Although my fight to attend college has been atypical, I have come to appreciate the personal growth and passion that I have cultivated throughout this journey. My high school career began normally, and I excelled easily, despite the rigorous course load I undertook. Just a few short months into my sophomore year, however, I was suddenly debilitated by a disease that began to affect every system in my body. My ability to keep up with classmates, much less maintain my academic standing, was no longer possible. By my sixteenth birthday, my life was consumed by relearning basic motor skills, such as walking, writing, and speaking without a stutter. My life had changed in a matter of months. I was lost, and ashamed of the ways my new disability made me different from my peers. I soon came to learn, however, that we are defined not by our hardships, but by how we react in the face of them. I became determined to use my struggles as a way to help others. It took three years and countless doctors’ appointments across the country to fight my way back to attending school. On my first day on a college campus, I was filled with a mix of anticipation, excitement, and an overwhelming sense of fear. Where I had once excelled with ease, my abilities were now dramatically altered. I had to adapt and become creative in finding new solutions to problems I had never faced. The simple act of note-taking, which had once come naturally, became an overwhelming obstacle. The ability to quickly read large passages of expository text, a task that had once been effortless, was now nearly impossible. However, with the help of an accessible technology specialist, I was able to find tools that allowed me to once again step into the rigorous courses I had once loved and regain my former confidence both academically and personally. This pivotal moment has fueled my passion for using the incredible potential of accessible, inclusive, and purpose-driven technology to make a difference in the world. I quickly became fascinated by accessible technology and the opportunities it could create for the disabled community. My own increased ability to excel in school with the help of note-taking tools, dictation software, and screen readers led me to wonder about the ways these softwares could be improved to help a broader and more diverse user base. I have seen firsthand the immense impact that technology can have on one's life. Just as it has allowed me to return to school and excel, I wondered about new opportunities it could create for other students, and the ways it could benefit the diverse needs of user populations. I found myself visiting the accessible media center on campus with a growing interest in the concept of accessible technology, and the companies creating it. I attended conferences and began seeking out those in the industry who created the very tools I had benefited from. In the years since first discovering my passion for inclusive and accessible technology, I have thrown myself into the field head first. I have had the opportunity to intern as an accessibility specialist for Weight Watchers and present my proposal for a user understanding and empathy lab, which is currently under construction! I have met with specialists from companies like IBM, Verizon, AT&T, and Facebook to talk about accessibility and inclusive design and attended numerous lectures and conferences to learn the new and cutting-edge technology emerging that can be used to help others. I have come to understand that the sum of my personal experiences, challenges, and accomplishments have culminated in creating who I am today and what I have to offer both academically and professionally. There is no singular path that points one towards their future. My disability has provided me a view of the world I had once been blind to and has helped to forge a newfound insight and ambition for life. I cannot help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride at how far I have come, through hardship, to find my passion. As I begin my first year at Columbia University, I look ahead to my future, with the knowledge that I will never stop fighting to make technology accessible to everyone. The future of technology is an inclusive experience for all, and I am proud to be one of the passionate people working to make this future a reality.

I was 18 when I was first introduced to the technology that would change my life. After serious health issues left me permanently disabled with decreased blood flow to my brain, it was difficult to take notes in class or use my computer. However, with the help of an accessible technology specialist, I was able to find tools that allowed me to once again step into the rigorous courses I had once loved and regain my former confidence both academically and personally. This pivotal moment has fueled my passion for using the incredible potential of accessible, inclusive, and purpose-driven technology to make a difference in the world. Accessibility is everywhere, often where we least expect it. Features such as Siri, Closed captions, and voice-to-text are not only helpful shortcuts; they are also powerful accessibility tools relied on by many with disabilities. Accessible design has been a driving force of innovation in the tech industry for years. These innovations benefit everyone, but for those who are disabled, these tools are integral to their ability to navigate the digital world. My personal experiences as a disabled student have helped fuel my passion for accessibility in the tech industry. I quickly became fascinated by this technology and the opportunities it could create for the disabled community. My own increased ability to excel in school with the help of note-taking tools, dictation software, and screen readers led me to wonder about the ways these softwares could be improved to help a broader and more diverse user base. People with disabilities represent 15% of the global population, yet accessibility often isn't considered until backend design and production. This means that features crucial for many people’s ability to use tech are often added haphazardly, or ignored altogether. I am working to change this. Studies show that accessibility features help improve the experience for all users, not just those who are disabled. My goal is to work with tech companies and help provide resources on integrating accessibility and diverse user understanding throughout the design, development, and testing lifecycle. This has far-reaching implications not only for those who are disabled but also for anyone who is elderly, injured, or situationally impaired. I hope to help teams integrate Web Content accessibility Guidelines into their everyday workflow. In the years since first discovering my passion for inclusive and accessible technology, I have thrown myself into the field head first. I have had the opportunity to intern as an accessibility specialist for Weight Watchers and present my proposal for a user understanding and empathy lab, which is currently under construction! I have met with specialists from companies like IBM, Verizon, AT&T, and Facebook and attended numerous lectures and conferences to learn the new and cutting-edge technology emerging that can be used to help others. My experience as a gay, disabled woman in STEM has shown me what it means to fight for what I believe. This unique view into the importance of inclusion within the tech community has only strengthened my resolve to continue studying computer science and psychology to be at the forefront of new and cutting-edge technology emerging that can be used to help others. As I begin my first year at Columbia University, I look ahead to my future, with the knowledge that I will never stop fighting to make tech accessible to everyone. The future of technology is an inclusive experience for all, and I am proud to be one of the passionate people working to make this future a reality.

Madam Marie Curie is the first woman to ever receive a Nobel Prize and the first person- male or female- to ever receive this distinction twice. She truly embodies a powerful woman in science. The first biography I ever read on Marie Curie was in fifth grade and she has been an impactful role model in my life, as I hope to one day follow in her footsteps and make a similarly positive impact in the world. Since first reading about her dedication to scientific discovery and the incredible ways that she used her knowledge and her invention, the x-ray, to support doctors during world war one, I have been in awe of the lasting impact she has had on the world.