Freshman year is for growth, struggle, resilience and if you’re lucky, fulfillment. My first year was all of that and more. While there were many ups and downs, the most rewarding parts (aside from friendships) were the moments of clarity when I knew I was exactly where I needed to be. I came to DC for one reason: culture. I wanted to be in a city where political conversations were alive and all around me. I’ve always had a passion for civil rights, especially for communities impacted by systemic oppression. Within weeks of arriving on campus, I began volunteering with Horton’s Kids, a nonprofit supporting children in Ward 7, which's one of DC’s most underserved areas and nationally recognized by Michelle Obama. Getting there required a 90-minute commute by metro and bus, often through areas people warned me to avoid. But I kept going. I knew that if I wanted to serve underrepresented communities in the future, I needed to understand their realities now. Volunteering gave me more than just a way to give back--it grounded me. Hearing the kid's stories and witnessing firsthand how oppression shapes, not just the individual or family, but entire communities gave purpose to everything I was learning in the classroom. It also inspired the focus of many of my essays and confirmed that civil rights is the path for me. Academically, I dove into every class, especially in my major, political science. Studying comparative politics and intro to law was exciting and refreshing for these classes weren’t limited by Texas’s restrictions on educational content. In my comparative politics course, I was able to write freely and about my own experiences. Such as, for my final I wrote about why Vietnam and Cambodia have such different cultures despite their proximity, 2 countries I’ve actually visited. That essay earned a 98 for the hardest assignment in the course. Financially, DC was a challenge. Within two months, I realized I needed a job. I got hired at Chipotle, balancing full-time college, volunteering, and a demanding customer service job. Let me be clear: working at Chipotle in DC is no joke. I cried almost weekly. The customers were harsh, and the standards were intense. But the $17.50/hour and supportive coworkers kept me going. It taught me to be tough, to keep smiling even on days when everything hurt, and to find pride in surviving chaos with grace. “Fake it till you make it” isn’t just a saying, it was survival. Eventually, I had to stop volunteering because the unpaid time and long commute weren’t sustainable. Instead, I decided to go through formal sorority recruitment which became an experience that gave me unexpected confidence. I went from working with kids who told me daily I looked pregnant, to getting into every sorority I wanted. It felt like people finally saw what I always knew about myself: that I was capable, charismatic, and worthy of belonging. I joined Delta Gamma, found my people, and gained a support system I never expected nor thought I deserved. Through it all, I’ve learned that privilege isn’t just money or status, it’s having people who defend your name in rooms you’re not in, and the ability to keep going when life piles on. My family gives me that privilege, and I carry their support with me in everything I do. I ended this year with good grades, strong relationships, stories I’ll tell forever, and a renewed sense of purpose. But I didn’t end it with a period, I ended it with a comma. Because there’s so much more ahead, and I’m just getting started.

Being a young mixed Pakistani woman, the odds are stacked against me from the framework that was built for society in the United States. As a minority in race, culture, age, and gender, I face a unique set of challenges that many people will never understand or think about. However, through the lens of my aunt’s experiences, I see a path forward that allows my unique identity to foster change and make a meaningful impact. My aunt’s journey is a testament to perseverance and determination. She worked tirelessly to go to Harvard business school, breaking through gender barriers and societal expectations that often limit women, especially during a time of oppression and closed-mindedness. Her success is not only measured by her academic (top of class, moving up a grade level) and professional achievements (CEO of many businesses, being on The Apprentice, etc) but also by her unwavering generosity and commitment to providing opportunities to others. My aunt, Pamela Day, with her experience of the difficulties women have to achieve these many successes, built a private foundation to further her impact by being able to directly fund women and girl organizations in order to facilitate the growth of women leaders for the future. My aunt’s generosity and mission never ceased to halt through the many charities she's hosted fundraisers for, to the animal safety efforts she’s equally passionate for. My aunt's continuous efforts in helping all people and animals displays the limitless passion she has for making positive change and her seriousness on each matter she contributes to. Her story inspires me to approach my studies in political science with the same resilience and dedication as her with everything she’s ever done. Understanding the complexities of the political landscape in the United States requires more than just academic knowledge; it demands personal resolve and a willingness to confront and overcome obstacles. In my own journey, I am motivated by her example to engage actively in my community, advocate for equitable policies, and support initiatives that uplift marginalized groups. My aunt’s success demonstrates that despite systemic barriers, it is possible to achieve great things and make a significant impact. Her generosity in providing opportunities to others reminds me of the importance of mentorship and support networks. By following her example, I aim to not only succeed personally but also to create pathways for others who face similar challenges. Through her story, I see that being a young mixed Pakistani woman in the United States is not just a challenge to be endured but an opportunity to drive meaningful change and inspire others.