“All representatives are busy helping other customers, we will be with you shortly…” From DMV letters to utility services to car insurance, I handled all the hassle of contacting customer service for my parents when an unknown charge appeared. While 12-13-year-old girls were reading animated books, I read bills and translated them to my dad to assist him with the issues. My family immigrated from Vietnam to the United States in 2015. In our early years here, we were nearly homeless. At one point, all four of us shared a single room in my aunt’s home. I am the oldest daughter and speak more English than any family member, so even though I was only in 6th grade, I am responsible for supporting my parents with bills, doctor's appointments, and countless other tasks to earn our living. At first, terms like “promotion” and “premium plan” were confusing, but I figured them out to get the bill paid. Reducing my parents’ stress is my ultimate goal, and I am willing to overcome any adversity, such as language barriers, for them. Dad, Mom, and my younger brother are the motivation to work hard. My parents both work 10-12 hours a day at a nail salon for low wages due to their limited English. They also work on weekends, holidays, and birthdays because those are the busiest days, so we didn’t see each other for more than 2 hours a day for many years. The paycheck keeps taking my parents away from home, but they never let my siblings or me feel a lack of love. They’re my inspiration for kindness, resilience, and purpose to achieve further education to help immigrants and middle-class families who struggled as I did. During my undergraduate years, I want to gain insights into university business operations, particularly budgeting and resource allocation. I have actively sought opportunities to connect education, economics, and public service. I interned with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), an organization that assists low-income individuals with their tax filings. One student was worried about owing money to the government, and I worked with her to review her tax situation, clarify questions, and ensure she met all criteria. Seeing her relief when everything was submitted correctly gave me a stronger sense of purpose to pursue my passion for turning financial literacy into a practical tool for others’ success. My goal is to serve diverse students and families with a focus on budgeting, loans, and tax reporting. I grew up struggling for financial support, so I aspire to give back and help the next generation of students succeed with less financial struggle. The Thomas Wilson Memorial Scholarship would give me the chance to reach my goals and help others by making education more accessible. As an incoming junior at UC Davis, the scholarship would reduce the financial burden of tuition, books, family finances, and transportation, allowing me to dedicate to classes, volunteer work at local tax sites, and internships that align with my educational journey.

Mental health begins with a positive spirit that doesn't pressure us to be perfect. Maintaining effective mental health is vital for many people, from children, teenagers, and adults to the elderly. For most high school seniors like me, finding a balance between physical and mental health is difficult as we tend to overthink so many things. As we grow older, we have more responsibilities and worries, thus leading to stress, insomnia, anxiety, self-sabotage, and poor mental health. I self-sabotage myself when I compare myself to more successful people. I don't know where to go for college and future careers, which leads to mental breakdowns and sleepless nights. Regardless, I met a thoughtful counselor who encouraged me to apply to colleges and told me I was enough. When I take a moment back to ease my mind from the fears of adulthood, I listen to positive advice from people around me, YouTube videos, and podcasts. I realized that maybe if I change my mindset, I will be much happier and healthier mentally. As a teenager preparing for college, looking for financial aid, planning for graduation, and studying for AP exams all at the same time, my mind has never been at ease due to my high workload. However, I understand the importance of maintaining a growth mindset to accomplish all my goals. One of the most effective plans for me to multitask all my work is to create a reasonable schedule for what I'm doing and when. This helps me track my progress and adjust my time if I need more time for a particular subject. Besides a great agenda, I have learned from an education influencer online about the "3 Magic Words" to help me cope with mental stress: unplug, unwind, and appetize. For 5 minutes, close the laptop, go on a walk, and enjoy a tasty snack like an ice cream or a donut. That is a way to clear the mind and make room for clarity. Other reasons behind poor mental health are grinding on a single study session without sufficient breaks, staring at electronic devices for too long, and lacking Vitamin D from the sun and nature. This is my favorite stress reliever because taking a short break, about 15 minutes, to pamper yourself is a great way to let the brain rest and advocate mental wellness for more study later. Not many people can control their mental health for many different reasons, but if you can maintain a progressive and positive spirit, life will be less stressful. For me, everything is good or bad, depending on our mindset.