As I flipped through my chemistry textbook, the molecule diagrams gleamed brightly under the glow of candles in my dark room, while my ears were filled with the distant, brutal echoes of military gunshots. I was back in Myanmar, where I envisioned my dream of coming to the States to study the field that I have always been passionate about: chemistry. The advancement in research and technology integration, which is not to be seen in Myanmar, has long attracted me. More specifically, my biggest dream is to delve into the chemistry of cosmetics. With the exploitation of harmful chemicals and unjust labor in extracting key ingredients, my ambition is to utilize my knowledge of organic molecules that are safe for the skin and research more ethical ways to create cosmetic products. Being diagnosed with ADHD, the biggest miracle of my life has been to sustain my focus on any task. The most frustrating aspect is my genuine enthusiasm to tackle tasks, yet my impulsivity and racing heart often hinder me greatly. Serious panic attacks have written a significant chapter of my life, especially before any essential exam I have taken. Frankly, I constantly felt that I would not make it past the mountain. The constant struggle to stay focused despite my extraordinary efforts left me feeling defeated. For 20 years, every day felt like a battle where I watched my peers flow seamlessly through their routines while I was trapped in this cycle of distraction. Additionally, the dictatorship transition of Myanmar in 2021 led my family’s business to shut down which resulted in our income drastically declining. There are also the abnormal inflation rates of the Burmese currency and sanctions put on banks that have made it almost impossible to transfer money to support my college fees. As an international student from Myanmar — a country struggling through economic turmoil — the tuition rates have increased by more than twice compared to those of in-state students. Contemplating these challenges has made me want to surrender at times, especially after interacting with my peers at the University of Miami who come from wealthy families, do not need to worry about financial distress, and can pursue their dreams while being focused. However, as I embarked on this hard journey, I realized that these challenges ignited two important values inside me: perseverance and confidence. The newfound perseverance inside me formed this light of hope inside me, telling me to tackle the challenges instead of avoiding them. My inner self kept reminding me. "If you allow this surrender to outweigh your efforts, you will never reach the dreams you have envisioned." My intense battle with ADHD may slow down my progress toward my goals, but the effort I put in is amplified even further by my willpower to achieve them. At my university, I am currently working two different part-time jobs and dedicating two hours a day to applying for scholarships, all while taking 18 credits worth of classes to support my financial burden. At the base of this journey lies my best friend: confidence. This value has been the core of the chapters of my life since it has always been my driving force for my achievements. I have been judged countless times as I walked through this difficult journey, with people telling me I am not going to be successful because of my weaknesses. Growing up in a critical society, people have often labeled my hyperactivity as “peculiar” and called me a weird person straight up to my face. Even the people of my community, including my parents, have doubted my success due to the difficulties I have faced throughout my history. Confidence has led me to step back from these criticisms and continue fighting for the success that I know I deserve. The saying “Believe in yourself” sounds too simple to ignore, but it is the reason why I am not set back by all the pressure and adversity. One thing that has always lightened my heart is those who help. When I first arrived in the States by myself, I didn't know anyone in the country, especially in Miami. During my first month on campus, I felt incredibly lost as I struggled to adapt to American culture and tried my best to feel comfortable with the new norms in this foreign environment. Fortunately, I met a PhD biochemistry student who is Burmese American, who had been in the States for nearly ten years. While I asked him for help regarding being adjusted to the American culture and staying on top in a competitive school like UM, I found myself giving out a lot of courage in the process. It provided a great sense of comfort, letting him know that I have my weaknesses and acknowledging them. It is not easy to ask for help and it takes a lot of courage to do it. He acknowledged my limitations and struggles and gladly took the time to hang out with me every day, helping me with everything I needed. I felt extremely grateful for everything he had done for me, knowing that I would want to do the same thing if someone asked me for the same help. It was beneficial for both of us since it strengthened our friendship, helping each other whenever times come. While it may seem disadvantageous to be an international student from Myanmar, coming from a low-income household and battling ADHD, I believe I have a significant advantage compared to the American students: resilience. Having battled the essence of adversity firsthand, I know what it takes to tackle any future challenges I am to face. I am a strong, perseverant, and confident chemistry student from Myanmar, studying nearly 10,000 miles away from home. This is what makes me special. With that all being said, no matter the result of this award, I wanted to thank you for evaluating my application. I hope you have a blessed day!

Dear MOMOLAND, I was a junior in high school when I discovered you. It was during COVID when I was feeling isolated at home. Frankly, I was used to it because my life has been marked by isolation. Having ADHD, I was always the quirky kid that nobody wanted to talk to. I was seen as weird in my community, constantly facing criticism and annoyance. I felt extremely vulnerable and weak under all this pressure until I found you. The performance of your iconic bop "BBOOM BBOOM" on MCountdown instantly grabbed my attention. I was completely mesmerized by the energy of your extraordinary members and the joyful vibes you radiated throughout the entire three minutes. The way you screamed “GREAT!” with your cute dance captivated me. Your adorable smiles made me eager to learn more about you. You have never failed to brighten my days with your eras, from “JJan! Koong! Kwang!” to your last comeback with “Yummy Yummy Love.” Your unique talents have come together to form a discography of happiness that always leaves me with a smile. However, the main reason you are my favorite is that you have nourished an essential value inside me: confidence. Since the moment you got into the spotlight, the whole world seemed to be on a hate train. People became very judgmental of every action you displayed on camera, criticizing you for your looks, scandals, and misunderstandings. It pained me to see other K-pop fandoms spamming ridiculous hate comments on every single post and video, with some even sending death threats. They dedicated their time to making videos expressing their hate towards your fun attitude. They called you “annoying” and “disrespectful” while you were just being yourselves: energetic, happy, and bubbly girls. How is it that one achieves their long-wanted success but ends up getting this hate? I want to remind you that you are confident and resilient. No matter how hateful they are, you have never dimmed your light. You never changed yourselves just to please these haters and continued giving your best. You put so much effort in your comebacks, filming lively music videos and carrying out promotions around the world. The love you gave me, a MERRY, was unconditional and the best thing that happened in my life. When you shed tears after your win on MCountdown with “Thumbs Up,” I empathized with every second of it. The chapters of my life are filled with so much criticism from people in my community who have always tested the depths of my vulnerability. After finding you, I learned that confidence is key. You taught me to never stop shining my light by being my true self. You are the reason I can walk through the busiest crowds without fear of criticism. Additionally, I want to emphasize this impact coming from a different country. Your lyrics have reached places thousands of miles away, all the way to Myanmar. I, someone who does not know Korean, was eager to sing out the energetic lyrics and learn their meaning through translated videos. These were words I had never heard before, but they brought so much life into my isolation. It led me to learn more about South Korean culture and the beauty of the country. I have to say that my obsession with kimchi fried rice began from this discovery. You may have disbanded as a group, but the impact you have on me will never disappear. I wish you so much success in your future paths. And remember, be confident, and don't let the haters get you down. With love, Kaung

"Challenges will always be Kaung's best friend," told the astrologer. I grew up being a hyperactive person in which I have a challenging time focusing and always being sleep-deprived due to my overexcited heart. Growing up in a striving family in an economically challenging country like Myanmar, I see these challenges as my momentum to push towards my passion and ambition. Being a STEM student, many people believe I chose to pursue it due to the mere fact that I love mathematics or never want to stop finishing dozens of homework every night. However, there is one short yet compelling reason why I picked STEM: it never lies. It has always been intriguing to me the way how one can not falsify information from the field of STEM in any way. For instance, mathematics problems always have one true answer, and there is no valid explanation that leads to a different answer. Three plus five will always be eight, and there is no method to falsify this. As a lover of mathematics and critical thinking, I enjoy working on a problem until I find a way to get the right answer. If I fail to reach the correct answer on my first attempt, I adjust my way of thinking to push myself to the correct one. The same principle also applies to Science subjects. With the leading up of information based on countless historical research and strong evidence, it is impossible to argue with a concept that is always occurring in the universe. “Nobody can create or destroy energy, but rather, it is transferred from one form to another.” Humans have observed this law throughout all of their lifespans, whether it is pushing a door or simply walking. This is and will always stay true as it never lies. Specifically, I decided to pursue Chemistry as it is the trunk of a tree that leads to other branches of STEM. It carries countless engaging concepts of the tiniest particles in our universe combined with mind-blowing calculations of mathematics that would heat one’s ordinary life. For instance, biological processes such as cellular respiration and photosynthesis are all chemical redox reactions through multiple steps. The DNA that identifies our uniqueness are chemical molecules that are bonded through covalent bonds. Similarly, the electric circuit and battery cells studied in physics are based on the flow of electrons. It is simply impossible to avoid the presence of atomic particles in the field of science; it exists everywhere. As an aspiring chemistry student, there is no class I enjoy more than a chemistry-related one. The endothermic reaction that occurs every time I enter the chemistry lecture hall never fails to warm my heart, whether I acquire new chemistry knowledge from the professor or do challenging problems together. When I practice chemistry problems or go through my notes, the fabulous links between numeric values and atomic behaviors always catalyze my race to happiness. My bond with chemistry is covalent, which is the strongest of everything. My biggest ambition as a STEM major is to become a research chemist that investigates the use of inorganic and organic substances. I envision taking part in the development of novel treatments that the pharmaceutical industry is in demand of. Winning this scholarship will reduce the heavy financial burden that my family has to deal with back in Myanmar. More sanctions on Burmese banks and increased inflation have worsened the economic status of my family, making it extremely difficult to find American dollars to pay for my tuition. This scholarship will ensure the achievement of my ambition. Thank you for reading!

For the first time in 14 years, I joined a community service organization in ninth grade. I was not sure of what I was supposed when we got to the destination. As the van arrived, something captured my heart within a blink of an eye: hundreds of adorable children racing toward me. Like a magnet, their innocent smiles and captivating Burmese face-paint, Thanakha, attracted my soul towards them. I felt an extreme joy that I had never experienced before, which “happiness” was not a sufficient description. The orphanage that stood in front of my eyes was an enormous withering building. There were not sufficient chairs to accommodate every child in the orphanage, as a result, many of the children had to sit on the bare floor. The moment our classes on core subjects such as Mathematics and English began, every child, no matter where they sat, expressed their eagerness and enthusiasm by actively participating in our games and activities. The magnetic force that stemmed from our first encounter intensified as their smiles enlightened the whole classroom. Contemplating carefully, I realized how life does not give fair opportunities to these children who have a fondness for constructing bright paths. Despite harsh living conditions, they are willing to express how eager they are to gain knowledge. Since that morning, I spent time thinking of how it is unjust that children who sincerely desire accessible education are forced to go through harsh conditions to follow their dreams. Consequently, I had been participating in more volunteering sessions hosted by the organization on a weekly basis. Specifically, I am proudest of the organization that I founded back in July 2021: Biology for Better Yangon. During the period of heavy obstacles on the futures of Burmese teenagers following a brutal military coup and economic turmoil, I initiated this non-profit organization with the mission to assure the accessibility of STEM knowledge to teenagers not only in my city but also in the whole of Myanmar. Despite starting off with a small team, countless free STEM worksheets, concept videos, and interactive posters on these topics were made throughout the life of my organization. Additionally, I collaborated with various local orphanages to have weekly visits with enthusiastic teenagers in which I strengthened the magnetic force from my first volunteer experience. I also had the opportunity to volunteer at different underprivileged places in Myanmar such as disabled centers and other orphanages. The more I voluntarily participate in these experiences, the more it came to my mind how it is always wise to give out a hand to people. As an aspiring Chemistry student, I have developed my ambitions to give back to my community with my knowledge and experience. The most essential step to this plan is to benefit our community with my future career which is investigating new scientific knowledge. One other ambition that has grown to me is creating my own scholarship fund by the time I have successfully run my career in order to assist deserving and enthusiastic students in their educational paths. As a student who comes from a low-income family in a third-world country with an economic crisis, I understand the feeling of how challenging it is to walk your dreams while dealing with conditions that are out of one’s control. While searching for ways to lessen the enormous financial burden that my family has to support back in Myanmar, more sanctions on Burmese banks and increased inflation have made it difficult to find dollars to pay for my tuition. Winning this scholarship will assure my achievement of these selfless ambitions.