When I moved to the US at 12, it was a real shift. I was suddenly stripped of a big part of all that I was used to, whether it was language, people, or systems, and that took a huge toll on me. My family and members of my community that I knew growing up were now all hundreds of miles away with only a phone to connect us, and at times, that phone call was not enough. It was a big change, and for a long time, I could not process it. Like many young people, I was in search of connection; but I had to start from scratch since I was in a completely new environment. Amongst all these struggles, I was grateful to experience some good moments, and this included getting my first phone. I remember being so happy. I loved the phone case with green polka dots I had brought for it. It was with that phone that I started using Webtoons. Webtoons is a webcomic app I found, and it offers a variety of stories that are either self-published or originals. Not even one week into using it I had already fallen in love with a story there. I think it was still ongoing since the translations to French were slow, so I decided to switch my whole app to English to read it. This was a leap of courage since the language barrier was still very present. My choice at that moment was deeply grounded in my determination to know what was next for the plot. It lit up once again the passion I had for reading. Although I needed more support in these moments to enjoy a lifelong hobby, I nevertheless enjoyed it. Google Translate and these drawings became my best help for a good while. I used to hear people say that learning things required motivation and patience but, this experience put it into perspective for me. I always felt the need to rush to understand it all but sitting down and taking it slow made me value the patience and consistency it takes to achieve more. By the end of my first year in the US, Webtoons had become an integral part of my routine. I had made friends and acquaintances through the app. It significantly helped me improve my vocabulary too. It was my support through all the changes and now I see it as a facet of my identity. I still use Webtoons to this date and it holds value to me. I’ve grown to love and learn something new with every single story I’ve read. There is this comfort it brings me that I can't find anywhere else. All these experiences combined gave me a new look into who I am as an individual and how I work best to achieve my goals. I now see change as an opportunity to learn more about myself and to open doors to new communities. Chaos will always be present, so I will try my best to face it using all the things I already love and cherish while accepting the new. In conclusion, overcoming adversity requires finding sources of comfort and motivation amidst the chaos. For me, Webtoons became that source, providing not just entertainment, but also a means to improve my language skills, make new friends, and rediscover my passion for reading. Through this journey, I learned the importance of patience, consistency, and embracing change. These lessons have become integral to my identity, equipping me to face future challenges with resilience and optimism.

Growing up, I've always loved science and math. These two subjects have always held a dear part in my heart, although they can be challenging at times, I always found joy in solving them. They always helped me see things around me in a new light. In my first year in the United States, these two subjects were the only things that kept me grounded in school. I remember not being able to communicate well with my teachers and being anxious about that. However, when I had the worksheets for these classes in front of me, I could do them because these concepts were familiar, and there were visual examples. This familiarity was what helped me cope partly with all the changes I went through during that period. Around that same time, some people came to my school to give us an introduction to what the STEM acronym meant. This event completely turned my world around as it was the first time I saw people talk about sciences being used in careers other than teaching and medicine. I knew at that moment that I wanted to dedicate my life to a field in this category as I already loved it. The main pillar that built my confidence to commit to science, however, was my uncle. He went to school for pharmacy and was always present to answer my questions. Being aware that someone close to me dared to commit to his passion gave me the confidence to try to do the same for myself. He has always stood as a testimony that everyone can be in science to me. It is easy to have a passion die down if one does not feel or see familiarity in it, and I'm glad that was not my case. Having people in my life who attempted to reach their goals in science gave me the courage to try. I fully understand that I need to take my future in hand and make the effort to reach my goals; however, knowing that someone with a similar background to me went through that same path tells me that I can do it too. It is easier to attempt things if there is a path present. Everyone has different needs and experiences, hence the reason they need representation. I want to be an uplifting example for those who are younger than me as it helped me too. However, I am also looking forward to taking a step further with my passion and advocating for those who need it in the career I choose in the future.