For much of my life, I am usually the person observing before speaking, listening before leading. However, behind my quiet personality is a story that shaped my resilience: being adopted from China, living with a seizure disorder, and overcoming obstacles in my early school years. Having changed schools in third grade, having an IEP and reading specialist. Having Epilepsy has formed my life that is not visible to others. It is something consistently in the background that I have learned to manage. While most kids have no worry or fear going on field trips with classmates, sleepovers, going to shows or hopping on a roller coaster, I have to weigh the risks. Another frustrating part of having Epilepsy is memory loss. I often struggle to recall past events clearly, or I feel disconnected from people and situations. I’ve also struggled with school through the years. Missing class time learning, put me behind in reading. Through the patience of my family, my neurologist, and my teachers, I began to outperform my IEP expectations and continually made honor roll while in middle school, dropped my IEP and have achieved National Honor Society, Latin Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta and maintaining an A average every year in high school with a 4.0 GPA. This accomplishment fills me with pride. All of my experiences have forced me to grow stronger, more compassionate, and more determined in all that I do. I am curious by nature and my curiosity and determination strengthen my desire to make a meaningful impact to others. I am currently preparing to attend a four-year college with a goal to pursue a bachelors in chemistry from Monmouth University and then MS for chemical engineering at Stevens Institute, a new five year program in which I was accepted. Having this opportunity is genuinely exciting for me, and it motivates me to push myself even further. I want to challenge myself academically and prove that I have what it takes not only to succeed in this program, but to be among the first students to successfully complete this program. This path represents not only an academic goal, but a chance to set a strong foundation for my future and make my family proud. Beyond my personal experiences, my passion for chemistry and chemical engineering comes from a deeper curiosity about how the world works at a molecular level and how that knowledge can be used to solve real problems. I am especially drawn to the idea that small, unseen changes in chemical processes can lead to life-changing outcomes for entire populations. Whether it is developing safer and more effective medications, designing materials that reduce environmental harm, or improving the efficiency of essential resources, I want to be part of the innovation that turns scientific discovery into real-world impact. The idea that my work could contribute to something greater than myself motivates me to keep learning, even when the path becomes challenging. I am inspired by the possibility that one breakthrough, even a small one, could have a ripple effect that improves countless lives. This belief pushes me to stay curious, ask questions, and seek deeper understanding in everything I study. What excites me most is the possibility that science is constantly evolving, meaning there is always room to discover something new or improve what already exists. I do not just want to study chemistry and chemical engineering for the sake of knowledge. I want to be able to apply it in ways that directly benefit people’s lives. My goal is to be part of a field where creativity, problem-solving, and persistence come together to create meaningful solutions. As I continue forward, I hope to grow not only as a student, but as someone who can contribute to advancements that make the world healthier, more sustainable, and more hopeful for the future. I am eager to challenge myself through this process, knowing that each obstacle I face will only strengthen my ability to think critically and innovate effectively. As I continue my education, I hope to combine my personal experiences with my passion for science to make a lasting impact. My goal is not only to succeed academically, but to use what I learn to help others overcome their own challenges. Nothing is more meaningful to me than the opportunity to give back and make a difference, and I am determined to turn my experiences into a positive force for the future. Through dedication, resilience, and a commitment to growth, I am confident that I can use my education to contribute to meaningful change and inspire others along the way.

For much of my life, I am usually the person observing before speaking, listening before leading. However, behind my quiet personality is a story that shaped my resilience: being adopted from China, living with a seizure disorder, and overcoming obstacles in my early school years. Having changed schools in third grade, having an IEP and reading specialist, I have overcome my fright in new adventures, my IEP dropped and remaining in high honors and making the National Honor Society with a 4.0 GPA. All of my experiences have forced me to grow stronger, more compassionate, and more determined in all that I do. Having Epilepsy has formed my life that is not visible to others. It is something consistently in the background that I have learned to manage. I am curious by nature and my curiosity and determination strengthen my desire to make a meaningful impact to others. I am currently preparing to attend a four-year college with a goal to pursue a bachelors in chemistry from Monmouth University and then MS for chemical engineering at Stevens Institute, a new 5 year program in which I was accepted. Having this opportunity is genuinely exciting for me, and it motivates me to push myself even further. I want to challenge myself academically and prove that I have what it takes not only to succeed in this program, but tp be among the first students to successfully complete this program. Beyond my personal experiences, my passion for chemistry and chemical engineering comes from a deeper curiosity about how the world works at a molecular level and how that knowledge can be used to solve real problems. I am especially drawn to the idea that small, unseen changes in chemical processes can lead to life-changing outcomes for entire populations. Whether it is developing safer and more effective medications, designing materials that reduce environmental harm, or improving the efficiency of essential resources, I want to be part of the innovation that turns scientific discovery into real-world impact. The idea that my work could contribute to something greater than myself motivates me to keep learning, even when the path becomes challenging. What excites me most is the possibility that science is constantly evolving, meaning there is always room to discover something new or improve what already exists. I do not just want to study chemistry and chemical engineering for the sake of knowledge. I want to be able to apply it in ways that directly benefit people’s lives. My goal is to be part of a field where creativity, problem-solving, and persistence come together to create meaningful solutions. As I continue forward, I hope to grow not only as a student, but as someone who can contribute to advancements that make the world healthier, more sustainable, and more hopeful for the future. As I continue my education, I hope to combine my personal experiences with my passion for science to make a lasting impact. My goal is not only to succeed academically, but to use what I learn to help others overcome their own challenges. Nothing is more meaningful to me than the opportunity to give back and make a difference, and I am determined to turn my experiences into a positive force for the future.

For much of my life, I am usually the person observing before speaking, listening before leading. However, behind my quiet personality is a story that shaped my resilience: being adopted from China, living with a seizure disorder, and overcoming obstacles in my early school years. Having changed schools in third grade, having an IEP and reading specialist, I have overcome my fright in new adventures, my IEP dropped and remaining in high honors and making the National Honor Society with a 4.0 GPA. All of my experiences have forced me to grow stronger, more compassionate, and more determined in all that I do. Having Epilepsy has formed my life that is not visible to others. It is something consistently in the background that I have learned to manage. I am curious by nature and my curiosity and determination strengthen my desire to make a meaningful impact to others. I am currently preparing to attend a four-year college with a goal to pursue a bachelors in chemistry from Monmouth University and then MS for chemical engineering at Stevens Institute, a new 5 year program in which I was accepted. Having this opportunity is genuinely exciting for me, and it motivates me to push myself even further. I want to challenge myself academically and prove that I have what it takes not only to succeed in this program, but tp be among the first students to successfully complete this program. Beyond my personal experiences, my passion for chemistry and chemical engineering comes from a deeper curiosity about how the world works at a molecular level and how that knowledge can be used to solve real problems. I am especially drawn to the idea that small, unseen changes in chemical processes can lead to life-changing outcomes for entire populations. Whether it is developing safer and more effective medications, designing materials that reduce environmental harm, or improving the efficiency of essential resources, I want to be part of the innovation that turns scientific discovery into real-world impact. The idea that my work could contribute to something greater than myself motivates me to keep learning, even when the path becomes challenging. What excites me most is the possibility that science is constantly evolving, meaning there is always room to discover something new or improve what already exists. I do not just want to study chemistry and chemical engineering for the sake of knowledge. I want to be able to apply it in ways that directly benefit people’s lives. My goal is to be part of a field where creativity, problem-solving, and persistence come together to create meaningful solutions. As I continue forward, I hope to grow not only as a student, but as someone who can contribute to advancements that make the world healthier, more sustainable, and more hopeful for the future. As I continue my education, I hope to combine my personal experiences with my passion for science to make a lasting impact. My goal is not only to succeed academically, but to use what I learn to help others overcome their own challenges. Nothing is more meaningful to me than the opportunity to give back and make a difference, and I am determined to turn my experiences into a positive force for the future.

For much of my life, I am usually the person observing before speaking, listening before leading. However, behind my quiet personality is a story that shaped my resilience: being adopted from China, living with a seizure disorder, and overcoming obstacles in my early school years. Having changed schools in third grade, having an IEP and reading specialist, I have overcome my fright in new adventures, my IEP dropped and remaining in high honors and making the National Honor Society with a 4.0 GPA. All of my experiences have forced me to grow stronger, more compassionate, and more determined in all that I do. Having Epilepsy has formed my life that is not visible to others. It is something consistently in the background that I have learned to manage. I am curious by nature and my curiosity and determination strengthen my desire to make a meaningful impact to others. I am currently preparing to attend a four-year college with a goal to pursue a bachelors in chemistry from Monmouth University and then MS for chemical engineering at Stevens Institute, a new 5 year program in which I was accepted. Science has always interested me in my years of school, but my focus on chemistry and chemical engineering will hopefully help me to be able to improve the lives of others. These studies can open up many different and sometimes rare opportunities to transform the lives of others whether it is medications that people like me rely on every day, the environment in creating better sustainability or even bettering the food we eat. Through my journey, I have learned that challenges do not define limitations, but rather opportunities for growth. Living with epilepsy has given me a unique perspective on the importance of medicine and innovation, and it has inspired me to contribute to advancements that can improve the quality of life for others. I want to be part of a future where science is used to create solutions that make everyday life safer, healthier, and more accessible. As I continue my education, I hope to combine my personal experiences with my passion for science to make a lasting impact. My goal is not only to succeed academically, but to use what I learn to help others overcome their own challenges. Nothing is more meaningful to me than the opportunity to give back and make a difference, and I am determined to turn my experiences into a positive force for the future.

As well as playing soccer and flag football for the past four years for my current high school, I have been a part of the drama club for backstage makeup and costume for the fall play and spring musical. This club is a tight-knit community and love to celebrate after the endless, intense days prior to show time, and the long weekend is over. The members enjoy going to go out and get food together and go over the highlights of the performances. This year, my senior year and others was our last hoorah. One classmate who participated as long as I have, was shunned from the large group and not asked to go out with the crew. Observing the shunning of classmate and someone who I have known since third grade, made me feel very sad and irritated. I thought to myself, this is her senior year too! She deserves to celebrate all the hard work and time she gave to the drama club. Instead of saying something to the whole group and drawing attention to her and the entire situation, I brought in a good friend of mine to explain the situation. I was very delighted and happy to hear that my friend felt the same way I did. We then decided to act instead of being a passerby. We chose to take her out on our own and leave the entire group. The three of us really enjoyed our time together and reminiscing over our four years together in the drama club. I felt joy to be able to share with my classmate. Most people don’t notice the quiet ones at first. I’m usually the person listening more than speaking, watching more than announcing myself. But if you stay long enough, you’ll come to know my sense of humor, laugh, or notice the way I try to lift up the people around me. My story began thousands of miles away in China and continued through challenges like a seizure disorder and obstacles during my early school years. Those experiences quietly shaped my resilience, kindness and humor that define who I am today. Through my years of school, I see my classmates who struggle to fit in. I am drawn to them, and although, I am not the most popular person in the room and do have a group of core friends, and many acquaintances from playing on the soccer team and flag football team. I am surprised to notice others who are timid to ask someone to join in at the lunch table or in a simple conversation. I can honestly say that I have made new friends by simply inviting them to join in with me wherever it may be. Sometimes, I can tell my core friends are even a little annoyed at me, but eventually, we all get to know the person who found it hard to be a part of a group. I have one particular friend, who has joined in my small community and is so cheerful to be around. Others have noticed this too and are now appreciative she is a part of their lives as well. I have learned that a simple gesture, a smile, a hello, can open up a connection you never thought was possible. I do believe, life is about the relationships you create and hold onto. Nothing can truly compare to the love and support of others in your life.

For much of my life, I am usually the person observing before speaking, listening before leading. However, behind my quiet personality is a story that shaped my resilience: being adopted from China, living with a seizure disorder, and overcoming obstacles in my early school years. Having changed schools in third grade, having an IEP and reading specialist, I have overcome my fright in new adventures, my IEP dropped and remaining in high honors and making the National Honor Society with a 4.0 GPA. All of my experiences have forced me to grow stronger, more compassionate, and more determined in all that I do. Having Epilepsy has formed my life that is not visible to others. It is something consistently in the background that I have learned to manage. I am curious by nature and my curiosity and determination feeds my desire to make a meaningful impact to others. I am currently preparing to attend a four-year college with a goal to pursue a masters degree in chemistry or potentially enter the medical field with a focus on neuroscience. Both paths are connected to my personal experiences and my passion to be able to help others. I was adopted from China at 14 months old, which has shaped my identity in positive ways, however, living with a seizure disorder without access to my biological family’s medical history has made diagnosis, treatment, and understanding my condition more difficult for both myself and my neurologist. However, this has not discouraged me, but motivated me to hopefully, one day become part of the solution. Science has always interested me in my years of school, but my focus on chemistry and desire to improve the medications that people like me rely on every day. While current medications are effective, they can often come with significant side effects. I hope to be able to contribute the development of new treatments that are safer. My ultimate goal would be able to create a medicine that can prevent seizures altogether, rather than only managing them after they happen. At the same time, I am also drawn to studying the brain and being able to better understand how and why people have abnormal brain activity particularly in individuals with seizure disorders. My hope in college is to raise awareness and possibly create a group where students can share their experiences and support each other. Epilepsy is hidden from many, and often we can feel alone in our disease. Ultimately, my future goals are centered on making a difference in the lives of others who face similar challenges. Whether through chemistry or neuroscience, I want to be a part of advancing medical knowledge and improving empathy towards others with seizure disorders. I hope to use my education and future career to make a positive impact on the world by improving the lives of others facing neurological conditions like epilepsy. Through advancing research in chemistry or breakthroughs in neuroscience, I want to help develop safer more effective treatments that not only manage symptoms but improve overall quality of life. There are the scientific contributions, but I hope to bring greater awareness and understanding those who have conditions that are often unseen or misunderstood. I wish to combine my personal experiences with my future professional goals to be both a voice and a source of progress for individuals who feel overlooked or alone in their health journeys,

For much of my life, I am usually the person observing before speaking, listening before leading. However, behind my quiet personality is a story that shaped my resilience: being adopted from China, living with a seizure disorder, and overcoming obstacles in my early school years. Having changed schools in third grade, having an IEP and reading specialist, I have overcome my fright in new adventures, my IEP dropped and remaining in high honors and making the National Honor Society with a 4.0 GPA. All of my experiences have forced me to grow stronger, more compassionate, and more determined in all that I do. Having Epilepsy has formed my life that is not visible to others. It is something consistently in the background that I have learned to manage. I am curious by nature and my curiosity and determination feeds my desire to make a meaningful impact to others. I am currently preparing to attend a four-year college with a goal to pursue a masters degree in chemistry or potentially enter the medical field with a focus on neuroscience. Both paths are connected to my personal experiences and my passion to be able to help others. I was adopted from China at 14 months old, which has shaped my identity in positive ways, however, living with a seizure disorder without access to my biological family’s medical history has made diagnosis, treatment, and understanding my condition more difficult for both myself and my neurologist. However, this has not discouraged me, but motivated me to hopefully, one day become part of the solution. Science has always interested me in my years of school, but my focus on chemistry and desire to improve the medications that people like me rely on every day. While current medications are effective, they can often come with significant side effects. I hope to be able to contribute the development of new treatments that are safer. My ultimate goal would be able to create a medicine that can prevent seizures altogether, rather than only managing them after they happen. At the same time, I am also drawn to studying the brain and being able to better understand how and why people have abnormal brain activity particularly in individuals with seizure disorders. My hope in college is to raise awareness and possibly create a group where students can share their experiences and support each other. Epilepsy is hidden from many, and often we can feel alone in our disease. Ultimately, my future goals are centered on making a difference in the lives of others who face similar challenges. Whether through chemistry or neuroscience, I want to be a part of advancing medical knowledge and improving empathy towards others with seizure disorders. I hope to use my education and future career to make a positive impact on the world by improving the lives of others facing neurological conditions like epilepsy. Through advancing research in chemistry or breakthroughs in neuroscience, I want to help develop safer more effective treatments that not only manage symptoms but improve overall quality of life. There are the scientific contributions, but I hope to bring greater awareness and understanding those who have conditions that are often unseen or misunderstood. I wish to combine my personal experiences with my future professional goals to be both a voice and a source of progress for individuals who feel overlooked or alone in their health journeys,

I still remember the first time I wondered about the life I might have had in China; the place I was born, the people I never met, and the culture I carry inside me but have only seen. Growing up as an adoptee, I have felt a desire to know where I come from. However, growing up with siblings also born in another country with another culture, I never felt alone. My siblings and I would talk about our curiosity of our culture. I believe this has grown into a “pie in the sky” dream: to travel the world, to dive into different cultures, and help other adoptees connect with their own roots. I imagine myself venturing through lively streets in great cities around the world where I’ve only seen in photos. Most exciting to me would be tasting all the foods that I’ve never had. I am an adventurous eater and would love the opportunity to sample foods in other countries. I want my journeys to be not only about sightseeing, but to listen to their music and learn about traditions. I want human connection and a chance to see the world from someone else's view. So many adoptees grow up feeling a gap between their past and present, unsure of the culture that helped shape them. Therefore, my dream doesn’t stop at discovering myself, but I would like to be able to take what I learn and share it with others like me. My hope in my pie in the sky dream is to help to create workshops, mentorship programs, or online communities where adoptees can explore their heritage, connect with each other, and celebrate the cultures that are a part of them. I want to be someone who makes it easier for others to feel proud of their story, just as I hope to feel pride in mine. At times, this dream often feels large and distant, but it inspires me every day. It is about more than travel; it is about connection, understanding, and giving back. As an adoptee, I believe other adoptees may feel just as I do. It is about bridging the worlds of the past and present, and using my experiences to help others do the same. I realize this journey will take time, but every step brings me closer to a life that celebrates both my heritage and my desire to empower others. And in that, I find hope, purpose, and the courage to keep reaching for that "pie in the sky."

Moving schools in third grade was a difficult challenge for me. I was comfortable in my old school with my classmates and teachers, but now I was in a place where I didn’t know anyone. Everything felt so different, and I was meeting new adults who were testing me and constantly asking me questions. I also had all these new classmates to meet, and this was so overwhelming to me. Little by little and day by day, I was able to welcome my new environment, meet new friends and appreciate and enjoy my new teachers. The year prior to me moving schools, I had a grand mal seizure, and also learned that I most likely had a seizure disorder also known as epilepsy. Shortly after my seizure, I broke my tibia and had a cast from my thigh down to my ankle for what seemed like a lifetime. Due to my medical issues, I had become behind in my learning, but at my new school, I was provided extra help and support in my education. I began to love learning and also found my new passion in word searches! I can proudly say I no longer needed an IEP and moved to all honors classes and have made high honor roll or honor roll every year and am currently in the National Honor Society. I am a determined to make a future of success and am not afraid of hard work and diligence so that I can achieve my goals. An important first step in addressing my future student loan debt is to choose a major that is marketable and attractive for future employers. I hope to graduate college career-ready, well-prepared and have little to no issues in finding employment. I believe with my work ethic and dedication, I will develop strong skills and strive to be the most valuable that employers can't pass up. I am not afraid to put in the hard work to achieve my goals. I also hope to find employment on campus at the college I plan to attend to help offset some of my education expenses. By choosing to work, I feel this would help with work experience as well as learning to manage my time with my studies. I would describe myself as thrifty and am not one to be wasteful, and I choose to spend money wisely and not waste on unnecessary expenses. I would like to pay off my student debt as quickly as possible. This will be my first priority financially. I would address this by budgeting my expenses carefully, living below my means, and spending with a purpose so that I will be able to afford hopefully a nice lifestyle, pay off my debt and invest for my future. Any scholarship monies that may be awarded to me would help relieve the burden of debt for both myself and family. This opportunity would help me to focus on my education without the fear of future debts for me and my family, but more importantly to capitalize the opportunity to succeed, grow and to give back to my family and community.