See, my father has always believed in me. He is my biggest supporter. In 2020, he urged me to apply to UWC and I got in but unfortunately I did not get a full scholarship. I remember telling him that if the tuition was too much I could decline the offer and remain at my former school. His response to that suggestion was “ worry about the school part, finances are my responsibility as a parent.” He sold part of our land to afford the school. Those actions are what inspired me to excel and fully immerse myself into the UWC experience. I got honors the two years I was there, I was head of the French club. I got to discover my passion for genetics and conversations centered around race. Halfway through my time in Tanzania, my dad lost his job and I couldn’t help but feel like a burden because he still had to pay for my school fees. He was the sole provider for our big household. His redundancy was so unexpected. It hit us really bad. I could not apply to some universities not because of grades but because I could not afford it. Luckily some schools have a zero application fee. I got into St. Olaf but even then we could barely afford my visa application. My parents would call on their friends to get donations and loans. My parents sacrificed the little they had for me to be here. They know that in the USA your efforts translate into opportunities and rewards. These financial limitations reduced my morale but my parents’ support and love helped me persevere and trust in myself. Another reason that inspired me to attend higher education in the USA is connected to my post-graduate plans, which is pursuing a career in the genetic field. Ever Since I learned about DNA in high school, I can’t help but be amazed by the powers of such a small molecule. It amazes me how a microscopic molecule can hold that much information. The genetic field in Rwanda is not as advanced as the one In the USA but I would like to change that. My plan after graduating is getting into research related to genetics while attending a Master's program and use whatever knowledge I gain from those opportunities to advance the field in Rwanda. My parents showed me that coming from a poor background should not limit me from pursuing my dreams. That is the reason why I have such big goals.