As a member of the Nisqually Native American Tribe, I fully understand the importance of community. Community means to be a part of something larger than yourself, a chance to go beyond what is requested of you and make a positive difference in your environment. Community service has allowed me to give back to my community for all the sacrifices and hard work others have done for me, to show my gratitude and appreciation for what I have and the opportunities awarded to me that others may never receive or experience. My pattern of selflessness is shown through my service and performing that service with joy, positivity, dedication, empathy, and kindness. Working with multiple different food banks, cancer walks, homeless shelters, and even completing over 200 hours as a Volunteer Youth Conservation Member at the Seattle Aquarium has opened my eyes to the good in people and what we can all achieve with hard work, dedication, and selflessness. Community service is also supporting groups you personally can connect to. For example, I worked with the Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer and Research as well as the “Come Walk With Me” Breast Cancer Association walk and fundraising drive because my Aunt Diane had Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer and the fact that they saved my Aunt’s life, who has now been cancer free for 8 years, is beyond selfless. That service did not only save my Aunt’s life but others who were unfortunate in being diagnosed with such a destructive ailment. I’ve worked at women’s shelters and food banks on Summer and Spring Breaks from school in Arizona where my Grandparents live, such as the Hope Center and Community Food Bank that assists women who have been recently displaced due to domestic violence or assault, because I felt it was my duty to work and provide for people who were barely surviving in the heat, who needed water and supplies. Instead of spending my breaks soaking up the sun in the pool, I feel a pull to help others line it’s ingrained in me. Sadly, I also feel discouraged at times, when I’m at school I see my peers scoff at and argue they don’t want to work in the community. I decided to ease some of this ignorance and use my experience and knowledge to educate my peers whenever I can and also created a community service website for my high school to access volunteer groups and activities and to share my experience with different organizations. I hope that in the future my peers will find their own passion for volunteering by also finding a cause they are personally passionate about. Sometimes, all it takes one moment of selflessness to provoke a drive for service. At a very young age, I saw all the hardships people I’ve grown up with and known for all my life were facing and seeing them suffer and struggle to survive shook me to my fundamental core, these were my moments of empathy and sympathy; it dawned on me that service is our job as a society, as a community, We all need to fight and strive for making sure our families and community members don’t have to worry about going to bed hungry, worrying about whether or not their children have the care they need, it is our job as a community to make the world a better place. Community service to me means going beyond what is asked of us and putting in the work to bring a better future for everyone; this is selflessness.

In order to understand my educational and professional goals, knowing my history and background is essential. About 2% of babies are born under 32 weeks of gestation with less than 1% born under 32 weeks according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information; in 2006, I was that less than 1%. I was born extremely premature, over 10 weeks early in gestation, and had less than a 20% chance of survival. Due to advances in neonatal medical technology and a new drug trial and with the determination and the advocacy of my parents, I was able to beat the odds and, in time, live a healthy life. I am resilient, I am determined, and I am a survivor; this is what I tell myself everyday and what I will remind my future version of me. Growing up in hospitals and countless hours spent with doctors and specialists opened my eyes to Science and STEM; technology literally saved my life in more ways that even I can comprehend. Technology and advances in medicine also saved my Aunt with her battle from Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer as well as extending the life of my Great Grandmother during her battle with Dementia. These experiences led to my desire and goal to first pursue an undergraduate degree in a field related to Biomedical Sciences and then pursue my graduate degree in a specialized field like Neurology or Pathology with minors in Psychology, Native American Studies, and Conservation. As a child born in a Native American, Filipino, and French-Scottish home, I was in awe of anything scientifically related, especially marine life. Following in the footsteps of my Great Uncle Billy Frank Jr, along with my Nisqually ancestry, I became obsessed with Marine Biology, Oceanography, Conservation, and Native American Studies. My future goal is to use my education, experience in the medical field, and passion for marine life and conservation to help my family and Tribe for generations to come. Although the Nisqually Tribe is currently ratifying their bi-laws to include all people of ancestral bloodlines to be adopted into the tribe, unfortunately the process takes time and I am still left without a Federal or State recognized blood quotient number and therefore am not eligible for any financial assistance for college. My educational and professional goals may seem big, bold, or even broad but to summarize as simply as possible, I want to make an impact. Passing the baton to my future self, I would remind the future version of me to always remember how far I have come and always remember where I came from. My journey in life has always been a struggle; whether it was to just survive and live, overcome anxiety and depression, find my true self through my search for my roots and ancestry, or find my true passion through over 400 hours of volunteering, all my future self needs to realize is I can do anything I put my mind to. Whether it be studying neuroscience and discovering brain connections that lead to Dementia, studying the unknown causes of pre-eclampsia that led to my severe prematurity at birth, or finding new treatments for my Aunt’s previous cancer battle, I know my journey as the first in my family to go to a prestigious university is my way to uncover my future career endeavors, represent my Native American and Filipino communities, and prove to myself and any doubters that I will always overcome adversity and be a better version of myself until all my goals are achieved and then I will reach even higher.

In order to understand my field of interest, educational, and professional goals, knowing my history and background is essential. About 2% of babies are born under 32 weeks of gestation with less than 1% born under 32 weeks according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information; in 2006, I was that less than 1%. I was born extremely premature, over 10 weeks early in gestation, and had only a 20% chance of survival. Because of advances in neonatal medical technology and a new drug trial, I was able to beat the odds and, in time, live a healthy life. I am resilient, I am determined, and I am a survivor. Growing up in hospitals and countless hours spent with doctors and specialists opened my eyes to Science and STEM; technology literally saved my life in more ways that even I can comprehend. Technology and advances in medicine also saved my Aunt with her battle from Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer as well as extending the life of my Great Grandmother during her battle with Dementia. These experiences led to my desire and goal to first pursue an undergraduate degree in a field related to Biomedical Sciences and then pursue my graduate degree in a specialized field like Neurology with minors in Psychology, Native American Studies, and Conservation. As a child born in a Native American-Filipino-French-Scottish home, I was in awe of anything scientifically related, especially marine life. Following in the footsteps of my Great Uncle Billy Frank Jr, along with my Nisqually ancestry, I became obsessed with Marine Biology, Oceanography, Conservation, and Native American Studies. My future goal is to use my education, experience in the medical field, and passion for marine life and conservation to help my family and Tribe for generations to come; this will make a huge impact on not only my community but the state of Washington as well. Although the Nisqually Tribe is currently ratifying their bi-laws to include all people of ancestral bloodlines to be adopted into the tribe, unfortunately the process takes time and I am still left without a Federal or State recognized blood quotient number and therefore am not eligible for any financial assistance for college. Since my mother was recently diagnosed with several auto immune disorders and became disabled and unable to work, my college future and dreams will be depend on my ability to gain financial assistance so I appreciate any and all consideration. My educational and professional goals may seem big, bold, or even broad but to summarize as simply as possible, I want to make an impact. Whether it be studying neuroscience and discovering brain connections that lead to dementia, for studying the unknown causes of pre-eclampsia that led to my severe prematurity at birth, or finding new treatments for my Aunt’s previous cancer battle, I know my journey as the first in my family to go to a prestigious university is my way to uncover my future career endeavors.

In order to understand my educational and professional goals, knowing my history and background is essential. About 2% of babies are born under 32 weeks of gestation with less than 1% born under 32 weeks according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information; in 2006, I was that less than 1%. I was born extremely premature, over 10 weeks early in gestation, and had only a 20% chance of survival. Because of advances in neonatal medical technology and a new drug trial, with the determination and the advocacy of my parents, I was able to beat the odds and, in time, live a healthy life. I am resilient, I am determined, and I am a survivor. Growing up in hospitals and countless hours spent with doctors and specialists opened my eyes to Science and STEM; technology literally saved my life in more ways that even I can comprehend. The same oxygen that gave me life also left me with severe anxiety that only worsens during stressful situations causing panic attacks. These panic attacks and anxiety make it nearly impossible to take tests and succeed under the stresses of school especially for a child who always dreamed to be the first in their family to go to college and get a degree. Every day attending school was a major challenge for me, my parents, and all my teachers that left me debilitating depression and lack of motivation. With the guidance and advocacy of my parents, along with the help from the Neonatal Follow-Up Program Team assigned to children born severely premature, I was able to identify my anxiety triggers and develop habits and systems to effectively manage my anxiety and panic attacks. With continued hard work and the help of several brilliant doctors through the years, I am now able to work with my disabilities and be a successful student. The process of diagnosing my personal neurodiverse disability was difficult but that hardship only strengthened my determination to further my education and help others in the future. This also led to my love of community service and to date I have completed over 400 hours working in communities all over Washington State as well as Arizona where I spend most of my vacation time during school breaks. Technology and advances in medicine also saved my Aunt with her battle from Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer as well as extending the life of my Great Grandmother during her battle with Dementia. Advances in the medical field also led to my Uncle Scott's diagnosis with bi-polar depression as well as other neurodivergent disabilities. These experiences led to my desire and goal to first pursue an undergraduate degree in a field related to Biomedical Sciences and then pursue my graduate degree in a specialized field like Neurology or Neurobiology with minors in Psychology, Native American Studies, and Conservation. As a child born in a Native American, Filipino, and French-Scottish home, I was in awe of anything scientifically related, especially Neurology and brain mapping. My educational and professional goals may seem big, bold, or even broad but to summarize as simply as possible, I want to make an impact. Whether it be studying neuroscience and discovering brain connections that lead to Dementia, for studying the unknown causes of preeclampsia that led to my severe prematurity at birth, or finding new treatments for my Uncle's bi-polar depression, I know my journey as the first in my family to go to a prestigious university is my way to uncover my future career endeavors.

Although its release in 2009 heralded a major breakthrough in the Video Game Industry, Minecraft has never stopped being at the forefront of the gaming world’s zeitgeist at the dawn of the 2010’s and onward. Minecraft is arguably the most popular and still active video game in decades and still growing. Minecraft has had over 300 million copies sold and 172,130,556 active players as stated by Voice123. Out of those millions of players, I was one of them. I’ll be honest when it comes to Minecraft, I’ve never spent most of my early childhood on anything else. Hours upon hours of nostalgic memories were had on that old Xbox 360, however, new for that time. Even now, as I get older, I look back on all the things that game did for me growing up as a young child. The best thing about Minecraft is that it brought people together, no matter your nationality, economic standing in society, or what you believed in, Minecraft had the ability to dislodge stress, anxiety, and even anger in people almost instantaneously; that reason alone is how I met some of my closest friends, we all bonded over the same game. Even though time moves on and friends move away, we stay connected and manage to keep in touch by revisiting that game, that same game that entranced us so many years ago. I think the reason for Minecrafts seemingly immortal lifespan is due to one simple fact, that fact being the mental and almost physical escape it gives players who open the game and hear that iconic tune. The game also managed to give unlimited creativity to those behind the controller, the saying goes that creativity is limited by your own imagination, however it seems even Minecraft is able to disprove this idea by bombarding you with an endless inventory of differently textured blocks and items. Although compared to modern games, Minecraft is incredibly simple when it comes to graphics with its world being made out of seemingly endless repurposed, recolored, and redistributed cubes and blocks it never manages to make it seem boring or un-aesthetically pleasing. So many games pride themselves by making the next generation of realistic games but they forget one simple fundamental rule of games, and that is to break the monotony of life and let gamers experience things that seem unrealistic. Even now as I stand before a new epoch of life that awaits me I fondly look back at this game. Hilariously enough me and my friends still make it an annual event to go back and play Minecraft at least a couple times a year, and with everything going on in the world and the differences people may share, it’s always a nice experience to discard the anxiety, stress, and worry and feel like a little kid again and to turn my brain off for ounce and play with my friends. Minecraft was a large part of my childhood and will always have a place in my heart and bring me the nostalgia and positivity needed to get through any future obstacles; I will break them down brick by brick just as I did in the game. Being the first in my Filipino and Native American family to attend an accredited and prestigious university, I’ve committed myself to pursuing a degree in science to continue my journey in helping others and becoming a leader in innovation. Any financial assistance I will receive will catapult me toward my goals and assist in making my dreams a reality.

As a member of the Nisqually Native American Tribe, I understand the importance of community. Community means to be a part of something larger than yourself, a chance to go beyond what is requested of you and make a positive difference. Community service has allowed me to give back to my community for all the sacrifices and hard work others have done for me, to show my gratitude and appreciation for what I have and the opportunities awarded to me that others may never receive or experience. My leadership is shown through my pattern of kindness from my service and performing that service with joy, positivity, dedication, and empathy. Working with multiple different food banks, cancer walks, homeless shelters, and even completing 200+ hours as a Volunteer/Internship Youth Conservation Member at the Seattle Aquarium has opened my eyes to the good in people and what we can all achieve with hard work, dedication, and kindness. Community service isn’t about rewards or praise, it's about having pride in what you do, it’s about feeling accomplished in what you’ve done for people who aren’t as lucky or socially or economically stable as you. Community service is also supporting groups you personally can connect to. For example, I worked with the Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer and Research as well as the “Come Walk With Me” Breast Cancer Association walk and fundraising drive because my Aunt Diane had Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer and the fact that they saved my Aunt’s life, who has now been cancer free for 8 years, is beyond selfless. That service did not only save my Aunt’s life but others who were unfortunate in being diagnosed with such a destructive ailment. That in itself was highly motivational for me, that in itself was the peak of community service and innovation that I wanted to be a part of. I’ve worked at women’s shelters and food banks on Summer and Spring Breaks from school in Arizona where my Grandparents live, such as the Hope Center and Community Food Bank that assists women who have been recently displaced due to domestic violence or assault; I felt it was my duty to work and provide for people who were barely surviving in the heat, who needed water and supplies. Sadly, I also feel discouraged at times, when I’m at school I see my peers scoff at and argue they don’t want to work in the community. I decided to be the leader my school and peers needed and use my experience and knowledge so I created a community service website for my high school to access volunteer groups and activities and to share my experience with different organizations. I feel a strong sense of accomplishment that I have been able to assist my peers in finding their own enthusiasm for volunteering by also finding a cause they are personally passionate about. Sometimes, all it takes is one moment, one moment of sympathy or empathy to provoke a drive for service. Being the first in my family to attend an accredited and prestigious university, I’ve committed myself to pursuing a degree in the medical field to continue my journey of helping others and be a leader in innovation. Since my mother was recently diagnosed with some autoimmune disorders and is now handicap, my family will no longer be able to support my college dreams financially. Any financial assistance I receive will catapult me towards my goals and allow me to continue to be the leader my community needs and deserves.

About 2% of babies are born under 32 weeks of gestation with less than 1% born under 32 weeks according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information; in 2006, I was in that less than 1%. I was born extremely premature, over 10 weeks early in gestation, and had only a 20% chance of survival. Because of advances in neonatal medical technology and a new drug trial, with the determination and the advocacy of my parents, I was able to beat the odds and, in time, live a healthy life. I am resilient, I am determined, and I am a survivor. Growing up was a challenging experience to say the least. I constantly had to visit the hospital for monthly check-ins whilst also having to spend most of my days indoors due to a compromised immune system. The same oxygen that gave me life for several weeks, also negatively affected my brain causing some unfortunate side effects, occasional insufferable anxiety was at the top of the list making it hard to talk to other children my age. With the guidance and advocacy of my parents, along with the help from the Neonatal Follow-Up Program Team, I was able to identify my anxiety triggers and develop habits and systems to effectively manage my anxiety. Next thing I knew, Covid-19 had imprisoned me both physically and mentally within the confines of my own home. I had lost many family members and this was truly one of the darkest times in my life. My anxiety had worsened and I believed that I wouldn’t recover. At times, I would experience what felt like genuine happiness just for it to escape me. This constant game of cat and mouse was tiring and for a while I just stopped; I stopped trying, stopped using the techniques that saved me before, stopped hoping, stopped wanting to communicate with my parents…just stopped. I hid these torrents of feeling behind a false face masked by a false sense of happiness and joy. I tried many times to better my mental health but always I came back to the dark abyssal aether that was depression, like a parasite it latched itself onto me and like an addict I took it in. After the pandemic and with the recent lose of my premature baby cousin, I hit my rock bottom and finally asked for help. From that moment, I promised myself that I would find the reason for my ails, that I would find a reason to live and thrive. With a renewed sense of purpose and drive, I found comfort in volunteering. In the last 3 years, I have completed over 400 hours working in the community and helping others who are struggling just like I was. Being the first in my family to attend an accredited and prestigious university, I’ve committed myself to majoring or minoring in Psychology and pursuing a degree in the medical field; not only to understand myself and my struggles with depression and what the oxygen did to my brain as a newborn but to help others find themselves and aid in their betterment. My life experience provides me with the unique ability and perspective to connect with others and show them pure empathy. The world still has a lot of work to do in regards to the understanding and treatment for Mental Health Disorders and overcoming the stigmas associated with mental health and I know I can make a difference in the field with my passion and perseverance. Any financial assistance I receive will catapult me towards that goal faster and with more ease.

Team USA has always held a special place in my heart since I could watch television as a young child. I was even named after Olympic Volleyball 4-time Champion, Logan Tom, whom my mother watched for hours while on bed rest due the many miscarriages she had to endure prior to my birth. A rainbow baby from the start, my arrival into this world was over 10 weeks premature and that brought many complications. Much of my childhood was spend at home due to my weakened immune system, so sports was something I could only dream about for many years. Watching the USA Olympic Team compete was one way I could feel connected to sports and feel like I was apart of something amazing; mesmerized along with millions of other people helped me feel a connection to my country and the sports world. Cheering on Team USA together as a family became a long-standing tradition that I cherish every other winter and summer. My mother always said that no matter what is happening in the world, we can all put our differences aside and join together in cheering on Team USA; even if it was just for a short period of time, Team USA was and will always be the peacemaker and cohesive catalyst that Americans need every two years. One of my favorite athletes to watch and support is Simone Biles. Not only is she the greatest of all time (GOAT) gymnast and is jaw-dropping awesome to watch but she is also a very important advocate for mental health. When I watched her struggle with her mental health while being judged and criticized by millions of people on live television during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, something inside me felt seen for the first time. This amazing athlete openly speaking about mental health in an atmosphere and political climate that didn’t normally support or never openly encountered similar rhetoric was shocking and inspiring all at once. Watching Simone take a step back from competition to not only focus on her mental health and safety but to sacrifice for the good of Team USA and enable her team mates to shine instead was humbling, heartbreaking, and incredibly moving. Simone Biles gave me strength. I have struggled with mental health and anxiety since birth due to the length of time I needed oxygen in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as a preemie. Unfortunately, the oxygen that gave me life also left residual side effects with my brain functions. I very lucky and grateful to be healthy and functional now, however, my entire life has been a struggle. Seeing someone like Simone Biles fight through her struggles so publicly and through so much adversity inspired me to speak out about my mental health battles and encourage my friends and peers to do the same. We are not alone and we are stronger together. Watching Simone compete in the Paris Olympics for Team USA only solidified my admiration for her. Her comeback will go down in Olympic history as nothing short of legendary. Every landing Simone stuck, every vault jumped higher than should be humanly possible, and every metal earned gave me more joy than I can express. Simone Biles is an icon, for what she provides to Team USA and for the impact she has had on young athletes just like me. Looking forward, I’m excited to watch the next Olympic Games while being the first in my Filipino-Native American family to attend college while pursuing the education needed to continue my journey helping others with their mental health.

About 2% of babies are born under 32 weeks of gestation with less than 1% born under 32 weeks according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information; in 2006, I was in that less than 1%. I was born extremely premature, over 10 weeks early in gestation, and had only a 20% chance of survival. Because of advances in neonatal medical technology and a new drug trial, with the determination and the advocacy of my parents, I was able to beat the odds and, in time, live a healthy life. I am resilient, I am determined, and I am a survivor. Growing up was a challenging experience. Making friends was difficult as I was always moving between the hospital and school, not able to go to daycare or play at the park like most children. The same oxygen that gave me life for several weeks, also negatively affected my brain causing some unfortunate side effects, occasional insufferable anxiety was at the top of the list making it hard to talk to other children. With the guidance and advocacy of my parents, along with the help from the Neonatal Follow-Up Program Team assigned to children born severely premature, I was able to identify my anxiety triggers and develop habits and systems to effectively manage my anxiety. Next thing I knew Covid-19 had imprisoned me both physically and mentally within the confines of my own home. I had lost many family members within this time period, truly this was one of the darkest times in my life. My anxiety had only worsened from this and I believed for a long time that I wouldn’t ever be the same. At times I felt I was all alone in the world, other times I felt I was merely too weak to survive in an ever changing world, and others I even envied the dead. For years I kept these emotions and thoughts to myself even after the pandemic and even in times that would appear peaceful or even a new beginning. I hid these torrents of feeling behind a false face masked by a false sense of happiness and joy. I tried many times to better my mental health but always I came back to the dark abyssal aether that was depression, like a parasite it latched itself onto me and like an addict I took it in. It didn’t help that after Covid I had lost a baby cousin that was born prematurely like I was. At this moment a thought struck my head, why would I throw away my life when so much of it has been fighting to stay alive. I questioned myself, questioned my depression, and questioned my future. From that moment, I promised myself that I would find the reason for my ails, that I would find a reason to live and thrive. Being the first in my family to attend an accredited and prestigious university, I’ve committed myself to majoring or minoring in Psychology and pursuing a degree in the medical field; not only to understand myself and my struggles with depression but to help others find themselves and aid in their betterment. My life experience provides me with the unique ability and perspective to connect with others and show them pure empathy. The world still has a lot of work to do in regards to the understanding and treatment for Mental Health Disorders and overcoming the stigmas associated with mental health and I know I can make a difference in the field with my passion and perseverance.

About 2% of babies are born under 32 weeks of gestation with less than 1% born under 32 weeks according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information; in 2006, I was in that less than 1%. I was born extremely premature, over 10 weeks early in gestation, and had only a 20% chance of survival. Because of advances in neonatal medical technology and a new drug trial, with the determination and the advocacy of my parents, I was able to beat the odds and, in time, live a healthy life. I am resilient, I am determined, and I am a survivor. Growing up was a challenging experience to say the least. My prematurity led to many struggles in my early life. I constantly had to visit the hospital for monthly check-ins whilst also having to spend most of my days indoors due to a compromised immune system. Making friends was also a challenge as I was always moving between the hospital and school, not able to go to daycare or play at the park like most children. The same oxygen that gave me life for several weeks, also negatively affected my brain causing some unfortunate side effects, occasional insufferable anxiety was at the top of the list making it hard to talk to other children my age. I was judged by my peers and even some of their parents as "different" or "emotional" because of how I handled my anxiety in the early years. I wasn't able to participate in what some parents would call "normal" activities like play dates, sports, and birthday parties due to my anxiety and immune system disabilities. With the guidance and advocacy of my parents, along with the help from the Neonatal Follow-Up Program Team assigned to children born severely premature, I was able to identify my anxiety triggers and develop habits and systems to effectively manage my anxiety. However, during these trying times, I always had something to look forward to, whether that be family or close friends and so year after year I found myself creeping forward to the end of Middle School and the beginning of High School with a few close friends made that I still cherish to this day. Next thing I knew Covid-19 had imprisoned me both physically and mentally within the confines of my own home. I had lost many family members within this time period, truly this was one of the darkest times in my life. My anxiety had only worsened from this and I believed for a long time that I wouldn’t ever be the same. At times I would experience what felt like genuine happiness just for it to escape me. This constant game of cat and mouse was tiring and for a while I just stopped; I stopped trying, stopped using the techniques that saved me before, stopped hoping, stopped wanting to communicate with my parents…just stopped. At times I felt I was all alone in the world, other times I felt I was merely too weak to survive in an ever changing world, and others I even envied the dead. For years I kept these emotions and thoughts to myself even after the pandemic and even in times that would appear peaceful or even a new beginning. I hid these torrents of feeling behind a false face masked by a false sense of happiness and joy. I tried many times to better my mental health but always I came back to the dark abyssal aether that was depression, like a parasite it latched itself onto me and like an addict I took it in. It didn’t help that after Covid I had lost a baby cousin that was born prematurely like I was. Somewhere deep inside me I wondered why I got to live and so many didn’t. At this moment a thought struck my head, why would I throw away my life when so much of it has been fighting to stay alive. I questioned myself, questioned my depression, and questioned my future. From that moment, I promised myself that I would find the reason for my ails, that I would find a reason to live and thrive. Being the first in my family to attend an accredited and prestigious university, I’ve committed myself to majoring or minoring in Psychology and pursuing a degree in the medical field; not only to understand myself and my struggles with depression and what the oxygen did to my brain as a newborn but to help others find themselves and aid in their betterment. My life experience provides me with the unique ability and perspective to connect with others and show them pure empathy. The world still has a lot of work to do in regards to the understanding and treatment for Mental Health Disorders and overcoming the stigmas associated with mental health and I know I can make a difference in the field with my passion and perseverance. Any financial assistance I receive will catapult me towards that goal faster and with more ease.

About 2% of babies are born under 32 weeks of gestation with less than 1% born under 32 weeks according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information; in 2006, I was in that less than 1%. I was born extremely premature, over 10 weeks early in gestation, and had only a 20% chance of survival. Because of advances in neonatal medical technology and a new drug trial, with the determination and the advocacy of my parents, I was able to beat the odds and, in time, live a healthy life. I am resilient, I am determined, and I am a survivor. Growing up was a challenging experience to say the least. My prematurity led to many struggles in my early life. I constantly had to visit the hospital for monthly check-ins whilst also having to spend most of my days indoors due to a compromised immune system. The same oxygen that gave me life for several weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, also negatively affected my brain causing some unfortunate side effects, occasional insufferable anxiety was at the top of the list making it hard to talk to children my own age. Making friends was also a challenge as I was always moving between the hospital and school, not able to go to daycare or play at the park like most children. Early childhood friendships suffered the most because I was looked at as "different" and couldn't do all the "normal" activities most children my age participated in like sports, birthday parties, and play dates. With the guidance and advocacy of my parents, along with the help from the Neonatal Follow-Up Program Team assigned to children born severely premature, I was able to identify my anxiety triggers and develop healthy habits and systems to effectively manage my anxiety. However, during these trying times, I always had something to look forward to, whether that be family or close friends and so year after year I found myself creeping forward to the end of Middle School and the beginning of High School; also making a few close friends in the process. Next thing I knew Covid-19 had imprisoned me both physically and mentally within the confines of my own home. I had lost many family members within this time period, truly this was one of the darkest times in my life. My anxiety had only worsened from this and I believed for a long time that I wouldn’t ever be the same. At times I would experience what felt like genuine happiness just for it to escape me. This constant game of cat and mouse was tiring and for a while I just stopped; I stopped trying, stopped using the techniques that saved me before, stopped hoping, stopped wanting to communicate with my parents…just stopped. At times I felt I was all alone in the world, other times I felt I was merely too weak to survive in an ever changing world, and others I even envied the dead. For years I kept these emotions and thoughts to myself even after the pandemic and even in times that would appear peaceful or even a new beginning. I hid these torrents of feeling behind a false face masked by a false sense of happiness and joy. I tried many times to better my mental health but always I came back to the dark abyssal aether that was depression, like a parasite it latched itself onto me and like an addict I took it in. It didn’t help that after Covid I had lost a baby cousin that was born prematurely like I was. Somewhere deep inside me I wondered why I got to live and so many didn’t. At this moment in my life a thought struck my head, why would I throw away my life when so much of it has been fighting to stay alive. I questioned myself, questioned my depression, and questioned my future. From that moment, I promised myself that I would find the reason for my ails, that I would find a reason to live and thrive. I’ve committed myself to be the first in my family to attend an accredited university and pursue my furthered education majoring or minoring in Psychology, not only to understand myself and my struggles with depression and what the oxygen did to my brain but to help others find themselves and aid in their betterment. My life experiences with mental health and depression gives me a unique ability to see in others what may not appear to be obvious or evident and also allows me to demonstrate pure empathy. My future goal is to work in the medical field and help others that struggle just like me and any financial assistance I receive will catapult me towards that goal faster and with more ease.

About 2% of babies are born under 32 weeks of gestation with less than 1% born under 32 weeks according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information; in 2006, I was in that less than 1%. I was born extremely premature, over 10 weeks early in gestation, and had only a 20% chance of survival. Because of advances in neonatal medical technology and a new drug trial, with the determination and the advocacy of my parents, I was able to beat the odds and, in time, live a healthy life. I am resilient, I am determined, and I am a survivor. Growing up was a challenging experience to say the least. I constantly had to visit the hospital for monthly check-ins whilst also having to spend most of my days indoors due to a compromised immune system. Making friends was a challenge as I was always moving between the hospital and school, not able to go to daycare or play at the park like most children. The same oxygen that gave me life for several weeks, also negatively affected my brain causing some unfortunate side effects, occasional insufferable anxiety was at the top of the list making it hard to talk to other children my age. With the guidance and advocacy of my parents, along with the help from the Neonatal Follow-Up Program Team, I was able to identify my anxiety triggers and develop habits to effectively manage my anxiety. Next thing I knew Covid-19 had imprisoned me both physically and mentally within the confines of my own home. I had lost many family members within this time period, truly this was one of the darkest times in my life. My anxiety had only worsened from this and I believed for a long time that I wouldn’t ever be the same. At times I would experience what felt like genuine happiness just for it to escape me. This constant game of cat and mouse was tiring and for a while I just stopped; I stopped trying, stopped using the techniques that saved me before, stopped hoping, stopped wanting to communicate with my parents…just stopped. At times I felt I was all alone in the world, other times I felt I was merely too weak to survive in an ever changing world, and others I even envied the dead. For years I kept these emotions and thoughts to myself even after the pandemic and even in times that would appear peaceful or even a new beginning. I hid these torrents of feeling behind a false face masked by a false sense of happiness and joy. I tried many times to better my mental health but always I came back to the dark abyssal ether that was depression, like a parasite it latched itself onto me and like an addict I took it in. It didn’t help that after Covid I had lost a baby cousin that was born prematurely like I was. At this moment a thought struck my head, why would I throw away my life when so much of it has been fighting to stay alive. I questioned myself, questioned my depression, and questioned my future. From that moment, I promised myself that I would find the reason for my ails, that I would find a reason to live and thrive. I’ve committed myself to majoring or minoring in Psychology and my future goal is to work in the medical field, not only to understand myself and my struggles with depression but to help others find themselves and aid in their betterment.

About 2% of babies are born under 32 weeks of gestation with less than 1% born under 32 weeks according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information; in 2006, I was in that less than 1%. I was born extremely premature, over 10 weeks early in gestation, and had only a 20% chance of survival. Because of advances in neonatal medical technology and a new drug trial, with the determination and the advocacy of my parents, I was able to beat the odds and, in time, live a healthy life. I am resilient, I am determined, and I am a survivor. Growing up was a challenging experience to say the least. The same oxygen that gave me life for several weeks, also negatively affected my brain causing some unfortunate side effects, occasional insufferable anxiety was at the top of the list making it hard to talk to other children my age. With the guidance and advocacy of my parents, along with the help from the Neonatal Follow-Up Program Team assigned to children born severely premature, I was able to identify my anxiety triggers and develop habits and systems to effectively manage my anxiety. Next thing I knew Covid-19 had imprisoned me both physically and mentally within the confines of my own home. I had lost many family members within this time period, truly this was one of the darkest times in my life. My anxiety had only worsened from this and I believed for a long time that I wouldn’t ever be the same. At times I would experience what felt like genuine happiness just for it to escape me. This constant game of cat and mouse was tiring and for a while I just stopped; I stopped trying, stopped using the techniques that saved me before, stopped hoping, stopped wanting to communicate with my parents…just stopped. At times I felt I was all alone in the world, other times I felt I was merely too weak to survive in an ever changing world, and others I even envied the dead. For years I kept these emotions and thoughts to myself even after the pandemic and even in times that would appear peaceful or even a new beginning. I hid these torrents of feeling behind a false face masked by a false sense of happiness and joy. I tried many times to better my mental health but always I came back to the dark abyssal aether that was depression, like a parasite it latched itself onto me and like an addict I took it in. It didn’t help that after Covid I had lost a baby cousin that was born prematurely like I was. Somewhere deep inside me I wondered why I got to live and so many didn’t. At this moment a thought struck my head, why would I throw away my life when so much of it has been fighting to stay alive. I questioned myself, questioned my depression, and questioned my future. From that moment, I promised myself that I would find the reason for my ails, that I would find a reason to live and thrive. I’ve committed myself to possibly majoring or minoring in Psychology, not only to understand myself and my struggles with depression and what the oxygen did to my brain but to help others find themselves and aid in their betterment. My future goal is to work in the medical field and help others that struggle just like me and any financial assistance I receive will catapult me towards that goal faster and with more ease.

As a member of the Nisqually Native American Tribe, I can understand the importance of community. Community means to be a part of something larger than yourself, a chance to go beyond what is requested of you and make a positive difference in your environment. Community service has allowed me to give back to my community for all the sacrifices and hard work others have done for me, to show my gratitude and appreciation for what I have and the opportunities awarded to me that others may never receive or experience. My pattern of kindness is shown through my service and performing that service with joy, positivity, dedication, empathy, and caring. Working with multiple different food banks, cancer walks, homeless shelters, and even completing 200+ hours as a Volunteer/Internship Youth Conservation Member at the Seattle Aquarium has opened my eyes to the good in people and what we can all achieve with hard work, dedication, and kindness. So much of our days are consumed by negativity and fear and personally I found myself during and even after Covid-19 to be depressed and seeing life without meaning. Community service has brought back that piece of me that I felt I had almost lost forever and for that reason I will dedicate myself to helping my community and my people to reach for a better tomorrow. Community service isn’t about rewards or praise, it's about having pride in what you do, it’s about feeling accomplished in what you’ve done for people who aren’t as lucky or socially or economically stable as you. Community service is also supporting groups you personally can connect to. For example, I worked with the Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer and Research as well as the “Come Walk With Me” Breast Cancer Association walk and fundraising drive because my Aunt Diane had Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer and the fact that they saved my Aunt’s life, who has now been cancer free for 8 years, is beyond selfless. That service did not only save my Aunt’s life but others who were unfortunate in being diagnosed with such a destructive ailment. That in itself was highly motivational for me, that in itself was the peak of community service and innovation that I wanted to be a part of. That’s why I cherish community service; I can single-handedly contribute to organizations that saved my life or saved my family and do so much for my community as a whole. I’ve worked at women’s shelters and food banks on Summer and Spring Breaks from school in Arizona where my Grandparents live, such as the Hope Center and Community Food Bank that assists women who have been recently displaced due to domestic violence or assault, because I felt it was my duty to work and provide for people who were barely surviving in the heat, who needed water and supplies. Instead of spending my breaks soaking up the sun in the pool, I feel a pull to help others line it’s ingrained in me. Sadly, I also feel discouraged at times, when I’m at school I see my peers scoff at and argue they don’t want to work in the community, and I think to myself why shouldn’t you want to work in the community? Then I realized a large reason why many don’t want to work in the community is because they see it as a task below them, they believe it’s a job for someone less than them. This idea stems from them being ignorant to the fact that people don’t have a perfect upbringing or life as them. I decided to ease some of this ignorance and use my experience and knowledge to educate my peers whenever I can and also created a community service website for my high school to access volunteer groups and activities and to share my experience with different organizations. I hope that in the future my peers will find their own passion for volunteering by also finding a cause they are personally passionate about. Sometimes, all it takes is one moment, one moment of sympathy or empathy to provoke a drive for service. At a very young age, I saw all the hardships people I’ve grown up with and known for all my life were facing and seeing them suffer and struggle to survive shook me to my fundamental core, these were my moments of empathy and sympathy; it dawned on me that service is our job as a society, as a community, We all need to fight and strive for making sure our families and community members don’t have to worry about going to bed hungry, worrying about whether or not their children have the care they need, it is our job as a community to make the world a better place. Community service to me means going beyond what is asked of us and putting in the work to bring a better future for everyone; this is kindness.

Being separated from your culture and ancestry, burdened to feel like an outcast makes the body, mind, and soul feel incomplete, seperated. As a child, I found it hard to connect to my Native American culture. Even though my father is a member of the Nisqually Tribe, it was difficult to feel like I belonged due to my mixed heritage. I oftentimes questioned if I was enough Native American to attend cultural ceremonies or gatherings. Sadly these feelings only worsened overall with time and the difficult realization about blood quantums and the assumption that I wasn’t “Native” enough due to a percentage. However, instead of outright abandoning my cultural connection and with the guidance of my parents, my parents bestowed upon me old photos and shared stories passed on from generations of my family. I learned that my great uncle was Billy Frank Jr.. This realization shook me to my fundamental core. The man that was mainly responsible for restoring Native American’s treaty rights, initiating conservation of the salmon habits, and restoring waterways, especially the Nisqually Basin, was MY family. His perseverance against the corrupt and bigoted restrictions placed upon my culture over the course of generations was inspiring. The belief that I wasn’t enough slowly cracked and shattered; my great uncle’s determination and resilience fed my own. With this new inspiration, I was struck with a renewed sense of purpose and duty to my tribe and culture; to be a part of something bigger than myself. The conservation of native wildlife species inspired me to join the Seattle Aquarium Youth Internship Program. I have volunteered over 200 hours in the last 6 months and have been a part of many conservation projects and activities. Both these life-changing events led me to search for a Major and potential career in Marine Biology, Fisheries and Sciences, and Oceanography. While Marine Biology is a field of study I love, I also can’t forget about my Native American culture so a Minor in Native American Studies and Psychology also seems likely. Another defining moment of my cultural connection to my Tribe was the addition of a Native American Club at my school and being one of the first members to join I found myself co-leading the club. At this moment I felt I had the actual power and ability to share my culture within my school district and help others accept themselves as being Native American. Something similar happened when I joined the AAPI Club at school (Asian American Pacific Islander). This allowed me to accept my Filipino culture as I had previously done with my Native American Heritage. These life altering realizations and events taught me how to be a leader and to go outside of my comfort zone and to take risks because some risks lead to great rewards. Today I feel a deep connection with all my cultural backgrounds that leads me to understand my true self and future motivation. My advice for anyone who has ever experienced displacement like I have is to find your own path. Your journey is going to be different from your parents or other family members and that is beautiful in itself. The journey is what shapes you and makes you unique and strong. No one can define you but YOU.

In order to understand my educational and professional goals, knowing my history and background is essential. About 2% of babies are born under 32 weeks of gestation with less than 1% born under 32 weeks according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information; in 2006, I was that less than 1%. I was born extremely premature, over 10 weeks early in gestation, and had only a 20% chance of survival. Because of advances in neonatal medical technology and a new drug trial, with the determination and the advocacy of my parents, I was able to beat the odds and, in time, live a healthy life. I am resilient, I am determined, and I am a survivor. Growing up in hospitals and countless hours spent with doctors and specialists opened my eyes to Science and STEM; technology literally saved my life in more ways that even I can comprehend. Technology and advances in medicine also saved my Aunt with her battle from Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer as well as extending the life of my Great Grandmother during her battle with Dementia. These experiences led to my desire and goal to first pursue an undergraduate degree in a field related to Biomedical Sciences and then pursue my graduate degree in a specialized field like Neurology or Pathology with minors in Psychology, Native American Studies, and Conservation. As a child born in a Native American, Filipino, and French-Scottish home, I was in awe of anything scientifically related, especially marine life. Following in the footsteps of my Great Uncle Billy Frank Jr, along with my Nisqually ancestry, I became obsessed with Marine Biology, Oceanography, Conservation, and Native American Studies. My future goal is to use my education, experience in the medical field, and passion for marine life and conservation to help my family and Tribe for generations to come. Although the Nisqually Tribe is currently ratifying their bi-laws to include all people of ancestral bloodlines to be adopted into the tribe, unfortunately the process takes time and I am still left without a Federal or State recognized blood quotient number and therefore am not eligible for any financial assistance for college. My educational and professional goals may seem big, bold, or even broad but to summarize as simply as possible, I want to make an impact. Whether it be studying neuroscience and discovering brain connections that lead to Dementia, for studying the unknown causes of preeclampsia that led to my severe prematurity at birth, or finding new treatments for my Aunt’s previous cancer battle, I know my journey as the first in my family to go to a prestigious university is my way to uncover my future career endeavors.

In order to understand my educational and professional goals, knowing my history and background is essential. About 2% of babies are born under 32 weeks of gestation with less than 1% born under 32 weeks according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information; in 2006, I was that less than 1%. I was born extremely premature, over 10 weeks early in gestation, and had only a 20% chance of survival. Because of advances in neonatal medical technology and a new drug trial, with the determination and the advocacy of my parents, I was able to beat the odds and, in time, live a healthy life. I am resilient, I am determined, and I am a survivor. Growing up in hospitals and countless hours spent with doctors and specialists opened my eyes to Science and STEM; technology literally saved my life in more ways that even I can comprehend. Technology and advances in medicine also saved my Aunt with her battle from Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer as well as extending the life of my Great Grandmother during her battle with Dementia. These experiences led to my desire and goal to first pursue an undergraduate degree in a field related to Biomedical Sciences and then pursue my graduate degree in a specialized field like Neurology or Pathology with minors in Psychology, Native American Studies, and Conservation. As a child born in a Native American, Filipino, and French-Scottish home, I was in awe of anything scientifically related, especially marine life. Following in the footsteps of my Great Uncle Billy Frank Jr, along with my Nisqually ancestry, I became obsessed with Marine Biology, Oceanography, Conservation, and Native American Studies. My future goal is to use my education, experience in the medical field, and passion for marine life and conservation to help my family and Tribe for generations to come. My educational and professional goals may seem big, bold, or even broad but to summarize as simply as possible, I want to make an impact. Whether it be studying neuroscience and discovering brain connections that lead to Dementia, for studying the unknown causes of preeclampsia that led to my severe prematurity at birth, or finding new treatments for my Aunt’s previous cancer battle, I know my journey as the first in my family to go to a prestigious university is my way to uncover my future career endeavors.

Being separated from your culture and ancestry, burdened to feel like an outcast makes the body, mind, and soul feel incomplete, detached. As a child, I found it hard to connect to my Native American culture. Even though my father is a member of the Nisqually Tribe, it was difficult to feel like I belonged due to my mixed heritage. I oftentimes questioned if I was enough Native American to attend cultural ceremonies or gatherings. Sadly these feelings only worsened overall with time and the difficult realization about blood quantums and the assumption that I wasn’t “Native” enough due to a percentage. However, instead of outright abandoning my cultural connection and with the guidance of my parents, my parents bestowed upon me old photos and shared stories passed on from generations of my family. I learned that my great uncle was Billy Frank Jr.. This realization shook me to my fundamental core. The man that was mainly responsible for restoring Native American’s treaty rights, initiating conservation of the salmon habits, and restoring waterways, especially the Nisqually Basin, was MY family. His perseverance against the corrupt and bigoted restrictions placed upon my culture over the course of generations was inspiring. The belief that I wasn’t enough slowly cracked and shattered; my great uncle’s determination and resilience fed my own. With this new inspiration, I was struck with a renewed sense of purpose and duty to my tribe and culture; to be a part of something bigger than myself. The conservation of native wildlife species inspired me to join the Seattle Aquarium Youth Internship Program. I have volunteered over 200 hours in the last 6 months and have been a part of many conservation projects and activities. Both these life-changing events led me to search for a Major and potential career in Marine Biology, Fisheries and Sciences, and Oceanography. While Marine Biology is a field of study I love, I also can’t forget about my Native American culture so a Minor in Native American Studies and Psychology also seems likely. Another defining moment of my cultural connection to my Tribe was the addition of a Native American Club at my school and being one of the first members to join I found myself co-leading the club. At this moment I felt I had the actual power and ability to share my culture within my school district and help others accept themselves as being Native American. Something similar happened when I joined the AAPI Club at school (Asian American Pacific Islander). This allowed me to accept my Filipino culture as I had previously done with my Native American Heritage. These life altering realizations and events taught me how to be a leader and to go outside of my comfort zone and to take risks because some risks lead to great rewards. Today I feel a deep connection with all my cultural backgrounds that leads me to understand my true self and future motivation. Although the Nisqually Tribe is currently ratifying their bi-laws to include all people of ancestral bloodlines to be adopted into the tribe, unfortunately the process takes time and I am still left without a Federal or State recognized blood quotient number and therefore am not eligible for any financial assistance for college. Any financial assistance I receive will not only be appreciated beyond measure but enable me to reach my goal of being the first in my family to attend a prestigious university and earn a degree but also gain the necessary education that can help my family and tribe for generations to come.