When I see the phrase "pursuing higher education," it reminds me of my parents constantly telling me to focus on studying repeatedly the time. They would say, "You should be studying to have what you want one day." I realize that they had nothing when they came to the US and had to start over again. My mother's degree she had from Laos was of little value, and my father never went to college because he wanted to focus on a job to earn money. By that, I saw pursuing higher education as a chance to improve my and my parents' lives. However, "studying" was also used to compare me with other kids growing up. I would feel lower than them because I didn't achieve high grades in elementary or middle school. I didn't like hearing that word. In the 7th grade, I lost motivation at one point, and my grades dropped significantly. Well, what did my parents do? They would scold me with the notable word "studying." Flash forward to high school, and here I am, making good grades constantly on my report cards. Guess who made a comeback from their 7th-grade year? Me. I knew I had to start thinking about my future career and what to major in. As usual, my parents would lecture me with the word "studying" all the time. By this time, I found my interests in skincare and business. I realized I wanted to go down the businesswoman path or be a dermatologist. To fuel my interests, I would sell things I no longer use online and make a skincare account on social media for fun. So, I need to prepare for the real world and college. I still don't know many things at this moment. By pursuing higher education, I will learn many foundational skills that will help me throughout my life. My parents never got a chance to pursue higher education here, but they know it's the best for me. Hence, I want to make an impact on their lives and not just on them but on others as well. The knowledge I consume in my education will help someone out there someday. Earning this scholarship will bring me a step closer to my goals. Another reason is that I can use it for new opportunities for my future career. In addition, it will significantly help my "studying" in higher education. Yep, you read it; I just used the word my parents always say. Words find their way around back to you again somehow.