Growing up a female in a traditional Bengali household and low-income family, I had to face many challenges that tested my resiliency and determination. Since my parents believed that my brothers were the only ones who could achieve success, they praised their ambitions and goals while implying that mine were mere dreams. I dimmed my spark for learning for some time as I also noticed many of my relatives looking down upon girls who were “too ambitious” or “too educated.” However, I stopped wanting to be a follower. I wanted to possess the confidence to lead and pave the way for other women in my culture, so I did just that. With many females told they were not fit to have leadership positions, I became the President of the National Honors Society, Vice President of the Student Council, Secretary of Robotics, and much more. I was able to manage all those extracurricular activities while still maintaining a 4.0 GPA, ranking in the top 1% of my class, and getting accepted to a Pre-College Program at Harvard. These accomplishments not only helped me to break down barriers for myself but for other women in my community as well. However, I knew that I wanted to push myself even further and break boundaries in a more competitive field. This led to my desire to pursue a career in aerospace engineering. ​​I have always been interested in STEM, and my dream is to become an aerospace engineer. I know that this is a challenging career path, especially for women, as they only make up 28% of the STEM workforce. Despite this, I worked hard to get accepted into the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan. I am determined to succeed in my studies and future career, not only for myself but also to inspire and motivate other young women who share an interest in STEM. I want to be a role model for them and show that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. My ultimate goal is to advocate for gender equality in the STEM field and contribute to increasing the percentage of women in this industry. Throughout my journey, I have learned that the challenges I faced as a woman entering a competitive and male-dominated field were actually blessings in disguise. They taught me valuable lessons that helped me become more resilient, determined, and resourceful, enabling me to continue to succeed and break barriers. I have also developed a strong work ethic and a never-give-up attitude. I know that these qualities will serve me well in life, regardless of the challenges I may face. Therefore, I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to develop my leadership skills. I am determined to make the most of them and to use my skills and talents to make a positive impact in the world.