When I first arrived in New York from Kyrgyzstan to study in a university, I had no relatives, no friends, and no safety net. I was completely alone, trying to navigate an unfamiliar city, a new culture, and a system I knew nothing about. I feel that perseverance in my heart kept me in my foot, the hardship of acclimatization and a strand of despair and anguish was eating me alive. There were moments when the loneliness felt unbearable, when the weight of being the first—the one expected to succeed, to make the family proud—was almost too much. But I refused to give up. I reminded myself why I came here: not just to study, but to honor my family’s sacrifices by succeeding. My mother made that dream possible. She worked five jobs to keep me in an international school, determined that I would have the education she could only imagine for herself. Watching her strength taught me what resilience looks like. Her sacrifices became my motivation—to make her efforts mean something, to build a future that reflects everything she has given up for me. Being a first-generation student means learning to be your own guide. I had to figure out everything, from understanding course credits and financial forms to building connections and finding my place in a world that often felt foreign. But through every obstacle, I discovered my own strength. Each small victory, completing a project, finding community, or simply believing in myself again felt like proof that I belong here. My dream is to become a filmmaker who tells stories that bridge cultures and emotions—stories that help people see one another beyond borders or backgrounds. I want to create films that reflect resilience, love, and the invisible courage it takes to start anew. This scholarship would not only ease my financial burden but also serve as a reminder that my efforts—and my mother’s sacrifices—are seen and valued. It would allow me to focus on what matters most: developing my craft, continuing my education, and taking bold steps toward the filmmaker I want to become. Being a first-generation student is not easy, but it is a powerful thing. It means carrying generations of hope and transforming it into something real. It means being the proof that dreams can cross oceans.

I’m an international student from Kyrgyzstan and right now I’m pursuing a degree in Film production in United States. My education plans to transfer to NYU Film and Tv production program from Pace University. I felt like NYU has the best chance for providing the best possible opportunity for me to become a better filmmaker. As for how I would make an impact on the world, I think succession isn’t always about one person, it gets spread , the hope and belief. I want to make a difference as a filmmaker from Kyrgyzstan . I want to give hope for fellow female artists and fellow MOAs, for them to be an inspiration and example, encouraging them to try and thrive in whatever aspect of life they choose. Initially, my parents helped me to cover tuition, however now they are unable to support me and I plan to try my best with financial aid and other scholarships opportunities. I decided to take risks and apply for as many possibilities that I can, to transfer to try and to reach for the dreams I have in my mind. TXT and Kpop has been always an insane motivation for me, I would listen to their music and watch their lives in the moments of hardship. I admire their dedication and versatility in their music and discography. I think it’s the main reason why I decided to go interdisciplinary in filmmaking , blending storytelling with art and textile design. I’ve been a K-pop Stan since 2016 and was a huge fan of BTS, while studying in high school me and my friends would often talk and discuss their music and just be such a huge fans, buying merch, printing posters and waiting to stream every music video and just knew how to stream it so they would have a higher viewings. And in 2019 when it was announced that BigHit will have another boy band, I was so excited, their debut date was so special to me. Every teaser and every bit of new information and content about the group just fueled my excitement for their debut . After they debuted I figured out that I like them even more than I like BTS. Something in their essence is so joyful and youthful, locking back now I still feel this lightness in their vibe, I still feel like I’m 17 while listening their comebacks, their music is so good and precious to me it makes me feel things that I can’t express. For the moment my favorite song is Blue Orengaede , I really like this song it’s filled with positivity and love. I think it’s mostly due to the fact that I feel nostalgic for the 2019 year, and my surrounding right now is kind of depressing and I tend to listen to music that would uplift me and help my inner peace. My career aspiration is to become a filmmaker, when I was in high school however , the only reason was to just to be able to work with TXT in future and create their music videos as a director , but now I feel that I want to be as brave as Hyuning Kai is, to show up and do what you really like and just be present in the moment and chase my dreams!