Throughout my life, I have faced significant challenges and adversity. Often, I am told that I've been through more than my peers my age which made me a little sad because I became strong through adversity but I wish I didn't have to go through those. However, through those advesity, I have always been able to remain determined to pursue my career aspirations. When faced with physical or mental adversity, I take specific steps to manage my symptoms and stay on track toward my goals. For instance, in 2021, I survived the military coup in Myanmar at its height of violence before having to move to the US by myself to escape left me with PTSD, anxiety, and depression To manage these mental health challenges, I sought help from therapists and psychiatrists, who provided me with coping strategies and medication to manage my symptoms. Additionally, I turned to online resources such as the Trevor Project, which provided me with additional support and guidance during this difficult time. Moreover, my childhood was also marked by challenges, as my parents divorced when I was only four years old. Consequently, I struggled to form healthy relationships with mentors, friends and family members. However, I have worked hard to build a strong support system, made of friends, and family members who have supported me unconditionally. These relationships have helped me overcome my difficulties and continue pursuing my goals. Despite these challenges, my goal has always been to become financially secure enough to support myself and my father without struggling. I am determined to succeed in the finance industry, even though it is not commonly populated by women. To achieve this goal, I take specific steps, such as seeking guidance from mentors in the industry, networking with professionals, and gaining relevant experience through internships and other opportunities. In summary, when confronted with adversity, whether physical or mental, I take specific steps to manage my symptoms and stay on track toward my career aspirations. I seek help from therapists and psychiatrists, turn to online resources for support, and build a strong support system of mentors, friends, and family members. I remain committed to my goal of financial stability and pursuing a career in finance. I am confident that my resilience and determination will help me succeed despite the challenges that may arise along the way. I know there will be more adversities to come but I hope I can get through them with the skills and resilience I had developed these past years.

According to recent data from the United States Census Bureau, approximately 35,000 families and 68,000 individuals in Snohomish County, Washington, may be classified as low-income. As a business student and community member, I see an opportunity to make a positive impact by starting a non-profit community clinic that offers affordable, comprehensive healthcare services. Having lived in Washington State for about two years and pursued my Associate's degree in business, I feel a strong connection to my community. As someone who has benefited from community health centers with sliding scale pricing, I believe I can start a non-profit community clinic in my local community of Snohomish County, Washington, and contribute to the welfare of my fellow community members. Volunteer work and community service have always been important to me, so a non-profit community healthcare center is a natural fit. The United States Census Bureau's American Community Survey estimates that as of 2019, approximately 35,000 families and 68,000 individuals in the county may be classified as low-income. The US healthcare system does not support people without insurance or low income, so I would like to lessen the burden on them. According to a report by the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, as of 2019, there were approximately 63,000 uninsured residents in Snohomish County, representing about 8.8% of the county's population. Uninsured residents in the US may face significant challenges in accessing healthcare services. Without insurance, they may struggle to afford the high cost of medical care and may be forced to forgo necessary treatment. The business goals of my intended community healthcare center are to provide affordable, culturally sensitive care and comprehensive medical, dental, and behavioral health services, as well as community outreach and education. I will ensure that all information is provided bilingually in both English and Spanish, with interpreters available for speakers of other languages, especially refugees from various countries. This business is inspired by the existing Sea Mar Community Health, and I wish there were more locations like it or similar services. Sea Mar takes insurance but also provides sliding-scale pricing to support low-income families. To develop the business, I would research information on the health centers I want to model my business after, compile data, and design a well-structured health center. For funding, I would mainly use my capital to start it up, but I would also seek grants, investors, and donations to make it an efficient, well-rounded, and well-staffed health center. I would reach out to local organizations, community leaders, and healthcare providers to build support for the clinic.

Growing up as an international student from Myanmar, my early years were defined by constant change and transition. Moving to the United States at a young age, I was faced with many challenges, from adapting to a new culture and language to navigating the complexities of the education system. But it wasn't until I experienced the COVID-19 pandemic and the military coup in Myanmar that I truly understood the power of resilience. These challenges have given me a unique perspective on life and have allowed me to connect with others who have faced similar struggles. I believe that my background sets me apart and makes me unique in my community. Rather than allowing these obstacles to hold me back, I am determined to use my experiences to make a positive impact. As someone who has faced challenges in my own life, I understand the importance of having access to job and education opportunities, regardless of one's background. I am committed to making a positive impact in this area and hope to create opportunities that will help others overcome their own obstacles. My ability to problem-solve and think creatively has been a tremendous asset in this pursuit. I have also developed excellent interpersonal and intercultural communication skills through my experience in customer service, mentoring, and resilience. These skills have allowed me to build relationships and connect with others, even in the face of adversity. Beyond my professional aspirations, I am deeply committed to social justice and advocacy. I believe that everyone should have equal opportunities and access to resources, regardless of their race, gender, or background. By leveraging my skills and passions, I hope to create change and make a positive impact in my community. To achieve this goal, I plan to save up to create a foundation that will hire people from my community and offer grants and scholarships to those who cannot afford education or housing. I believe that by supporting others, I can help make a difference and create a better future for my community. In addition to my unique background and experiences, I have also developed strong leadership skills through various extracurricular activities. During my time in college, I was a member of the student government association, where I learned how to communicate effectively with others and advocate for student needs. I also served as a mentor for incoming international students, helping them navigate the challenges of adjusting to a new culture and educational system. Furthermore, I am passionate about environmental sustainability and have taken steps to reduce my carbon footprint. I have been involved in local community initiatives such as tree planting and clean-up campaigns, and I hope to continue making a positive impact on the environment. As someone who has faced challenges in my own life, I understand the importance of mental health and wellness. In my spare time, I enjoy practicing yoga and meditation to promote mental clarity and relaxation. I believe that promoting mental health is crucial in creating a strong and healthy community. In conclusion, my unique background and experiences have shaped who I am today, and I am committed to using my skills and passions to give back to my community. By providing job and education opportunities, supporting social justice and advocacy initiatives, promoting environmental sustainability, and prioritizing mental health, I hope to make a positive impact and inspire others to do the same.

Education is something that has the power to change lives. It is not just about getting a degree or a certificate, but it is about the journey of learning and growing. Education is important because it equips individuals with the necessary tools and knowledge to navigate through life. Without education, individuals may not have access to the same opportunities or be able to overcome obstacles as easily. Education is not limited to formal institutions, but it extends to any opportunity to learn and grow. This can be through reading books, attending workshops, or even just having conversations with people who have different experiences and perspectives. Growing up, education was always emphasized in my family. Both my parents had gone to college and pursued advanced degrees, while other family members had not been as fortunate. Seeing the differences between the opportunities and experiences of those who had an education versus those who did not, made it clear to me that education was something that could open up doors and create opportunities. It was instilled in me from a young age that education was important and that I should strive to learn and grow as much as possible. Personally, education has brought immense value to my life. Through education, I have experienced personal development by gaining a greater understanding of myself and the world around me. Education has also led to career advancement, as certifications and degrees have opened up new opportunities for me. In addition, education has enhanced my knowledge and skills, providing me with a more comprehensive understanding of various subjects. The more I learn, the more I realize how much there is to know and understand, and this has motivated me to continue seeking out educational opportunities in any way possible. One of the most powerful examples of the impact of education on my life has been seeing the transformation that education brought to my father. After about 20 years of working in the same job, my father decided to go back to school to obtain a Master's Degree in Business Administration. This decision not only improved his career opportunities but also made him a better person, both personally and professionally. Through his education, he gained new perspectives and skills that helped him to become a more effective leader and a better communicator. He also gained confidence in himself and his abilities, which translated into other areas of his life. Witnessing his transformation was truly inspiring and reinforced the importance of education in my own life. In conclusion, education has brought immense value to my life in numerous ways. It has provided me with personal development, career advancement, and enhanced knowledge and skills. Education has also been a source of inspiration and motivation, as I have seen firsthand the transformative power of learning and growth. I believe that education is something that everyone should have access to, regardless of their background or circumstances, as it has the potential to change lives and create opportunities.

My best back to school tip is to go on campus days before classes begins and scout the locations of your classes and campus resources. My social handle is @cas__shenanigans.

Family is what fuels me the most as my passion to provide for my family had motivates me and pushed me to be courageous and be brave in my life with all the risk-taking actions and focus on academic and career advancements to be able to a person that can support them. Their pride in me fills me with joy and so I kept working on achieving more and more. The second would be my friends whom I found in college as an adult. They learned about all my issues such as my mental illnesses, and my trauma and are very supportive in a way that they would respect my boundaries and we would do low-key activities to be sensory-friendly and not overwhelm me. I am grateful for the support that they had given me and I hope I am doing my best as well for them. These such things as friends and family who supports and loves me for who I am made me feel like I made a great choice in continuing this life and working on my healing.

As much as I'd love to enjoy myself, I have responsibilities and duties to fulfill for my family. The tuition fees and other school-related expenses are my priority now as my academics achievements and graduation is right now very important to my family and myself as I need a degree to support my family with my income. If I receive $1,000, I would like to split it between a savings account and an investment fund to get some interest between now and the next time I would have to pay my tuition for the Fall quarter in September. With my unfortunately large amount of tuition as an international student, I'd have to allocate the whole amount of the principal amount and the interests to pay for my schooling but it would make a huge difference in my academic life and I will be able to continue with less of a worry of if I can afford my tuition next quarter. However, if I graduate faster with my lessened financial worries, I will be able to support my family earlier and be one of the main supporters of my family as I always hoped to be. It is very hard to be responsible at this young but I am satisfied with myself and my future goals as my family supports me now and hopes to rely on me in the future.

My greatest achievement is not in academics, it is making my family proud by taking control of my life and escaping a country with a violent coup going on. I did not realize how big of a feat it was until I had completed it and looked back. I was only 17 when all that happened and it took me months to figure out filling out paperwork, planning, funding, and resources. My family, as loving as they are could not help me out with the process directly as they had never done it and also could not read or speak English therefore, I was left to take on a huge responsibility. It started in February 2021 when the coup started and so did the violence, and my escape was completed in July 2021 with months of planning, I was learning online, so I had never been to the place and never met anyone of my college peers in real life and I wasn't even sure if funds would ever increase enough to finish school. I risked it all, applied for my visa, filled everything out on my own, bought my airline ticket for a route I've never been on, and told my story to seek assisstance. I managed to pull the plan off with the help of my supportive family and a friend whose families decided to host me in their homes and pay for my college for a few quarters to support me. I always wanted to study aboard as I was already attending a US college online by 2021 but I never would have thought I have to rush my departure in the form of refuge. This experience taught me that I am resilient enough to try to make my life worth living when external factors make it seems so hard I wanted to give up. I am stronger and smarter than I had always given myself credit for. That huge risk journey was the only time I felt deserving of my father's pride. I always thought he was overly proud of me when I was not capable enough, but that moment proved to both me and my father that it was never an overreaction and although I do not like the pressure I may be the one who saves our family after all. I hope to achieve my bachelor's and work in the career field of either accounting or finances and support my family members back home. I would like to become like how my dad once was in his prime before the external factors hit, a child that always supports the family both financially and by being present. He was one of the filial children of my grandparents as he became the family's main income at 18 and sent his younger siblings to universities when his parents could not afford to do so. He was in a way a third parent. I do not wish to take on large responsibilities such as these and burn myself out, but my family now is much smaller than my father's; so, I think it would not be too out of reach a goal for me to want to support my family, especially when they had supported with all they can for me escape the horrible situation of my country.

Growing up with my dad as the only present parent after my parents divorced and mom only visiting once in a few years, a lot about my character and personality is different from all my peers with both parents. It had shaped my educational journey in an oddly unconventional yet productive way. In my high school years, he respected and still respects me almost like equals instead of treating me like an absolute child. He let me choose my college and listen carefully to all my plan and ask questions but never a "You are just a kid.". That was not very common for Asian parents, unfortunately. He wanted to raise me as an independent person and we sometimes talk about my parent's divorce and how he thinks that happened because they did not have similar values and goals. He wants me to be financially independent whatever I do so when I was only 16, I got to see all the bank accounts and finance plans. He always warns me to never be entirely dependent on anyone especially financially because that is also a lesson from the divorce. He gave all his salaries to my mother while they were married and when she decided to leave, he had no idea how much did they actually have and all until the lawyers comes in. We did not have much money after that but he always put me through good schools but never pressured me to have straight As or honors. He was of course very proud whenever I get As but never scolded me whenever I get a C or a D. He always told me that all the money he made is for me since I am his only child and to use it wisely. He also showed me the love of our community by always giving and donating whenever someone in need contacted him. He would also respect my grandmother with such honor and set her in high regard and that was how he taught me to respect my elders and he did the same for his dad before he passed. He was always looking out for his siblings and parents, sometimes even cousins and friends. I want to become that kind of person for my family and friend. I want to become fully capable of helping anyone that I know when they are in need. I sometimes do think he is too kind for his own good but we really need more kind people in the world. He had inspired me so much and that is why in the future, I want to be a pillar of my community. I want to set up scholarship funds for students in Myanmar and Washington State. Washington state is now my second home. I want to send resources to villages that have scarce food, water, and electricity in my state back in Myanmar. I want to set up funds for international students studying in Washington state. I want to help with affordable housing. I want to make all the bad things go away for people and since I can't do that for all, I will do it for my community.

My most important personal finance lesson is to make realistic budgets. Budgeting is hard and that is why most people gives up half way. No one can get their budget right on their first try so it is important to be patient with yourself and adjust then try over and over until you get the one that covers your recurring expenses, helps you save as well as have some fun money to enjoy yourself with. If you have too low of a budget that wouldn't cover your neccessities, you will end up allowing yourself to overuse for those needs and eventually your wants as well because you had proven that your math isn't right. A good budget will cover all your needs without you having to go over it. Find a right medium through trials and errors and when you do, congratulations, you are finally an adult. You might need to be strict with yourself but you will make it through.

Immigration is the nature of all living creatures. Immigration for a better chance at life has been going on for centuries from the dawn of time, such as the birds going south and north at certain times of the year to people travelling to find water sources or more fertile soil to better farm. In modern-day, immigration has become for education or jobs or the unsafeness of their home or other life improvements necessary for certain person or families. My original intent was to just immigrate for my education, however, the political climate of my home country of Myanmar had turned it into a state of emergency shelter instead of just for education. I have immigrated to the United States alone. It was a rough transition from well-taken care only child at home to living alone and figuring things out on my own. This had given me some maturity and a better mindset towards life than I used to have. My motivation and inspiration to try hard and strive have become higher. I am the only child of my family that they all tried so hard to get out of the country in a horrible political climate. There are still many students my age that cannot go out now as the embassies have closed within the country 2 weeks after I managed to get out. I was incredibly lucky and I cannot destroy this opportunity by not working hard for us. These thoughts have held me up whenever I feel like I wanted to give up. "Become Successful" was what my father wanted for me and I am going to make sure that happens. A successful person by his interpretation would be someone that is able to live comfortably and able to help the community back with what I have and I aspire to be that person. As I descended from generations of financial and managerial personnel, I grew up with all those concepts discussed around me. That is the reason why I was always interested in business and finance and felt the most comfortable in that field of study. I like the idea of working with data, calculation and strategizing. I also like to implement concepts from natural science and social science within my studies with business operations and analysis. That is why I have joined my college's student government as well as the diversity and equity center to our college campus a safer and better space for students of all backgrounds. My future aspriation is to work in the management or the financial sector while being able to work in any country with the skills and experiences I aspire to acquire in the future. I am also looking into becoming a Certified Public Accountant within Washington State to help with the financial aspect of my field of interest. What I hope this scholarship would help me are with the tuition and textbook fees for the educations I need to become a better and well-experienced person than I was before.