It is impossible to understand who I am without talking about the most influential presence in my life: my family. The only stable companionship I had when the world seemed upside down; when everything seemed wrong and all I wanted to do was ball up and sob until my throat throbbed. My family has been there for me since day one, supporting my dreams and aspirations long before I fully comprehended them myself. My father is an engineer who founded an oil company in Abu Dhabi, a constant reminder of what it means to take risks, think critically, and lead with determination. My earliest memories are of whiteboards, large offices, and hard helmets he would keep tucked away in a drawer. My mother, a former nurse who adored science, loved to whisper words of medical knowledge to my sister and me. We quickly developed our own appreciation for STEM, following in the footsteps of our beloved parents. Being raised in a family where science, ambition, and leadership were second nature made me believe that anything was possible. However, I soon realized my family's ideals were not appreciated by everyone. I've attended all-girls schools my entire life and while they gave me the confidence to believe in myself, they also opened my eyes to just how crucial it is for other girls to feel seen, heard, and empowered in STEM. For the first time, I began to notice how rare those experiences are for many girls. That realization made me want to change the narrative. My childlike interest in science took a turn when my father, still in the UAE, contracted a severe case of COVID-19 and pneumonia. It was during the height of the pandemic, and we had just moved to Houston: me, my mother, and my sister. He was alone. We were scared. The helplessness I felt during that time reshaped my dreams. I wanted to understand science, contribute to it, and use it to protect others from the pain my family endured. That’s when I discovered pathology. The idea of being able to detect diseases before they occur, to uncover answers hidden within cells and tissue, the kind of work that felt urgent and transformative. I realized I didn’t need to be in the spotlight to make a difference. I just needed to be committed, curious, and persistent. Since then, I’ve pursued every opportunity to grow. I’ve taken advanced STEM courses at Rosetta Institute, Rice University, and Arizona State University. I’ve written published research papers on topics like epigenetics, exploring how molecular mechanisms influence disease and development. However, my goals extend beyond academics. They are rooted in advocacy. I volunteer as a tutor through ENGin, helping Ukrainian students learn English and regain confidence during their crisis. I mentor younger students in my all-girls robotics and math clubs and lead extracurriculars that build space for girls in STEM. When I walk into a robotics competition or an IT meeting and see another young woman confidently leading her team, I don’t just see success. I see possibility. And I want to help multiply that. I want to continue taking advanced coursework, enroll in medical enrichment programs, and invest in outreach initiatives that bring STEM education to more girls especially those who, like me, need someone to believe in their voice. I want to become a pathologist and a beacon of hope for young women in my field. I want to solve the puzzles diseases present and I want to do it in a way that leaves the door open behind me, so more girls can walk through.

When my father fell seriously ill with COVID-19 and pneumonia during the height of the pandemic, I was thousands of miles away in Houston with my mother and sister. We helplessly watched his health deteriorate from a distance, confused and scared for the uncertain future. He was hospitalized in Abu Dhabi, alone, while we waited for updates that came far too slowly. This experience can only be described as an emotional rollercoaster filled with fear, uncertainty, and powerlessness. It impacted and shaped the way I saw the world; not only was I in a land that was completely foreign to me, but I also lacked the warmth of my father's presence. Life felt insecure: my family wasn't holding up straight, school was so different, even the environment outside was strange, the bayous of Houston were unfamiliar to a girl so used to seeing the metropolis of U.A.E. What clung to me the most was not just the severity of my father’s illness, but how much we relied on others to interpret his condition. COVID was an eventful period in and of itself, but even as a child, I understood the heavy burdens on doctors to diagnose, on scientists to understand the virus, and on labs to deliver answers during such an eventful time. Every test result, every imaging report, every update became a beacon of hope or despair. It was in this space that I discovered what I wanted to be: in the lab, seeking the truth behind disease. While my mother (former nurse) and sister have both dreamed of being directly involved in patient care, I found my purpose in a slightly different role. I want to become a pathologist, a doctor who works behind the scenes, using science to uncover the causes of illness and guide life-saving treatments. If you told 12-year-old me that my father's near-death experience and our haunting move to the United States would have been worth it because I discovered who I was and who I wanted to be, I would've laughed in your face. Moving in general is the farthest thing from easy, but coming to the United States opened up opportunities I could only dream of before. Despite the language barriers, financial stress, and cultural adaptation, I found a home and developed the values of resilience, perseverance, and adaptability. Watching my parents navigate this new world with strength and dignity taught me to forge my own path and seek good in even the most dire situations. Their sacrifices have instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility not just to succeed, but to contribute meaningfully to society. One of the main reasons I am so drawn to pathology is because of this experience and how science was no longer just a subject I liked, but a personal endeavor. It’s about giving families like mine clarity during their most uncertain moments. It’s about ensuring that no one else has to feel the same helplessness I did, waiting oceans away from a loved one in need. Winning this scholarship would alleviate some of the financial burden of pursuing a college education and allow me to focus more on my academic and professional goals. I aim to honor the legacy of those, like Mr. Garcia Muentes, who paved the way for immigrant families like mine to dream big and work hard. This journey, shaped by loss, love, and learning, has led me to pathology, a field where my curiosity, discipline, and compassion can come together to make a difference. I want to be the one who provides answers when families need them most.

If I receive funds from this scholarship, I would use them to deepen both my academic and extracurricular growth on my path to becoming a pathologist. I’m currently a student at Arizona State University’s universal learners program, where I’ve taken college-level courses in statistics and am now studying anatomy + physiology, with plans to soon take sociology. These courses have been critical in building the foundation I need for medical research and diagnostic work but tuition and materials add up quickly. Scholarship support would allow me to continue enrolling in rigorous coursework, inaccessible to the average high school student, without placing that burden on my family. Outside the classroom, I plan to use the funds to expand my involvement in scientific outreach and mentorship programs. Through platforms like LearnToBe, I tutor underprivileged students in STEM subjects and help bridge learning gaps. I also hope to pursue additional shadowing experiences, attend biomedical conferences like BRITE, and publish more science writing tailored to young audiences. These opportunities often require transportation, materials, or application fees that are challenging to cover independently. My ultimate goal is to use pathology not just to diagnose disease, but to uncover patterns that improve health outcomes across entire communities. This scholarship would give me access to the resources, research, and relationships that will help turn that vision into reality.