As a first-generation college student, education has always been a priority for my future success in financial freedom for myself and others. Working at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) as an Intern, I have been able to connect with patients on a deeper level and have faced various fortunate and unfortunate situations that have made me understand the importance of compassion. Some patients come in happy to have their last treatment sessions in our outpatient facility, while others are counting their last days due to unforeseeable circumstances. It has reinforced my goal of helping people and it assists me in getting experience for my future career in Health Administration. When I was younger, I believed the only way I could truly help people was by entering the healthcare field in a clinical setting. However, I am entering my junior year of undergraduate school as a Health Administration major learning to advocate for my patients, finding financial assistance for their medical expenses, and gaining managerial experience to run an efficient hospital. I aspire to continue my educational journey further to earn my master’s in this major to be fully equipped with the knowledge to continue to support patients. This will prepare me for my future endeavors and prompt me with appropriate resources. I especially want to advocate for minority groups as they are often forgotten or mistreated under the healthcare system. This includes minority populations such as Black, Indigenous, and undocumented patients who struggle to have their voices heard by healthcare professionals. This passion for advocacy stems from numerous readings about the Tuskegee trials as well as my 92-year-old grandmother who always felt uncomfortable in hospitals and speaking with clinicians who tried to make assumptions about her condition without asking her. As her granddaughter, I make it a point to always go with her to doctor’s visits so that she can feel more at ease. Minority populations deserve the right to the same treatment options as their white counterparts and academia needs to acknowledge the differences in their symptoms too. Racial biases continue to exist causing further complications to various different patients. In order to combat this issue now, I have begun to participate in multiple extracurricular activities like my MSKCC internship to gain more experience and broaden my knowledge. I have recently joined the executive board for two clubs in my college: Treasurer of Active Minds and Marketing Chair of Future Health Administrators (FHA). Active Minds is a nonprofit organization working towards decolonizing and destigmatizing mental health, and providing college students the space and resources to do so. I think this club’s mission is highly important and correlates well with my work towards advocating for patients as mental health needs are often overlooked within minority communities. FHA is a great tool I will be using to network with past alumni for further education, and gaining a better understanding of how the medical field is evolving to accommodate our target population. Many of these alumni are immersed within the healthcare field and have great insight to offer about how an inclusive hospital operates, and what precautions need to be taken for every individual to feel respected and valued by their team of experts. Additionally, I am a Residential Assistant for this upcoming year at one of the dorms on campus. A Residential Assistant plays an essential role for their residents as we advocate and support them by creating a safe space. This scholarship will support my work and encourage me to strive for the stars to help as many people as I can through the use of my education.