my story has become something that motivates me to help others. I have worked to raise awareness about brain cancer and support families who are facing the same battle my family once did. I also started my own fundraiser dedicated to brain cancer research, family support, and spreading awareness. Being involved in this community has shown me that even through tragedy, people can come together to support one another and work toward change. This experience has also taught me empathy. When you grow up knowing what loss feels like, it becomes easier to understand when other people are struggling. I have learned that everyone is carrying challenges that may not always be visible, and sometimes the most important thing you can offer someone is understanding and compassion. Losing my mother will always be a part of my story, but it has also motivated me to work hard and make the most of the opportunities I have. My family’s experiences with cancer have taught me perseverance, gratitude, and the importance of not taking life for granted. While cancer took someone incredibly important from my life, it also inspired me to turn that loss into action by supporting others and working to make a difference in the fight against brain cancer.

Believing in God and being a Christ follower is the driving factor behind everything I do in life. Growing up as a Christian has instilled lifelong values in me that remain unshakable, no matter what challenges I face. One of the most difficult experiences in my life was losing my mother to terminal cancer. It was incredibly hard for my entire family, but watching my father remain so steadfast in his faith throughout that time had a profound impact on me. He leaned on God through every moment of uncertainty and grief. Watching his faith remain so strong during such a painful time showed me what it truly means to trust God, even when life does not make sense. Seeing that taught me something I will carry with me forever: when life becomes overwhelming, we should not lose our hope or trust in God, but instead run toward Him, knowing He is there with open arms. That experience strengthened my faith and reminded me that even in the hardest moments, God is present and working in ways we may not fully understand at the time. Being a young adult in today’s world comes with many temptations and distractions that try to pull people in different directions. My faith has helped me stay grounded and see beyond the false promises of the world. A verse that has always guided me is Romans 12:2, which reminds us not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. That verse challenges me to live differently and not follow the pressures around me, but instead pursue a life that honors God. When I decided to pursue business as my career path, I felt both excitement and conviction. I knew it was a field where I could use my God-given abilities and strengths, but I was also aware of how closely the business and finance world is tied to money. Many people view careers in finance as being driven purely by wealth, power, and status. That idea worried me because I never wanted my career to become focused solely on profit or personal gain. Because of that, I made a commitment to approach my career differently. If I am going to work in business, I want my work to glorify and serve God first. My goal is not simply to make money, but to use the talents and opportunities God has given me in a way that reflects integrity, responsibility, and faith. Success, to me, is not defined by status or wealth, but by living in alignment with God’s purpose and using what I have been given to make a positive impact.

Sustainability has always been something that mattered to me, even from a young age. Growing up, I was naturally drawn to protecting the environment and finding ways to reduce waste in everyday life. I participated in beach cleanups whenever I had the opportunity and enjoyed finding ways to reuse materials instead of throwing them away. I would often create things out of recycled items, giving objects a second life rather than contributing to unnecessary waste. Those experiences helped shape the way I think about consumption, resources, and the responsibility we have to care for the planet. As I got older, this interest turned into a more intentional lifestyle. I try to make conscious choices to reduce my carbon footprint, whether that means being mindful about what I buy, reducing unnecessary consumption, or focusing less on materialism and more on sustainability. I have always believed that small, consistent choices can add up to meaningful environmental change over time. My commitment to sustainability also led me to become Water Watch Stream Biomonitoring certified. Through this certification, I learned how to monitor the health of local waterways by studying macroinvertebrates and other biological indicators that reflect water quality. This experience showed me how closely environmental health is connected to human behavior and decision-making. It also reinforced my belief that protecting ecosystems requires both awareness and action from communities. Because I am pursuing a degree in business administration with a focus in finance, I believe sustainability should also be a priority within the business world. Businesses play a major role in how resources are used, how products are produced, and how supply chains operate. Financial decisions influence which projects receive funding and which industries grow. When businesses prioritize sustainability, they not only reduce environmental harm but also create stronger and more resilient long-term strategies. In my future career, I aim to work in business and finance in a way that supports sustainable growth and responsible decision-making. Through financial planning, investment strategies, and operational leadership, professionals in my field can help guide companies toward practices that reduce waste, improve efficiency, and support environmentally responsible innovation. Financial leaders have the ability to encourage companies to think beyond short-term profits and instead focus on long-term stability and environmental responsibility. Sustainability has been a personal value of mine for as long as I can remember, and I want that value to continue shaping my professional path. By combining my passion for environmental responsibility with my studies in business and finance, I aim to help organizations grow in ways that are both economically successful and environmentally sustainable.

Growing up, I was often told that money and financial decisions were things that should be handled by the man or the husband in a household. It was said casually, almost like it was just a normal fact of life. But even when I was younger, that idea never made sense to me. I was always curious about money, business, and how financial decisions shape people’s lives. Instead of feeling discouraged by those expectations, they made me even more interested in understanding finance for myself. As I got older, that curiosity turned into something I wanted to actively pursue. In high school, I had the opportunity to work with teachers and administrators to help manage student funding for events through student government. I became the first female student at my school to take on that responsibility. It was a role that required organization, accountability, and thoughtful decision-making about how money should be allocated to support the student body. Being trusted with that responsibility at a young age showed me how much I enjoyed working with financial planning and strategy. That experience also showed me something important: when women step into spaces where they have historically been underrepresented, it can quietly open doors for others. After I became involved in managing student funding, it helped normalize the idea that women could take leadership roles in financial decision-making within our school community. It was a small example, but it reinforced my belief that representation truly matters. Now, as a student pursuing a finance-related path, my passion for the field has only grown stronger. Finance plays a critical role in shaping businesses, communities, and opportunities. The way money is invested, managed, and distributed can influence everything from innovation to public health to economic stability. I am especially interested in using financial knowledge and business strategy to support organizations that create meaningful impact, particularly in areas related to health, wellness, and long-term sustainability. At the same time, I want to be part of improving the culture of the finance industry itself. Many finance environments are still male-dominated, which can make it harder for young women to see themselves in leadership roles. One of the ways I hope to contribute to change is by supporting mentorship and encouraging more women to pursue financial careers. When women have access to guidance, support, and visible role models, it becomes easier to imagine themselves succeeding in the field. What I bring to finance is not only technical interest, but also determination and resilience. I have learned to challenge assumptions, take initiative, and step into leadership roles even when they are unfamiliar. Those experiences have shaped my work ethic and my belief that meaningful change often starts with individuals who are willing to question the status quo. Finance has the power to shape industries and improve lives when it is guided by thoughtful leadership and diverse perspectives. I want to be part of that future. By pursuing a career in finance and continuing to break barriers along the way, I hope to contribute to a more inclusive and impactful financial system.