When I think of the word empowerment, various things come to mine. Within the community whether local or abroad, I think of successes from different groups as they rise above challenges and accomplish set goals. For some, this may mean starting a business in the midst of economic challenges. For others, this means finally having their voice heard after many years of saying the same things. For many, it means having the opportunity to do something denied for many years. This is forward movement for the people; a change that allows them to become stronger and more successful. Empowerment is this change. On a personal level, the meaning of empowerment hits close to home. I am of Asian descent. Over the years, I have witnessed challenges that our ethnic group must endure adapting to life in a new country, culture, and language. Through the use of various resources and hard work, people have become quite successful. More importantly, the younger generation is raised with guidance and have the foundation that they need. On even a more personal level, the meaning of empowerment is demonstrated daily in our home as I watch my mother raise 2 children by herself while working full time. She grew up in a poor environment but was able to complete her graduate studies with the help of work and loans. During our upbringing, she offered my brother and I the best opportunities for experience and growth. I observed her struggle but never saw her give up. Her endurance and determination have contributed to my sense of empowerment. It made me realize that I do have the means to achieve in life. There will be challenges but success is possible. There are many resources out there and I have to be the one to seek them. This realization in itself was powerful to me because it fueled my drive. As a result, I became more focused and clarified my plans for education and career. It motivated me to continue my volunteer experiences and to become more of a leader versus a participant in different group projects. There are many years ahead until I accomplish my goals but I feel empowered to continue this path. This is what empowerment means to me. It affected my life throughout the years before I even realized the meaning of the word. In the future, I hope to affect others as I have been.

I stumbled though the hallways, my paper schedule fumbling in my hand getting crumpled in the crowd. I felt overwhelmed and lost, which way was my algebra 1 class? I saw a student who looked older, walking up for assistance, I became hopeful. As I was about to talk they just walked away, okay rude. That was my experience for the first three weeks of my freshmen year of high school. It took me a while to get used to the larger hallways, distance of classes, and larger crowds. After this experience, I realized I do not want others to go through the same thing. So when I saw there was a program that sophomores, juniors, and seniors can sign up for to help new freshmen, I did not hesitate to sign up. It was called "Link Crew", where volunteering students came in during summer for training days and prepared to be leaders for the freshmen's first day of school. During the training days we coordinated events and practiced how we were going to lead the students. On the day, groups of leaders get a group of about 20 freshmen and do various things with them. This can include playing games to get to know them, answering questions, as well as showing them to all of their classes. Our goal is to overall make them feel comfortable in the new school and help them settle in. I continued to be a link crew leader every year until my senior year. I realized how much I enjoyed helping the students and creating carefree and enjoyable environment. Before being a link crew leader, I was introverted and not a good communicator. By becoming a leader, I not only became an extrovert, but also became more comfortable leading people and putting myself out there. Throughout the tours and games we provided, I always made sure to connect with each student, from the outgoing to shy ones as well. I wanted all of the students to feel inclined to ask for help or to ask questions. From this program, I hope by spreading positivity and care to others, it will push others to want to do the same. Students were not the most helpful when I was struggling, so I hope that the newer generations of students will be more of help to those who need it. Link crew also allows us leaders to come together, even though we are in smaller groups on the actual day, as a whole we were all doing this together. We all have something in common now, which I believe helps develop unity and a strong support system. Overall, this event has completely changed my high school experience to say the least. It has changed me as a student, leader, and person and has allowed me to develop new skills. It has brought people of different ages and different backgrounds together. This program will always be meaningful to me as I vowed to help others in a way I was not. It confirmed my passion in wanting to care for others, leading me to plan to pursue a career in nursing. Thank you for considering my application.

I was born prematurely, over a month earlier than everyone expected. In addition, I also suffered from jejunal atresia and a bowel obstruction, which required surgery immediately following birth. Jejunal atresia, to simply explain it, is a birth defect where a section of the small intestine (the jejunum) is completely blocked off. During surgery they essentially have to reattach the intestinal tubes. Since I was already premature, there were risks to begin with, therefore the birth defects caused more worry and increased the possibilities of something going wrong. After the surgery, I stayed in an incubator for months. Due to the incubator, my mom did not get to hold me as much and connect with me. There were risks that my body would have trouble taking in nutrients and stunting my bodies growth and development. Luckily, the surgery had worked well and I recovered well. Throughout my elementary school years, I visited the hospital occasionally due to intense stomach pains. In the 2nd grade, I was in the hospital for weeks because I was experiencing harsh stomach pain. The hospital ran tests with blood, ultrasounds, and scans, yet they could not find what was wrong. This led to some of the staff assuming that I was lying about the pain for attention. My mom defended me, fighting for the necessary treatment. I did not know about this at the time, but looking back, my mom was so stressed and upset due to the doctors assumptions. With every appointment and hospital visits, my mom was there. My brother and I grew up in a single parent household. My mom was left alone to provide for two children while also earning a degree herself This meant that at time she would have to put her own conflicts to the side. My mom is my biggest inspiration. She is the strongest and the hardest worker I know. She has been there in every aspect of my life and is my biggest cheerleader. She is an accomplished clinical nurse specialist and is part of my interest in the medical field. To my patients I want to be an advocate, a face to recognize, and a name to remember. I want to give them the highest quality of treatment they deserve. I want to be the provider that believes in the patients, unlike the one's that I was in the care of. In school, I am very open and as involved as I can. I have participated in clubs such as Key Club (4 years), National Honor Society (2 years), and Asian American Student Union. In and outside of these clubs, I have done many volunteer activities. This includes planning and carrying out fundraisers and blood drives, touring families and students, serving food, etc. Doing these activities has made me realize that I enjoy caring for others and there is so much I have yet to learn about others and the world. Nursing is a challenging profession, but I believe with strength and support that is a challenge I am ready to face. I appreciate and thank you for considering my application.

Labor and delivery nurses are dedicated to empowering women and bringing new life to the world, I want to do that. My interest in helping others and healthcare is motivation to become a nurse. I enjoy being a caregiver even dating back to my younger years when I helped care for my grandfather who developed dementia over the years. It began with simple reminders for him to do things but morphed into actually providing physical help with day-to-day activities. Now, I am one of the helpers whom he relies on for complete care. These experiences taught me patience and also confirmed my passion in nursing. Specifically, I want to be a labor and delivery nurse. I think the process of childbirth is so powerful and witnessing a new life enter the world has always been something I gravitated towards. Of course, none of this would be without women. The strength that women carry in order to give birth is something I admire and want to be there to support. Nursing, especially during labor and delivery needs both compassion as well as critical thinking. Both are crucial, as you need to provide comfort but also have the skills to accurately help and communicate under pressure. Those are challenges that I am ready to face and become adequate in. I find joy in caring for my younger cousins and taking care of babies at various functions. I also had some issues during my own birth. This led to me needing abdominal surgery directly after birth and staying in an incubator for the months following. I heard about how supportive and helpful the nurses were during my stay and it makes me want to do the same for others. I want to make sure that not only the parents but also the child is comfortable and have everything they need. As a nurse, I want to positively contribute to my community, whether this is by delivering a safe baby or caring for the mother and helping her during one of the most special moments in life. For new moms and the babies, I want to be an advocate as well as a helping hand in their journey through recovery. I plan to go as far as I can in order to help them. In conclusion, I want to be a labor and delivery nurse because I want to make a positive difference in people's lives. This scholarship would allow me to reach my educational and career goals and bring me one step closer to providing people with care during one of their most transformative and vulnerable moments. This profession requires passion, hard work, and persistence. The road to becoming a nurse will not be easy, but I feel that I have the foundation to embark on this journey. Thank you for considering my application.

Rain, sun, rain wind, sun, that's all I have known growing up in Oregon. Being known as the state with sunny days then extremely rainy days following that, I have grown to love it here and make the most of the wavering weather conditions. As I was a child, I enjoyed all types of music in addition to helping others. Whether that was dancing, singing, or attending concerts, music has always been a crucial aspect in my life. It is something that people become connected with and is something that motivates me. I have like helping others since I was a child. This led me to do different volunteer activities, and has allowed me to interact with special education students, veterans, and elementary school students, etc. I have also been apart of planning fundraisers, running blood drives, and packaging foods for those in need. These volunteer activities have made me more empathetic and understanding towards those with different backgrounds as well as confirmed my passion in helping others. In the future, I want to be a registered nurse with the goal to specifically work with children/babies. I want to be an advocate as well as a helping hand in their journey through recovery. I had some issues during my own birth. This lead to me needing abdominal surgery directly after birth and staying in an incubator for the months following. I heard about how supportive and helpful the nurses were during my stay and it makes me want to do the same for others. Being raised without a parent has shaped ways of my character. From that experience, I have gained resilience and it has given me a personal understanding of the sacrifice and work that has been done for me. I was about three years old when I experienced first hand the feeling of emptiness in a father figure role. My father was an alcoholic and misused other harmful substances. This lead to him sometimes putting my brother and I into unsafe environments and situations. Family members, the law, and even social services got involved. It was a stressful process on us, but after some court hearings, he eventually separated from us completely and we haven't seen him since. This left my brother and I to be raised in a single parent household; meaning we only have one main income to support the needs of the family. Being a single mom she tries to give both of us the best opportunities for success. This sometimes means that my mother has to overcome her own struggles in order to provide. It was days such as fathers day that I felt lost. As a child, I blamed myself and didn't understand the situation at the time. "Did he leave because of me?", I couldn't help but think. At times, I saw happy fathers with their children and wondered what they had that I didn't. Our elementary school would hold events in which students would attend with their fathers. My mom showed up for all of those, taking on the role of both parents. It was times like that where I realized the strength my mom carried. Finishing off nursing school, eventually becoming a clinical nurse specialist, while providing for two children alone, yet still showing up to every school and extracurricular event for us. In summary, this scholarship would help me take the next steps in my educational and career endeavors. By being awarded with this scholarship, it would be a great honor and a way to make my mom proud. Thank you for considering my application.

A sudden loss of a loved one leaves everlasting effects in anyone's life. I too have lost people close in my heart recently as well. When I found out about Kalia's story, my heart felt heavy. She carried such bright potential and had a promising future. As I read about her interests and attributes, I saw traits of Kalia's that I personally embody. Although I have not been a participant in track or cross country, I share the same passion Kalia had in dancing and volleyball. To me and what I assume Kalia as well, they are outlets to relieve my stress and are hobbies I enjoy. They allow me to meet/connect with others and experience what a team feels like. Before taking up these hobbies, I was very closed off and didn't know how to communicate with people. Since participating in them, I have come out of my shell and become more extroverted. I also enjoy volunteering and spending time with family. Family is one of the things that I value most. I spend most of my time with them, even if it is just us doing schoolwork together. I have also done various community service activities. I have interacted and worked with special education students, veterans, and elementary school students, etc. Also participating in planning fundraisers, running blood drives, and packaging foods for those in need. These volunteer activities have made me more empathetic and understanding towards those with different backgrounds as well as confirmed my passion in helping others. I grew up in Oregon with my mom and brother. Our father was an alcoholic and abused other harmful substances, leading to him separating off from us completely. My brother and I are raised in a single parent household; we only have one main income to support the needs of the family. Being a single mother, she tries to give both of us the best opportunities for success. This sometimes means that my mother has to overcome her own struggles in order to provide for us. Given our family situation, it is important for my brother and I to try to obtain financial assistance. One way to achieve this is by working part time; I am currently a barista at a tea franchise. In the future, I want to be a registered nurse with the goal to specifically work with children/babies. I want to be an advocate as well as a helping hand in their journey through recovery. I had some issues during my own birth. This lead to me needing abdominal surgery directly after birth and staying in an incubator for the months following. I heard about how supportive and helpful the nurses were during my stay and it makes me want to do the same for others. In summary, this scholarship would help me take the next steps in my educational and career endeavors. By being awarded with this scholarship, I plan to try my best and make a difference in my community, in order to be a worthy representative of Kalia and her legacy.

In fall 2025, I would like to attend the University of Portland. I have been accepted to their nursing program; my goal is to become a labor and delivery nurse. Math has always been a challenging topic for me. It’s a course which I dedicate more time to because I know how much effort is needed to achieve full understanding. Though it can be frustrating, completing math classes with A or B grades feels quite rewarding. There is satisfaction that comes with solving complicated problems. One of my most memorable math moments occurred during my sophomore year. The class was geometry and statistics which was taught by a teacher of the same ethnic background as me. Being Lao, it is uncommon to come across Lao teachers. This is just not something that is seen within the Lao community. Many older people are production workers; younger generation are mainly in technical or medical fields. In education settings, typically one would come across Lao housekeepers or office helpers. It was a proud moment to see someone from my own ethnic community in a teaching position. My teacher did not disappoint during the school year. He taught the class with patience and with a thorough approach which helped many students who struggled with math. Whenever I did not understand a unit, he offered explanations in a way that made sense. Eventually I would understand and problem solve correctly. My teacher also encouraged classmates to help one another so that we can all finish with decent grades. This process also resulted in us knowing each other better. He created a space where students could learn without judgment. Many of us appreciated this, especially those with less self confidence. My teacher was born in Laos but came to the United States at a young age. I was born in America. I spoke some Lao and learned that he also spoke very little Lao as well. We are both more westernized despite our families immigrating from Lao and our parents maintaining the tradition. My experience with this math teacher gave hope not just for me but for the Lao community. It was one more evidence that we can also achieve success. Success comes in many forms and levels. For me, a teacher is a respectful position. It requires completion of a college degree and the ability to work with learners with varying challenges. My goal in becoming a nurse is a personal success I hope to achieve.

“Say the name, Seventeen!” is their catchy opening or as many know them by having a “never ending aju nice”. Consisting of 13 members; Scoups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, The8, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino. They are known as Seventeen, 13 members, 3 subunits, all in 1 team. They began gaining popularity, with their debut in 2015 with their precise dance moves, perfect pitched vocals, and funny personalities. Easily catching my attention in late 2015. Quickly becoming interested as there were so many members. I wondered how a group functioned and how they would do well with so many people. As years went on, Seventeen became more popular, leading them to perform in large venues like stadiums and arenas. As of recently in 2024 they became UNESCOS first K-pop Goodwill Ambassadors for Youth ever. In which they represent the values and culture of the youth's education and empowerment. Already having such a large impact on the younger generations, this further deepens their influence on them and ability to be a voice for the youth. They also continuously donate to charities focusing on children in abusive homes, that are homeless or in need overall. These donations have shown who they are as people and what they value and care for. Seeing how hard they have worked and their determination to succeed since their trainee days has shown me that you can truly do anything if you work for it. Growing up with them has brought significant positivity and motivation to my life. Whether it is from their sincere Weverse messages or the encouraging words lying in their lyrics, Seventeen has helped brighten how I view myself and life in general. Lyrics from their ballad track ‘Hug’ say, “Whenever it's hard, you can get a hug from me, I am the same, no matter how much you hide it, you know you can't hide it forever, so we can smile together.” Ever since hearing that song for the first time, it has inspired me in too many ways to count. On days when I felt I couldn’t continue, listening to it brought me strength and hope. I thought, get through this week, it’ll get better eventually, I can’t give up yet. Other tracks like ‘F*ck My Life’ and ‘Kidult’ display their longing for youth and the feeling of loneliness, they are songs I cherish greatly. Knowing they are humans just like the rest of us and go through similar struggles has made me as well as others feel less alone. Their songs have pushed me this far, and I am one of millions of people. So, I can’t imagine how much they have helped others. Content like their series called ‘In the Soop’ and ‘Going Seventeen’ episodes have shown the authenticity of them and their different personalities. The members being so genuine and open with each other and the audiences has allowed not only myself, but other carats relate to them on a more personal level. From their caring gestures and never-ending love and support for each other and us fans, it shows that they are not just a group of guys doing their job, but how much they truly love each other and fans as family. To be able to call myself a carat and being a part of Seventeen’s journey is more valuable than any diamond I could ever receive. They truly were the light shining at the end of the tunnel.