My Vietnamese heritage has profoundly influenced my educational journey, shaping me into the resilient and determined individual I am today. Growing up in Vietnam, I dreamed of becoming a dentist from a young age, inspired by a personal experience when I was involved in an accident that resulted in a fracture of my central incisors. This incident ignited my passion to pursue a career in dental health. My elementary school for the gifted required an admission project about my dream career, and I vividly remember drawing myself as a dentist. I am proud to say that little artist's dream is now my reality. Moving to the United States as an international student was a crash course in life’s unexpected plot twists. My father passed away in my first year of college, and my family could not afford medical or dental health insurance. To support my high school and undergraduate education, I took on a part-time job as a waiter at a Vietnamese restaurant. This job was a lesson in multitasking—balancing an endless stream of customers, washing dishes, and perfecting the art of making Vietnamese coffee. One memorable experience still makes me chuckle. During a lunch break, I was trying to study for the SAT college entrance exam with flashcards in hand. Exhausted from work and studying, I dozed off in a chair, and the flashcards scattered around me like confetti. I woke up two hours later to the sound of dishes clattering, realizing that my colleagues and customers had allowed me to rest, understanding my exhaustion and dedication. This moment of kindness is something I cherish deeply, a testament to the supportive community I found in my Vietnamese American identity. After graduating from my undergraduate institution and fulfilling a four-year teaching service commitment in an underserved area, I scored a 25 on my Dental Admission Test, placing me in the top 99.9% nationally. This achievement was crucial for my acceptance into the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), one of the nation's most prestigious healthcare institutions. At UCSF, I engaged in various scholarly projects, deepening my appreciation for clinical and translational dental research. My scholarly contributions and academic excellence garnered numerous awards, including the prestigious Growth and Development Research Award from the International Association for Dental Research and national recognition from the American Association for Dental Education for innovation, academic excellence, teaching, and community service. In my final year of dental school, I was accepted into the Master of Dental Science Program at the University of Connecticut Health Science, focusing on orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. UCONN is the birthplace of orthodontic biomechanics, with some faculty dedicating over 27 years of their lives to advancing the profession without monetary gain. UCONN's collaborative, innovative, and dedicated environment, emphasizing craniofacial research and science, aligns with my vision of delivering comprehensive patient care. Participating in this program is essential for my professional growth, significantly enhancing my knowledge and skills and transforming me into a more competent, collaborative, and compassionate healthcare provider. My journey from Vietnam to the US has been marked by perseverance, hard work, and the support of my community. My Vietnamese heritage has instilled in me a strong work ethic and a deep sense of gratitude. It has taught me the value of resilience and the importance of giving back. As I continue my journey at UCONN Health, I am committed to leveraging my skills and experiences to impact my Vietnamese American community positively. After all, it takes a village to raise a successful child – and sometimes that village lets you nap!

Moving to the United States at 17 felt like jumping into a soap opera without knowing the plot. After my father passed away from cancer, my mother borrowed private loans to cover half of my tuition expenses barely. I became the breadwinner, working part-time as a waiter at a Vietnamese restaurant to support my high school and undergraduate education. This job was a crash course in multitasking—balancing an endless stream of customers, washing dishes, and perfecting the art of making Vietnamese coffee, all while trying to avoid mixing up pho orders. One memorable experience still makes me chuckle. During a lunch break, I was studying for the SAT with flashcards in hand. Exhausted from work and studying, I dozed off in a chair, and the flashcards scattered around me like confetti at a surprise party. I woke up two hours later to the sound of dishes clattering, realizing that my colleagues and customers had allowed me to rest, understanding my exhaustion and dedication. That moment of kindness is something I cherish deeply, a testament to the supportive community I found in my Vietnamese American identity. Navigating my academic journey in the U.S. without parental guidance or a strong support system was challenging. With poor English skills, zero connections, and no money for tutors or admission consultants, I applied only to colleges that did not require letters of recommendation or personal statements. Scholarships and grants became my lifelines. I also worked various jobs in college to cover tuition and living expenses. It was a constant juggling act, managing these commitments while trying to stay afloat academically. Despite these challenges, I excelled academically, scoring in the top percentile on my SAT exam. My determination and resilience paid off as I secured scholarships and grants that enabled me to continue my education. I also scored a 25 on my Dental Admission Test, placing me in the top 99.9% nationally, which was crucial for my acceptance into the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), one of the nation's most prestigious healthcare institutions. At UCSF, I engaged in various scholarly projects, deepening my appreciation for clinical and translational dental research. One notable project was my research fellowship at the UCSF Biomaterials and Biomineralization Correlative Microscopy Core, where I studied and published findings on bone mineral density levels in human and rodent samples undergoing orthodontic treatment by analyzing their 3D scans. I also co-authored a review article with the Dean, Dr. Michael Reddy, and Dr. Andrew Jheon, evaluating advances in personalized medicine and artificial intelligence in dentistry. This research highlighted the potential of clinical and translational research to tailor and deliver better care. In my final year of dental school, I was accepted into the Master of Dental Science Program at the University of Connecticut Health Science, focusing on orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. UCONN is the birthplace of orthodontic biomechanics, with some faculty dedicating over 27 years of their lives to advancing the profession without monetary gain. UCONN's collaborative, innovative, and dedicated environment, emphasizing craniofacial research and science, aligns with my vision of delivering comprehensive patient care. Participating in this program is essential for my professional growth, significantly enhancing my knowledge and skills and transforming me into a more competent, collaborative, and compassionate healthcare provider. This scholarship would alleviate my financial burden and allow me to dedicate more time to research, enhance my clinical skills, and focus on personal growth. By reducing financial strain, I can fully immerse myself in the program's rigorous curriculum and cutting-edge research opportunities, ultimately contributing to orthodontics and craniofacial care advancements.

Moving to the United States at 17 was like jumping into a soap opera without knowing the plot. After my father passed away from cancer, my mother borrowed private loans to cover half of my tuition expenses. Coupled with poor English skills and no money for tutors, I sought colleges that did not require letters of recommendation or personal statements. Scholarships and grants became my lifelines. I became the family's breadwinner, working part-time as a waiter at a Vietnamese restaurant to support my high school and undergraduate education. However, this job taught me about multitasking—serving customers, washing dishes, and making Vietnamese coffee—all while balancing my studies. One memorable experience still makes me chuckle. During a lunch break, I was studying for the SAT with flashcards in hand. Exhausted from work and learning, I dozed off, and the flashcards scattered around me like confetti. Two hours later, I awoke to the sound of dishes clattering, realizing that my coworkers and customers had allowed me to rest. That moment of kindness is something I cherish deeply, a testament to the supportive community I found in my Vietnamese American identity. After undergrad, I took a gap year to teach at Richmond High (RHS), a Title I public school. One planned gap year became four, and I found meaning in supporting my students and their families with their academic, medical, and food security needs. This experience taught me leadership, humility, and cultural competence. While my undergraduate exposure to orthodontics sparked my interest, my time at RHS shaped my vision. Now, I dream of working with school districts to provide academic and healthcare opportunities for underserved students. My identity as a teacher remains the same, and while I may straighten more teeth than chalkboards, my passion for teaching and helping others will never fade.

As a former high school science teacher, my journey into the field of orthodontics was sparked by a student's project exploring the intricate connection between orthodontics and craniofacial biology. Now a predoctoral student at the University of California- San Francisco School of Dentistry (UCSF), my experiences have profoundly deepened my appreciation for orthodontics and orofacial sciences. Engaging in immersive coursework, challenging clinical rotations, and impactful research here has fostered a profound admiration for meticulous planning, precise biomechanics, and gentle force application—integral components of delivering high-quality orthodontic care. During my observership at the UCSF Mission Bay's Pediatric Craniofacial Center, I also witnessed the transformative impact of collaborative healthcare efforts. Working alongside orthodontists, plastic surgeons, nurse practitioners, and speech therapists to treat youths with craniofacial anomalies, especially cleft palate, left me humbled and inspired. Within this collaborative environment, I recognized my purpose—to dedicate myself to advanced orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics education, utilizing my skills and compassion to change lives positively. In a poignant clinical experience, I assisted an orthodontic resident during a follow-up appointment for an adolescent patient undergoing Invisalign treatment. Detecting widespread demineralization on the patient's teeth, we discovered that the teenager, in a rush after school lunch, was putting Invisalign trays back on without proper oral hygiene. Addressing this situation demanded more than clinical expertise; it required empathy and creative problem-solving. Leveraging my background as a public school educator, I engaged with the patient's mother to build trust and recommended an Individualized Education Program (IEP) assessment for her son, who was recently diagnosed with a cognitive disability. If accepted, the IEP would provide crucial support for the patient's oral hygiene at school during Invisalign treatment. Navigating the IEP application process together, we found a solution, alleviating the mother's concerns and fostering a sense of relief and joy. This experience resonated deeply with the parting words of my teacher mentor: "Once a teacher, always a teacher." While my career path shifted toward dentistry, my commitment to education remains integral to my identity. I am driven to support teaching colleagues and disadvantaged youth needing educational opportunities and oral healthcare. If honored with the Future Dentists' Scholarship, I aim to contribute to complex craniofacial surgery and research activities at UCSF. By selecting me for this scholarship, you invest in an individual devoted to advancing the field and delivering high-quality patient care. Beyond academic and professional pursuits, I am committed to giving back to the community through outreach programs, healthcare initiatives, and educational endeavors. My track record of research excellence, academic achievements, and dedication to community impact positions me as an ideal candidate for your scholarship, embodying innovation, compassion, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.