It has been my life’s mission to make a significant contribution to the local community or even the world. I believe in the significance of our health, not just in our entire life but in our day-to-day lives and the lives of our loved ones. It is just one of the many reasons why I have this deep dedication to the field of science. This intense passion for science did not just happen overnight; this has been a lifelong passion. Since I was young, my interest has always been in science, from biology to physics. At one point in my life, I succumbed to a medical condition that healthcare professionals did not quite fully understand at the time. The struggle to receive proper medical support has been a challenge; the medical support system was inadequate at the time, and my life status made it even more difficult. I am of a mixed-race heritage that does not belong to the privileged dominant majority; aside from that, a single mother in a poverty-stricken community raised me. This health struggle further gave rise to my desire to pursue a career related to science. It is the goal I am now passionately pursuing. I am currently taking up a bachelor’s degree, majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology, and at the same time, working in a research laboratory at UC Berkeley. I am assisting in the research and experiments with the constant goal of discovering new scientific evidence that will ultimately provide helpful solutions to current medical issues, not just of the local community but of the entire world as well. The research and experiments I perform in the laboratory aim to contribute to health issues such as common diseases or even epidemics. I am particularly interested in coming up with solutions to common health problems that most of us seem to inevitably face - heart diseases, obesity, and diabetes, to name a few. These are just a few of the most common health problems worldwide, and people inevitably suffer some of these because of the risk factor that these can be genetically inherited. Through my molecular biology degree and scientific experiences, I intend to find answers that will somehow minimize the occurrence of these diseases and provide solutions to make the life of those afflicted much more convenient. Nonetheless, I’ve come to meet several people who I consider as mentors throughout my journey, but among them, I can say that Dr. Xiaolin Zi is the hero that led me to the path that I am taking now. Dr. Xiaolin Zi has a research lab in UC Irvine where I spent two years of my life working and learning research techniques and skills. I was accepted in his lab without judgment and hesitation, and he trusted my ability so much. I worked with Victor, a graduate student, and Dr. Zi for two years, starting with almost nothing aside from a passion for research. He may not know it but the training I had with him strengthened my desire to pursue my education even further. My longing for knowledge became stronger and made up my mind that the hardships that I experienced should not stop me from pursuing higher education. Even with insufficient money to finance my studies, I continued my academic journey hoping that someday, I could be like Dr. Zi, and in return, inspire and teach younger students the same lessons that I learned from him.

There was a point in my life where I believed I would never make it to higher education. My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. My real father was unknown, the father that I knew as a child was a detached figure, and my mother, as well as all the female members in her family, were sex workers. As such, I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction. The tragic loss of two brothers and an absent anonymous parent plunged me to the depths of depression, threat of substance abuse, and a sum of seven-year incarceration sentences. After recovering from depression, I am now suffering from physical and psychological disabilities, chronic neck and back pain and ADHD to be specific. These adversities make my studies several folds harder, but I can proudly say that my determination is stronger. I may be a disabled, system-impacted, low-income earner, but I am also a proud first-generation American, who is also a bilingual student parent. Even as a child in Tijuana, I knew that there was more to life than my current situation, and I knew that an education was my ticket out. My persevering attitude has enabled me to find great academic success, which has led me through to my current status as an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. At Berkeley, I have taken up a role modeling drive through the Berkeley Hope Scholars and Berkeley Underground Scholars avenues through which I relate with and socially impact former foster youth and formerly incarcerated students, respectively. I have converted my depression into an ability to support and inspire comrades who are experiencing the same. As I labor towards an accredited college professor and biological researcher, I aspire to contribute to the field of human biology with an informed and creative predisposition to solve not just physical diseases, but also to improve mental health outcomes. My short-term plans are to complete my undergraduate degree and be admitted to a Ph.D. program in genetics and molecular biology. I would spend 3 to 4 years to achieve these goals, and shortly after, my next goal is to enter academia as a professor. As a professor, I can bring change to youths who are challenged in completing their higher education. As a professor, I do not want to limit my lessons to the subject area I am teaching. I would also make sure to share life lessons that would encourage the students to work harder despite the challenges. As someone who experienced depression and other adversities myself, I would let every student feel that they are important, they belong, they deserve where they are, and they are capable. If my financial situation permits, I hope to provide grants and scholarships to challenged students because I personally understand how difficult their situation is. Finally, I am planning to start a company involved in health and mental care research, and if this initiative succeeds, I would aid in the distribution of healthcare supplies, medicine, and therapy to people who lack the resources but need health care the most. I want to be involved in healthcare research to develop cures for life-threatening diseases and the ever-increasing cases of mental illnesses. This long-standing goal could help in alleviating physical and mental health-related challenges in the poorest households in the world.

There was a point in my life where I believed I would never make it to higher education. My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. My real father was unknown, the father that I knew as a child was a detached figure, and my mother, as well as all the female members in her family, were sex workers. As such, I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction. The tragic loss of two brothers and an absent anonymous parent plunged me to the depths of depression, threat of substance abuse, and a sum of seven-year incarceration sentences. After recovering from depression, I am now suffering from physical and psychological disabilities, chronic neck and back pain and ADHD to be specific. These adversities make my studies several folds harder, but I can proudly say that my determination is stronger. I may be a disabled, system-impacted, low-income earner, but I am also a proud first-generation American, who is also a bilingual student parent. Even as a child in Tijuana, I knew that there was more to life than my current situation, and I knew that an education was my ticket out. My persevering attitude has enabled me to find great academic success, which has led me through to my current status as an undergraduate student at University of California. However, I cannot say that this success is mine alone. I am what I am because of the roles of ladies and gentlemen who motivated and helped my recovery. The difficulties of life that I bounced back from have planted a desire in me to help others in return. At University of California, I have taken up a role modeling drive through the Hope Scholars and Underground Scholars avenues through which I relate with and socially impact former foster youth and formerly incarcerated students, respectively. I have converted my depression into an ability to support and inspire comrades who are experiencing the same. As I labor towards an accredited college professor and biological researcher, I aspire to contribute to the field of human biology with an informed and creative predisposition to solve not just physical diseases, but also to improve mental health outcomes. My short-term plans are to complete my undergraduate degree and be admitted to a Ph.D. program in genetics and molecular biology. I would spend 3 to 4 years to achieve these goals, and shortly after, my next goal is to enter academia as a professor. As a professor, I can bring change to youths who are challenged in completing their higher education. As a professor, I do not want to limit my lessons to the subject area I am teaching. I would also make sure to share life lessons that would encourage the students to work harder despite the challenges. As someone who experienced depression and other adversities myself, I would let every students feel that they are important, they belong, they deserve where they are, and they are capable. If my financial situation permits, I hope to provide grants and scholarships to challenged students because I personally understand how difficult their situation is. Finally, I am planning to start a company involved in health and mental care research, and if this initiative succeeds, I would aid in the distribution of healthcare supplies, medicine, and therapy to people who lack the resources but need health care the most. I want to be involved in healthcare research to develop cures for life-threatening diseases and the ever-increasing cases of mental illnesses. This long-standing goal could help in alleviating physical and mental health-related challenges in the poorest households in the world.

It was in tenth grade that my acquaintanceship with the high school biology laboratory's light microscope increased. I began studying specimen microscopy. I was curious about using banana baits to capture fruits flies for microscopy to plucking bits of my underarm hair for microscopy. Seeing what was invisible to my naked eye would fill me with a curiosity accompanied by the minute elements of life. I attribute my success at high school to a desire to pursue biological sciences at college. A college stint at Santa Ana College would see me mingle with extensive biology literature and articles. Articles with scientific epics and breakthroughs like HIV’s highly active antiretroviral therapy to epidemic management like the SARS containment. My coming to UC Berkeley as a transfer student has enhanced and nourished my academic inclination. The predominantly theoretical aspects of biology that I had mastered prior were augmented with Berkeley’s laboratories' practical culture. I have the vision to achieve a stellar contribution to my future professional and academic career through teaching and scientific innovation. I intend to study fat removal from fat cells on energy production in mice in my graduate study. Metabolic thermogenesis is essential in body thermoregulation and may enhance fat regulation. Ambient temperatures broadly influence Brown adipose tissue thermoregulation. I intend to examine fat thermogenesis based on uncoupling protein 1, body fat content, and energy expenditure in obese and lean mice. Metabolic thermogenesis in body fat regulation could play a role in remedial interventions to obesity and metabolic disorders in humans. A notable effect of induced thermogenesis could play a role in leanness and body fat retention. Additionally, I look forward to contributing to remedying epidemics like malignancy and SARS viral infections. I would love to compliment the diverse human resource base of STEM researchers who are already achieving magnificent success in the disciplines. Besides spending considerable effort in a research study, graduate school will ready me for a teaching career as a college career. I would greatly rejoice at the opportunity to inspire intellectualism and academic excellence in budding college learners as a college professor. I believe in the power of knowledge and education, assisting human accomplishment. The joy of lecturing to impart expertise, knowledge, and education to classroom biologists is a twin objective with biological research for fulfillment. The knowledge imparting approach of Dr. George A. Brooks and educating the inclination of Dr. Jose Pablo Vazquez-Medina have watered my teaching aspiration.

We will only live once, as the saying goes. This may appear to be a cliche, but it is undeniably true. As a result, I am a firm believer in the importance of our health. In fact, it is just one of the many reasons why I am so passionate about science. For me, living a healthy life is next to success and positivity. Technically, there is a distinct interconnectedness between living a healthy life and living a healthy lifestyle. They are always necessary for one another. Furthermore, we all have different ideas about what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. Some go to the gym and lift weights, run on a treadmill, or practice boxing. Others, including myself, prefer to eat healthy and natural foods rather than go to the gym. I am very interested in natural foods because I have personal experience and knowledge of how beneficial they can be not only for me but for the entire world. With the advancements in the past few decades, processed foods have undoubtedly gained traction and sales from the majority of the population. The convenience and ease that they offer are advantageous especially in the fast-pacing world that we are currently in. I would be lying if I say I was not a fan before. In fact, my diet used to revolve around fast foods and processed foods which eventually led me to obesity and other health complications. But it was not long enough before I realized that I needed to start with the root cause if I really want to get my healthy body back. I cannot just cut out my food consumption. What I needed was a complete diet makeover. And so that's what I did. And soon enough, I figured out how beneficial this new diet is for me. My new diet is made up of fresh fruits, veggies, and beans which are all available and are provided by nature itself. It is not harmful to the environment especially since I buy my supplies from sellers whose supplies come from organic farms. Aside from living a healthier life, I am also able to help local producers and farmers and contribute to the reduction of climate change due to harmful food production and food processes. To learn more about this new diet that I committed myself to, I always make sure to check the Internet to see the updated information, read through discussions and forums, and directly converse with the local sellers in my area. Despite my busy schedule as an undergraduate student, I still make sure to allocate even a small portion of my time to this cause. Similarly, I encourage my friends and other family members to consider the same by showing and telling them the benefits that I personally experience. I hope soon, the majority of the population would undergo the same realizations as I had and would slowly go back to a more natural and healthier diet and lifestyle.

My interest aligns with healthcare research. My passion lies in leveraging STEM to solve widespread lifestyle diseases, defined as conditions caused by an interplay of genetics and lifestyle. Knowing how prevalent these diseases are, with its most common examples being diabetes, obesity, and heart diseases, I can’t help but be concerned about this worsening issue. Myself being disabled also contributes to my passion in this area. While working as a volunteer in research studies involving cancer and metabolic inflexibility, I have realized the importance of healthcare research not just for the advancement of science, but also for improving our quality of life. Along with scientific research, I also have this advocacy of raising awareness to overcome non-genetic aspects of these life-threatening lifestyle diseases. After graduation from Berkeley, my short-term plan is to be admitted to a Ph.D. program in genetics and molecular biology. My short-term plans are to complete my undergraduate degree and be admitted to a Ph.D. program in genetics and molecular biology. There, I hope to apply the skills, techniques, and knowledge that I've gained in my undergraduate classes and from the research programs that I've participated in to perform my own study and contribute to the existing body of knowledge in my chosen field. I would spend 3 to 4 years to achieve these goals, and shortly after, my next goal is to enter academia as a professor. As a professor, I can bring change to youths who are challenged in completing their higher education. As a professor, I do not want to limit my lessons to the subject area I am teaching. I would also make sure to share life lessons that would encourage the students to work harder despite the challenges. I want every student to feel and understand that each of them deserve where they are, and they are capable of succeeding in their chosen field. Though they may feel small, they can contribute knowledge that would be a huge leap in science and humanity. I am also planning to start a company involved in healthcare research, and if this initiative succeeds, I would aid in the distribution of healthcare supplies and medicine to people who lack the resources but need health care the most. I want to be involved in healthcare research to develop cures for life-threatening diseases. This long-standing goal aligned with my passion for healthcare research, and could help in alleviating health-related challenges in the poorest households in the world.

There was a point in my life where I believed I would never make it to higher education. My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction. This adversity, however, does not define who I am today. I still overcome the daily struggles to find success in life, but I’ve managed to find success through my challenges. I may be a disabled, system-impacted, low-income earner, but I am also a proud first-generation American, who is also a bilingual student parent. Even as a child in Tijuana, I knew that there was more to life than my current situation, and I knew that an education was my ticket out. My persevering attitude has enabled me to find great academic success, which has led me through to my current status as a part of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars and Educational Opportunities programs at UC Berkeley. Now, as I approach the end of my Bachelor’s program in Molecular Biology, I am preparing for the next step in my enlightening academic journey; to be admitted to a graduate school and advance my knowledge in this field. Getting to where I am now is a huge challenge, at least for me. Looking back, I see myself as a financially incapable person who only has his dreams as an advantage. But the opportunities that came along made this journey easier and worthwhile. I am very thankful for my scholarships and organizations because they enable me to dream bigger. It gives me the opportunity to look farther than where I am now and stops me from questioning my ability to pursue graduate studies. Additionally, they give us resources to apply to graduate schools of our choice, assist us in completing the requirements, and give me the privilege of working on publishing my own research paper—a significant milestone for me. By being here, I become part of the growing number of people who wish to make a change, to advance themselves despite the expectations, norms, and circumstances against them. Personally, I consider myself a living testament that through passion, hard work, and perseverance, one can reach their goals regardless of gender, race, economic situation, and disability. However, it doesn't mean that I am going to stop there. Having experienced the positive impact that it made on my life, my bigger commitment is to extend this achievement to others. I want other people, especially those who are disadvantaged as I am, to pursue their passions and dreams and not let their circumstances define what they can become. As a tutor and volunteer, I always encourage other students to thrive harder and never put a limit on themselves. I tell them the story of my life and show them that standing from where I was before, there seemed no way to go. But I still made it here. And so they can too. I always tell students, and even friends and family, that there are aspects of life that we cannot choose for ourselves, such as our gender and race. However, the way we would accept and react to that would be completely ours, and acknowledging our control over our actions and decisions is the first step of making a change. Besides, they wouldn't be alone in this journey because there are lots of people who are going through the same, and several organizations, communities, and groups that are willing to extend a helping hand.

There was a point in my life where I believed I would never make it to higher education. My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction. This adversity, however, does not define who I am today. I still overcome the daily struggles to find success in life, but I’ve managed to find success through my challenges. I may be a disabled, system-impacted, low-income earner, but I am also a proud first-generation American, who is also a bilingual student parent. Even as a child in Tijuana, I knew that there was more to life than my current situation, and I knew that an education was my ticket out. My persevering attitude has enabled me to find great academic success, which has led me through to my current status as a part of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars and Educational Opportunities programs at UC Berkeley. Now, as I approach the end of my Bachelor’s program in Molecular Biology, I am preparing for the next step in my enlightening academic journey; to be admitted to a graduate school and advance my knowledge in this field. Getting to where I am now is a huge challenge, at least for me. Looking back, I see myself as a financially incapable person who only has his dreams as an advantage. But the opportunities that came along made this journey easier and worthwhile. I am very thankful for my scholarships and organizations because they enable me to dream bigger. It gives me the opportunity to look farther than where I am now and stops me from questioning my ability to pursue graduate studies. Additionally, they give us resources to apply to graduate schools of our choice, assist us in completing the requirements, and give me the privilege of working on publishing my own research paper—a significant milestone for me. By being here, I become part of the growing number of people who wish to make a change, to advance themselves despite the expectations, norms, and circumstances against them. Personally, I consider myself a living testament that through passion, hard work, and perseverance, one can reach their goals regardless of gender, race, economic situation, and disability. However, it doesn't mean that I am going to stop there. Having experienced the positive impact that it made on my life, my bigger commitment is to extend this achievement to others. I want other people, especially those who are disadvantaged as I am, to pursue their passions and dreams and not let their circumstances define what they can become. As a tutor and volunteer, I always encourage other students to thrive harder and never put a limit on themselves. I tell them the story of my life and show them that standing from where I was before, there seemed no way to go. But I still made it here. And so they can too. I always tell students, and even friends and family, that there are aspects of life that we cannot choose for ourselves, such as our gender and race. However, the way we would accept and react to that would be completely ours, and acknowledging our control over our actions and decisions is the first step of making a change. Besides, they wouldn't be alone in this journey because there are lots of people who are going through the same, and several organizations, communities, and groups that are willing to extend a helping hand.

I am a first-generation, disabled, low-income, system-impacted, re-entry, bilingual, and student parent. Additionally, I am a former foster youth, formerly incarcerated, and formerly homeless individual. My challenge-decimating perseverance and tenacity have seen me through to my current status as an undergraduate student and a part of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars and Educational Opportunities programs at UC Berkeley. It has been my life’s mission to make a significant contribution to the local community or even the world. I believe in the significance of our health, not just in our entire life but in our day-to-day lives and the lives of our loved ones. It is just one of the many reasons why I have this deep dedication to the field of science. This intense passion for science did not just happen overnight; this has been a lifelong passion. Since I was young, my interest has always been in science, from biology to physics. At one point in my life, I succumbed to a medical condition that healthcare professionals did not quite fully understand at the time. The struggle to receive proper medical support has been a challenge; the medical support system was inadequate at the time, and my life status made it even more difficult. I am of a mixed-race heritage that does not belong to the privileged dominant majority; aside from that, a single mother in a poverty-stricken community raised me. This health struggle further gave rise to my desire to pursue a career related to science. It is the goal I am now passionately pursuing. I am currently taking up a bachelor’s degree, majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology, and at the same time, working in a research laboratory at UC Berkeley. I am assisting in the research and experiments with the constant goal of discovering new scientific evidence that will ultimately provide helpful solutions to current medical issues, not just of the local community but of the entire world as well. The research and experiments I perform in the laboratory aim to contribute to health issues such as common diseases or even epidemics. I am particularly interested in coming up with solutions to common health problems that most of us seem to inevitably face - heart diseases, obesity, diabetes, to name a few. These are just a few of the most common health problems worldwide, and people inevitably suffer some of these because of the risk factor that these can be genetically inherited. Through my molecular biology degree and scientific experiences, I intend to find answers that will somehow minimize the occurrence of these diseases and provide solutions to make the life of those afflicted much more convenient. Aside from the technical side of my science-driven passion, I regularly volunteer in programs that aim to make a difference in the community. With these programs, I am assisting fellow university students in getting the guidance and support they need; it can be about their educational journey, mental health, or financial resources. Most of these programs benefit various individuals that belong to communities that I relate to, such as students who are part of the underrepresented, first-generation, Latinx, low-income, or disabled communities, although not limited to these. My actions do not discriminate; I help individuals from all walks of life. The important thing is that I make an impact in all our lives, no matter the size.

Throughout life, we make different choices and decisions to make an impact on our personal life as well as on the whole world. I am from Tijuana, Mexico, where I faced numerous challenges and missteps and had no one to look up to, leading to incarceration and homelessness. However, none of this defines who I am today. Despite being a disabled, system-impacted, low-income earner, I take pride in overcoming my life challenges and learning essential lessons to grow into a better person. I am a first-generation college student from a Hispanic family who had been living in Tijuana with the bare minimum to survive; my life mistakes led me to deep depression, due to which I tried to kill myself. Through therapeutic counseling, I was able to get past all the adversities and re-entered academia. At that time, I used to think of doing any such thing that could bring ease and betterment to people's lives. With the passing years, I developed the ambition to establish my own business, generate employment opportunities for people, and reach my enduring goal – i.e., bringing betterment to the world. Therefore, I believe the primary rationale behind starting a business is to offer employment opportunities for the people, while finding treatments for incurable diseases. I have spent my time on this earth exploring the profundities of biological life throughout my life. More specifically, I have been searching for a way to use my scientific interests to support and save human life. Through scientific contributions, I seek to use my longstanding affinity for the STEM disciplines to contribute to discoveries that empower life. I envision solving the global challenge of the ever-increasing number of lifestyle diseases. I hope to address this immense issue through the recently established company, called World Wide Genomics. While I honestly don't have the money and other resources to start the operations yet, I am keen on making my vision a reality, and my very first step is establishing the company. Using my technical knowledge in biology, interest in technology, and entrepreneurial nature, I plan to create a device that will incorporate virtual reality to exercise equipment. This device would encourage people of any age to work out and keep their bodies healthy and strong. The exercise equipment would be flexible and can adapt to the chosen theme, making the exercise experience somewhat personalized. Another technological idea that I plan to develop is a universal healthcare database that relies on the Internet of Things (IoT). My vision is to develop a network where data from our fitness devices as well as the medical records, prescriptions, diagnoses, medical reports, etc., from our doctors would be kept all together. The consumer would hold a health card with a unique chip needed to access all of their information. Every time the consumer visits their doctor, they would need to present their card, and all their records and their exercise, sleep, ECG, weight, diet, and more could be accessed. It would make diagnoses more accessible and help doctors provide medications better suited to the patients' lifestyles. I am passionate about my business and incorporating state-of-the-art technology in it because this innovation could improve transparency among healthcare providers and improve transparency and accountability among them. This technology could also help stop such errors from causing complications or even death. Considering all of these ideas and my knowledge in the biological sciences, I am highly ambitious to establish my own business to help people lead towards better health conditions.

I am Marvin Miller, a Molecular and Cell Biology Major at the University of California, Berkeley. I am a first-generation, disabled, low-income, system-impacted, re-entry, bilingual, and a student parent brought up in Tijuana and suffered from homelessness, social and racial discrimination, and financial crisis. By facing all of these hardships and tough situations, I have developed a special habit of being selfless to others. In particular, I selflessly help low-income, disabled, formerly incarcerated, and immigrant students in their academic journey. Growing up, I did not have the privilege to receive guidance, which led to my past mistakes. Therefore, I help people protect them from the situations that I have to face in my life. To share an example, I once managed a family business where I led a multicultural team composed mainly of minorities. While most of them were Latinx like me, we also had people from other races and ethnicities. We came from different geographical places and followed different cultures and traditions as a team. Despite that, we could still succeed because we worked as a community and all of us played an active role. Likewise, I also support the advancement of the Latinx community in my modest capabilities. It has been my lifelong practice to support and provide assistance to my fellow Hispanic and other underrepresented groups due to the similarities in the obstacles we face. Experiencing and understanding the challenges firsthand molded me into how I am today and motivated me so that my life goals will transpire. In the past, working at our simple family business, I have regularly extended a helping hand; I provided jobs to my fellow Latinx and made sure I delivered equal and just wages to them. These are the start of my modest contribution to the advancement of the Latinx and other underrepresented communities. In addition to this, At NavCal, I volunteered to help fellow students with the overall navigation of the university. I mentor students to adjust to the university environment or be organized with their schoolwork. I also offer tips and guidance on gaining access to scholarships that they deserve. I believe these minor things could bring a massive difference in one’s life and ease their burden. While doing all of these, I always make it sure that I am not having any expectation to get back any benefit or return from anyone. Instead of this, I always keep my intentions clear that are solely based on selflessness and willingness to help others.

I am Marvin Miller, a Molecular and Cell Biology Major at the University of California, Berkeley. I am a first-generation, disabled, low-income, system-impacted, re-entry, bilingual, and a student parent. In addition to that, I am a former foster youth, formerly incarcerated, and homeless individual. My challenge-decimating perseverance and tenacity have seen me through to my current status as a part of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars and Educational Opportunities program at UC Berkeley. My diverse life experiences have informed my present desire to participate in the research program. I am due to graduate from UC Berkeley, studying Cell and Developmental Biology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the undergrad level. Going through hard times and challenges at an early age without having access to basic necessities, we automatically develop deep respect and appreciation for life. The same thing has happened to me; I have taken all the challenges as life lessons that have shaped me into what I am today. I come from a pretty different background with roots in Tijuana, Mexico. Growing up in a socially toxic environment led me to some of my life's major mistakes, which helped me learn the greatest life lessons that I wouldn't have received any other way. Therefore, I believe it is the strong leadership and mentorship that can really help the people – going through the tough times of their lives – to change their fate. Leadership comes in many forms, but leadership is about touching and inspiring other people's lives. My advocacy in life is to spread awareness and acceptance of racial equality. I was born in Tijuana, Mexico, grew up in poverty, and upon entry to the U.S., experienced the same challenges that other racial groups face too. So when I was given a chance to manage our store, I decided to give the minorities even a small advantage by making them our store's priority. I found this experience fulfilling, and from then on, I always make sure to assist other people who are having life difficulties because of their race. I love to help and mentor fellow formerly incarcerated students succeed in their academic journey through my leadership skills and by constantly engaging with them and providing them with the support they need. At UC Berkeley Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association, I mentor students of fellow Chicanx and Latinx communities and provide a professional network to alumni. In mentoring, we share various ideas and resources to help them succeed academically and professionally. In addition to this, At NavCal, I volunteered to help fellow students with the overall navigation of the university. I mentor students to adjust to the university environment or be organized with their schoolwork. I also offer tips and guidance on gaining access to scholarships that they deserve. During this, I always prefer listening over speaking. I believe active, and focused listening helps a mentor understand the mentees' learning needs and get their feedback about the overall mentorship experience. Above all, it also contributes to establishing a trustful and healthy relationship that is the core element of becoming a successful and impactful mentor. I am passionate to lead and mentor underprivileged students because few positive mentors in my life guided me in the right direction and pulled me out of the darkness that left me unguided and helpless. Reflecting on my experiences, I always aspire to mentor underprivileged students and guide them through their academic journey.

I am involved in the various volunteering service programs at UC Berkeley like Underground Scholars Initiative, Disabled Student’s Program, UC Berkeley Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association, Biology Scholars Program, NavCal, and Educational Opportunity Program. These volunteer programs particularly caught my attention because of their initiative to help underrepresented groups that personally relate to me. But of course, my desire to help is not limited to these programs, as I plan to continue volunteering. To elaborate on my roles in these programs, allow me to briefly enumerate and discuss each of them. In the Underground Scholars Initiative, I help fellow formerly incarcerated students to succeed in their academic journey by constantly engaging with them through the community and providing the support they need. As for Disabled Student’s Program, I help fellow disabled students get approved for this specific program to receive suitable accommodation and services to succeed in their academic choices. I do this by assisting them with the approval process of the program. At UC Berkeley Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association, I mentor students of fellow Chicanx and Latinx communities and provide a professional network to alumni. In mentoring, we share various ideas and resources to help them succeed academically and professionally. The Biology Scholars Program is for students with a united interest in the field of Biology. I help fellow Biology students reach their full educational potential as we share research concepts, discuss strategies, and exchange ideas. At NavCal, I volunteered to help fellow students with the overall navigation of the university. I mentor students on how to adjust to the university environment or be organized with their schoolwork. I also offer tips and guidance on how to gain access to scholarships that they deserve. Lastly, Educational Opportunity Program is possibly the program I relate to the most. In this program, I assist in helping underrepresented students obtain access to the resources they need to succeed in their academic goals in the university and offer to counsel students for their personal growth. The general service provided by these programs is to provide support in several aspects to university or incoming students from all walks of life without discrimination. The service that these programs offer is important as they open many doors of opportunities to underrepresented individuals. It gives them the chance to achieve their dreams and be confident to represent their communities as they go along. As I mentioned earlier, I volunteered for these programs because of how I relate to them; I am a first-generation, low-income, disabled Latinx, previously incarcerated, passionate about science, and an underrepresented student of UC Berkeley. Volunteer service taught me that it is the best way to get inner satisfaction and mental peace. I believe the people you relate to the most bring out your true intentions and determination to continue to help.

Technology has changed the way we live, and we have to deal with that in order to advance. I have this vision of solving the global challenge of the ever-increasing number of lifestyle diseases. By definition, lifestyle diseases are conditions caused by an interplay of genetics and lifestyle, and its most common examples are diabetes, obesity, and heart diseases. I hope to address this immense issue through the company that I recently established, which I called World Wide Genomics. While I honestly don't have the money and other resources to start the operations yet, I am keen on making my vision a reality, and my very first step is establishing the company. Using my technical knowledge in biology, my interest in technology, and my entrepreneurial nature, I plan to create a device that will incorporate virtual reality to exercise equipment. This device would encourage people of any age to do work out and keep their bodies healthy and strong. Themes would vary depending on one's interest--gaming, nature, adventure, action, etc. The exercise equipment is flexible and can adapt to the chosen theme, making the exercise experience somewhat personalized. Another technological idea that I plan to develop is a universal healthcare database that relies on the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT connects and integrates our devices to create a shared network, and this system is already being used by tech giants. My vision is to develop a network where data from our fitness devices as well as the medical records, prescriptions, diagnoses, medical reports, etc. from our doctors would be kept all together. The consumer would hold a health card with a unique chip that is needed to access all of their information. Every time the consumer visits their doctor, they would need to present their card and all their records, as well as their exercise, sleep, ECG, weight, diet, and more, could be accessed. It would make diagnoses easier and could help doctors provide medications that are better suited to the patients' lifestyles. Similarly, this innovation could improve transparency among healthcare providers, as well as improve transparency and accountability among them. Though it is less often heard of, medical errors claim a significant number of lives every year. With this technology, every medical record and personnel could be traced, and the error could easily be pointed out. Not only that. This technology could also help stop such errors from causing complications or even death. When reviewed by another healthcare professional, the mistakes committed by one can be corrected early on, preventing the worse from happening.

I am Marvin Miller, a Molecular and Cell Biology Major at the University of California, Berkeley. I am writing this essay for the Clubs of America Scholarship Award application – specifically to portray my career aspirations. I am a first-generation, disabled, low-income, system-impacted, re-entry, bilingual, and a student parent. In addition to that, I am a former foster youth, formerly incarcerated, and homeless individual. My challenge-decimating perseverance and tenacity have seen me through to my current status as a part of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars and Educational Opportunities program at UC Berkeley. I am due to graduate from UC Berkeley, having studied Cell and Developmental Biology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the undergrad level. I perceive that there are two kinds of people in this world; those that accept the cards that they were dealt with and those that shun them away to create their deck. There was a point in my life when I thought of myself in the former position. I believed I would never make it to higher education, much less a Master's. My background in the poverty-stricken depths of Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to spend seven years in incarceration and homelessness. These hardships of my unconventional upbringing caused me a lot of pain and turmoil in my life, which impacted my education. If it were not for a handful of kind-hearted individuals I found in the form of my teachers, counselors, and lab assistants, my predicament might not have changed even today. They were the ones who taught me that accepting those circumstances as my reality meant defining my future to be no different from my present. I refused to do so. This attitude has led me to successfully complete four Associate's degrees and earn a handful of honors and awards from Santa Ana College, paving my way to UC Berkeley. There I acquired the status of being a part of their Ronald E. McNair Scholars and Educational Opportunities program, where I am currently pursuing my Bachelor's degree majoring in Molecular & Cell Biology. This journey has motivated me to grow my passion for the subject not just through class lectures but through independent studies and research too, allowing me to grow both as a learner and researcher. Leadership comes in many forms, but for me, leadership is about touching and inspiring other people's lives. My personal advocacy in life is to spread awareness and acceptance of racial equality. I was born in Tijuana, Mexico, grew up in poverty, and upon entry to the U.S., experienced the same challenges that other racial groups face too. So when I was given a chance to manage our store, I decided to give the minorities even a small advantage by making them our store's priority. I found this experience really fulfilling, and from then on, I always make sure to assist other people who are having life difficulties because of their race. The consequence of my past life experiences has made me who I am today. Helping other people, especially those who I can relate to the most, has been an intimate calling in my heart. I volunteered and continue to do so to several university and community programs because of this wholehearted intent to help. I am involved in the university service programs of Underground Scholars Initiative, Disabled Student’s Program, UC Berkeley Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association, Biology Scholars Program, NavCal, and Educational Opportunity Program. These programs particularly caught my attention because of their initiative to help underrepresented groups that personally relate to me. But of course, my desire to help is not limited to these programs as I plan to continue volunteering. To elaborate on my roles in these programs, allow me to enumerate and discuss each of them briefly. In the Underground Scholars Initiative, I help fellow formerly incarcerated students to succeed in their academic journey by constantly engaging with them through the community and providing the support they need. As for Disabled Student’s Program, I help fellow disabled students get approved to this specific program to receive suitable accommodation and services that they need to succeed in their academic choices. I do this by assisting them with the approval process of the program. In UC Berkeley Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association, I mentor students of fellow Chicanx and Latinx communities and provide a professional network to alumni. In mentoring, we share various ideas and resources to help them succeed academically and professionally. Biology Scholars Program is for students with a united interest in the field of Biology. I help fellow Biology students reach their full educational potential as we share research concepts, discuss strategies, and exchange ideas. At NavCal, I volunteered to help fellow students with the overall navigation of the university. I mentor students on how to adjust to the university environment or be organized with their schoolwork. I also offer tips and guidance on how to gain access to scholarships that they deserve. Lastly, Educational Opportunity Program is possibly the program I relate to the most. In this program, I assist in helping underrepresented students obtain access to the resources they need to succeed in their academic goals in the university and offer to counsel students for their personal growth.

One of the most significant pieces of art that inspires me is “Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center” which was designed by Zaha Hadid in Baku. I want to mention that in the year 2013, the building was also nominated for both the biennial Inside Festival and World Architecture Festival. This piece of art inspires me because of its eye-catchy architecture that seems like fluid is flowing in a consistent pattern. Its curved and flowing architecture leaves me amazed whenever I look at the centre. Besides, the semi-reflective glass also gives tantalizing glimpses that arouse the curiosity of the visitors to enter the centre and experience the beauty of this masterpiece. I believe Zaha has commendably accommodated the concept of fluidity in architecture and has genuinely revolutionized the façade of the architecture and interior design industry. I am also attaching the picture of the inspirational piece of art so that you can also experience its beauty.

If I could share one sentence with the world, it would be ‘trust your gut’. I would say this to the world because I believe institution or gut feeling is a third eye that God has gifted to all of us. It is worth noticing that it is nothing more than a nagging feeling that makes a person think something is wrong with a situation or thing. In other words, this could be anything that comes to your mind when you encounter any situation, person, or thing. Scientific research has also indicated that gut feeling is the best tool that helps a person make good and cautious decisions/choices in life. All in all, I would like to wrap up my essay by saying that we all need to carefully listen to our internal voice and trust in it since it is the direct guidance from God that protects us from various harms in life.

I want mentorship to be my legacy since I love to help and mentor fellow formerly incarcerated students succeed in their academic journey by constantly engaging with them and providing them with the support they need. At UC Berkeley Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association, I mentor students of fellow Chicanx and Latinx communities and provide a professional network to alumni. In mentoring, we share various ideas and resources to help them succeed academically and professionally. In addition to this, At NavCal, I volunteered to help fellow students with the overall navigation of the university. I mentor students to adjust to the university environment or be organized with their schoolwork. I also offer tips and guidance on gaining access to scholarships that they deserve. During this, I always prefer listening over speaking. I believe active, and focused listening helps a mentor understand the mentees' learning needs and get their feedback about the overall mentorship experience. Above all, it also contributes to establishing a trustful and healthy relationship that is the core element of becoming a successful and impactful mentor. I love to mentor underprivileged students because few positive mentors in my life guided me in the right direction and pulled me out of the darkness that left me unguided and helpless. Reflecting on my experiences, I always aspire to mentor underprivileged students and guide them through their academic journey.

My name is Marvin Miller, a Molecular and Cell Biology major at the University of California, Berkeley. I grew up as a bilingual, first-generation foster youth and as a disabled student-parent battling problem like low income and re-entry; I have faced more than my fair share of hurdles from the system, not to mention even incarceration and homelessness. My background in the poverty-stricken depths of Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps. Unlike other students, I do not have any family support, and I am mainly reliant on financial aid, scholarships, and grants. Along with these financial challenges, being a single parent also becomes challenging as I have to spend on my and my daughter’s education. I am one of those parents who prioritize their children over anything. Therefore, sometimes I compromise on my educational expenses to fulfil my daughter's needs. For example, during the pandemic, I could not pay for my rent, which amounted to $17,700. I use the scholarships that I receive from the school to get my day by day and support my children's needs. My computer also broke during this pandemic, and because my chronic neck and back pain would not allow me to use smaller devices such as my phone for my classes, I needed to purchase a new computer that I believed would make my studies better, given my disability. However, my school helped me in this regard and assisted me in the time of need. I feel myself to be a blessed person who has a loving and caring daughter. Still, my financial burdens sometimes make the entire situation more depressing. I feel it to be a long journey to achieve my educational goal – i.e., getting a doctorate in biological sciences. I aspire to use my higher education to support my family by getting a good employment opportunity – particularly in biological science. I believe such earning opportunity will lighten my financial burdens and allow me to provide all necessities for my beloved family.

Lately, I have read a book named ‘7 habits of highly effective people’ penned down by Stephen R. Covey. The book inspires me because it gave some life lessons that will surely help me lead a happy and contented life. In particular, the book helped me learn that effective people are more proactive and less reactive. Less reactivity allows people to save their energy wasted worrying or stressing over situations. Instead, proactive people cautiously respond to the situation and understand that they are responsible for all of their deeds and words. I believe this cognition allows a person to maintain relationships and professional life effectively. Another inspiring lesson that I have taken from the book is prioritizing day-to-day tasks – based on their importance and urgency. It brings discipline to one’s life and helps a person be focused on goals. This eventually leads a person to become more organized and efficient in handling even a bulk of activities. Besides, the book also sheds light on one of the most important aspects that we all need to incorporate in our lives – i.e., seeking first to understand, then to be understood. In my perspective, this does not only help a person avoid potential conflicts and makes him or her more empathic and considerate towards others’ opinions. All in all, ‘7 habits of highly effective people is one of the most inspiring books that I have recently read, and the lessons I have taken from it are helping me handle my day-to-day life more effectually.

There was a point in my life when I believed I would never make it to higher education. My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. My real father was unknown; the father that I knew as a child was a detached figure, and my mother, as well as all the female members in her family, was sex worker. As such, I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction. The tragic loss of two brothers and an absent anonymous parent plunged me to the depths of depression, the threat of substance abuse, and a sum of seven-year incarceration sentences. The depression did not only harm my mental capabilities but also physically affected me. After recovering from depression, I am now suffering from physical and psychological disabilities, chronic neck and back pain, and ADHD. These adversities make my studies several folds harder, but I can proudly say that my faith in God help me overcoming all of the challenges. I may be a disabled, system-impacted, low-income earner, but I am also a proud first-generation American who is also a bilingual student parent. Even as a child in Tijuana, I knew that there was more to life than my current situation, and I knew that an education was my ticket out. My strong faith has enabled me to find great academic success, which has led me through to my current status as an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. My entire journey to fight against my depression has taught me that it is always self-determination and a positive attitude toward life that could help an individual to fight against the odds. Despite having minimal resources, socially and economically challenging circumstances, and no family support, I successfully overcame my depression and pursued my academic goals. I believe my blind trust in God and faith in His superiority led me to go through the entire situation and made me stronger to face the realities of life and achieve my goals. In a nutshell, my trust and faith in God helped me fight all of the odds and achieve my academic goals. It is a fact that without His help and guidance, I would never be able to overcome the unfavorable circumstances, which might put me in the darkness and never-ending depression.

Leadership comes in many forms, but for me, leadership is about touching and inspiring other people's lives. My personal advocacy in life is to spread awareness and acceptance of racial equality. I was born in Tijuana, Mexico, grew up in poverty, and upon entry to the U.S., experienced the same challenges that other racial groups face too. So when I was given a chance to manage our store, I decided to give the minorities even a small advantage by making them our store's priority. I found this experience really fulfilling, and from then on, I always make sure to assist other people who are having life difficulties because of their race. I am happy to be part of UC Berkeley because I can see that it values diversity the same way as I do. I am so glad to see people of different colors and races in my classes, and it inspires me even more to continue my advocacy. I know that racism is a grave issue in the U.S., but Cal makes me believe that we are steps closer to our goal. We may be taking small steps, but for me, small steps matter. However, despite the general stand of the University towards diversity, I can personally attest that racism still lives. There is this one lab that I used to work on, and just recently, one of our friends sent an email about early resignation because of how she was treated in the lab. She is an Italian, and I know how important her studies are to her. But racism was even stronger that she needed to pause just to save herself from the mental and emotional torture. Throughout my life, I've been chasing opportunities because they were not readily available for me. The story I shared saddens me because I know that just like me, she worked really hard to get where she is now, and just because of her race, she has to give it all up. These observations, personal experiences, and insights further strengthen my desire to touch people's lives, especially non-whites. As a NavCal student guide, I always introduce the concept and importance of diversity to new students. I always inform them that if they need anything to talk about or have any issues regarding the matter, they can always reach out to me. Lastly, my future goal is to be a researcher in my own laboratory or company. When that happens, I will value every person and make them feel significant. No single race can monopolize knowledge and skills, anyway. Everyone, regardless of race, hopes to impact and advance our understanding of science and the world. I'd also want to be an educator, hoping to teach youths about biology, life, and how they can make an impact. As a researcher and educator, I can support and continue UC Berkeley's stand for diversity.

There was a point in my life where I believed I would never make it to higher education. My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. My real father was unknown, the father that I knew as a child was a detached figure, and my mother, as well as all the female members in her family, were sex workers. As such, I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction. The tragic loss of two brothers and an absent anonymous parent plunged me to the depths of depression, threat of substance abuse, and a sum of seven-year incarceration sentences. After recovering from depression, I am now suffering from physical and psychological disabilities, chronic neck and back pain and ADHD to be specific. These adversities make my studies several folds harder, but I can proudly say that my determination is stronger. I may be a disabled, system-impacted, low-income earner, but I am also a proud first-generation American, who is also a bilingual student parent. Even as a child in Tijuana, I knew that there was more to life than my current situation, and I knew that an education was my ticket out. My persevering attitude has enabled me to find great academic success, which has led me through to my current status as an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. However, I cannot say that this success is mine alone. I am what I am because of the roles of ladies and gentlemen who motivated and helped my recovery. The difficulties of life that I bounced back from have planted a desire in me to help others in return. At Berkeley, I have taken up a role modeling drive through the Berkeley Hope Scholars and Berkeley Underground Scholars avenues through which I relate with and socially impact former foster youth and formerly incarcerated students, respectively. I have converted my depression into an ability to support and inspire comrades who are experiencing the same. As I labor towards an accredited college professor and biological researcher, I aspire to contribute to the field of human biology with an informed and creative predisposition to solve not just physical diseases, but also to improve mental health outcomes. My short-term plans are to complete my undergraduate degree and be admitted to a Ph.D. program in genetics and molecular biology. I would spend 3 to 4 years to achieve these goals, and shortly after, my next goal is to enter academia as a professor. As a professor, I can bring change to youths who are challenged in completing their higher education. As a professor, I do not want to limit my lessons to the subject area I am teaching. I would also make sure to share life lessons that would encourage the students to work harder despite the challenges. As someone who experienced depression and other adversities myself, I would let every student feel that they are important, they belong, they deserve where they are, and they are capable. If my financial situation permits, I hope to provide grants and scholarships to challenged students because I personally understand how difficult their situation is. Finally, I am planning to start a company involved in health and mental care research, and if this initiative succeeds, I would aid in the distribution of healthcare supplies, medicine, and therapy to people who lack the resources but need health care the most. I want to be involved in healthcare research to develop cures for life-threatening diseases and the ever-increasing cases of mental illnesses. This long-standing goal could help in alleviating physical and mental health-related challenges in the poorest households in the world.

I believe one of my best talents is to mentor others. I love to help and mentor fellow formerly incarcerated students to succeed in their academic journey by constantly engaging with them through the community and providing the support they need. At UC Berkeley Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association, I mentor students of fellow Chicanx and Latinx communities and provide a professional network to alumni. In mentoring, we share various ideas and resources to help them succeed academically and professionally. In addition to this, At NavCal, I volunteered to help fellow students with the overall navigation of the university. I mentor students to adjust to the university environment or be organized with their schoolwork. I also offer tips and guidance on gaining access to scholarships that they deserve. To practice this talent, I always prefer listening over speaking. I believe active, and focused listening helps a mentor understand the mentees' learning needs and get their feedback about the overall mentorship experience. Above all, it also contributes to establishing a trustful and healthy relationship that is the core element of becoming a successful and impactful mentor.

‘Don’t Stop Believin’ is one of the songs that inspire me and is one of the masterpieces of the American rock band “Journey”. The song inspires me because it genuinely depicts my whole life story, where I was surrounded by challenging situations but never lost hope. Despite being the victim of the financial crisis, disability, and a socially toxic environment, I never stopped believing that good days were just around the corner. I always hoped that there was a light at the end of the tunnel; all I needed to do is keep pushing with good faith and take positive thoughts in my mind. The song truly depicts the most significant reality of life, i.e., it keeps going no matter what. However, we should never stop believing in good days. We all face fears, disappointments, and sadness, but one should never consider it a constant state. Instead, it is just a phase of life that eventually pass.

I believe one of my best skills is to mentor others. I love to help and mentor fellow formerly incarcerated students to succeed in their academic journey by constantly engaging with them through the community and providing the support they need. At UC Berkeley Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association, I mentor students of fellow Chicanx and Latinx communities and provide a professional network to alumni. In mentoring, we share various ideas and resources to help them succeed academically and professionally. In addition to this, At NavCal, I volunteered to help fellow students with the overall navigation of the university. I mentor students to adjust to the university environment or be organized with their schoolwork. I also offer tips and guidance on gaining access to scholarships that they deserve. To improve this skill, I always prefer listening over speaking. I believe active, and focused listening helps a mentor understand the mentees' learning needs and get their feedback about the overall mentorship experience. Above all, it also contributes to establishing a trustful and healthy relationship that is the core element of becoming a successful and impactful mentor.

I believe several things can help a person to slow down his/her biological clock and let them live a long and healthy life. In this account, the best way to live a healthy and long life is to adopt healthy eating habits – i.e., avoiding processed food and switching to natural and organic products. It is mainly due to the fact that processed food contains high contents of sodium, sugar, and saturated fat along with a minimal quantity of fiber, which results in diabetes, cancer, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Another way that I believe - to live long - is to spend a minimum of 15 minutes exercising. Exercise does not only help a person to burn extra calories but also protects them from cardiovascular diseases. Above all, avoiding negative thoughts and emotions is another way of living a long and healthy life. I have said that negative emotions elevate the stress hormones that affect the immune system, metabolism, and heart health. All in all, having an organic diet, exercising, and avoiding negativity are the easiest and the most effective ways of living a long and healthy life.

I am Marvin Miller, and I am a Molecular and Cell Biology Major at the University of California, Berkeley. My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. My real father was unknown; the father that I knew as a child was a detached figure, and my mother and all the female members in her family was a sex worker. The tragic loss of two brothers and an absent anonymous parent plunged me to the depths of depression, the threat of substance abuse, and a sum of seven-year incarceration sentences. These bitter realities of life led me to appreciate the simple pleasures in life, be it having a good laugh with the family or a long walk with a friend. I am a nature lover, so I like to spend time gardening, hiking, and sightseeing. These simple pleasures add immense peace and happiness to my inner self. Though I have seen tough times that could make me a bitter or harsh person, I have never complained of anything to God. Instead, I always tried finding joy and happiness in simple things. For me, having a conversation with my friend over a cup of coffee, an hour of a phone call with my mom, spending time with my daughter, and taking care of my plants are enough to make me happy.

Active listening is all about carefully listening while someone else expresses their views, thoughts, and opinion. Primarily, it is about making another person feel valued and heard. For actively listening to others, I ensure to maintain eye contact. It helps me give a feeling to the speaker that I am concentrating and keenly listening to him/her. Besides that, I also avoid interrupting the conversation since it usually frustrates the speaker and gives an impression that their opinion is not essential to be heard carefully. Most importantly, I completely refrain from making judgments or immediately jumping to conclusions. I believe harsh judgments or emotional reactions ruin the conversation. Lastly, I avoid imposing my thoughts on others and ensure that I am being an empathic and supportive listener who sincerely wants to lend an ear. I do all of these because to me active listening is the first step towards knowing the unknown. In my perspective, it is the best way of establishing the enduring relationships, building trust, gaining new knowledge.

In 2020, when everyone – including me – was struggling with COVID-19 triggered anxiety and stress, my friend told me that he wanted to give his puppy to someone for adoption. I already had a tiny kitten at that time, and I never thought of having another pet since I did not consider myself a responsible pet owner. However, when I saw ‘Rocky’ on a video call, my heart started melting for him, and I told my friend that I would adopt this cute little puppy. After two days, Rocky was standing at my doorstep, wagging his tail and looking at me with friendliness in his eyes. At that moment, I developed a feeling that I had got a new friend – a four-legged friend who would give me unconditional love and support. Since that day, Rocky has never let me feel sad or alone. With many physical and mental struggles, I used to feel anxious and depressive, and COVID made the situation even worse. However, Rocky was one of the best things that happened to me as he pulled me out of the dark tunnel of depressive and anxious thoughts. Having Rocky makes me think that I have someone I can tell my darkest secrets and thoughts to. Despite all my loneliness, I know he will always be there to listen to me and console me without throwing his judgments. Here, I would like to highlight that he is good at picking the emotions, and whenever I feel sad, he’s always by my side, licking my hands, giving me headbutts, and cheering me up with his mischievous acts. I believe Rocky has brought a lot of positive energy into my life that I could never achieve.

Before owning a loving cat, I thought that pets are just 'animals' and not as important to us as our family or friends were. However, when Coco entered my life, I fully understood how delightful owning a cat can be and how this beautiful bond can pull out all depression and sadness from one's life. On one fine morning, when I was stressed out of locked downs and Covid-related restrictions, I was peeking out of my room’s window. I saw a tiny kitten sitting on the other side of the street. Here, I would like to mention that I was never attracted to any pet, but that kitten hooked my attention and compelled me to observe her innocent moves. Suddenly she started moving toward the road, which triggered my anxiety as I was scared as it was a peak traffic time. Without having a second thought, I rushed to the door, ran towards the street, and held the tiny kitten like a small ball of furr. I am still unaware of the emotion that compelled me to bring her home, feed her, and give her the name ‘Coco’ since she’s a beautiful brown-colored cat. Ince that day, Coco became an essential element of my life. From the very first day, I build an unexplainable companionship with Coco that fills me with happiness, positive energy, and a sense of responsibility. Before having Coco in my life, I used to have depressive episodes where I used to put everything aside and through myself to a dark room, thinking about all sufferings and bad times that I had to endure in my life. However, when I got this furry friend in my life, I had never been depressed or sad because of my past events. I know I have a friend that loves me unconditionally and patiently waits for me when I am not home. Her purr or wagging tails fill my heart with happiness and make me forget about bad times. I am lucky enough to get Coco during the Covid time since I went through intense loneliness. During those crucial times, Coco did not only give me companionship but also gave me a sense of purpose and a reason to smile and hope for the good times. I believe Coco has some powerful instincts that she easily picks up my moods, snuggles up to me, and licks my feet whenever I feel anxious or sad. Conclusively, Coco has completely changed my life and has brought me considerable love and joy. Her unconditional love and playfulness make me pray that may she be with me always.

In the current chaotic times, adopting healthy habits, like exercise, meditation, consumption of nutritious diet, and decluttering negative energy have become the most important factors to lead a happy life. I always ensure adhering to all of these habits as they help me maintaining a good physical and mental health. In my perspective, we cannot avoid the problems that - time to time occur - in life. However, we can easily cope with them if we have a sound emotional, mental, and physical health. Therefore, being healthy is one of my top-most priority nowadays - specifically after experiencing the stress and fearful situation of COVID-19. I think, I can easily handle any such situation in future only if I have a healthy lifestyle, entailing regular exercising, nutrition intake, and positive and decluttered mind.

Since childhood, I have always been a person who loves to help and support others. Basically, I am one of those individuals who find more peace in giving than taking. Giving is important to me because it gives me a sense of purpose. It makes me think that I am fulfilling my responsibility towards fellow human beings who - due to certain consequences - cannot avail all necessities of life. I personally believe that we - the human beings - are held responsible for each other's comfort, ease, and happiness. Therefore, giving makes me think that I am living in a way that is really close to my personal beliefs that eventually boost my internal satisfaction and happiness. I do different activities to give back, like helping minority and underprivileged students in their studies, giving moral support to the old aged individuals, and helping deprived individuals through charity. These are few of my little efforts to make this world a better place to live.

I am a single father with two children, currently in my sixth year of studies as a returning student majoring in Biology at UC Berkeley. I plan to transfer to graduate school and focus on biology to become a Biological Scientist and obtain my PhD. degree. I started helping with the family business at a young age gaining knowledge of the business world. However, I lost my girlfriend due to her suicide and a few years later, my two older brothers. The increased tragedies during my high school years pushed me to become a responsible person determined to achieve my established goals. I lived across the street from UCI medical center, where I see nurses and doctors going to work every day. Their determination has influenced my interest in becoming a Biological Scientist to also play a part in serving the public. Following this, I have dedicated my time and energy to advance myself academically, despite the fact that money has always been a hindrance to my studies while my children need to spend more time with me. I was recently accessed for a learning disability at Santa Ana College, Disabled Student Programs & Services (DSP&S). One of the difficulties I experience is a problem with reading. For example, it takes three times for new information to be processed, and I end up taking 12 hours a day in college. I also have chronic back and neck pain which I was scheduled to have surgery to put in some screws and keep the nerves from being pinched but for now I have been seeing an acupuncture doctor to see if we can prevent the surgery. However, this difficulty has not affected my determination to learn or work. I put in several hours to studying, and I'm determined to become a well-rounded student. In addition, I have completed different research during my studies. I have been active in my school and community outside of the classroom, serving my classmates and volunteering during school breaks. I recently attended SACNAS National Conference that took place in Los Angeles Convention Center where I had the opportunity to go to a workshop about Biology research and connect with potential conference partners and sponsors related to information on the steps how to apply for research. I volunteered to participate in Kindercaminata where I was in charge to direct groups of children with their mentor to take part in activities and campus tours. I was a role model to the children, which helped me gain insight that children need more training to prepare them for the modern world that requires skilled individuals. These experiences of working with and helping people have further increased my motivation to give back to the community by venturing into the medical field and becoming a Biological Scientist. Despite the hardships that I have been through, I have found the strength to focus on myself and a purpose, which is to get an education to provide the best for my family, and give back to the community. Getting approved for the Scholarship Programs will help me pay for my books, tuition, school supplies, and transportation. Therefore, gaining financial stability is my current goal that will help me strike a balance between working, concentrating on obtaining my PhD degree as a Biological Scientist and spending time with my children. I feel confident enough in pursuing my life, education, and career goals that are connected with making a positive difference in people’s lives.

I cannot remember when and why did my neck and back pain start, but from what I can remember, I had a neck surgery when I was 17 years old. This procedure went smoothly and for long, I thought that it was successful. Only in the latter years of my life did I feel the excruciating neck and back pain. I undergone a series of medical examination to find out what was the problem. One of the results showed that three of my cervical vertebrae一C5, C6, and C7一are touching and grinding each other. In 2020, I was offered to undergo a surgery but the doctor said that there is no guarantee of success and there is a chance of me dying or being paralyzed. As a result, I decided to endure the pain and decline the operation. Now, I am relying on acupuncture where one of the therapist mentioned that the neck surgery that I had as a teen could have damaged a nerve in my neck causing the pain in that part of my body. My chronic neck and back pain make my studies, as well as other activities, severalfolds harder. I cannot stay in one position for a long time, I have to move from time to time, and what’s worse is I can only lessen the pain but not eliminate it at all. I cannot sleep comfortably and often, I only get 5 or less hours of sleep. Similarly, these physical disabilities prevent me from sitting comfortably in class, and thus, makes it more difficult to learn and focus. Unfortunately, I was also diagnosed with ADHD, worsening my situation as a student. I cannot focus at one thing at a time and pay attention to the important things to accomplish. To get through my education, I needed devices, technologies, and additional support which a low-income student like me cannot afford. But instead of being discouraged, my condition makes my passion for learning even stronger. Growing up in the poverty of Tijuana, I never thought that I would reach higher education, eventhough as a child, I knew that education is my key to a better life. Everday, I overcome the pain and challenges brought by my disability by seeking the help of the supportive community in Berkeley, joining groups of disabled students, asking for school assistance to aid my needs, regularly consulting my doctors, taking my medications, and of course, studying harder to complement my shortcomings. Looking back, where I am now seemed to be an impossible feat, and me being here is one of the proudest achievement I had in life. This accomplishment makes me realize that the only limitations in life are the ones we put on us. It is easy to that think my disabilities are not manageble and I cannot succeed in higher education because of them. But my passion and determination proved otherwise. Though I cannot maximize my number of units because of my diabilities, I can say that I’m still closer to my dreams. I am a senior student in UC Berkeley planning to pursue a graduate degree in biology. I want to do research in obesity, cancer, and other chronic diseases, and instead of being part of the problem, I want to be a solution.

In the current times, where we all are overwhelmed by the day-to-day chaotic situation, I consider journaling the best way of clearing my mind. I believe it is one of the best ways of finding a way to express myself. In particular, journaling helps me prioritise my concerns, fears, and problems that eventually lead me to find the best possible solution or alternative to my problems. Whenever I have a problem or am stressed out, keeping a journal helps me recognizing what is causing me anxiety or stress. Once I identify them, I create and work on a plan to control my stress and find the best resolution to my problems. Besides its role in identifying the causes of my anxiety, journaling also makes me aware of my feelings about a difficult situation. It lets me think if I am behaving appropriately. Most importantly, the research also says that people who write about their feelings and emotions tend to have better control over their emotions than those who do not. It is due to the fact that writing about a stressful event or anxiety allows a person to reach out to social support easily, hence, quickly healing from unfavourable situations. One of the most important elements that I always incorporate in my journal is ‘a gratitude list’. After venting down on a paper, I try my best to list down minimum 3-5 things that I have been grateful for. These are usually the small things, like my ability to walk freely, my ability to experience the beauty of nature, feeling sunshine on my face, my laughter with family, and much more. This element does not relieve my anxiety, but also let me think that life is not only about dealing with problems and it also has several things that we could be grateful for. I would like to wrap up my essay by suggesting that a person does not have to think about the rawness of the information written in a journal. This activity is all about openly expressing yourself and letting negativity and worries flow from the mind. So a person does not have to be worried about the spelling errors, the randomness of the words, or any other potential mistakes. It is just you and your paper that is sharing the story. Consider it the best way of venting out your negative and toxic thoughts and freeing your mind from the chains of worries and unexplainable anxiety.

My past has brought me so many struggles that I somehow felt it was going to be endless. Having the ethnicity that constantly faces discrimination, raised by a single mother and grew up in a poverty-stricken community, then diagnosed with a medical condition, all these led to wrong decisions even ending up in incarceration. But with the help of the government, universities, and concerned citizens, I was able to get back on my feet. As I picture my life now, I finally start to see the fruits of my labor. Although it is still far from meeting my lifelong goals, at least I can see that I am steering on the right path. With my passion for science backing me up and the support of concerned individuals, I now have a clear mindset of what I want my entire life to be. I also intend to start a company that will focus on healthcare research and providing healthcare access - healthcare research that will develop solutions to current and new medical issues and healthcare access to those who need it most. So now, I can say that my future looks promising. I am on the right track, leading to my goals, although not entirely challenge-free. I continue to experience health, social, and financial struggles. But I came to realize that it is what life is about; every step is a challenge. The only way to succeed is to make the right choices and responses to every challenge and have a positive outlook on life. Once I reach my future goal, and I sincerely hope I become a success, I intend to make my journey an inspiration for the next underrepresented generation.

It has been my life’s mission to make a significant contribution to the local community or even the world. I believe in the significance of our health, not just in our entire life but in our day-to-day lives and the lives of our loved ones. It is just one of the many reasons why I have this deep dedication to the field of science. This intense passion for science did not just happen overnight; this has been a lifelong passion. Since I was young, my interest has always been in science, from biology to physics. At one point in my life, I succumbed to a medical condition that healthcare professionals did not quite fully understand at the time. The struggle to receive proper medical support has been a challenge; the medical support system was inadequate at the time, and my life status made it even more difficult. I am of a mixed-race heritage that does not belong to the privileged dominant majority; aside from that, a single mother in a poverty-stricken community raised me. This health struggle further gave rise to my desire to pursue a career related to science. It is the goal I am now passionately pursuing. I am currently taking up a bachelor’s degree, majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology, and at the same time, working in a research laboratory at UC Berkeley. Through my molecular biology degree and scientific experiences, I intend to find answers that will somehow minimize the occurrence of these diseases and provide solutions to make the life of those afflicted much more convenient.

I have the vision to achieve stellar results in my future professional and academic career through effective teaching and scientific innovation contributions. In my graduate study, I intend to study human metabolism in the aging population. Metabolic inflexibility is a player in the less physically active age group’s obesity, insulin resistance, and type diabetes prevalence. Nearly 24 percent and 40 percent of Americans 51-year old and over are obese and overweight and obese, respectively. Additionally, type 2 diabetes plagues in rife among the 65-year-olds and above, of whom 25.9 % are type 2 diabetic. My creative faculties have a graduate objective of proposing a remedy to metabolic inflexibility with a specific focus on the aging. Additionally, I look forward to contributing to defeating epidemics like malignancy and SARS infections. I would love to compliment the diverse human resource base of STEM researchers who are already achieving magnificent success in the disciplines. Besides spending considerable effort in a research study, graduate school will ready me for a teaching career as a college career. I would greatly rejoice at the opportunity to inspire intellectualism and academic excellence in budding college learners as a college professor. I believe in the power of knowledge and education, assisting human accomplishment. The joy of lecturing to impart expertise, experience, and education to classroom biologists is a twin objective with biological research for fulfillment. The imparting knowledge approach of Dr. George A. Brooks and the educating inclination of Dr. Jose Pablo Vazquez-Medina have watered my teaching aspiration.

I grew up in poverty. In fact, I never really thought that I could enter college during my early years. I was living with the bare minimum just to survive. But my longing for knowledge was stronger and these hardships didn’t stop me from pursuing higher education. I went to my community college and volunteered in a laboratory that was close to my neighborhood. My financial situation has not improved at this point in my life, but I still made ways to follow my dream. Eventually, I decided to take another leap and continue my education at UC Berkeley. As I move here, I found grants and scholarships that help me get through day by day. They ease my financial burden and enable me to focus more on my studies. Now, I can proudly say that I am doing well in my courses and I hope and plan to continue this until my graduation. I am a low-income, student parent who also deals with a physical and psychological disability. I know I am still far from reaching all my goals but knowing my condition and all the hardships that I went through; I am proud of where I am today. Getting to where I am now is a huge challenge, at least for me. Looking back, I see myself as a financially incapable person who only has his dreams as an advantage. But the opportunities that came along made this journey easier and worthwhile.

My journey is currently in the reduction of the environmental footprint on a personal level. I have always dedicated myself to reducing my waste through avoiding single-use plastics and other unnecessary plastic or packaging materials, recycling as much as I can, continuously conserving water and electricity, using environment-friendly modes of transportation, limiting clothing pieces, and supporting local food products. I admit this journey is quite hard as we are used to everything offered to us in the most convenient ways; plastics everywhere, excessive portions of everything. I believe that reducing our environmental footprint is a huge lifestyle change - difficult but not impossible. Small steps always matter; the accumulation of these small steps can make a difference. If I do not start acting now, it would be too late. So now, I intend to be a part of significant projects and activities that aim to help the environment to a broader extent and then perform research activities that will come up with solutions to the continuous aggravation of our planet.

I'm a proud first-generation college student from a Hispanic family. Being a disabled, system-impacted, bilingual student parent with roots from Tijuana, Mexico I am not a typical student in college. Growing up in Mexico, I faced many challenges and missteps, leading to homelessness and incarceration. As a foster kid, I did not have the privilege of having mentors in my life to guide me in the right direction. I had to figure it all out on my own, and these hardships and struggles are what shaped me into what I am today. My tenacity and persistence helped me overcome those hard times, and now I am a part of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars and Educational Opportunities program at UC Berkeley. Additionally, I have assisted low-income, underrepresented, and disabled students in receiving the resources, accommodation, and other relevant guidance they need to achieve their academic goals. The stereotyping and discrimination make such students feel like an outcast, and seeing the inequality made me realize how I used to be in their position. This encouraged me to help them reach their academic goals and embrace their uniqueness. As an active member of a Latinx community, I volunteered to mentor fellow Chicanx and Latinx students. Currently, I am mentoring students of Hispanic, Black American, and White Descent, respectively. By continuing this legacy I aspire to mentor the students and help them achieving their goals. Since I have an extensive experience in STEM researches, I believe I will be able to help and motivate every mentee like me to grow and show their exceptional interest in STEM. Aside from these, I hope meeting people with significant contributions to the STEM discipline. I believe it will help me and all mentees develop new research ideas and make this world a better place to live.

It has been my life’s mission to make a significant contribution to the local community or even the world. I believe in the significance of our health, not just in our entire life but in our day-to-day lives and the lives of our loved ones. It is just one of the many reasons why I have this deep dedication to the field of science. This intense passion for science did not just happen overnight; this has been a lifelong passion. Since I was young, my interest has always been in science, from biology to physics. At one point in my life, I succumbed to a medical condition that healthcare professionals did not quite fully understand at the time. The struggle to receive proper medical support has been a challenge; the medical support system was inadequate at the time, and my life status made it even more difficult. I am of a mixed-race heritage that does not belong to the privileged dominant majority; aside from that, a single mother in a poverty-stricken community raised me. This health struggle further gave rise to my desire to pursue a career related to science. It is the goal I am now passionately pursuing. I am currently taking up a bachelor’s degree, majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology, and at the same time, working in a research laboratory at UC Berkeley. I am assisting in the research and experiments with the constant goal of discovering new scientific evidence that will ultimately provide helpful solutions to current medical issues, not just of the local community but of the entire world as well. The research and experiments I perform in the laboratory aim to contribute to health issues such as common diseases or even epidemics.

There was a point in my life where I believed I would never make it to higher education. My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. As such, I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction. The tragic loss of two brothers and an absent anonymous parent plunged me to the depths of depression, threat of substance abuse, and a sum of seven-year incarceration sentences. After recovering from depression, I am now suffering from physical and psychological disabilities, chronic neck and back pain and ADHD to be specific. These adversities make my studies several folds harder, but I can proudly say that my determination is stronger. I may be a disabled, system-impacted, low-income earner, but I am also a proud first-generation American, who is also a bilingual student parent. Even as a child in Tijuana, I knew that there was more to life than my current situation, and I knew that an education was my ticket out. My persevering attitude has enabled me to find great academic success, which has led me through to my current status as an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. The difficulties of life that I bounced back from have planted a desire in me to help others in return. At Berkeley, I have taken up a role modeling drive through the Berkeley Hope Scholars and Berkeley Underground Scholars avenues through which I relate with and socially impact former foster youth and formerly incarcerated students, respectively. I have converted my depression into an ability to support and inspire comrades who are experiencing the same.

My view of education as the foundational mean through which the quality of a people’s lives is improved is influenced largely by my childhood and teenage experiences. My Latinx heritage traces its proud origin to the Tijuana neighborhoods of Mexico, where I was born and brought up. The socio-economic placing of my family affected my academic attainment and moral composition. Growing up in such a city with an absent and anonymous father exposed me to the vagaries of substance addiction and depression. A male child would do better with the presence of a father's figure's unconditional love. An abiding and deep caring was part of the daily bread I needed as a child, not to mention my two brothers. My dreams and hopes inherently tucked away in me should have blossomed in a timely fashion. Becoming a juvenile detainee in a foster home and later serving two separate incarceration terms are happenings attributed to my fragile background. A family where a moral model was absent, we lived to find our way through the city’s suburbs the way we thought how. With only a small fraction of their time being spent in school, the academic success of most children from birth to into teenage is influenced significantly by factors outside the school setting. Education as an enduring process requires academic success at the primary level to guarantee the acquisition of further educational chances. My family background could have been pale and disenchanting, but the prospect of neighborhood children of my age group doing well motivated me to want to replicate success. My mother watered my academic desire into sprouting through constant approbation when she discerned it. She may not have achieved it, but she believed in its potency. Otherwise, my early-stage academic attainment that guaranteed my progress to High School and eventually into college would have remained a pipe dream. The educational opportunities afforded by parents of well to do homes in my vicinity had a direct bearing in inflaming my desire. I later came to realize that the better educational chances afforded the children translated not only into better academic attainment but also moral inclination. Students that attended high cadre schools were less involved in morally questionable conduct and were almost simultaneously on the good side of the law. Such students’ learning habits must have benefited from modeling their parents and the educational support provided by the very parents. Therefore, my view of education was shaped by the daily struggles of a home run by a single mother. My Tijuana surroundings shaped my view of the world. Although I was Miller 2 an economically disadvantaged student, I managed to obtain favorable test scores at each academic juncture that ensured my continued climb. My constant company outside my family setting influenced my value judgments. I was apprehensive of the distinction between right and wrong, but I would later descend into the unwanted life of substance addiction. The three incarceration stints I was subjected are evidence of life, not too nobly lived. It was partly a product of beliefs gathered through appeal and curiosity as I traversed the city and entertained wishes. Beliefs that led me into confinements with limited choice year after year over what I would eat, where I would live, and go. From my Mexico roots, I saw the world not as it was, but as I was. Although my belief system was shaped as I grew into adulthood, my view of the world was a good place where only the hard-working few flourished. As a reflection of local culture and society, I wished to do well so that I could influence the wellbeing of my children and additionally contribute to the welfare of the economically disenfranchised. Heirs of financial welfare, cures for diseases, some educational institutions, and poverty alleviating programs have been the overflow of men and women who contribute to society. When I reached adulthood, I began yearning to do this, starting at my mother since charity would do well to commence at home. I wished to use resources within my reach to relieve her of the burden she was bearing. Although I may not have succeeded in my desired timeframe, it was a pointer to my view of the world.

There was a point in my life when I believed I would never make it to higher education. My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. My real father was unknown; the father that I knew as a child was a detached figure, and my mother, as well as all the female members in her family, was sex worker. As such, I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction. The tragic loss of two brothers and an absent anonymous parent plunged me to the depths of depression, the threat of substance abuse, and a sum of seven-year incarceration sentences. The depression did not only harm my mental capabilities but also physically affected me. After recovering from depression, I am now suffering from physical and psychological disabilities, chronic neck and back pain, and ADHD. These adversities make my studies several folds harder, but I can proudly say that my determination is stronger. I may be a disabled, system-impacted, low-income earner, but I am also a proud first-generation American who is also a bilingual student parent. Even as a child in Tijuana, I knew that there was more to life than my current situation, and I knew that an education was my ticket out. My persevering attitude has enabled me to find great academic success, which has led me through to my current status as an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. My entire journey to fight against my depression has taught me that it is always self-determination and a positive attitude toward life that could help an individual to fight against the odds. Despite having minimal resources, socially and economically challenging circumstances, and no family support, I successfully overcame my depression and pursued my academic goals. I believe it was my strong desire to change my fate and the support of my mentor that led me to go through the entire situation and made me stronger to face the realities of life and achieve my goals. If I reflect upon my experience, I would suggest everyone – going through depression and anxiety – never lose hope and keep striving to change the unfavorable situation. Above all, never hesitate of getting help or counseling as there is no shame to consult the counselors and get our mental and psychological conditions cured.

One of the biggest factors that surround my poor eating habits is not to follow a particular routine of having lunch, dinner, and breakfast. In particular, I sometimes get busy in doing my thing that I forget to keep track on my meals that eventually reflect in my mood swings, crankiness, and low energy levels. Though I have planned a lot to follow a specific eating schedule, but I always end up getting failed in it. Therefore, I want to change my irregular eating habits as they are not only affecting me physically but also mentally. In this account, I am planning to make a proper schedule and stick to it. Since, I forget to have my meals - even after preparing a schedule I am going to download the applications that gives reminder of having a sip of water and a bite of food. I believe it would considerably help me in aligning and improving my eating habits. I will maintain this change by weekly evaluating myself if I have take my means on time or not. Besides that, I am also willing to increase my fiber intake that too from natural resources, i.e., fiber enrich fruits, oats, etc. I want to do this because it keeps my gut fit and healthy. I will maintain this change by adding at least one fruit in my diet. I hope these small changes will bring favorable impacts on my physical and mental wellbeing.

PTSD - post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that often results due to a terrifying event. In the current chaotic times, I believe it is very each for an individual to develop PTSD symptoms. Specifically, in the current times of COVID-19 pandemic where everyone is undergoing a mental trauma and fear of losing their loved ones, we all are under the biggest threat of being affected by PTSD. I believe this is the high time to help and support each other, specifically by listening to each other. Most importantly, it is essential to have an understanding towards the particular behaviors - portrayed by the people in our surrounding - without being judgmental and unemphatic. I am writing this in the light of my previous experience where one of my friends suddenly started showing negative reactions towards the normal situations. He once told me that he is having upsetting dreams that keep him awake the whole night. Besides that, he used to show severe physical reactions and emotional distress over the slightly inconvenient situations. We all didn't know that he was going through the toughest of his life situations and he really needs help. Since I was his closest friend, I used to listen to his thoughts that were quite recurring in nature. I still remember that he used to keep repeating the same stuff and reactions to the situations. Above all, he started showing the signs of hopelessness and negative thoughts towards his future. I used to console him by listening to him, directing him towards the positive aspects of life, and by giving him all moral and emotional support. However, with time his family started understanding the situation and took him to therapy session. Though it took long, but he started recovering and returned to the normal life. I believe this experience is going to commendably help me in future in terms of taking prompt actions to save my loved ones, in terms of taking them to therapy at the earliest. Most importantly, I would always ensure that I am being empathic to the ones who are suffering from this mental condition, without being judgmental or unemphatic towards them.

Throughout my life, I have encountered countless adversities, and I could say that the hardest among them was my experiences during my younger years. My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. My real father was unknown, the father that I knew as a child was a detached figure, and my mother, as well as all the female members in her family, were sex workers. As such, I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction. The tragic loss of two brothers and an absent anonymous parent plunged me to the depths of depression, the threat of substance abuse, and a sum of seven-year incarceration sentences. Now, I am suffering from physical and psychological disabilities, chronic neck and back pain, and ADHD to be specific. These adversities make my studies several folds harder, but I can proudly say that my determination is stronger. I may be a disabled, system-impacted, low-income earner, but I am also a proud first-generation American, who is also a bilingual student parent. Even as a child in Tijuana, I knew that there was more to life than my current situation, and I knew that an education was my ticket out. However, after completing high school, I needed to pause my education to attend to my family’s financial needs. I badly wanted to go ahead and enroll in college, but I understood that in life, sacrifices are inevitable. So for years, I worked diligently, and I am proud to say that I was able to provide for my family’s basic needs. However, life doesn’t always turn out how we expect it to be. I was caught in trouble which led to my incarceration. During the time I was behind bars, I was able to reflect on my life and my priorities. Right then and there, I figured I needed to get back on track where I was supposed to be – pursuing my education. So right after being released, I went to my community college and volunteered in a laboratory that was close to my neighborhood. My financial situation has not improved at this point in my life, but I still made ways to follow my dream. Eventually, I decided to take another leap and continue my education at the University of California, Berkeley. As I move here, I found grants and scholarships that help me get through day by day. They ease my financial burden and enable me to focus more on my studies. Now, I can proudly say that I am doing well in my courses and I hope and plan to continue this until my graduation. I am a low-income, student parent who also deals with a physical and psychological disability. I know I am still far from reaching all my goals but knowing all the hardships that I went through; I am proud of where I am today. Now, I am more confident to communicate and go out in the crowd because I know that even a person like me who grew up in poverty and experienced most adversities that one could think of, still made it through UC Berkeley and is capable of doing scientific research works. Having gone to where I am now is a feat that I am really proud of. Personally, I consider myself a living testament that through passion, hard work, and perseverance, one can reach their goal regardless of gender, race, economic situation, and disability.

My personal advocacy in life is to spread awareness and acceptance of racial equality. I was born in Tijuana, Mexico, grew up in poverty, and upon entry to the U.S., experienced the same challenges that other racial groups face too. So when I was given a chance to manage our store, I decided to give the minorities even a small advantage by making them our store's priority. I found this experience really fulfilling, and from then on, I always make sure to assist other people who are having life difficulties because of their race. I am happy to be part of UC Berkeley because I can see that it values diversity the same way as I do. I am so glad to see people of different colors and races in my classes, and it inspires me even more to continue my advocacy. I know that racism is a grave issue in the U.S., but Cal makes me believe that we are steps closer to our goal. We may be taking small steps, but for me, small steps matter. However, despite the general stand of the University towards diversity, I can personally attest that racism still lives. There is this one lab that I used to work on, and just recently, one of our friends sent an email about early resignation because of how she was treated in the lab. She is an Italian, and I know how important her studies are to her. But racism was even stronger that she needed to pause just to save herself from the mental and emotional torture. Throughout my life, I've been chasing opportunities because they were not readily available for me. The story I shared saddens me because I know that just like me, she worked really hard to get where she is now, and just because of her race, she has to give it all up. These observations, personal experiences, and insights further strengthen my desire to touch people's lives, especially non-whites. As a NavCal student guide, I always introduce the concept and importance of diversity to new students. I always inform them that if they need anything to talk about or have any issues regarding the matter, they can always reach out to me. Lastly, my future goal is to be a researcher in my own laboratory or company. When that happens, I will value every person and make them feel significant. No single race can monopolize knowledge and skills, anyway. Everyone, regardless of race, hopes to impact and advance our understanding of science and the world. I'd also want to be an educator, hoping to teach youths about biology, life, and how they can make an impact. As a researcher and educator, I can support and continue UC Berkeley's stand for diversity.

Going through hard times and challenges at an early age without having access to basic necessities, we automatically develop deep respect and appreciation for life. The same thing has happened to me; I have taken all the challenges as life lessons that have shaped me into what I am today. I come from a pretty different background with roots in Tijuana, Mexico. Growing up in a socially toxic environment led me to some of my life's major mistakes, which helped me learn the greatest life lessons that I wouldn't have received any other way. My upbringing in Tijuana was rife with social and economic challenges, and I knew that a good education was my ticket out. Therefore, I believe that post-secondary education will help me achieving my dream – i.e., getting PhD degree, identifying cure to lethal and incurable diseases, and making this world a better place to live.

One my favorite books is '7 habits of highly effective people' that was penned down by Stephen Covey. I like this book because it discusses a principle-centered approach to both - interpersonal and personal effectiveness. Instead of focusing on bringing change to the outward manifestations of one's attitudes and behaviors, the author of the book has emphasized on adapting personal inner motives, character, and core values. These aspects aligns with my personal views as I also believe in altering my core instead of expecting the external world to change or adjust for me. In short, adaptation to the external situation, being principle-centered, organizing life as per the core values, self-awareness, and consciousness and independent will are the prime factors that have been highlighted in the book and truly aligns with my thinking patterns. Another prominent thing that made this book my favorite one was that the author instructs its readers to understand others instead of having the feeling to be understood. I believe it is the true essence of leading a successful and peaceful life as we often tire ourselves by having an expectation of being understood by others. This does not only result in leading a person towards developing negative emotions, but also ruins the relationships. Instead of this, it is more favorable to understand others and show empathy towards their feelings, perceptions, and opinions. These are few of the lessons that I took from this book and due to these lessons I regard this to be one of my favorite books.

One of the most prominent things that I do to improve the lives of elderly people in my community is to visit them and engage with them. I believe, listening to their feelings and emotions and lending them an ear is the best way of allowing them to feel good. It is so common among the elderly citizens that they start showing the sign of depression and hopelessness (mainly due to their limited participation in the professional or academic activities). Therefore, for this purpose I tend to engage them in different activities - like talk to them and ask for their suggestions. I believe this activity create a sense of purpose among elderly and make them feel valued. These are few of the activities that are carry out to improve the lives of elderly people in my community.

My short-term plans are to complete my undergraduate degree and be admitted to a Ph.D. program in genetics and molecular biology. I would spend 3 to 4 years to achieve these goals, and shortly after, my next goal is to enter academia as a professor. As a professor, I can bring change to youths who are challenged in completing their higher education. As a professor, I do not want to limit my lessons to the subject area I am teaching. I would also make sure to share life lessons that would encourage the students to work harder despite the challenges. As a Latinx myself, I would let the minorities feel that they are important, they belong, they deserve where they are, and they are capable. If my financial situation permits, I hope to provide grants and scholarships to minority and disable students because I personally understand how difficult their situation is. Finally, I am planning to start a company involved in healthcare research, and if this initiative succeeds, I would aid in the distribution of healthcare supplies and medicine to people who lack the resources but need health care the most. I want to be involved in healthcare research to develop cures for life-threatening diseases. This long-standing goal could help in alleviating health-related challenges in the poorest households in the world. It has been my life’s mission to make a significant contribution to the local community or even the world. I believe in the significance of our health, not just in our entire life but in our day-to-day lives and the lives of our loved ones. It is just one of the many reasons why I have this deep dedication to the field of science. This intense passion for science did not just happen overnight; this has been a lifelong passion. Since I was young, my interest has always been in science, from biology to physics. At one point in my life, I succumbed to a medical condition that healthcare professionals did not quite fully understand at the time. The struggle to receive proper medical support has been a challenge; the medical support system was inadequate at the time, and my life status made it even more difficult. I am of a mixed-race heritage that does not belong to the privileged dominant majority; aside from that, a single mother in a poverty-stricken community raised me. This health struggle further gave rise to my desire to pursue a career related to science.

Parents - both mother and father - are considered to be the main pillars of one's life. I lost one pillar in my childhood. In simple words, My real father was unknown, the father that I knew as a child was a detached figure, and my mother, as well as all the female members in her family, were sex workers. As such, I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction absent anonymous parent plunged me to the depths of depression, threat of substance abuse, and a sum of seven-year incarceration sentences. After recovering from depression, I am now suffering from physical and psychological disabilities, chronic neck and back pain and ADHD to be specific. These adversities make my studies several folds harder, but I can proudly say that my determination is stronger. I may be a disabled, system-impacted, low-income earner, but I am also a proud first-generation American, who is also a bilingual student parent. Even as a child in Tijuana, I knew that there was more to life than my current situation, and I knew that an education was my ticket out. My persevering attitude has enabled me to find great academic success, which has led me through to my current status as an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. In a nutshell, one thing that I have understood from the loss of one of my parent is that the world is too harsh to live in and the only thing that could help a person is persistence, self-reliance, and positive outlook towards the better days.

Going through hard times and challenges at an early age without having access to basic necessities, we automatically develop deep respect and appreciation for life. The same thing has happened to me; I have taken all the challenges as life lessons that have shaped me into what I am today. I come from a pretty different background with roots in Tijuana, Mexico. Growing up in a socially toxic environment led me to some of my life's major mistakes, which helped me learn the greatest life lessons that I wouldn't have received any other way. Being a disabled, system impacted, bilingual student parent comes with a lot of discrimination and limited opportunities both academically and professionally. I didn't let these things define me; I successfully achieved numerous milestones and became a proud first-generation college student from a Hispanic family. My determination and strong skillset helped me achieve a scholarship at UC Berkeley. Currently, I mentor low-income, disabled, formerly incarcerated, and immigrant students to achieve academic excellence and cope with social-economic difficulties. Throughout my life, I have explored various profundities of biological life in my quest for searching a treatment to save human life. I have worked in various laboratories and offered major contributions to STEM-based researches, one of which focused on finding a treatment for prostate cancer. My major goal in life is to find a cancer cure or at least be a part of this great cause. My work experience at these research labs has helped me gain a practical understanding of the biology principles and how to apply them in real life. With the ongoing pandemic, my motivation has further increased to fight against future epidemics and other health conditions. My education – in the field of biological sciences – has not only broadened my knowledge horizon but has also changed my understanding towards the world. Now, I see the illnesses as a threat to the mankind and new medical inventions as the shield that could protect precious lives from miserable conditions. Considering this, I aspire to give my maximum contributions to the mankind by developing new cures and treatments and make this world a better place to live.

Substance use disorder is regarded as a medical illness that is regarded as the clinically significant impairment in social function, health, and voluntary control over the use of drugs. I have observed that substance use disorders ranges in complexity, duration, and severity - i.e., from mild to severe. As mentioned above, 93000+ Americans died from the overdoses of drugs that signify the severity and seriousness of the issue. I believe, these circumstances call for robust strategies - both of social and governmental level. Individually, I aspire to bring positive impact on the world through educating individuals about the harsh side of substance use disorder. In this account, I plan to use the power of social media - i.e., by posting informative and education content on my profile as well as in the relevant groups of teenagers as they are more prone to this filthy habit. In terms of helping the individuals to recover from substance use disorder I aspire to voluntarily work in the rehabilitation centers. I assume that the initiative would help me extending a helping hand to the sufferers and allow them recovering from this dangerous disease that do not only harm the physical health of the person, but also his/her mental capabilities.

I can personally attest to all of the beliefs held by Frederick Douglass . Throughout my life, I’ve experienced challenges brought by my ethnicity, disability, and the poverty that I was predisposed to. I have faced countless adversities in life which should have discouraged me from pursuing education and a better life. However, my hard work and goals are stronger. I am a student parent with a physical and psychological disability yet my determination to complete undergraduate and graduate degrees still pushes me forward. Unlike other students, I don’t have a family to support my educational needs, so I need to rely on scholarships, grants, and internship opportunities that are available to me. The most important social justice causes for me are racial injustices and gaps in healthcare access. My personal advocacy in life is to spread awareness and acceptance of racial equality. My personal advocacy in life is to spread awareness and acceptance of racial equality. I was born in Tijuana, Mexico, grew up in poverty, and upon entry to the U.S., experienced the same challenges that other racial groups face too. So when I was given a chance to manage our store, I decided to give the minorities even a small advantage by making them our store's priority. I found this experience really fulfilling, and from then on, I always make sure to assist other people who are having life difficulties because of their race. For me, no race is superior to others, and skin color, language, culture, or any other differences is no reason to promote injustices and inequalities.

I grew up in poverty. In fact, I never really thought that I could enter college during my early years.I was living with the bare minimum just to survive. But my longing for knowledge was stronger and these hardships didn’t stop me from pursuing higher education. I went to my community college and volunteered in a laboratory that was close to my neighborhood. My financial situation has not improved at this point of my life, but I still made ways to follow my dream. Eventually, I decided to take another leap and continue my education at UC Berkeley. As I move here, I found grants and scholarships that help me get through day by day. They ease my financial burden and enable me to focus more on my studies. Now, I can proudly say that I am doing well in my courses and I hope and plan to continue this until my graduation. I am a low-income, student parent who also deals with a physical and psychological disability. I know I am still far from reaching all my goals but knowing my condition and all the hardships that I went through; I am proud of where I am today. I would also make sure to share life lessons that would encourage the students to work harder despite the challenges. As a Latinx myself, I would let the minorities feel that they are important, they belong, they deserve where they are, and they are capable. If my financial situation permits, I hope to provide grants and scholarships to minority and disable students because I personally understand how difficult their situation is.

My personal advocacy in life is to spread awareness and acceptance of racial equality. I was born in Tijuana, Mexico, grew up in poverty, and upon entry to the U.S., experienced the same challenges that other racial groups face too. So when I was given a chance to manage our store, I decided to give the minorities even a small advantage by making them our store's priority. I found this experience really fulfilling, and from then on, I always make sure to assist other people who are having life difficulties because of their race. For me, no race is superior to others, and skin color, language, culture, or any other differences is no reason to promote injustices and inequalities. I can personally attest that racism still lives. There is this one lab that I used to work on, and just recently, one of our friends sent an email about early resignation because of how she was treated in the lab. She is Italian, and I know how important her studies are to her. But racism was even stronger that she needed to pause just to save herself from the mental and emotional torture. Throughout my life, I've been chasing opportunities because they were not readily available for me. The story I shared saddens me because I know that just like me, she worked really hard to get where she is now, and just because of her race, she has to give it all up. These observations, personal experiences, and insights further strengthen my desire to touch people's lives, especially non-whites.

Scholarships help balance the playing field by providing opportunities to students who cannot support their own education. It may look small compared to the gigantic cost of education, but the domino effect that it starts still helps disrupt the status quo, the existing privileges, and the social hierarchy. This, in turn, stops discrimination among the less privelege, and somehow helps rebuild the communities throughout the country. Scholarships like Denny’s give opportunities to the less fortunate, they allow dreams that seemed impossible to become a reality. I am a living testament of all that has been said. I grew up in poverty. In fact, I never really thought that I could enter college during my early years.I was living with the bare minimum just to survive. But my longing for knowledge was stronger and these hardships didn’t stop me from pursuing higher education. I went to my community college and volunteered in a laboratory that was close to my neighborhood. My financial situation has not improved at this point of my life, but I still made ways to follow my dream. Eventually, I decided to take another leap and continue my education at UC Berkeley. As I move here, I found grants and scholarships that help me get through day by day. They ease my financial burden and enable me to focus more on my studies. Now, I can proudly say that I am doing well in my courses and I hope and plan to continue this until my graduation. I am a low-income, student parent who also deals with a physical and psychological disability. I know I am still far from reaching all my goals but knowing all the hardships that I went through; I am proud of where I am today and it’s all because of scholarships like Denny’s. Now, I am more confident to communicate and go out in the crowd because I know that even a person like me who grew up in poverty and experienced most adversities that one could think of, still made it through UC Berkeley and is capable of doing scientific research works.

here was a point in my life where I believed I would never make it to higher education. My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. My real father was unknown, the father that I knew as a child was a detached figure, and my mother, as well as all the female members in her family, were sex workers. As such, I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction. The tragic loss of two brothers and an absent anonymous parent plunged me to the depths of depression, threat of substance abuse, and a sum of seven-year incarceration sentences. After recovering from depression, I am now suffering from physical and psychological disabilities, chronic neck and back pain and ADHD to be specific. These adversities make my studies several folds harder, but I can proudly say that my determination is stronger. I may be a disabled, system-impacted, low-income earner, but I am also a proud first-generation American, who is also a bilingual student parent. Even as a child in Tijuana, I knew that there was more to life than my current situation, and I knew that an education was my ticket out. My persevering attitude has enabled me to find great academic success, which has led me through to my current status as an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. However, I cannot say that this success is mine alone. I am what I am because of the roles of ladies and gentlemen who motivated and helped my recovery. The difficulties of life that I bounced back from have planted a desire in me to help others in return.

My favorite piece of art was a banner, showing a skin care product. I am keenly interested in designing and promoting brands that compelled me to develop the piece of art that I am also attaching with my application.

After completing my GED, I started managing my family’s small grocery store in the City of Orange. At that time, I hadn't entered college yet and I was using my self-learned management and interpersonal skills to keep the business going. As the general manager, I made a decision to lead a multicultural team that comprises mostly of Latinx. From that time until now, I know how difficult it is to navigate and survive in the United States if you are branded as a “minority.” As the saying goes, we have to work twice as hard to earn half of what others are earning. I experienced just the same, and having the opportunity to make a change, I made sure to provide our team with the salary and benefits that they deserve. I believe this approach also motivated our staff which brought great success to our store. Unfortunately, life turned out unexpectedly, I was incarcerated, and our business was left without management. When I left the prison, I found out that our store eventually closed while I was away. It was a sad story but I know that the change that I made would remain not just with me but also with the people whose lives I touched. For me, community is not formed on the basis of geographic location or any common traits and characteristics. For me, community is a social unit where people freely interact with one another, express their thoughts, and share their needs and support. A community may be formed by people with different religions, affiliations, personalities, occupation, and all simply because they can connect and empathize with each other, and that is what an active member of a community means to me. To share an example, I once managed a family business where I led a multicultural team composed mostly of minorities. While most of them are Latinx like me, we also had people from other races and ethnicities. As a team, we came from different geographical places and followed different cultures and traditions. Despite that, we were still able to make the business a success because we worked as a community and all of us played an active role. . I believe this approach also motivated our staff which brought great success to our store. Unfortunately, life turned out unexpectedly, I was incarcerated, and our business was left without management. When I went out of the prison, I found out that our store eventually closed while I was away. It was a sad story but I know that the change that I made would remain not just with me but also with the people whose lives I touched.

There was a point in my life where I believed I would never make it to higher education. My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. My real father was unknown, the father that I knew as a child was a detached figure, and my mother, as well as all the female members in her family, were sex workers. As such, I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction. The tragic loss of two brothers and an absent anonymous parent plunged me to the depths of depression, threat of substance abuse, and a sum of seven-year incarceration sentences. After recovering from depression, I am now suffering from physical and psychological disabilities, chronic neck and back pain and ADHD to be specific. These adversities make my studies several folds harder, but I can proudly say that my determination is stronger. I may be a disabled, system-impacted, low-income earner, but I am also a proud first-generation American, who is also a bilingual student parent. Even as a child in Tijuana, I knew that there was more to life than my current situation, and I knew that an education was my ticket out. My persevering attitude has enabled me to find great academic success, which has led me through to my current status as an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. However, I cannot say that this success is mine alone. I am what I am because of the roles of ladies and gentlemen who motivated and helped my recovery. The difficulties of life that I bounced back from have planted a desire in me to help others in return. At Berkeley, I have taken up a role modeling drive through the Berkeley Hope Scholars and Berkeley Underground Scholars avenues through which I relate with and socially impact former foster youth and formerly incarcerated students, respectively. I have converted my depression into an ability to support and inspire comrades who are experiencing the same. As I labor towards an accredited college professor and biological researcher, I aspire to contribute to the field of human biology with an informed and creative predisposition to solve not just physical diseases, but also to improve mental health outcomes. My short-term plans are to complete my undergraduate degree and be admitted to a Ph.D. program in genetics and molecular biology. I would spend 3 to 4 years to achieve these goals, and shortly after, my next goal is to enter academia as a professor. As a professor, I can bring change to youths who are challenged in completing their higher education. As a professor, I do not want to limit my lessons to the subject area I am teaching. I would also make sure to share life lessons that would encourage the students to work harder despite the challenges. As someone who experienced depression and other adversities myself, I would let every student feel that they are important, they belong, they deserve where they are, and they are capable. If my financial situation permits, I hope to provide grants and scholarships to challenged students because I personally understand how difficult their situation is. I want to be involved in healthcare research to develop cures for life-threatening diseases and the ever-increasing cases of mental illnesses. This long-standing goal could help in alleviating physical and mental health-related challenges in the poorest households in the world.

I am a first-generation, disabled, low-income, system-impacted, re-entry, bilingual, and student parent. Additionally, I am a former foster youth, formerly incarcerated, and formerly homeless individual. But my challenge-decimating perseverance and tenacity have seen me through to my current status as a senior student of the UC Berkeley. By Spring 2023,I am scheduled to graduate with a BA in Molecular and Cell Biology. My educational and professional plans and career goals stem from a long-standing interest in the STEM disciplines. Science subjects had been my stimulants from back to elementary school. While I was young, I had thankfully been vibrant and healthy. That augured well for the budgetary economics of our economically challenged single-parent-led house. Health care was never our budgetary thought. So, I never fell ill. However, in high school, my unusual body temperatures, a persistent headache, vomiting, and muscle pains that ebbed away after a temporary admission at our high school clinic were my turning point. How I was diagnosed and treated to prompt recovery would motivate me to settle upon bios logos as my future professional path. My preparatoria (10th grade) biology class lesson would later help me interpret the symptoms and the medications I received to recover from the malaria that I was diagnosed with. From then on, I have nursed an aspiration to contribute to health sciences from a professional qualification standpoint. I have the vision to achieve stellar results in my future professional and academic career through effective teaching and scientific innovation contributions. In my graduate study, I intend to study human metabolism in the aging population. Metabolic inflexibility is a player in the less physically active age group’s obesity, insulin resistance, and type diabetes prevalence. Nearly 24 percent and 40 percent of Americans 51-year-old and over are obese and overweight and obese, respectively. Additionally, type 2 diabetes plagues in rife among the 65-year-olds and above, of whom 25.9 % are type 2 diabetic. My creative faculties have a graduate objective of proposing a remedy to metabolic inflexibility with a specific focus on aging. Additionally, I look forward to contributing to defeating epidemics like malignancy and SARS infections. I would love to compliment the diverse human resource base of STEM researchers who are already achieving magnificent success in the disciplines. Besides spending considerable effort in a research study, graduate school will ready me for a teaching career as a college professor. I would greatly rejoice at the opportunity to inspire intellectualism and academic excellence in budding college learners. I believe in the power of knowledge and education, assisting human accomplishment. I look forward to imparting expertise, experience, and education inside classrooms filled with passionate students.

Like everyone, I also have few things that acts as a fuel and boost my energy level. Among others, I feel highly energized when I am with my friends and family members. When I am with my friends and family members, laughter fits and sharing of thoughts truly boost my energy level and prepares me to fight against all odds and hurdles in life. Besides, I love going on hiking, long drive, and sightseeing. Getting close to nature and spending time along and reflecting on life are some of the other things that fuel my life and leave me energized.

I am Marvin Miller, a Molecular and Cell Biology Major at the University of California, Berkeley. I am a first-generation, disabled, low-income, system-impacted, re-entry, bilingual, and a student parent. In addition to that, I am a former foster youth, formerly incarcerated, and homeless individual. My challenge-decimating perseverance and tenacity have seen me through to my current status as a part of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars and Educational Opportunities program at UC Berkeley. I am due to graduate from UC Berkeley, studying Cell and Developmental Biology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the undergrad level. I have faced countless adversities in life which should have discouraged me from pursuing education and a better life. However, my hard work and goals are more substantial. I am a student parent with a physical and psychological disability, yet my determination to complete undergraduate and graduate degrees pushes me forward. Unlike other students, I don’t have a family to support my educational needs, so I need to rely on scholarships, grants, and internship opportunities available to me. There was a point in my life when I believed I would never make it to higher education. My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction. This adversity, however, does not define who I am today. I still overcome the daily struggles to find success in life, but I’ve managed to find success through my challenges. Therefore, I would say my positive attitude in challenging times and strong determination to overcome the hurdles are the core characteristics that will help me in my life journey. In my perspective, life is a constant struggle, and one has to fight against the odds. In this situation, the characteristic of having a positive attitude and determination to overcome all challenges leads an individual to lead a prosperous life. Likewise, I believe that these characteristics would also help me make this life a fruitful journey. All in all, my optimising and willpower to fight against the odds are my most valuable characteristics that will surely help me throughout the life.

I believe, speaking your mind is one of the important elements of standing up for yourself, for a specific cause, or for the entire world. However, it requires an individual to stay calm and respectful towards others instead of harshly putting their thoughts. Therefore, I do the same by maintaining an assertive yet a calm tone while speaking my mind. I am a keen believer that being loud or overbearing is not going to make people agree on anything. Therefore, I ensure politely sharing my thoughts, while being open to criticism and suggestions since it is insane to think that everyone will agree with my opinion/thoughts. These strategies help me speaking my mind, without getting into any kind of conflict.

The current disruptive times demand everyone to be a source of encouragement and helpful towards others. This does not only help others to excel in their lives, but also positively impacts their overall well-being. I am a huge supporter of helping others and making a positive contribution to other's lives. Therefor, I always strive to take such steps that could encourage people around me and help them grow, personally as well as in their career. To do this, I always ensure to lend my ear to listen to their ideas, boost their morale to execute their plans, and assuring them that they always have my support. While doing this, I do not hesitate to give suggestions and exercising positive criticism. Above all, I always celebrate the wins and success of the people around me. Such activities do not only help me encouraging the people around me, but also allow me to develop and strengthen long-lasting relationships.

I am a first-generation, disabled, low-income, system-impacted, re-entry, bilingual, and student parent. Additionally, I am a former foster youth, formerly incarcerated, and formerly homeless individual. Unlike other students, I don’t have a family to support my educational needs, so I need to rely on scholarships, grants, and internship opportunities that are available to me. I was lucky to have gotten this far with the help of people and organizations. The major thing that I have achieved from my bucket list is to get my undergraduate degree that is due by the mid of this year. Another thing that is in my bucket list is to complete my PhD, which is never possible without the help of the scholarships and funding programs. I believe this scholarship would help me achieving one of the greatest dreams of my life.

The term, 'confidence' means being sure of myself and my abilities. I am working on being more confident by upskilling myself, specifically by learning new skills, helping others, and striving to bring a positive change in the society. Making a positive impact in the world, through my skills and capabilities is the prominent thing that boosts my confidence.

I believe, empathy is an ability of understanding and sharing the emotions of others. To ensure that I am treating people with empathy I always put myself in the shoes of others. This approach helps me understanding the situation and emotions that another person is going through at the specific time.

In the current contemporary world, that is driven by materialistic wins and a constant urge of being competitive it is too normal to get overwhelmed and stressed. This feeling of being overwhelmed does not only impact the mental health of an individual but it also brings negative affects on ones' physical health. Therefore, I always ensure protecting my mental health by taking care of myself. In this account, I spend time outside and immersing myself in nature. In particular, I get myself involved in beach sports, hiking, biking, long drives, and sightseeing. Besides, once in a month I also travel across the country, visit friends, and spoil my outdoorsy self. Engaging with my friends and sticking to the nature are the two core activities that I do to relax myself and to take care of my mental health.

In my perspective, dogs are the absolute source of joy and a good companionship that do not only helps an individual in fighting against their loneliness. Dogs have greatly impacted my life, specifically during COVID. More specifically, my dog helped me fighting against the anxiety and stress that we all experienced while staying at home. I have found them the best companion and truly a blessing from God!

I apply creativity in my life by ensuring continuously learning new and creative things. It helps me keep evolving on a personal level, while allowing me to spreading goodness and novelty in my surrounding as well.

I believe, recovery is all about realizing what a person was doing wrong while consuming the drugs. It is more like realizing and rectifying the mistakes.

There was a point in my life where I believed I would never make it to higher education. My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. My real father was unknown, the father that I knew as a child was a detached figure, and my mother, as well as all the female members in her family, were sex workers. As such, I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction. The tragic loss of two brothers and an absent anonymous parent plunged me to the depths of depression, threat of substance abuse, and a sum of seven-year incarceration sentences. After recovering from depression, I am now suffering from physical and psychological disabilities, chronic neck and back pain and ADHD to be specific. These adversities make my studies several folds harder, but I can proudly say that my determination is stronger. I may be a disabled, system-impacted, low-income earner, but I am also a proud first-generation American, who is also a bilingual student parent. Even as a child in Tijuana, I knew that there was more to life than my current situation, and I knew that an education was my ticket out. My persevering attitude has enabled me to find great academic success, which has led me through to my current status as an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley.

I am passionate about anything related to science, and the environment is no exception. As I have mentioned earlier, nature has been my go-to comfort zone. I am amazed by the beauty of nature and the benefits it provides humankind. The rampant destruction of the environment is such a devastating issue for me. What is worse is that the cause of its destruction is us, humans. If I may take the question literally, nature-hopping has always been part of my list of leisure activities. I am into outdoor recreation activities; the reason why I usually go on several trips to the beach, canyon, and other nature-scenic places near me. I also take long trips to visit other states and the wonderful nature they offer. You can still call me a novice in visiting locations that our mother nature offers, but I am not limiting myself within our borders. I hope I get a chance to travel to more states and even to various countries and marvel at their scenic magnificence. On another aspect, my environmental journey is not as vast as the others, but seeing the rampant destruction of nature by irresponsible humans triggered a desire to help our mother nature. Every time I visit the outdoors, I won’t deny seeing the environmental impacts due to our constant disregard for the entire ecosystem. I feel the drastic climate change, and I see the threats to biodiversity; most of us may not feel it yet, but some of us and some parts of the world are experiencing the negative impacts on food availability and energy production. Being passionate about the scientific field of genetics, I can also say that the effects on our environment affect not just our health but even our genetics.

Just like everyone else, I, too, have dreams for my future. With the help of my past and my present, I can finally picture myself in a positive light and imagine what I want to be or what I want to achieve in the future; may it be a few months from now or as far as several years ahead. My past led me to believe that I was not worthy of a great future; I thought that life would be constantly tough, that I would continue to struggle socially and financially, or that I would not get the chance to access higher education. But my present experiences taught me that with hard work and perseverance, the direction of the wind truly changes; I can steer my life in the right direction and attain a better fate. My past has brought me so many struggles that I somehow felt it was going to be endless. Having the ethnicity that constantly faces discrimination, raised by a single mother and grew up in a poverty-stricken community, then diagnosed with a medical condition, all these led to wrong decisions even ending up in incarceration. But with the help of the government, universities, and concerned citizens, I was able to get back on my feet. As I picture my life now, I finally start to see the fruits of my labor. Although it is still far from meeting my lifelong goals, at least I can see that I am steering on the right path. With my passion for science backing me up and the support of concerned individuals, I now have a clear mindset of what I want my entire life to be. Pursuing a degree and volunteering for work related to my passion are stepping stones to reaching my goals.

My short-term plans are to complete my undergraduate degree and be admitted to a Ph.D. program in genetics and molecular biology. I would spend 3 to 4 years to achieve these goals, and shortly after, my next goal is to enter academia as a professor. As a professor, I can bring change to youths who are challenged in completing their higher education. As a professor, I do not want to limit my lessons to the subject area I am teaching. I would also make sure to share life lessons that would encourage the students to work harder despite the challenges. As a Latinx myself, I would let the minorities feel that they are important, they belong, they deserve where they are, and they are capable. If my financial situation permits, I hope to provide grants and scholarships to minority and disable students because I personally understand how difficult their situation is. Finally, I am planning to start a company involved in healthcare research, and if this initiative succeeds, I would aid in the distribution of healthcare supplies and medicine to people who lack the resources but need health care the most. I want to be involved in healthcare research to develop cures for life-threatening diseases. This long-standing goal could help in alleviating health-related challenges in the poorest households in the world.

Having experienced the positive impact that it made on my life, my bigger commitment is to extend this achievement to others. I want other people, especially those who are disadvantaged as I am, to pursue their passions and dreams and not let their circumstances define what they can become. As a tutor and volunteer, I always encourage other students to thrive harder and never put a limit on themselves. I tell them the story of my life and show them that standing from where I was before, there seemed no way to move forward. But I still made it here. And so they can too. I always tell students, and even friends and family, that there are aspects of life that we cannot choose for ourselves, such as our gender and race. However, the way we would accept and react to that would be ultimately ours, and acknowledging our control over our actions and decisions is the first step of making a change. Besides, they wouldn't be alone in this journey because many people are going through the same. Several organizations, communities, and groups are willing to extend a helping hand too.

I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction. But my longing for knowledge was stronger and these hardships didn’t stop me from pursuing higher education. I went to my community college and volunteered in a laboratory that was close to my neighbourhood. From there, I met someone who happened to be my lab advisor. As time went on, our friendship grew until we got to know each other’s life stories. Both of us were overwhelmed with what we have gone through. Surprisingly, life turned him to be my life advisor, too. He never failed to motivate me because he says that he believes in me. One of the best pieces of advice that he has told me was “If I believe it, I can achieve it”. He did not know but these words of him created a big and irreplaceable impact on me. I have used it as a weapon whenever challenges come along my way to bring me down, and it never fails to win me in every battle. However, it doesn't mean that I am going to stop there. Having experienced the positive impact that it made on my life, my bigger commitment is to extend this achievement to others. I want other people, especially those who are disadvantaged as I am, to pursue their passions and dreams and not let their circumstances define what they can become.

There was a point in my life where I believed I would never make it to higher education. My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction. Even as a child in Tijuana, I knew that there was more to life than my current situation, and I knew that an education was my ticket out. My persevering attitude has enabled me to find great academic success, leading me to my current status as an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. Now, as I approach the end of my Bachelor's program in molecular biology, I am preparing for the next step in my enlightening academic journey; to be admitted to a graduate school and advance my knowledge in this field. Having gone to where I am now is a feat that I am really proud of. By being here, I become part of the growing number of people who wish to make a difference, to advance themselves despite the expectations, norms, and circumstances against them. Personally, I consider myself a living testament that through passion, hard work, and perseverance, one can reach their goals regardless of gender, race, economic situation, and disability. That, I believe, is my proudest contribution to the academic community. However, it doesn't mean that I am going to stop there. Having experienced the positive impact that it made on my life, my bigger commitment is to extend this achievement to others. I want other people, especially those who are disadvantaged as I am, to pursue their passions and dreams and not let their circumstances define what they can become. As a tutor and volunteer, I always encourage other students to thrive harder and never put a limit on themselves. I tell them the story of my life and show them that standing from where I was before, there seemed no way to move forward. But I still made it here. And so they can too. I always tell students, and even friends and family, that there are aspects of life that we cannot choose for ourselves, such as our gender and race. However, the way we would accept and react to that would be ultimately ours, and acknowledging our control over our actions and decisions is the first step of making a change. Besides, they wouldn't be alone in this journey because many people are going through the same. Several organizations, communities, and groups are willing to extend a helping hand too. I consider myself fortunate to be part of UC Berkeley's supportive community. Being here was an impossible thing before I started taking the small steps that take me here. UC Berkeley helped me build my confidence, and in return, I am doing that same thing to younger students on campus. In time, I hope that this wouldn't be needed anymore because minorities, women, and the disabled are equally capable and accepted, not just in education but also in other aspects of life. I hope education would be readily available for everyone, and students would need not drown in loans, anxieties, and uncertainties just to achieve their dream education. I know that these aspirations are still far from reality, but just like how higher education was impossible to me when I was a child, I firmly believe that these visions are all possible too.

I am a first-generation, disabled, low-income, system-impacted, re-entry, bilingual, and student parent. Additionally, I am a former foster youth, formerly incarcerated, and formerly homeless individual. The scholarships that I receive from the school, I use them to get by day by day and to support the needs of my children. I needed to have my children under childcare. Aside from that, my daughter needed an urgent medical attention which is impossible for our family to pay considering our current socioeconomic status.

There was a point in my life where I believed I would never make it to higher education. My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. My real father was unknown, the father that I knew as a child was a detached figure, and my mother, as well as all the female members in her family, were sex workers. As such, I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in my life guiding me in the right direction. The tragic loss of two brothers and an absent anonymous parent plunged me to the depths of depression, threat of substance abuse, and a sum of seven-year incarceration sentences. After recovering from depression, I am now suffering from physical and psychological disabilities, chronic neck and back pain and ADHD to be specific. These adversities make my studies several folds harder, but I can proudly say that my determination is stronger. I may be a disabled, system-impacted, low-income earner, but I am also a proud first-generation American, who is also a bilingual student parent. Even as a child in Tijuana, I knew that there was more to life than my current situation, and I knew that an education was my ticket out. My persevering attitude has enabled me to find great academic success, which has led me through to my current status as an undergraduate student and part of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars and Educational Opportunities programs at UC Berkeley. I am scheduled to graduate from the University having studied Cell and Developmental Biology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology. My volunteer experiences provide me with solid footing in research, which includes an oncology research study with Dr. Xiaolin Zi where I participated in the investigation for anti-cancer properties of Gartanin in prostate cancer therapy. Through this experience, I gained not only comprehensive insight into modern-day cancer therapy approaches but the knowledge that potential remedies to human epidemics were within arm’s reach of scientific inquiry. Another study with the University of Fairbanks on the role of spongy moss and lichen on soil moisture equipped me with data analysis and critical analysis skills that are imperative for my current research. Presently, I am working with Dr. Jose Pablo Vazquez-Medina on a cell culture study which has helped me grasp the intricacies of cell and tissue engineering. My experiences here have piqued my interest in cell/molecular and developmental biology, and have led to my current hypothesis on "the effect of aging on lactate receptor GPR81 and metabolic inflexibility”. Without these experiences, my understanding of biology topics would have been limited to the concepts I’ve only heard or read about. I consider my involvement in actual research studies as eye-opening opportunities that lead me to my bigger career goals. It allows me to apply and share what I know while learning from my fellow students and other experts in my chosen field. Nevertheless, my short-term plans are to complete my undergraduate degree and be admitted to a Ph.D. program in genetics and molecular biology. I would spend 3 to 4 years to achieve these goals, and shortly after, my next goal is to enter academia as a professor. As a professor, I can bring change to youths who are challenged in completing their higher education. As a professor, I do not want to limit my lessons to the subject area I am teaching. I would also make sure to share life lessons that would encourage the students to work harder despite the challenges. As a Latinx myself, I would let the minorities feel that they are important, they belong, they deserve where they are, and they are capable. If my financial situation permits, I hope to provide grants and scholarships to minority and disabled students because I personally understand how difficult their situation is. Finally, I am planning to start a company involved in healthcare research, and if this initiative succeeds, I would aid in the distribution of healthcare supplies and medicine to people who lack the resources but need health care the most. I want to be involved in healthcare research to develop cures for life-threatening diseases. This long-standing goal could help in alleviating health-related challenges in the poorest households in the world.

My background in Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to incarceration and homelessness. My real father was unknown, the father that I grew up with was a detached figure, and the women in the family were sex workers. As a result, I grew up as a foster youth with very few positive mentors in life guiding me in the right direction. I believe that this lack of guidance especially in my early life led me to the adversities that I later encountered in life. I was homeless, incarcerated, and almost went to the depths of depression and substance abuse. Looking back, I can say that if I was born and nurtured by oriented and supportive parents who could have mentored and guided me in the right direction, I would never have experienced these adversities. Nonetheless, I always knew that there was more to life than my situation, and I also knew that having formal education was my ticket out. Shortly after my incarceration, I made a decision to pursue my childhood dream of being a researcher by enrolling for an Associate’s degree in a community college. There, I met people who guided me in the right directions and helped me overcome the limitations that I was experiencing. Santa Ana College’s counselor and other students and researchers whom I’ve worked with inspired me to work harder and to not let my financial situation, race, and disability limit my goals in life. Throughout my journey, I’ve come to meet several people who I consider as mentors, but among them, I can say that Dr. Xiaolin Zi is the mentor that led me to the path that I am taking now. Dr. Xiaolin Zi has a research lab in UC Irvine where I spent two years of my life working and learning research techniques and skills. I was accepted in his lab without judgment and hesitation, and he trusted my ability so much. I worked with Victor, a graduate student, and Dr. Zi for two years, starting with almost nothing aside from passion for research. He may not know it but the training I had with him strengthened my desire to pursue my education even further. My longing for knowledge became stronger and made up my mind that the hardships that I experienced should not stop me from pursuing higher education. Even with insufficient money to finance my studies, I continued my academic journey hoping that someday, I could be like Dr. Zi, and in return, inspire and teach younger students the same lessons that I learned from him. Eventually, I decided to push myself out of my comfort zone and transferred to UC Berkeley. It seemed like an impossible thing back then, but life turned unexpectedly and I was admitted. When I told Victor and Dr. Zi, they were initially reluctant to let me go. I was too, but I know I needed to find my bigger goal, and apply the lessons that I’ve got from Dr. Zi. Now, as I navigate through Berkeley and work in other research laboratories in the University, I am proud to say that I was trained by Dr. Zi and the lessons I learned from him, be it about lab techniques or life in general, will always stay with me no matter what.

I enjoy spending time outside and immersing myself in nature. I love beach sports, hiking, biking, long drives, and sightseeing. I enjoy traveling across the country, visiting friends, and spoiling my outdoorsy self. My favorite state is Hawaii because of the entire ecosystem that mirrors exactly any other city on the mainland but, in this case, is all on a single island. My early life experiences and current disabilities mold my personal advocacies including racial equality, healthcare accessibility, and mental health awareness. I personally believe that within us lies a connection with the environment. By this, I mean that every action we do carries either a consequence or benefit to the environment. I am passionate about natural foods and the environment because I have personal experiences and knowledge on how beneficial they could be not just for me, but for the world as well. With the advancements in the past few decades, processed foods have undoubtedly gained traction and sales from the majority of the population. The convenience and ease that they offer are advantageous especially with the fast-pacing world that we are currently in. I would be lying if I say I was not a fan before. In fact, my diet used to revolve around fast foods and processed foods which eventually led me to obesity and other health complications. But it was not long enough before I realized that I needed to start with the root cause if I really want to get my healthy body back. I cannot just cut out my food consumption. What I needed was a complete diet makeover. And so that's what I did. And soon enough, I figured out how beneficial this new diet is for me and for the environment.

I am Marvin Miller, and I am a Molecular and Cell Biology Major at the University of California, Berkeley. I am a first-generation, disabled, low-income, system-impacted, re-entry, bilingual, and a student parent. In addition to that, I am a former foster youth, formerly incarcerated, and homeless individual. There was a point in my life when I thought of myself in the former position. I believed I would never make it to higher education, much less a Master's. My background in the poverty-stricken depths of Tijuana was rife with challenges and missteps, some of which led me to spend seven years in incarceration and homelessness. These hardships of my unconventional upbringing caused me a lot of pain and turmoil in my life, which impacted my education. If it were not for a handful of kind-hearted individuals, I found in the form of my teachers, counsellors, and lab assistants, my predicament might not have changed even today. They were the ones who taught me that accepting those circumstances as my reality meant defining my future to be no different from my present. I refused to do so. I believe it was due to the help of a few people and my determination to fight against the odds that I have been able to counter all of the hurdles. Therefore, with the same determination and optimism, I believe that the future will be better, and a good time will knock on my door.

Answer 1: I deserve it because; I am a party animal and spend a lot on other things except education. Answer 2: Live is too short to think about academic or career goals. I believe in partying. Answer 3: I have never tried to overcome an obstacle, they disappear on their own. I just party.

I'm a proud first-generation college student from a Hispanic family. Being a disabled, system-impacted, bilingual student parent with roots from Tijuana, Mexico I am not a typical student in college. Growing up in Mexico, I faced many challenges and missteps, leading to homelessness and incarceration. As a foster kid, I did not have the privilege of having mentors in my life to guide me in the right direction. I had to figure it all out on my own, and these hardships and struggles are what shaped me into what I am today. My tenacity and persistence helped me overcome those hard times, and now I am a part of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars and Educational Opportunities program at UC Berkeley. Additionally, I have assisted low-income, underrepresented, and disabled students in receiving the resources, accommodation, and other relevant guidance they need to achieve their academic goals. The stereotyping and discrimination make such students feel like an outcast, and seeing the inequality made me realize how I used to be in their position. This encouraged me to help them reach their academic goals and embrace their uniqueness. As an active member of a Latinx community, I volunteered to mentor fellow Chicanx and Latinx students. Currently, I am mentoring students of Hispanic, Black American, and White Descent, respectively. By continuing this legacy I aspire to mentor the students and help them achieving their goals. Since I have an extensive experience in STEM researches, I believe I will be able to help and motivate every mentee like me to grow and show their exceptional interest in STEM. Aside from these, I hope meeting people with significant contributions to the STEM discipline. I believe it will help me and all mentees develop new research ideas and make this world a better place to live.

I am Marvin Miller, and I am a Molecular and Cell Biology Major at the University of California, Berkeley. I am writing this statement as a part of my admission application for the Fred Hutch’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program. I am a first-generation, disabled, low-income, system-impacted, re-entry, bilingual, and a student parent. In addition to that, I am a former foster youth, formerly incarcerated, and homeless individual. Going through hard times and challenges at an early age without having access to basic necessities, we automatically develop deep respect and appreciation for life. The same thing has happened to me; I have taken all the challenges as life lessons that have shaped me into what I am today. I come from a pretty different background with roots in Tijuana, Mexico. Growing up in a socially toxic environment led me to some of my life's major mistakes, which helped me learn the greatest life lessons that I wouldn't have received any other way. Being a disabled, system impacted, bilingual student parent comes with a lot of discrimination and limited opportunities both academically and professionally. I didn't let these things define me; I successfully achieved numerous milestones and became a proud first-generation college student from a Hispanic family. My determination and strong skillset helped me achieve a scholarship at UC Berkeley. Currently, I mentor low-income, disabled, formerly incarcerated, and immigrant students to achieve academic excellence and cope with social-economic difficulties. I believe it was my perseverance and strong determination that led me to overcome the difficult situation.

It has been my life’s mission to make a significant contribution to the local community or even the world. I believe in the significance of our health, not just in our entire life but in our day-to-day lives and the lives of our loved ones. Since I was young, my interest has always been in science, from biology to physics. At one point in my life, I succumbed to a medical condition that healthcare professionals did not quite fully understand at the time. The struggle to receive proper medical support has been a challenge; the medical support system was inadequate at the time, and my life status made it even more difficult. I am of a mixed-race heritage that does not belong to the privileged dominant majority; aside from that, a single mother in a poverty-stricken community raised me. This health struggle further gave rise to my desire to pursue a career related to science. I am currently taking up a bachelor’s degree, majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology, and at the same time, working in a research laboratory at UC Berkeley. I am assisting in the research and experiments with the constant goal of discovering new scientific evidence that will ultimately provide helpful solutions to current medical issues. The research and experiments I perform in the laboratory aim to contribute to health issues such as common diseases or even epidemics. I am particularly interested in coming up with solutions to common health problems that most of us seem to inevitably face - heart diseases, obesity, diabetes, to name a few. Through my molecular biology degree and scientific experiences, I intend to find answers that will somehow minimize the occurrence of these diseases and provide solutions to make the life of those afflicted much more convenient.

As cliche’ as it may sound, but mental health problem really is not a joke. Some people may think that it’s just a product of someone’s imagination mixed with unreasonable loneliness, but they got it wrong. Many are aware but do not believe that mental health problem is a silent killer. Little by little, it can kill people’s confidence, positive and critical thinking, and passion for something they truly love, and no one can even notice this. Similarly, you can barely know one’s struggle with mental health because they wear “imaginary masks” all the time. These imaginary masks are used to deceive others about what they really feel, and thus, it is really hard to recognize a person struggling with mental health problems. Having said my personal understanding about mental health and the known experience of people who are struggling with it, it came to my mind that the best solution to this problem is by creating a friendly and comforting space for them through giving necessary pieces of advice and/or providing free counseling. For me, no one can help them except those who can hear and understand their silent cries due to unbearable pains inside. This solution of mine will cost nothing but will build everything. It will just require everyone to have compassion for others. Lucky are those people who don’t have problems with their mental health for we don’t have to hide and pretend to be other people. If only the world will be open and considerate, we are able to create a friendly and comforting place for these people.

There is no doubt that the pandemic changed the way we live. While most would agree that these changes are negative, I for one recognize how they somehow changed some of us for the better. Living alone, the isolation that I experienced pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and learn to reach out to other people--family members, friends, former classmates, and even new acquaintances. Personally, reaching out to them opened new doors for me, and allowed me to see beyond my academics. I learned about different cultures, experiences, and circumstances that otherwise would have remained unknown to me. In terms of career aspirations, the COVID-19 pandemic further strengthened my commitment to healthcare and life sciences. Now more than ever, I realized how humanity needs dedicated, passionate, and well-trained professionals in biology and medicine to combat unexpected and deadly diseases like COVID. The challenges that we are facing now inspired me to work harder for the better. On a larger scale, the pandemic revealed the discrepancies between the developed and less developed countries. However, it also showed how the global community should stand as one--because the virus knows no race, gender, economic status, or nation.

Among all the scientist that I got to know in my years of study, Marshall Nirenberg is the one I admired the most. Nirenberg led the team of researchers who deciphered the mRNA codons and determined their corresponding amino acids; thus, solving the huge puzzle of DNA-RNA-protein translation. While this feat can easily be performed in the modern lab, what amazes me the most was Nirenberg's and his team's dedication, passion, and commitment to science. They performed a trial-and-error experiment for all the possible combinations, creating this wide handwritten chart of possible combinations and experiment results.