Innovation. Researchers and doctors worldwide actively search for solutions to many of the world’s health problems. New phenomenons are found every day that aid in the development of our life. I am extremely goal-oriented. My passion for physics is evolving and I want to be able to do something in my life that impacts the world. This upcoming fall, I will be attending the University of Texas at Austin where I received the opportunity to be a part of a research program. I will continue my academics there as a biophysics major for the next four years. Majoring in biophysics comes with a strong workload that I must focus on to obtain opportunities that help me get to the point where I can help a great majority of people. My passion is to help others and seeking knowledge is what I love to do. With these qualities, I am able to strive to become a surgical oncologist, as well as a researcher in the far or soon future. During college, I want to be able to focus on my studies and opportunities that occur throughout my life that will take me to the next level. Once I obtain my bachelor's degree, I will actively use it towards my medical school applications to further my fascination with the molecular level and passion for the world’s health. After undergraduate school, I hope to go to medical school where I will hopefully attend an oncology program or residency afterward. My goals consist of being a researcher in biophysics to create new technology or methods to cure/prevent diseases, as well as comprehend the body’s physical phenomenons on a molecular level. STEM is advancing exponentially every day, and we have a duty to learn the new phenomenons that are found to develop our understanding of life. Being a woman in STEM has greatly helped me strived not only to help others but to help fellow women who will come after me. I greatly support education and preach the importance of seeking knowledge, pursuing passions, and living life with kindness for others. Seeking education comes with the financial burden, but having a scholarship that can cover a good amount of my undergraduate debt allows me to pursue it without fear of going into mass debt. This scholarship will do wonders for me, someone who wants to seek the continuation of education to pursue a passion for helping the world.

Women have been fighting for their place in life for centuries. Katherine Johnson is one of the frontiers who have opened various doors and extricated many obstacles for women like me. She calculated the mechanics needed for NASA's first orbital spaceflight and has impacted space history. She is not only an extraordinary mathematician but is a scientist who has efficiently comprehended the laws of physics during a time when the world was against her.

For three years in a row, I have had the same teacher, Mrs. Smith, and she has been with me through my highs and lows. Teachers have experienced many students throughout their careers, but students only experience a certain amount of teachers their whole life. I take everything my teachers say into consideration and try to take their advice to heart since they have evolved many lives before mine. Mrs. Smith has taught me many lessons about academics, independence, and sympathy; these simple, but meaningful, lessons are what have led to her being the most influential person in my life, unknowingly. In high school, the classes seem a bit difficult, but not to the point where I have to study every day or frequently. Mrs. Smith noticed that we were talking about how we get by school by cramming the night before and consequently, she taught us a lesson that I have actively initiated into my life. She made me realize that in life you can’t cram for everything you do. She taught us the simplicity of understanding the material and absorbing the information, so you can enrich your knowledge. This changed my perception of school and inspired me to want to expand my apprehension of the body’s physics-related phenomenons. Because of this change in perception, I now want to become a researcher and major in biophysics to create new technology and methods to cure/prevent diseases, as well as comprehend the body’s physical phenomenons on a molecular level. Mrs. Smith has allowed me to pay it forward when I have achieved my dreams and can help others medically. Her quick impromptu speech led me to have an eagerness for knowledge and it led to me wanting to pursue more aspiring careers in academia that allow me to enhance my cognition and fascination in biophysics. Mrs. Smith would “get onto her soapbox” all the time. It would get redundant, but it was very much needed. One of the times she got onto her soapbox, she began to discuss the importance of independence, and would always say “no one cares about you in the real world”. The way she announced it was in a very blunt and comical way, but she was speaking the truth. My teacher was very prudent with her students and wanted us to be self-aware of ourselves and our future. During high school, many students, like myself, are very fortunate enough to be immensely dependent on their parents. Some even have an extreme dependency on their parents after high school and college. Living in this bubble, you never realize that when you step into life, you step out of your comfort zone and have to develop a dependency on yourself. She has influenced me to seek more independence and responsibility in my life. Her words have greatly impacted my lifestyle and will influence my future massively. Throughout my life, I have had momentous role models, but there's one person who has deeply influenced my core beliefs on school and my future. Teachers have the ability to impact their students in ways they don’t even know it. Mrs. Smith has shown me ways to look at school and the future way that will allow me to grow immensely as a student and person. She has taught me great lessons on the importance of learning, independence, and sympathy. Today I can proudly say that I am an inquisitive and perceptive person because of the impact of my teacher.

Almost every person in America has experienced a great teacher who has taught them many life-long lessons. My education has impacted my life greatly, however, there is one teacher specifically who has influenced my high school career and has taught me numerous lessons that I will cherish every day. For three years in a row, I have had the same teacher and she has been with me through my highs and lows. Teachers have experienced many students throughout their careers, but students only experience a certain amount of teachers their whole life. I take everything my teachers say into consideration and try to take their advice to heart since they have evolved many lives before mine. Mrs. Smith, my physics teacher, has taught me many lessons about academics, independence, and sympathy; these simple, but meaningful, lessons are what have led to her being the most influential person in my life, unknowingly. In high school, the classes seem a bit difficult, but not to the point where I have to study every day or frequently. Mrs. Smith noticed that we were talking about how we get by school by cramming the night before and consequently, she taught us a lesson that I have actively initiated into my life. She made me realize that in life you can’t cram for everything you do. She taught us the simplicity of understanding the material and absorbing the information, so you can enrich your knowledge. This changed my perception of school and inspired me to want to expand my apprehension of the body’s physics-related phenomenons. Because of this change in perception, I now want to become a researcher and major in biophysics to create new technology and methods to cure/prevent diseases, as well as comprehend the body’s physical phenomenons on a molecular level. Her quick impromptu speech led me to have an eagerness for knowledge and it led to me wanting to pursue more aspiring careers in academia that allow me to enhance my cognition and fascination in biophysics. Mrs. Smith would “get onto her soapbox” all the time. It would get redundant, but it was very much needed. One of the times she got onto her soapbox, she began to discuss the importance of independence, and would always say “no one cares about you in the real world”. The way she announced it was in a very blunt and comical way, but she was speaking the truth. Mrs. Smith was very prudent with her students and wanted us to be self-aware with ourselves and our future. During high school, many students, like myself, are very fortunate enough to be immensely dependent on their parents. Living in this bubble, you never realize that when you step into life, you step out of your comfort zone and have to develop a dependency on yourself. She has influenced me to seek more independence and responsibility in my life. Her words have greatly impacted my lifestyle and will influence my future massively. Throughout my life, I have had momentous role models, but there's one person who has deeply influenced my core beliefs on school and my future. Teachers have the ability to impact their students in ways they don’t even know it. Mrs. Smith has shown me ways to look at school and my future way that will allow me to grow immensely as a student and person. She has taught me great lessons on the importance of learning, independence, and sympathy. Today I can proudly say that I am an inquisitive and perceptive person because of the impact of my teacher.

Being an Asian-American child with parents who grew up in Vietnam comes with experiences that the average American doesn't have to engage in. My parents are very loving. I would describe them as generic parents, but some may say otherwise. In America, roughly half of marriages end in divorce. My parents are the other half. My parents overcame the stereotypical Asian culture parenting style. Nevertheless, my parents still implemented the importance of culture and taught me life-long lessons that stem from their own experiences in Vietnam, as well as in the United States. Life is about learning your way through it. I was taught to value my education. As a teen, I had moments where I was discouraged and felt that I didn’t know the true meaning of life. Over the course of time, my love and appreciation for education grew with me. I constantly strive to do my best; however, the outcome is not always positive. My parents allow me to learn from my mistakes, rather than discourage me. They provide me the support that I need and that others may not get. They encourage me to value myself; thus, pushing me to do things for personal gain, instead of for parental approval. At the end of the day, I constantly and consistently strive for greatness for myself and my future. My social life is slightly different from that of the average Asian teenager. Within the Asian culture, the majority of students are overly driven to please their parents even if it means running themselves to the ground. Furthermore, it is normalized for Asian parents to be hesitant about their kids going out. I have developed an understanding of my parents' protection for me, but they have developed leniency for me over time. My parents showed me that I can achieve my goals and that I can be successful and gregarious. The key to success is to let loose and enjoy yourself. Because of this, I've realized that your letter grade does not reflect success. Success is shown through your dedication and work, regardless of the end result. Balance is crucial to the fulfillment of life rather than constantly working yourself to the grave. Embrace your social life and have time to enjoy yourself. My father is a very generous man. I adore that about him. Despite not having much and coming from a place where he had little, he is constantly giving what he does have. My mother works to provide for my family in order for us to live comfortably while still putting in the time and effort to make my and my siblings' lives easier. My parents taught me my most important lesson: generosity. Contrary to popular belief, your financial status does not determine the generosity in your heart. My father would help his friends out by getting them jobs or just helping around their house when I was a freshman. This generosity for your peers is very common in the Asian culture. They have seen the struggle and experienced it. My parents have taught me that giving back to others doesn’t have to be materialistic. He taught me to be selfless. This lesson I have learned throughout the years has driven me to contribute my assistance and what I have learned to others around me. I provide support to others through encouragement, inclusion, educational tutoring, and even opening my house to those who are in need of a safe home for the time being during high school. Life is not a competition, it’s a team game where everyone should achieve their best with the help of their friends. As cliche as it sounds, I absolutely love my parents and appreciate everything they do for me. They truly are the best opportunity I’ve had. I’ve learned the ability to have balance, learn, and share. When your life embraces balance and equity, you begin finding true value in your life. Life has barely started for me and I still have a lot of learning to do. The person I am today is the person I hope to remain in the future with more knowledge and more heart.