My parents grew up in complete poverty, yet they fought with determination to give me the opportunities they could’ve only dreamed of. I am forever indebted to my parents for their sacrifices, and from a young age, I promised myself that I would make their efforts worthwhile. This promise fostered my sense of hard work as I pursued academic rigor and success throughout my entire school career. In every class I have taken, I’ve taken it upon myself to go above and beyond in order to achieve success. Whether it was through spending hours on a math game so I could ace my multiplication test in elementary school, or spending hours studying for an AP Government test in high school, my dedication to success was unwavering. I remained determined, despite the overwhelming pressure of balancing five AP classes in one year, rewiring my brain to understand concepts in physics, and maintaining a consistent A+ average. However, while letter grades offer tangible proof of my commitment, the skills I have developed–determination, resilience, and discipline–stand as a far greater testament to honoring my parent’s sacrifices. My circumstances have placed me in a far greater position than my parents, yet still instilled within me the hardworking characteristics they have. These traits have been vital in my success in high school and are sure to provide me with the tools for success in college and my future career. However, strong character alone cannot cover the cost of higher education. My parents may be in a better financial situation than they were at my age, but they still aren’t able to fully cover my cost of tuition in college. With my sights set on UT Austin, both competition and cost are high. Despite spending the last four years preparing myself academically for college, my efforts will be in vain if I am unable to afford to attend. Receiving this scholarship would not only relieve some of the financial burden on my family but would also allow me to fully dedicate myself to fulfilling my promise to my parents. By alleviating the constant stress of financial concerns, I would be able to spend my time in ways that matter. Instead of spending my time and energy on part-time jobs, I would be able to expand my connections and experiences through internships, research opportunities, and volunteer work. My ultimate goal in life is to become an optometrist, helping those in my community as I observe the growing number of vision issues in society. However, my dream of going to UT Austin and optometry school cannot be fulfilled without the help of outside scholarships. Thus, this scholarship is more than just financial support; it’s an investment in someone who has shown a lifetime of determination who will use it to make a lasting impact. It would allow me to turn my parents' sacrifices into a tangible future where I can truly give back to others.

To those I know personally, I’m known as “Jordi.” To those I don’t, I’m called “Jordan.” The difference between these two names may be as simple as two letters, but for me, it separates my existence into two halves. Those who don’t know me personally refer to me as “Jordan,” out of formality, yes, but this name carries its own connotation. “Jordan” refers to the girl who is stellar in academics, figure skated for 8 years, and somehow knows how to draw on top of that. “Jordan’s” connotation is academic, athletic, and artistic. It is intertwined with all of my achievements and stands as proof that I’ve overcome many of my struggles. Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been dubbed “the smart one.” From a child’s perspective, having this title bestowed upon me was exciting, pushing me to excel in all aspects of academics to prove myself worthy of this recognition. Though high school was the first time I experienced true academic difficulty, I didn’t let that hinder my progress. Knowing that I’ve consistently proven myself capable of taking rigorous classes, I persevered in my journey for academic rigor, signing myself up for 10 AP classes in my entire high school career, all of which I was able to maintain an A+ in. Simultaneous with my academic journey, I picked up figure skating and art. “Jordan” was the name I heard when I was told to demonstrate a spin or jump for my fellow skaters, yet was also the name sternly spoken when I wasn’t pushing myself hard enough. It was the name associated with my awards after placing in an art competition, and the name associated with my failure after countless scrapped AP portfolio pieces. While “Jordan” is the name connected with my tangible achievements and accomplishments, “Jordi” is the person I really am. “Jordi” is the person friends call on for help, no matter what time of day it is or what question they have. She is the person who finds joy in helping others, whether it's by sitting down at Panera Bread to work on college applications or Facetiming for hours to help with a difficult and lengthy assignment. She is the person who spends hours going down the rabbit hole of physics, space, and biological processes, not because of any assigned reading or research, but simply because it's interesting. These two parts of me may be vastly different, purely depending on the level of acquaintance I know a person. However, they both coexist and work together to define the person I am. It’s this combination of qualities that led me to my interest in optometry. Ever since I got glasses myself in 5th grade, I’ve observed a growing number of my peers and the people around me complain about vision issues and increasingly be prescribed glasses. Though I only realized this recently, it's the determined and empathetic parts of my personality that drew me to this profession. Optometry offers me an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a world that is increasingly centered around technology, a development that is statistically proven to exacerbate vision issues in people of all ages. Through this career, I see a clear chance to actually make a difference in people’s lives. By balancing the determination of “Jordan” and the compassion of “Jordi,” I aim to provide a means to clearer vision and educate on preventative care to improve the lives and futures of my patients.