If I were to design a Barbie Dream House, it would be similar in size, scope, and splendor to the Cinderella Castle at Disney World Parks in Orlando, and I would tailor the house for children with disabilities. Families would arrive at what is called Barbie Land by parking at the parking space dedicated to it. They will then walk up to a platform and get picked up by a chauffeur who will escort them to the Barbie Land castle in a limousine. Inside the limousine, there are complimentary Barbie-inspired snacks such as Hot Pink strawberry glazed donuts, strawberry juice (or cocktails for adults), and cookies. Upon arriving at the Barbie Castle (which is inspired by the vintage Pink Castle set with Princess Barbie and baby Princess Krissy) they will be greeted by Barbies and Kens who will welcome the families, engage with the children, and take photos. To not overwhelm the children, there are small break rooms where they can sit comfortably with their parents while looking out at a garden nearby filled with tulips, daisies, foxgloves, coneflowers, sweet peas, and bluebonnets. There are monarch butterflies and green hermit hummingbirds that are attracted to the garden. Next, it is time to explore the Barbie Museum! The Barbie Museum is a large room with life-sized Barbie and Ken dolls from past generations behind glass windows. There are also noise-cancelling headphones and polarized sunglasses available in case children get overwhelmed. Each Barbie and Ken has a backstory that can be read by pressing a button and following along with the text. Vintage Barbie and Kens will be available to be seen including our good friend Alan. Following the museum, the next stop is a toy place where children can collect and dress up their own Barbie and Ken toys with whatever attires they want to use. There are also challenges and fun activities hosted by Barbies and Kens such as a play parachute (you know the rainbow-colored one), light dodgeball with cotton-knitted balls, and a hand painting station. Let's get creative! Next up is lunchtime! Families will no doubt be hungry, but there’s no need to worry as there is a Barbie-inspired cafeteria nearby. One of the restaurants of course is a McDonald's, but the kitchen is inspired by the “Barbie McDonald’s Fun Time Restaurant Play Set” from 2001. Next to it is a cozy coffee shop inspired by the recently released “Barbie You Can Be Anything Coffee Shop Playset.” They will serve your favorite classic frappuccinos and coffees with a Barbie-inspired twist. Pastries are also served on a station inspired by the “Barbie It Takes Two Pastry Café Playset” serving tasty Barbie-themed pastries like Strawberry muffins, pink-glazed cinnamon rolls, heart-shaped donuts, authentic pink Mexican conchas, Halvas (Middle Eastern cakes), and much more. Lastly, we have an oven-pizza restaurant inspired by the “Barbie Pizza Chef Doll and Playset, Toy Oven and Counter” set. They will serve traditional pepperoni, cheese, and beef pizzas. The last event will be a convention-styled room featuring life-sized Barbie cars from past playsets. From the recently released pink Barbie Corvette Convertible to the vintage 1996 Barbie camper, to the hot pink 1976 Star Vette, the red 1987 Ferrari 328 GTS, and the turquoise 1989 ’57 Chevy Bel Air cars (all iconic Barbie cars), families will have plenty of options to get inside and take pictures! Unfortunately, you cannot test-drive them! And that wraps up our tour of Barbie Land. Hopefully, it was the best day ever, and hopefully so is tomorrow, and every day from now on!

My grandmother and grandfather always believed in serving others. "Eso es lo que hacemos" (it's what we do) they would say. My grandparents didn't have much: they had a mid-sized farm in Mexico near a thriving village. They grew fruits and vegetables to sell on the market, they had cows for milk, and raised chickens for eggs. Sometimes they would give away food for the poorest in their town. They had heart and love for their community. And they also had 13 children... My father was one of those children. He is a workhorse, a machine of a man who never stops working, even on vacation. He is a carpenter, an architect, a designer, a construction worker, and I would even say an artist. He has an unmatched physical stamina that I hope to mirror one day. When you place a strong emphasis on work, it usually means you spend less time with family. But I always understood the sacrifice he made and why he does what he does. It's what we do. Recently, I completed a post-baccalaureate program to gain acceptance into dental school. It was not an easy task. I had to mantain a certain GPA at the end of two semesters taking upper division science courses, I had to successfully complete two pre-clinical dentistry courses, and I had to complete other workshops to gain a spot in the entering class of 2026 at Texas A&M College of Dentistry. There were many times I felt like giving up. I thought I had signed up for something beyond my grasp. This was deeper than imposter syndrome. It felt like life was asking me "what are you doing..?" It felt like I branched off from the road that I was "supposed" to be on. And I felt like I was being punished for it. Right at the beginning of my post-bacc program, I was informed by an Audiologist that my hearing has suffered significant loss and will need to wear hearing aids. This was in addition to the unexplained fatigue and migraines I was experiencing (and still deal with). But I thought of my grandparents, especially my grandfather who passed away at 92 after fighting a cigarette addiction, would he have given up? No. That's not something we do. I pressed on. After nearly getting dismissed, I was able to secure my spot in Dental School. I became the first in my family to pursue a Doctorate degree, and if life plans out, I could very well be the first Doctor in my family. I am doing this for my family and to continue the motto of serving our community. I would like to provide low-cost dental services to low income patients in my community. I've volunteered at Mission Arlington, a faith-based organization that provides food, clothing, childcare, and some healthcare services to the greater Arlington community during my undergraduate career, and I would love to contribute to that. Serving our community, and looking out for our fellow people, it's what we do.

"You will never get into dental school with these grades." Those were the words that our college's pre-health advisor flatly delivered to me three years ago when I asked him about his honest opinion about my chances at gaining acceptance into dental school. And for three application cycles, I almost believed him. After going through three waves of cold rejections, I nearly gave up on my dreams of becoming a dentist. My journey to dental school has taken longer than the usual four years of University due to personal setbacks and other challenges I faced while in academia. But through strength and grit, I powered through Undergraduate school and I have been accepted into a Biomedical Sciences program at UT Dallas with a tie-in to the new Texas A&M College of Dentistry. Being a first-generation college student meant that I could not ask my parents for advice regarding my journey to dental school. Neither of my parents finished high school as school was not free in their country and lived too far to be driven to school. Being a first-generation college student meant that I had to be the best student I could be. In the Biomedical Science Program, I have been pushed to my limit: I take 30 hours of the hardest science courses offered by the University and have to mantain a certain GPA in order to continue. Unfortunately, I suffered from significant hearing loss and waves of vertigo over the past year that have made it difficult to concentrate in class. However, I am determined to see this through. I am so close to the finish line, I cannot stop here. Through all the frustrations, headaches, sleep-less nights, and stress, I know this will be worth it. If you are also struggling, let's finish strong together!

"You will also have individual presentations later this month about..." Upon hearing a version of this phrase, the whole world would freeze, and my heart immediately started pounding faster and faster until everything in my vicinity became blurry for a couple of seconds. I dreaded public speaking, especially those that had a Q&A session after. My hearing was not the best it could be and I was always afraid that I would mishear someone and dreaded asking people to clarify what they meant. My journey with anxiety was long and treacherous, but I have found a way to use that anxious energy to power forward. I was always a shy kid. I was shy because I was born with a hearing disability that caused me to miss about 40% of the content that others would pick up normally. My hearing disorder also impacted my speech and how I spoke, which only made matters worse. I knew that once I started speaking, my voice would sound "off" to the average person and the consequences of that varied. In middle school, it was horrible as my voice was simultaneously cracking due to puberty and anxiety. I always wondered when my voice would change like the other teenage boys did, but it never really happened until much later. In High School, this same feeling continued, but there where many more presentations to do. My English classes required a presentation; my French class required presentations; my History classes required presentations, and so on. And each time I dreaded them. I was afraid of how the audience would react, I was afraid of being ostracized, and I was afraid of having a label subconsciously planted upon me. The sign that makes people think "oh it's that guy..." whenever I walked into a room. Teenagers can be ruthless with labels, and unfortunately that label follows you until you get out. It is much worse now with social media being everywhere and I feel for those kids who called labeled as "weird" for having a disability, or some other mental health issue. In college, I got better at presentations and I was able to use the anxious energy that I felt just right before giving a presentation: if I was twitching or had "tingly" hands, I would acknowledge them and try to laugh it off. It served as a potent ice breaker and it made me look like the awkward nerd that I was, but in a good way. As I got older, I realized that most adults don't care about how you sound, but what you say. While my voice isn't perfect today, with speech therapy and lots of practice, I've been able to perfect my oral presentations to the best of my ability with positive results. I just wish that teenage-me knew what the future awaited. I wish that I could have received help earlier for my issues. I just hope that today's youth know that there are a plethora of resources to help you cope with anxiety and speech impediments. And it's okay to ask for help when you need it. Today, I am much closer to my dream of attending dental school and becoming a dentist.

"You will never get into dental school with these grades." Those were the words that our college's pre-health advisor flatly delivered to me three years ago when I asked him about his honest opinion about my chances at gaining acceptance into dental school. And for three application cycles, I almost believed him. After going through three waves of cold rejections, I nearly gave up on my dreams of becoming a dentist. My journey to dental school has taken longer than the usual four years of University due to personal setbacks and other challenges I faced while in academia. But through strength and grit, I powered through Undergraduate school and I have been accepted into a Biomedical Sciences program at UT Dallas with a tie-in to the new Texas A&M College of Dentistry. Being a first-generation college student meant that I could not ask my parents for advice regarding my journey to dental school. Neither of my parents finished high school as school was not free in their country and they lived too far to be driven to school by their parents. Being a first-generation college student meant that I had to make up for lost time, and it meant that I had to be the best student I could be. During my undergraduate years, I was a Front Desk administrator at the Resource Center, a clinic that specializes in HIV/ AIDS health and trans health. Several of our patients were low-income people who lacked insurance, and the Resource Center would help them secure food, mental, and health services that they would otherwise not have been able to receive. My duties were to schedule their appointments and provide a judgement-free environment the moment our patients walked into the clinic. No one should be punished for the 'crime' of lacking insurance and I'm glad I was able to dedicate my time to an organization that aligns strongly with my values. What I learned here is that we have a flawed healthcare system in America where high income earners and higher middle classes have stable healthcare networks, while the working poor are stuck rationing insulin and other medications because they either lack insurance, or are stuck with a bad insurance provider. There is a strong need for healthcare services in low income areas in this country and we can do that at the local level through strong community liaisons. As an aspiring future doctor, I understand that I would be in a position where I can make a significant impact in my local community. I am in West Dallas where most people in my community come from low-to-middle class Latino/ Hispanic backgrounds and work hard menial jobs such as construction, automobile repair, landscaping, painting, etc. And upon looking at data from the Human Resources and Services Administration, I learned that my community is considered a medically under-served area (MUA). I would love to use my education and training from dental school to bridge this divide by providing low-cost preventive dental services to low income patients in my community wherever possible. My ultimate goal is to help others give back to their communities, and to encourage them to serve in medically underserved areas so we can bridge this gap in under-served communities and their access to healthcare services. Lastly, as someone currently dealing with hearing loss, each day is a unique challenge. Even though I can't really hear if someone is sneaking up behind me, it has trained my mind to be more alert, and it has inspired me to be more bold.

What do the Genie from Aladdin, the old man (Eustace) from Courage the Cowardly Dog, pies, a basket of raisins with a beta fish, and a donkey have to do with Microbiology, specifically with the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes? Absolutely nothing. And yet arranging all of these subjects in such a way helped me recall random details about the S. pyogenes species that I am still able to recall months later. Arranging the pies in a chain with the Aladdin genie on them symbolizes the S. p(ie)yogenes, which are gram positive and grow in chains. The old man (Eustace) standing behind a table with DESS written on it reminds me that the bacterium is en(cap)sulated (since the old man wears a cap), the M protein is the main virulence factor which inhibits phagocytosis and the complement system, and DESS stands for DNase, exotoxin, streptokinase, and streptolysin. If you are not in a microbiology class, none of these virulence factors matter to you... but you can memorize them if you're good with visual learning. Next, the basket of raisins represents the fact that this bacteria is Bacitracin (an antibiotic) sensitive, and the beta fish means is BETA hemolytic, which leads to the complete lysis of red blood cells. Lastly the donkey is named auntie Denis because the bacterium has anti-DNase B antibodies during an infection. The "other" name for a donkey reminds me that the "ASO" titer is used to measure antibodies against streptolysin O, which is usually an indicator of S. pyogenes infection. And there it is. You now know enough random details about S. pyogenes that if you were to be on Jeopardy, or in your microbiology class, you should be able to answer some of the questions. Visual learning is an excellent way of memorizing material in a crunch.

"You will never get into dental school with these grades." Those were the words that our college's pre-health advisor flatly delivered to me three years ago when I asked him about his opinion about my chances at gaining acceptance into dental school. And for three application cycles, I almost believed him. After going through three waves of cold rejections, I nearly gave up on my dreams of becoming a dentist. But through strength and grit, I powered through Undergraduate school and I have been accepted into a Biomedical Sciences program at UT Dallas with a tie-in to the new Texas A&M College of Dentistry. Being a first-generation college student meant that I could not ask my parents for advice regarding my journey to dental school. Neither of my parents finished high school as school was not free in their country and lived too far to be driven to school. As an aspiring future doctor, I understand that I would be in a position where I can make a significant impact in my local community. I am in West Dallas where most people in my community come from low-to-middle class Latino/ Hispanic backgrounds and work hard menial jobs such as construction, automobile repair, landscaping, painting, etc. And upon looking at data from the Human Resources and Services Administration, I learned that my community is considered a medically under-served area (MUA). My ultimate goal is to use my education and training from dental school to bridge this divide by providing low-cost preventive dental services to low income patients in my community wherever possible. I hope to encourage others to serve in medically underserved areas so we can bridge this gap in under-served communities and their access to healthcare services.

"You will never get into dental school with these grades." Those were the words that our college's pre-health advisor flatly delivered to me three years ago when I asked him about his honest opinion about my chances at gaining acceptance into dental school. And for three application cycles, I almost believed him. After going through waves of cold rejections, I nearly gave up on my dreams of becoming a dentist. My journey to dental school has taken longer than the usual four years of University due to personal setbacks and other challenges I faced while in academia. But through strength and grit, I powered through Undergraduate school and I have been accepted into a Biomedical Sciences program at UT Dallas with a tie-in to the Texas A&M College of Dentistry. Being a first-generation college student meant that I could not ask my parents for advice regarding my journey to dental school. Neither of my parents finished high school as their country did not have a school close enough for them to attend. I had to be the best student I could be to overcome these barriers. As an aspiring future doctor, I understand that I would be in a position where I can make a significant impact in my community. I am in West Dallas where most people in my community come from low-to-middle class Latino/ Hispanic backgrounds and work hard menial jobs such as construction, automobile repair, landscaping, etc. Furthermore, I learned that my community is considered a medically under-served area (MUA). I would love to use my education and training from dental school to bridge this divide by providing low-cost preventive dental services to low income patients in my community. My ultimate goal is to help bridge this gap in under-served communities and their access to healthcare services.

"You will never get into dental school with these grades." Those were the words that our college's pre-health advisor flatly delivered to me three years ago when I asked him about his honest opinion about my chances at gaining acceptance into dental school. And for three application cycles, I almost believed him. After going through three waves of cold rejections, I nearly gave up on my dreams of becoming a dentist. My journey to dental school has taken longer than the usual four years of University due to personal setbacks and other challenges I faced while in academia. But through strength and grit, I powered through Undergraduate school and I have been accepted into a Biomedical Sciences program at UT Dallas with a tie-in to the new Texas A&M College of Dentistry. Being a first-generation college student meant that I could not ask my parents for advice regarding my journey to dental school. Neither of my parents finished high school as they lived in a country that did not mandate schooling and lived too far to be driven to school. Being a first-generation college student meant that I had to make up the time that they could not, and it meant that I had to be the best student I could be. During my undergraduate years, I was a Front Desk administrator at the Resource Center, a clinic that specializes in HIV/ AIDS health and trans health. Several of our patients were low-income people who lacked insurance and the Resource Center would help them secure food, mental, and health services that they would otherwise not have been able to receive. My duties were to schedule their appointments and provide a judgement-free environment the moment our patients walked into the clinic. No one should be punished for the 'crime' of lacking insurance and I'm glad I was able to dedicate my time to an organization that aligns strongly with my values. What I learned here is that we have a flawed healthcare system where the working poor are stuck rationing insulin and other medications to get by. There is a strong need for healthcare services in low income areas in this country and we can help with that at the local level through strong community liaisons. As an aspiring future doctor, I understand that I would be in a position where I can make a small but significant impact in my local community. I am in West Dallas where most people in my community come from low-to-middle class Latino/ Hispanic backgrounds and work hard menial jobs such as construction, automobile repair, landscaping, painting, etc. And upon looking at data from the Human Resources and Services Administration, I learned that my community is considered a medically under-served area (MUA). I would love to use my education and training from dental school to bridge this divide by providing low-cost preventive dental services to low income patients in my community wherever possible. My ultimate goal is to help out the working poor members of my community get their smiles back so they can live a life with dignity and free of pain. I also hope to inspire others to serve in medically under-served areas so we can bridge this gap in under-served communities and their access to affordable healthcare services.

We had three weeks to learn over 200 muscles, their insertions, their origins, and their functions. This is not including the 200 bones and their markings that we had to learn as well for an Anatomy practical. I remember feeling completely overwhelmed and felt like giving up because it just seemed impossible. The more I thought about how overwhelming it was, the more time I lost. I had no choice but to stop complaining and get down to business. One of the strategies I used was to buy an Anatomy coloring book. By color-coding some of these muscles and insertions I was able to distinguish them in the lab. It helped me organize some of these muscles, especially the thigh muscles since it gets really crowded down there, and on the face as well. In anatomy, many muscles are named for their functions. For instance the "risorius" muscle sounds like "risa" meaning laughter, and it helped me remember that this muscle is involved in the facial expression of laughter. The main smiling muscle however is the zygomaticus major. And I just kept going. I had developed a system where one thing leads to another, and that helped me remember the muscles of the face. Next, I would proceed with the muscles of the neck, and so forth. For bones, sometimes coming up with a short song also helped. I wouldn't belt it out in public of course, but just having a general hymn in my mind as I recited all those bones and their markings really helped. If I forgot the "song" then I would just make another one and it still worked. Employing these strategies helped me comprehend and conquer anatomy, and it made this daunting task really fun. I hope these strategies helps someone out there.

My goal in life is to become a dentist and provide low cost services to underserved areas in my community. Throughout my undergraduate career, I volunteered at the Resource Center of Dallas, which provides mental health and healthcare services to low income people who live with HIV/ AIDS. At the center, there is also a dental clinic and this is where I learned about specific dental health issues affecting elderly patients living with HIV. Being able to educate others in matter of health is valuable and can help save lives. As a future doctor, I would be in a position where I can disseminate information to help people prevent and look for cavities and help them look for signs of oral cancer. I have also done something similar in my time being involved with my school’s Pre-Dental Society when we visited Boys and Girls Clubs of Arlington to conduct engaging games and activities in the context of preventive dental health education. We played games with the children as they learned about proper brushing and flossing techniques, learned about healthy and unhealthy foods and drinks, and much more. I believe one major problem facing the US is the lack of proper healthcare providers and a lack of health-related knowledge. I would like to use my experience volunteering with the Boys and Girls Clubs to provide some health care services to poor children around the US within a charity organization. My ultimate goal is to inspire others to give back to their communities, or to serve in medically underserved areas so we can bridge this gap in under-served communities and healthcare.

For nearly a decade, I've been trying to gain acceptance into dental school to become a dentist, but several setbacks delayed my progress, including suffering from some sensory hearing loss and going through depression. Being a first-generation college student meant that I could not ask my parents for advice regarding my journey to dental school. Neither of my parents finished high school as they lived in a country that did not mandate schooling and lived too far to be driven to school. Being a first-generation college student meant that I had to make up the time that they could not, and it meant that I had to be the best student I could be. During my undergraduate years, I was a Front Desk administrator at the Resource Center, a clinic that specializes in HIV/ AIDS health and trans health. Several of our patients were low-income people who lacked insurance and the Resource Center would help them secure food, mental, and health services that they would otherwise not have been able to receive. My duties were to schedule their appointments and provide a judgement-free environment the moment our patients walked into the clinic. No one should be punished for the 'crime' of lacking insurance and I'm glad I was able to dedicate my time to an organization that aligns strongly with my values. What I learned here is that we have a flawed healthcare system in America where high income earners and higher middle classes have stable healthcare networks, while the working poor are stuck rationing insulin and other medications because they either lack insurance, or are stuck with a bad insurance provider. There is a strong need for healthcare services in low income areas in this country and we can do that at the local level through strong community liaisons. As an aspiring future doctor, I understand that I would be in a position where I can make a significant impact in my local community. I am in West Dallas where most people in my community come from low-to-middle class Latino/ Hispanic backgrounds and work hard menial jobs such as construction, automobile repair, landscaping, painting, etc. And upon looking at data from the Human Resources and Services Administration, I learned that my community is considered a medically under-served area (MUA). I would love to use my education and training from dental school to bridge this divide by providing low-cost preventive dental services to low income patients in my community wherever possible. My ultimate goal is to inspire others to give back to their communities, or to encourage them to serve in medically underserved areas so we can bridge this gap in under-served communities and their access to healthcare services. Most recently, I was accepted into a Biomedical Sciences Program at UT Dallas and successfully completed my first semester. This program ties in to the new dental school in my city. After so long, I am so close to achieving my dream of getting into dental school and becoming a Dentist.

I am currently persevering through an obstacle. Earlier this year, right at the beginning of the semester, an Audiologist explained to me that I've had significant sensorineural hearing loss and needed to wear hearing aids. I guess that helped explain why I was feeling "slow" and felt like I had to ask people to repeat themselves. After getting hearing aids, I've been doing much better, but they are not perfect as they pick up random noices that interferes with what I'm trying to focus on. This is on top of my current goal: becoming a doctor of dental medicine. I've been pursuing this goal for a good decade now: going through Undergraduate, getting a Master's, taking time off, and now completing a competitive and challenging Biomedical Science Program. Each day I must push through, catching my breath here and there, only to pick up again and continue this marathon. This has been the most physically demanding, psychologically draining, and mentally demanding part of my life, and I am enjoying every part of it. I know that all of this work will eventually be worth it. I've learned so much about myself and everyday I push myself to try a little bit more. Most of my nights, I stay up late learning anatomy, oral histology, or discussing Abnormal psychology with my classmates, and I wake up early for my morning classes. This is not a lifestyle that is suitable for the average student, but I know that this is preparing for Dental School and beyond. And for that, I am grateful. I have come up with cooing strategies for dealing with the hearing loss and I've learned other skills to help me navigate this new life.

Being a first-generation college student meant that I could not ask my parents for advice regarding my journey to dental school. Neither of my parents finished high school as they lived in a country that did not mandate schooling and lived too far to be driven to school. Being a first-generation college student meant that I had to make up the time that they could not, and it meant that I had to be the best student I could be. During my undergraduate years, I was a Front Desk administrator at the Resource Center, a clinic that specializes in HIV/ AIDS health and trans health. Several of our patients were low-income people who lacked insurance and the Resource Center would help them secure food, mental, and health services that they would otherwise not have been able to receive. My duties were to schedule their appointments and provide a judgement-free environment the moment our patients walked into the clinic. No one should be punished for the 'crime' of lacking insurance and I'm glad I was able to dedicate my time to an organization that aligns strongly with my values. What I learned here is that we have a flawed healthcare system in America where high income earners and higher middle classes have stable healthcare networks, while the working poor are stuck rationing insulin and other medications because they either lack insurance, or are stuck with a bad insurance provider. There is a strong need for healthcare services in low income areas in this country and we can do that at the local level through strong community liaisons. As an aspiring future doctor, I understand that I would be in a position where I can make a significant impact in my local community. I am in West Dallas where most people in my community come from low-to-middle class Latino/ Hispanic backgrounds and work hard menial jobs such as construction, automobile repair, landscaping, painting, etc. And upon looking at data from the Human Resources and Services Administration, I learned that my community is considered a medically under-served area (MUA). I would love to use my education and training from dental school to bridge this divide by providing free or low-cost preventive dental services to low income patients in my community wherever possible. My ultimate goal is to inspire others to give back to their communities, or to encourage them to serve in medically underserved areas so we can bridge this gap in under-served communities and their access to healthcare services. The AMPLIFY Immigrant Students Scholarship will help me get closer to that reality by giving me a piece of mind and allowing me to focus more on my studies.

Being able to hear again was a life-changing experience. When I was a toddler, my parents mentioned how I never paid them any attention and how I was always stumbling around. Later they realized that they had to repeat everything they said to me when I was around three to four years old. They then decided that it was time that I see a doctor. I remember entering a dark room looking like those studio recording sessions filled with toys. The doctor conducted a hearing test and I was soon placed on hearing aids. My life changed immediately after that.

When I was part of my pre-dental society group in college, we had an after school program called "Project Smiles" where we visited Boys and Girls Clubs near the college and taught children about safe oral health practices. We had several stations set up: one to teach about flossing your teeth, where we used these stylofoam balls arranged as teeth, and we had Play-Doh in between the teeth to symbolize food and debris stuck in between teeth. There was two of these and the goal was to clean the teeth using a string, and whichever side cleaned the teeth first would win. Another station involved a Healthy or Not Healthy station where we had these plastic foods on a plate and asked them to out them in the Healthy or Not Healthy plate. Afterwards we had Hula Hoops arranged where the objective was to spin it on your waist for the longest time. The winner then got a point for their team. Another station had these large laminated teeth made from white poster paper and two very large toothbrushes; the objective was to brush the teeth to erase the stains made by markers. It was harder than it looks because the fake toothbrushes were large and the "brush-head" of the tooth wasn't made from the best material. So the children would struggle a bit as they tried to race each other to clean these teeth. But once they got through it you could see the smile in their faces knowing their hard work paid off. Working with the Boys and Girls Clubs organization was truly an eye opening experience because I got to see kids learn about how to properly brush their teeth and floss. Seeing them smile and enjoy the experience reminded me why I choose my career path.

"You will never get into dental school with these grades." Those were the words that our college's pre-health advisor flatly delivered to me three years ago when I asked him about his honest opinion about my chances at gaining acceptance into dental school. And for three application cycles, I almost believed him. After going through three waves of cold rejections, I nearly gave up on my dreams of becoming a dentist. My journey to dental school has taken longer than the usual four years of University due to personal setbacks and other challenges I faced while in academia. But through strength and grit, I powered through Undergraduate and Graduate school and I have been accepted into a Biomedical Sciences program at UT Dallas with a tie-in to the new Texas A&M College of Dentistry. Being a first-generation college student meant that I could not ask my parents for advice regarding my journey to dental school. Neither of my parents finished high school as they lived in a country that did not mandate schooling and lived too far to be driven to school. Being a first-generation college student meant that I had to be the best student I could be. During my undergraduate years, I was a Front Desk administrator at the Resource Center, a clinic that specializes in HIV/ AIDS health and trans health. Several of our patients were low-income people who lacked insurance and the Resource Center would help them secure food, mental, and health services that they would otherwise not have been able to receive. My duties were to schedule their appointments and provide a judgement-free environment the moment our patients walked into the clinic. No one should be punished for the 'crime' of lacking insurance and I'm glad I was able to dedicate my time to an organization that aligns strongly with my values. We have a flawed healthcare system in America where high income earners and higher middle classes have stable healthcare networks, while the working poor are stuck rationing insulin and other medications because they either lack insurance, or have a bad insurance provider. There is a strong need for healthcare services in low income areas in this country and we can do that at the local level through strong community liaisons. As an aspiring future doctor, I understand that I would be in a position where I can make a significant impact in my local community. I am in West Dallas where most people in my community come from low-to-middle class Latino/ Hispanic backgrounds and work hard menial jobs such as construction, automobile repair, landscaping, etc. I would love to use my education and training from dental school to bridge this divide by providing low-cost preventive dental services to low income patients in my community wherever possible. My ultimate goal is to encourage others to serve in medically underserved areas so we can bridge this gap in under-served communities and their access to healthcare services.

"You will never get into dental school with these grades." Those were the words that our college's pre-health advisor flatly delivered to me three years ago when I asked him about his honest opinion about my chances at gaining acceptance into dental school. And for three application cycles, I almost believed him. After going through three waves of cold rejections, I nearly gave up on my dreams of becoming a dentist. My journey to dental school has taken longer than the usual four years of University due to personal setbacks and other challenges I faced while in academia. But through strength and grit, I powered through Undergraduate and Graduate school and I have been accepted into a Biomedical Sciences program at UT Dallas with a tie-in to the new Texas A&M College of Dentistry. Being a first-generation college student meant that I could not ask my parents for advice regarding my journey to dental school. Neither of my parents finished high school as they lived in a country that did not mandate schooling and lived too far to be driven to school. Being a first-generation college student meant that I had to make up the time that they could not, and it meant that I had to be the best student I could be. During my undergraduate years, I was a Front Desk administrator at the Resource Center, a clinic that specializes in HIV/ AIDS health and trans health. Several of our patients were low-income people who lacked insurance and the Resource Center would help them secure food, mental, and health services that they would otherwise not have been able to receive. My duties were to schedule their appointments and provide a judgement-free environment the moment our patients walked into the clinic. No one should be punished for the 'crime' of lacking insurance and I'm glad I was able to dedicate my time to an organization that aligns strongly with my values. What I learned here is that we have a flawed healthcare system in America where high income earners and higher middle classes have stable healthcare networks, while the working poor are stuck rationing insulin and other medications because they either lack insurance, or are stuck with a bad insurance provider. There is a strong need for healthcare services in low income areas in this country and we can do that at the local level through strong community liaisons. As an aspiring future doctor, I understand that I would be in a position where I can make a significant impact in my local community. I am in West Dallas where most people in my community come from low-to-middle class Latino/ Hispanic backgrounds and work hard menial jobs such as construction, automobile repair, landscaping, painting, etc. And upon looking at data from the Human Resources and Services Administration, I learned that my community is considered a medically under-served area (MUA). I would love to use my education and training from dental school to bridge this divide by providing free or low-cost preventive dental services to low income patients in my community wherever possible. My ultimate goal is to inspire others to give back to their communities, or to encourage them to serve in medically underserved areas so we can bridge this gap in under-served communities and their access to healthcare services.

"You will never get into dental school with these grades." Those are the words that our college's pre-dental advisor flatly delivered to me nearly three years ago when I asked him about my honest chances of getting into dental school. After three application cycles of cold rejections, I was beginning to think that he was absolutely right and nearly gave up on my dreams right there and then. The pandemic worsened my anxiety and closed off any opportunities I could get to talk to other people about my situation, and I felt like an absolute failure. In January 2021, I got an email from one of the dental schools that I was heavily interested in about a post-baccalaureate program, and at the last minute, I reluctantly applied. I had three interviews with members of the admissions committee including the assistant dean of college admissions. I wore my best Navy Blue suit with a black tie and had my virtual interviews through my phone since my old laptop gave up on me the year before. A few weeks later, I was accepted into their program and began the first part of the program. It was here where I met our Clinical lab instructor named Dr. Moore. She was an elderly, short, and vibrant woman who had just retired, but was asked to return to teach this course over the summer. Her energy fills up the entire room the instance she walks in. As a former dental student herself, and the former student leader of her class, and as an Asian immigrant herself, the amount of wisdom that she delivered to us in the short time that I got to know her has been beyond valuable. While at the clinical lab, I struggled immensely to keep up with the material of the class, which included waxing teeth and performing restorative treatment on teeth mock-ups, among others. Dr. Moore was beyond patient with me -we even stayed past 8 PM one time in class so that I and other students could finish the day's assignments. Her words "You can do this. I know you can..." contrasted heavily with my advisor's indifferent "You will never get into dental school" words that it motivated me to try harder. In a way, I am actually thankful for the terrible advice that our pre-dental counselor gave me because it inspired me to do everything in my power to prove him wrong, even if it took me three to four years to do this. And this goes to all students reading this: if you truly believe in something, and it means a lot to you, don't listen to people who try to tell you that you can't do it. Because you can. It may take time, it may seem difficult, but if you truly believe in yourself, then you cannot give up now. Otherwise, you just end up proving your detractors right and you miss out on the chance to live your dreams. So keep going, eventually you will get there.

Being a first-generation student meant that I could not ask my parents for advice regarding my journey to dental school. Neither of my parents finished high school as they lived in a country that did not mandate schooling and lived too far to be driven to school. Being a first-generation college student meant that I had to make up the time that they could not, and it meant that I had to be the best student I could be. My journey to dental school has taken longer than the usual four years of University due to personal setbacks and other challenges I faced while in academia. But through strength and grit, I powered through Undergraduate and Graduate school and I have been accepted into a Biomedical Sciences program at UT Dallas with a tie-in to the new Texas A&M College of Dentistry. During my undergraduate years, I was a Front Desk administrator at the Resource Center, a clinic that specializes in HIV/ AIDS health and trans health. Several of our patients were low-income people who lacked insurance and the Resource Center would help them secure food, mental, and health services that they would otherwise not have been able to receive. My duties were to schedule their appointments and provide a judgement-free environment the moment our patients walked into the clinic. No one should be punished for the 'crime' of lacking insurance and I'm glad I was able to dedicate my time to an organization that aligns strongly with my values. What I learned here is that we have a flawed healthcare system in America where high income earners and higher middle classes have stable healthcare networks, while the working poor are stuck rationing insulin and other medications because they either lack insurance, or are stuck with a bad insurance provider. It is time to re-imagine this healthcare system and we can do that at the local level through strong community liaisons. As an aspiring future doctor, I understand that I would be in a position where I can make a significant impact in my local community. I am in West Dallas where most people in my community come from low-to-middle class Latino/ Hispanic backgrounds and work hard menial jobs such as construction, automobile repair, landscaping, painting, etc. And upon looking at data from the Human Resources and Services Administration, I learned that my community is considered a medically under-served area (MUA). I would love to use my education and training from dental school to bridge this divide by providing free or low-cost preventive dental services to poor patients in my community. My ultimate goal is to inspire others to give back to their communities, or to serve in medically underserved areas so we can bridge this gap in under-served communities and their access to affordable healthcare services.

Neither of my parents finished high school when they were young because they came from poor families who could not afford to send them to school. They did not have access to free education or free school lunches, and I think this is a privilege that many young people take for granted. I want to continue to pursue higher education because my parents could not, and because I am close to achieving my dream of becoming a dentist. When I was in undergraduate school, while still trying to figure out my future goals, I was involved in a program known as Alternative Breaks, and what this organization does is it takes about 15-45 students during Winter and Summer break, and places them in a city to do volunteer work during the day. In my first service trip, I was sent to Moore, Oklahoma City during a bitterly cold January of 2014 to help rebuild a community that was devastated due to tornado activity. We worked with Habitat for Humanity to rebuild houses during a cold snap, and we also worked at the Oklahoma Regional Food bank. I was so moved by the experience that I signed up for the Spring Break Alternative Break program that sent us to Glen Haven, Colorado. Here, we helped a retirement community rebuild itself from a massive flood by removing debris and mud away from the flooded businesses and homes. This was also my first time in Colorado so I got to experience my first mountain hike! In my last trip in Spring of 2018, we were sent to the greater Houston, TX area to help a protected land area and to learn about sustainable farming and agriculture. Just right across the lake, we could see the massive pollution clouds coming from an industrial plant nearby and the juxtaposition of this was shocking. Seeing all that pollution made me want to rethink my daily life and become a better conscious environmentalist. I cut down on my personal driving, I am slowly adding more vegetarian options into my diet, and I sell aluminum cans to a nearby recycling center. Being involved here really made me find an additional purpose in life. Lastly, as an aspiring future doctor, I understand that I would be in a position where I can make a significant impact in my local community. I am in Dallas where most people in my community come from low-to-middle class Latino/ Hispanic backgrounds and work hard menial jobs such as construction, automobile repair, landscaping, painting, etc. And upon looking at data from the Human Resources and Services Administration, I learned that my community is considered a medically under-served area (MUA). I would love to use my education and training from dental school to bridge this divide by providing free or low-cost preventive dental services to low-income patients in my community. In addition, I see myself helping pre-dental students on their journey to becoming dentists as I like working with students and I've had a non-traditional journey, so I will look for an avenue to help with that mission.

Being a first-generation student meant that I could not ask my parents for advice regarding my journey to dental school. Neither of my parents finished high school as they lived in a country that did not mandate schooling and lived too far to be driven to school. Being a first-generation college student meant that I had to make up the time that they could not, and it meant that I had to be the best student I could be. My journey to dental school has taken longer than the usual four years of University due to personal setbacks and other challenges I faced while in academia. But through strength and grit, I powered through Undergraduate and Graduate school and I have been accepted into a Biomedical Sciences program at UT Dallas with a tie-in to the new Texas A&M College of Dentistry. During my undergraduate years, I was a Front Desk administrator at the Resource Center, a clinic that specializes in HIV/ AIDS health and trans health. Several of our patients were low-income people who lacked insurance and the Resource Center would help them secure food, mental and health services that they would otherwise not have been able to receive. My duties were to schedule their appointments and provide a judgement-free environment the moment our patients walked into the clinic. No one should be punished for the 'crime' of lacking insurance and I'm glad I was able to dedicate my time to an organization that aligns strongly with my values. What I learned here is that the working poor are stuck rationing insulin and other medications because they either lack insurance, or are stuck with a bad insurance provider. And in many cases, people die due to not being able to afford their medication. We can help struggling people through strong community liaisons made up of healthcare professionals, volunteers, and financial stakeholders. As an aspiring future doctor, I understand that I would be in a position where I can make a significant impact in my local community. I am in Dallas where most people in my community come from low-to-middle class Latino/ Hispanic backgrounds and work hard menial jobs such as construction, automobile repair, landscaping, painting, etc. And upon looking at data from the Human Resources and Services Administration, I learned that my community is considered a medically under-served area (MUA). I would love to use my education and training from dental school to bridge this divide by providing free or low-cost preventive dental services to low-income earner in my community. My ultimate goal is to inspire others to give back to their communities, or to serve in medically underserved areas so we can bridge this gap in under-served communities and healthcare.

Being a first-generation student meant that I could not ask my parents for advice regarding my journey to dental school. Neither of my parents finished high school as they lived in a country that did not mandate schooling and lived too far to be driven to school. Being a first-generation college student meant that I had to make up the time that they could not, and it meant that I had to be the best student I could be. My journey to dental school has taken longer than the usual four years of University due to personal setbacks and other challenges I faced while in academia. But through strength and grit, I powered through Undergraduate and Graduate school and I have been accepted into a Biomedical Sciences program at UT Dallas with a tie-in to the new Texas A&M College of Dentistry. During my undergraduate years, I was a Front Desk administrator at the Resource Center, a clinic that specializes in HIV/ AIDS health and trans health. Several of our patients were low-income people who lacked insurance and the Resource Center would help them secure food, mental and health services that they would otherwise not have been able to receive. My duties were to schedule their appointments and provide a judgement-free environment the moment our patients walked into the clinic. No one should be punished for the 'crime' of lacking insurance and I'm glad I was able to dedicate my time to an organization that aligns strongly with my values. What I learned here is that the working poor are stuck rationing insulin and other medications because they either lack insurance, or are stuck with a bad insurance provider. And in many cases, people die due to not being able to afford their medication. We can help struggling people through strong community liaisons made up of healthcare professionals, volunteers, and financial stakeholders. As an aspiring future doctor, I understand that I would be in a position where I can make a significant impact in my local community. I am in Dallas where most people in my community come from low-to-middle class Latino/ Hispanic backgrounds and work hard menial jobs such as construction, automobile repair, landscaping, painting, etc. And upon looking at data from the Human Resources and Services Administration, I learned that my community is considered a medically under-served area (MUA). I would love to use my education and training from dental school to bridge this divide by providing free or low-cost preventive dental services to low-income earner in my community. My ultimate goal is to inspire others to give back to their communities, or to serve in medically underserved areas so we can bridge this gap in under-served communities and healthcare.

Being a first-generation student meant that I could not ask my parents for advice regarding my journey to dental school. Neither of my parents finished high school as they lived in a country that did not mandate schooling and lived too far to be driven to school. They also speak little English but they do try to learn. Being a first-generation college student meant that I had to make up the time that they could not, and it meant that I had to be the best student I could be. My journey to dental school has taken longer than the usual four years of University due to personal setbacks and other challenges I faced while in academia. But through strength and grit, I powered through Undergraduate and Graduate school and I have been accepted into a Biomedical Sciences program at UT Dallas with a tie-in to the new Texas A&M College of Dentistry, where I hope to matriculate. During my undergraduate years, I was a Front Desk administrator at the Resource Center, a clinic that specializes in HIV/ AIDS health and trans health. Several of our patients were low-income people who lacked insurance and the Resource Center would help them secure food, mental, and health services that they would otherwise not have been able to receive. My duties were to schedule their appointments and provide a judgement-free environment the moment our patients walked into the clinic. No one should be punished for the 'crime' of lacking insurance and I'm glad I was able to dedicate my time to an organization that aligns strongly with my values. What I learned here is that we have a flawed healthcare system in America where high income earners and higher middle classes have stable healthcare networks, while the working poor are stuck rationing insulin and other medications because they either lack insurance, or are stuck with a bad insurance provider. Thankfully, as future professionals, we can close in the gaps in the healthcare system through strong community liaisons. As an aspiring future doctor, I understand that I would be in a position where I can make a significant impact in my local community. I am in West Dallas where most people in my community come from low-to-middle class Latino/ Hispanic backgrounds and work hard menial jobs such as construction, automobile repair, landscaping, painting, etc. Recently, I learned that my community is considered a medically under-served area (MUA). I would love to use my education and training from dental school to bridge this divide by providing free or low-cost preventive dental services to my community. I also intend on working with college-bound youth to help them achieve their goals through scholarships, tutoring, and mentoring. My ultimate goal in life is to inspire others to give back to their communities, or to serve in medically under-served areas so we can bridge this gap in under-insurance and healthcare.

“I believe that the best type of kindness is the one that inspires kindness.” This was said by none other than Lady Gaga who has made the promotion of kindness among her fan-base and among young people one of her top priorities ever since launching 'Born This Way.' Sometimes a simple act of kindness can make someone's day. One of the kindest things that anyone has done to me was a simple act of tipping. For a while, I worked UberEats and I delivered food to people in downtown Dallas through a bicycle. There was something liberating about exploring the city without the fear of being pulled over by cops because you accidentally went the wrong way, or got confused because of all the construction and de-tours. This is why I opted to deliver by bicycle, but that still presented its own problems.. The first day that I delivered, I only made four deliveries, and I was late to three of them since I was still learning the city and some roads did not have a sidewalk, so I had to share the road with large cars. In my first delivery, I had to deliver to an upscale hotel in downtown near the American Airlines Center. Getting to the hotel was a bit of a problem because the sidewalk ends on one side, so you have to cross over a busy street to get to the other side. So, I did that. I had to cross a four way lane, and then continue biking until I reached the hotel. Once I got there, there was no bike rack, so I asked the hotel manager if he could watch my bike while I delivered the food. He said it was fine, and so I got to the hotel room number and placed the food. This was followed by a five dollar tip and I could not believe my eyes! Every delivery usually nets me around two to four dollars depending on the demand, so seeing that five dollar tip being deposited into my account after all I went through made me smile. The next three deliveries were more complicated because they were further and I waited a long time at the Chipotle since it was packed. This made me late to the next two deliveries. When I finally made it to the second delivery, the customer was upset and simply rolled her eyes when I gave her the food. The next customer, at another hotel ten minutes away, was also disappointed, but still tipped two dollars. I apologized but at least she understood. I place a lot of value in my services, so seeing a customer being understanding of my lateness was a bit inspiring: at least there are people who sympathize with the struggles of service workers. My last delivery for that day, was to Cane Rosso, a pizza restaurant in the heart of Deep Ellum. I did not know that it was a Pizza restaurant so imagine my shock when they hand me two large boxes of pizza and a bunch of sauces to deliver by bicycle. I thought to myself "Okay... I can do this.." but what followed was one of the most grueling bike rides I've ever done. The road to the house was all UPHILL which meant that I had to peddle thrice as hard. Eventually I made it to the house, and the customer tipped me a whopping seven dollars despite being late. This act of kindness meant so much to me. And I hope this story inspires people to tip your service workers.

What does Dentistry mean to you? Dentistry means investing our time and energy to improve the lives of our patients and to build long-lasting positive relationships with them. One of my mentors showed me how patients they treated 20 years ago are now showing up to their clinics with kids of their own because they loved the service the dentist provided, they loved the experience, and they want that for their children. Being a dentist means you become an integral part of your community and an integral part of someone’s family. Why did you choose the profession of Dentistry? I like to think that Dentistry chose me because of my unique life experiences. For starters, I had braces for seven years, and during this time, I constantly went back and forth to my orthodontist’s clinic and tried to keep up with my appointments. At the beginning it was hard because when I started high school, my school was about 40 mins by bus and it became difficult to make my appointments. But despite these setbacks, I liked the dental office setting, I loved getting my x-rays taken as they placed the heavy vest on me, and I loved that I could see my progress in real-time. In addition, I loved how immediate the pain was alleviated after going to the orthodontist. I knew that I wanted to help people with their dental issues. In addition, getting my smile ‘fixed’ boosted my confidence and I was able to eat properly. I want to help patients get that confidence boost: whether they are children, young professional adults, or retirees, I want them to know that I have their best interests at heart. What would you bring to the field? As an aspiring future doctor, I understand that I would be in a position where I can make a significant impact in my local community. I am in West Dallas where most people in my community come from low-to-middle class Latino/ Hispanic backgrounds and work hard menial jobs such as construction, automobile repair, landscaping, painting, etc. And upon looking at data from the Human Resources and Services Administration, I learned that my community is considered a medically under-served area (MUA). I would love to use my education and training from dental school to bridge this divide by providing free or low-cost preventive dental services to my community. In addition, I see myself helping pre-dental students on their journey to becoming dentists as I like working with students, so hopefully there is an avenue for me to help with that through pre-dental enrichment programs. What are your strengths and weaknesses and how are you planning on using them to matriculate the rigors of dental school? For the longest time, I never sought help either in the academic sense or the personal sense. I tried doing everything independently and I was too ashamed to seek help in class, and I had several setbacks as a result. Towards the end of my undergrad and in my graduate career, I sought study groups, and I go to a clinic when my personal health suffers a setback. This may not seem like a weakness, but seeking help is one of the issues that young men are reluctant to do. And I’m glad I was able to overcome my pride and understand when I needed help. And this has turned into one of my strengths. I go out of my way to help people around me. If my classmates needed to catch up in class, I would let them go over my notes. If someone needed an errand to be done, I would volunteer to do it myself. And if someone needed help understanding a particular lesson, I would go over the notes with them myself. Dental school is tough, which is why we need to build strong relationships with each other so that we can lift each other up when times get challenging. How would this scholarship help you reach your goal of becoming a Dentist? I have been accepted into Texas A&M College of Dentistry’s Biomedical Sciences Program at UT Dallas this year. It will be my first time living on campus away from home. Any and all financial help that I can receive means a lot in being able to achieve my dreams. I can use the scholarship money to pay tuition; I can use it to buy my text books that I will need for my advanced biology courses; I can use the money for housing costs; and, I can use the money for my meal plan. But beyond material needs, the scholarship will encourage me to really give it my all in the next coming years. How does your personal code of ethics align with those of Dentistry? One of my personal code of ethics is cooperation. In dentistry, a team of dental assistants, dental lab technicians, and dental hygienist/ dentists work together to improve the health of our patients. Excellent communication skills are needed to ensure that we attend to all of our patients’ needs. Honesty also matters to me. I’ve read stories of doctors charging the government for services they never performed, and some get caught but only after being turned in by a whistleblower or their own staff. My Anatomy TA was explaining how he turned in the dentist that he shadowed because of this unethical practice. I will conduct my practice with honesty, integrity, and confidence. What does leadership mean to you? Leadership means taking accountability when things go wrong. True leaders hold themselves accountable when things don’t go to plan. They don’t scream and shout and start pointing the finger at others; they have the integrity to blame themselves when they ‘mess up’, for the lack of better words. Leadership means rising to the occasion when called for. In a time of crisis, leaders get organized and give the call to action to deal with the problem at hand. In the context of Public Health, sometimes it takes real leadership to make difficult decisions to protect the community at large. We saw this during the covid pandemic when several states and local jurisdictions introduced lockdowns and mask mandates. While on the one hand, a mask mandate seems like common sense, a lockdown really stressed out local communities and people who live paycheck to paycheck. But again, a true leader thinks about the community at large and makes decisions that maximizes the protection of the public's health, and also respects the rights of those who may disagree with those decisions. This is what leadership means to me.

Imagine a movie that subtly portrays the everyday struggles that low income people face, and juxtaposes those struggles with how high class societies deal with theirs. Also imagine that this film also has a horror element to it, though it may not seem like one to most people. This is the film 'Parasite' (2019) directed by Bong Joon-ho. In the film, we are introduced to a 'dirt-spoon' class family of four, the Kim family, and how they struggle to keep a roof over their heads, to feed the family, their healthcare issues, and so on. We are also introduced to the wealthy Park family, another family of four who live in the upper hills of Seoul looking down at the poorer families below them. What struck me the most about the film was is overt realistic and unapologetic portrayal of the poor in South Korea. In the movie, Ki-Woo Kim poses as a University student to get hired by the Park family after getting a recommendation from his friend who is leaving to study abroad. In a series of events, he manages to get his sister in as a Art Therapy instructor, his mother as a housekeeper, and his father as the Park family's personal chauffeur. The Kim family may lack money, but they have unmatched wisdom that allows them to make the most of their situation. I related strongly to this family because in a way, I could see myself doing something similar to Ki-Woo's scheme if I was desperate enough to try anything to get out of the 'dirt-spoon' class. In the end, the Kim family loses everything in a flood, while the Park family is mildly inconvenienced about a camping trip. This also shows the stark differences in how climate change will impact societies across the world.