For about ten years, I lived a double life, toggling between being a proud queer, trans male at my all-girls Catholic school and a closeted teenager in feminine dresses, all to appease my mother. This internal conflict was not just a matter of personal struggle but a reflection of a broader societal and cultural clash. Growing up in a Nepali community where my true identity was deemed unacceptable, I felt constantly torn between my authentic self and the fear of losing my family and community. The weight of this dissonance was immense, and the anguish of concealing my true self felt unbearable at times. Yet, amid this chaos, I discovered a profound source of strength and resilience within myself. The turning point came when I realized that while I couldn’t control others' opinions or the societal norms that tormented me, I could control my actions and my response to these situations. By shifting my focus from the external judgments to internal growth and self-acceptance, I began to navigate my journey with greater ease. This approach not only helped me reconcile with my identity but also enabled me to handle the academic and social challenges I faced in high school and college. Embracing this mindset, I evolved into a more mature and fearless individual, learning to accept and adapt to various difficulties with a renewed perspective. My biggest passion now lies in using my experiences to support and empower other queer youth who are struggling with their identities. I understand firsthand the fear and isolation that can come with being true to oneself in a society that often judges harshly. Although I have yet to come out to my parents due to my financial dependence on them, this situation has only fueled my determination to find ways to become financially independent and secure. The struggle to balance my identity with familial and cultural expectations has become a driving force for my perseverance and growth. The scholarship I hope to receive would play a crucial role in furthering my efforts to carry on Coco's legacy of fostering acceptance and support for LGBTQIA+ individuals. With these funds, I intend to pursue education and employ projects focused on LGBTQIA+ advocacy and support. Specifically, I plan to develop programs and resources that provide safe spaces for queer youth, educate the public on LGBTQIA+ issues in especially LEDC countries, and advocate for policy changes to ensure equal rights and protections. By creating accessible platforms for education and support, I aim to build a world where people like me are free from fear and discrimination, where their identities are celebrated rather than shamed. My journey has instilled in me a deep commitment to promoting understanding and acceptance. I envision a world where LGBTQIA+ individuals can live openly and proudly without the threat of abuse or discrimination. I aspire to see policies that not only provide basic rights, like the ability to use the bathroom of one's choice but also foster a broader cultural shift towards inclusivity and respect. I want to be a catalyst for change, advocating for a society that recognizes and respects the diverse identities and experiences of its members. By empowering others to embrace their true selves, I hope to contribute to a future where LGBTQIA+ individuals are valued and respected, creating a society that truly understands and supports all its members.

For about ten years, I lived a double life, toggling between being a proud queer, trans male at my all-girls Catholic school and a closeted teenager in feminine dresses, all to appease my mother. This internal conflict was not just a matter of personal struggle but a reflection of a broader societal and cultural clash. Growing up in a Nepali community where my true identity was deemed unacceptable, I felt constantly torn between my authentic self and the fear of losing my family and community. The weight of this dissonance was immense, and the anguish of concealing my true self felt unbearable at times. Yet, amid this chaos, I discovered a profound source of strength and resilience within myself. The turning point came when I realized that while I couldn’t control others' opinions or the societal norms that tormented me, I could control my actions and my response to these situations. By shifting my focus from the external judgments to internal growth and self-acceptance, I began to navigate my journey with greater ease. This approach not only helped me reconcile with my identity but also enabled me to handle the academic and social challenges I faced in high school and college. Embracing this mindset, I evolved into a more mature and fearless individual, learning to accept and adapt to various difficulties with a renewed perspective. My biggest passion now lies in using my experiences to support and empower other queer youth who are struggling with their identities. I understand firsthand the fear and isolation that can come with being true to oneself in a society that often judges harshly. Although I have yet to come out to my parents due to my financial dependence on them, this situation has only fueled my determination to find ways to become financially independent and secure. The struggle to balance my identity with familial and cultural expectations has become a driving force for my perseverance and growth. The scholarship I hope to receive would play a crucial role in furthering my efforts to carry on Coco's legacy of fostering acceptance and support for LGBTQIA+ individuals. With these funds, I intend to pursue education and projects focused on LGBTQIA+ advocacy and support. Specifically, I plan to develop programs and resources that provide safe spaces for queer youth, educate the public on LGBTQIA+ issues in especially LEDC countries, and advocate for policy changes to ensure equal rights and protections. By creating accessible platforms for education and support, I aim to build a world where people like me are free from fear and discrimination, where their identities are celebrated rather than shamed. My journey has instilled in me a deep commitment to promoting understanding and acceptance. I envision a world where LGBTQIA+ individuals can live openly and proudly without the threat of abuse or discrimination. I aspire to see policies that not only provide basic rights, like the ability to use the bathroom of one's choice but also foster a broader cultural shift towards inclusivity and respect.

For about ten years, I lived a double life, toggling between being a proud queer, trans male at my all-girls Catholic school and a closeted teenager in feminine dresses, all to appease my mother. This internal conflict was not just a matter of personal struggle but a reflection of a broader societal and cultural clash. Growing up in a Nepali community where my true identity was deemed unacceptable, I felt constantly torn between my authentic self and the fear of losing my family and community. The weight of this dissonance was immense, and the anguish of concealing my true self felt unbearable at times. Yet, amid this chaos, I discovered a profound source of strength and resilience within myself. The turning point came when I realized that while I couldn’t control others' opinions or the societal norms that tormented me, I could control my actions and my response to these situations. By shifting my focus from the external judgments to internal growth and self-acceptance, I began to navigate my journey with greater ease. This approach not only helped me reconcile with my identity but also enabled me to handle the academic and social challenges I faced in high school and college. Embracing this mindset, I evolved into a more mature and fearless individual, learning to accept and adapt to various difficulties with a renewed perspective. My biggest passion now lies in using my experiences to support and empower other queer youth who are struggling with their identities. I understand firsthand the fear and isolation that can come with being true to oneself in a society that often judges harshly. Although I have yet to come out to my parents due to my financial dependence on them, this situation has only fueled my determination to find ways to become financially independent and secure. The struggle to balance my identity with familial and cultural expectations has become a driving force for my perseverance and growth. The scholarship I hope to receive would play a crucial role in furthering my efforts to carry on Coco's legacy of fostering acceptance and support for LGBTQIA+ individuals. With these funds, I intend to pursue education and employ projects focused on LGBTQIA+ advocacy and support. Specifically, I plan to develop programs and resources that provide safe spaces for queer youth, educate the public on LGBTQIA+ issues in especially LEDC countries, and advocate for policy changes to ensure equal rights and protections. By creating accessible platforms for education and support, I aim to build a world where people like me are free from fear and discrimination, where their identities are celebrated rather than shamed. My journey has instilled in me a deep commitment to promoting understanding and acceptance. I envision a world where LGBTQIA+ individuals can live openly and proudly without the threat of abuse or discrimination. I aspire to see policies that not only provide basic rights, like the ability to use the bathroom of one's choice but also foster a broader cultural shift towards inclusivity and respect. I want to be a catalyst for change, advocating for a society that recognizes and respects the diverse identities and experiences of its members. By empowering others to embrace their true selves, I hope to contribute to a future where LGBTQIA+ individuals are valued and respected, creating a society that truly understands and supports all its members.

For about ten years, I lived a double life, toggling between being a proud queer, trans male at my all-girls Catholic school and a closeted teenager in feminine dresses, all to appease my mother. This internal conflict was not just a matter of personal struggle but a reflection of a broader societal and cultural clash. Growing up in a Nepali community where my true identity was deemed unacceptable, I felt constantly torn between my authentic self and the fear of losing my family and community. The weight of this dissonance was immense, and the anguish of concealing my true self felt unbearable at times. Yet, amid this chaos, I discovered a profound source of strength and resilience within myself. The turning point came when I realized that while I couldn’t control others' opinions or the societal norms that tormented me, I could control my actions and my response to these situations. By shifting my focus from the external judgments to internal growth and self-acceptance, I began to navigate my journey with greater ease. This approach not only helped me reconcile with my identity but also enabled me to handle the academic and social challenges I faced in high school and college. Embracing this mindset, I evolved into a more mature and fearless individual, learning to accept and adapt to various difficulties with a renewed perspective. My biggest passion now lies in using my experiences to support and empower other queer youth who are struggling with their identities. I understand firsthand the fear and isolation that can come with being true to oneself in a society that often judges harshly. Although I have yet to come out to my parents due to my financial dependence on them, this situation has only fueled my determination to find ways to become financially independent and secure. The struggle to balance my identity with familial and cultural expectations has become a driving force for my perseverance and growth. The scholarship I hope to receive would play a crucial role in furthering my efforts to carry on Coco's legacy of fostering acceptance and support for LGBTQIA+ individuals. With these funds, I intend to pursue education and employ projects focused on LGBTQIA+ advocacy and support. Specifically, I plan to develop programs and resources that provide safe spaces for queer youth, educate the public on LGBTQIA+ issues in especially LEDC countries, and advocate for policy changes to ensure equal rights and protections. By creating accessible platforms for education and support, I aim to build a world where people like me are free from fear and discrimination, where their identities are celebrated rather than shamed. My journey has instilled in me a deep commitment to promoting understanding and acceptance. I envision a world where LGBTQIA+ individuals can live openly and proudly without the threat of abuse or discrimination. I aspire to see policies that not only provide basic rights, like the ability to use the bathroom of one's choice but also foster a broader cultural shift towards inclusivity and respect. I want to be a catalyst for change, advocating for a society that recognizes and respects the diverse identities and experiences of its members. By empowering others to embrace their true selves, I hope to contribute to a future where LGBTQIA+ individuals are valued and respected, creating a society that truly understands and supports all its members.

When I reflect on what interests me most, rugby stands out as a powerful force of self-acceptance and resilience. As a rugby player myself, I’ve come to see the sport as more than just a game; it’s a testament to overcoming societal expectations and embracing one’s unique strengths. Rugby’s appeal goes far beyond its physical demands. It’s a sport where tackles, speed, and agility are just parts of the equation. What truly makes rugby special is how it challenges traditional notions of strength and femininity. In rugby, physical power and endurance are not only accepted but celebrated, demonstrating that strength can enhance, rather than diminish, one’s sense of self. Growing up, I struggled with body image issues, feeling self-conscious about my proportions and facing negative comments from those around me. These experiences created a sense of insecurity and doubt, making it hard to appreciate my body and its capabilities. It wasn’t until I became involved in rugby that I began to see a different perspective on body image and self-worth. Rugby has helped me challenge the narrow standards of femininity that often make us feel inadequate. The sport’s emphasis on physicality and teamwork shows that power and athleticism are qualities to be proud of. As I joined the rugby team during my junior year of college, I discovered a diverse community of players, each with their own unique definitions of strength and femininity. This diversity helped me realize that rugby welcomes all body types and personal styles. The sport has been instrumental in my journey toward self-acceptance. Like many, I’ve struggled with fitting into a specific idea of what it means to be feminine. Rugby’s emphasis on strength and resilience has allowed me to embrace my body’s potential and appreciate its capabilities. The challenges and triumphs on the field have encouraged me to confront and overcome my own negative beliefs about body image. Rugby’s impact extends beyond personal growth; it’s also about encouraging others to find empowerment through their own strengths. The sport’s culture of resilience and determination has been a guiding light for me, helping me set and pursue my own goals with confidence. Rugby has shown me how embracing one’s unique strengths can be a powerful way to overcome adversity and achieve true empowerment. Overall, rugby is more than just a game to me; it’s a transformative experience that has reshaped my view of myself and my body. The sport’s inclusive and empowering nature has inspired me to move forward, embrace my body’s potential, and continue striving toward my goals with a renewed sense of confidence and self-worth.

When I reflect on the athletes who have inspired me the most, Ilona Maher stands out as a powerful beacon of self-acceptance and resilience. As a rugby player myself, her journey as a proves to be a testament to overcoming societal expectations and embracing one's unique strengths. While her rugby tackles, speed, and agility are impressive, what really stands out is how her story goes beyond the field. She’s a powerful symbol of body positivity and self-empowerment Growing up, I struggled with body image issues, feeling self-conscious about my proportions and often facing negative comments from those around me. These experiences created a sense of insecurity and doubt, making it challenging to appreciate my body and its capabilities. It wasn’t until I discovered Ilona Maher’s story that I began to see a different perspective on body image and self-worth. Ilona Maher, with her strong build and fearless attitude, shakes up traditional ideas about femininity and athleticism. Her success in rugby shows that being powerful and muscular can actually enhance femininity rather than take away from it. Seeing her thrive made me realize that rugby is a sport where everyone is welcome, which inspired me to join the team during my junior year of college. There, I met a diverse group of women, each with their own unique take on what it means to be feminine. Maher’s story really resonates with me because it mirrors my own journey toward self-acceptance. Like her, I’ve struggled with body image and felt pressured to fit a narrow idea of femininity that didn’t match who I am. Watching Maher excel in a sport that values physical strength helped me see my body in a new light. It encouraged me to challenge my own negative beliefs and to embrace my body’s strength and potential. Therefore, Maher’s story is not just about personal triumph but also about encouraging others to find strength and empowerment in their own bodies. Her message of resilience, self-acceptance, and determination has been a guiding light for me in body positivity and rugby journey pursuing me to move my own goals and embrace my body’s potential. Ilona Maher is my favorite to cheer for because she shows how embracing one’s unique strengths can be a powerful way to overcome adversity and achieve true empowerment.

Leadership is more than what is on movies where the captain of the football team says a few words and guides him team to a victory. Behind the character is a personality which embodies resilience, embracing risks, which leads to inspiring growth amongst others. My journey has taught me that true leadership emerges from turning obstacles into opportunities and using personal experiences to drive positive change. When I was eight years old, my mother encouraged me to perform in the school talent show with the words, “Without taking risks, we can’t progress in life.” Terrified at the prospect of failing in front of an audience, I hesitated. For much of my early life, I struggled with speaking. My words often came out in fragments or stutters, making communication difficult. Each time I spoke, I had to repeat myself multiple times, which gradually eroded my confidence. Rather than letting this challenge define me, I decided to confront it. I practiced speaking in front of the mirror for hours each day, scrutinizing every flaw and working tirelessly to improve. My efforts led to participation in several speech competitions, where I successfully turned my greatest weakness into a strength. But her words gave me the courage to step onto the stage. Although I don’t remember the performance itself, the lesson stuck with me: life is worth taking risks. Today, I’ve won state championships and gold medals, reflecting not only personal growth but also the power of perseverance and risk-taking. This principle has become the foundation of my approach to leadership. This experience taught me that effective leadership involves turning personal challenges into strengths and using those experiences to inspire and support others. As the child of immigrants from Nepal, who moved to Japan and worked low-wage jobs for a decade, I saw my parents’ sacrifices and learned the value of hard work and resilience. Their struggles shaped my understanding of leadership, emphasizing the importance of overcoming adversity and striving for a better future. As an international student in the U.S., navigating a new educational system while managing financial pressures has been daunting. These challenges reinforced my belief in stepping out of one’s comfort zone for growth. Recognizing the inequalities faced by international students, I felt compelled to act. This drive led me to become a member of the Chancellor’s Student Advisory Board, where I work to address student concerns and advocate for change. I also took on roles as Head of Staff for the International Student Representative and as an Executive Officer in my university’s Student Government. These positions allowed me to directly support my peers and work towards creating a more equitable environment for international students. Leadership, for me, is about motivating others and fostering a supportive community. My goal is to inspire my peers and community members to embrace their own risks and opportunities, advocating for fairness and inclusivity. Through my roles in student government and advisory boards, I aim to address the unique challenges faced by international students and ensure their voices are heard. Receiving this scholarship would be a significant boost, allowing me to continue my educational journey with reduced financial stress and further develop my leadership skills. It would provide me with the opportunity to take additional risks, explore new possibilities, and contribute to a culture of learning and growth. By supporting my education, this scholarship would enable me to make a meaningful impact on my community by advocating for positive change and inspire others to follow their own paths to their definition of success.

To me, success is deeply intertwined with the ability to provide for my family and relieve them of financial burdens. My vision of success is to reach a point where I can take my mother to a store and let her choose anything she desires without a second thought about the price tag. Growing up as the child of immigrants who moved from Nepal to Japan to work low-wage jobs for a decade, I witnessed firsthand the sacrifices my parents made. They worked tirelessly in grueling conditions, such as washing dishes in a five-star hotel, just to make ends meet and support our family of four. Despite their hard work, their lives were constantly constrained by the need to stretch every dollar. The journey of coming to the U.S. as an international student has been challenging, but it pales in comparison to the sacrifices my parents continue to make. Their unwavering dedication to my education—despite the financial strain it places on them—has been a source of both inspiration and sorrow. The constant stress of managing finances while pursuing my education weighs heavily on me. I want to change that dynamic, not only for myself but also for my family. Receiving this scholarship would be transformative in helping me achieve this vision of success. It would significantly alleviate the financial pressures associated with my studies, allowing me to focus fully on my academic and personal development without the constant worry of how my education impacts my family. It would also enable my family to experience a bit of relief, allowing them to purchase items they need or want without the anxiety of price tags. To reach this level of success, I understand that it requires more than just having goals; it demands consistent effort and resilience. Success, for me, involves pushing myself to overcome challenges, maintaining consistent habits, and striving for personal growth. It means not only setting goals but also taking deliberate actions to achieve them. One of the key actions I’ve committed to is developing a routine that includes meditation and a disciplined study schedule. Meditation helps me stay grounded and focused, enabling me to approach my studies with a clear mind and a balanced perspective. This mental clarity is crucial for maintaining productivity and managing stress effectively. Additionally, I am dedicated to finding part-time work that complements my studies and provides additional financial support. Success is not just about reaching a destination; it’s about the journey and the effort put into it. It’s about making incremental improvements, staying motivated even when faced with obstacles, and maintaining a consistent drive to achieve my goals. This scholarship is a crucial step in that journey, as it provides the financial support needed to concentrate on my education and personal development without the constant worry about financial constraints. Ultimately, success for me is the realization of my parents’ sacrifices and dreams. It’s about creating a future where I can give back to those who have given so much to me and ensuring that they can enjoy the fruits of their labor without financial worry. This scholarship would not only support my academic pursuits but also bring me closer to fulfilling this deeply personal vision of success.

For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. The constant awareness that my true identity would cause me to lose my family and be a cause of shame to my country often taunted me. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking and understanding allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive to the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. By accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. The journey of becoming myself which initially used to be a cause of immense pain now instead became a thrilling opportunity to challenge myself and become stronger and better than ever before. With this unique attribute, I plan to give back to my community by becoming an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. I plan to educate, empower, and protect queer young ones who are afraid to be themselves. I want to help create a world where they can be who they truly are without fear of discrimination or persecution. I believe in the power of community and want to be a part of creating a supportive and safe space for others. One way I plan to give back is by volunteering at LGBTQ+ organizations and youth centers. I want to use my personal experiences to help others navigate the challenges of discovering their identity and becoming their true selves. I also plan to use my platform, whether it be through social media or public speaking, to raise awareness about the struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community and to push for equal rights and protections for all members of the community. In conclusion, being a brown transgender queer man has taught me to be strong, resilient, and accepting. It has also shown me the power of community and the importance of giving back. I am proud to be unique and I plan to use my unique attribute to make a positive impact on the world. By advocating for the LGBTQ+ community and giving back to society, I hope to make a difference and create a world where all individuals can live freely and proudly as their true selves.

A Yankees Cap A Black T-Shirt A Khaki Pair of Pants. I looked into the mirror and I saw a reflection. A moment of comfort resided within me this is me. I heard a loud command from the other room: “Mishaka, Come Here.” In my head, I screamed “Noah…It’s Noah” I barged out of the room. My mother looked at me, disgusted; with a raging tone, she claimed, “You can’t go out looking like that. What will people say? I don’t want them to think that I have two sons. GO CHANGE NOW! ” Frustrated, I replied, “Who cares what people think? I am who I am.” I picked up my brown bag away from the kitchen counter and stormed off the house. With a loud thud, I closed the door, bidding farewell to the negativity. As I walked out of the house, I asked the universe this one simple question: “Why me? Why out of all the people in the world, why me?” For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. The constant awareness that my true identity would cause me to lose my family and be a cause of shame to my country often taunted me. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking and understanding allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive of the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. Through accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. Even though I have not been able to come out to my parents yet because of my total financial dependence on them, the very dependence on them pushes me to become more patient and further encourages me to develop perseverance as I work to find financial assistance or alternate ways to finally become free. The journey of becoming myself which initially used to be a cause of immense pain now instead became a thrilling opportunity to challenge me and become stronger and better than ever before.

For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. The constant awareness that my true identity would cause me to lose my family and be a cause of shame to my country often taunted me. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking and understanding allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive of the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. Through accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. Even though I have not been able to come out to my parents yet because of my total financial dependence on them, the very dependence on them pushes me to become more patient and further encourages me to develop perseverance as I work to find financial assistance or alternate ways to finally become free. The journey of becoming myself which initially used to be a cause of immense pain now instead became a thrilling opportunity to challenge me and become stronger and better than ever before. I wish to see that people like me all around the world can live in a place where they are unafraid to be themselves. A place where they aren't shamed, abused or discriminated for their identity or who they love or don't. I wish for people to be more understanding and accepting of the struggles lgbtq+ individuals face in their daily lives and take immediate actions to help us overcome it. I wish for the countries policies and system to provide lgbtq+ more access to equality, or even a basic right to go to the bathroom they desire. I wish to for people like me to be treated like humans.

For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. The constant awareness that my true identity would cause me to lose my family and be a cause of shame to my country often taunted me. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking and understanding allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive of the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. Through accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. Even though I have not been able to come out to my parents yet because of my total financial dependence on them, the very dependence on them pushes me to become more patient and further encourages me to develop perseverance as I work to find financial assistance or alternate ways to finally become free. The journey of becoming myself which initially used to be a cause of immense pain now instead became a thrilling opportunity to challenge me and become stronger and better than ever before. I am currently majoring in international relations in University of California, Davis. My educational goals is to be a member of the United Nations, specifically the gender and LGBTQ+ rights department. I am hoping that with my education and experience, I will be able to bring light to the severe injustice faced by lgbtq+ people in an international scale where actions to save lifes can be taken.

“Without taking a risk, we can’t progress in life.” When I was eight years old, my mother told me those exact words to motivate me to perform in the school talent show. I was afraid of the outcome of my performance. What if the audience hated my singing? Repeating my mother’s words, I bitterly went up to the stage and performed in front of my peers and teachers. Ten years later, I do not remember the performance and the outcome of the show. However, one lesson stuck with me, after all, that time: life is worth taking risks. By taking risks and opening myself to new opportunities and experiences, I was able to accomplish my extensive list of goals and change my life completely. In fact, It is incredibly important for you to take risks to succeed in any aspect of your life, especially in the academic world and when going back-to-school. Without taking risks in the academic world, you will never be able to achieve your full potential and build confidence, become more resilient and empower yourself.

"You need to choose between social life, academics or sleep" These were the very first words our high school college counselor told me and my peers in senior year as she described the incredible college experience. All of us were instantly taken aback. Having to choose between academics, friends and a natural bodily function seemed absurd to us. Until that moment our young brains had not been able to comprehend the idea of being under a copious amount of stress and responsibility. Although in the height of the moment our grade tried to shrug such an idea away by laughing at it as a joke, I couldn't help but wonder how I would be able to handle such stress in a country so far from home. The idea of a university being another stress factor to the stress of traveling across the continent, to a different nation with a different culture, language and people was terrifying. That day, I went home and indulged in a deep dive of youtube's "self-care" section where I took down notes and decided to meditate, journal, and exercise every day throughout my college years. I found that focusing on your breathing has an incredible impact on your mental health which also affects your physical health as well. As I took on meditation as a daily ritual, like brushing my teeth, I was surprisingly able to better my focus, concentration and ability to destress. Within my journey of healing through meditation and journaling, I realized the impact of a proper healthy diet can have on my physical and mental health. I restructured my meal plan to ensure I received sufficient amount of protein, calcium, healthy carbohydrates and fats. To this very day, I am so grateful for the past me for making that self-care plan which has helped me survive in times where I would lose the balance between intense academic curriculum and the need to be a social butterfly to make friends everywhere I go. In addition to my self-care routine, I am able to defy my counselor's words of choosing between one aspect of college life through making a copious amount of pro and cons list, discussing and sharing my concerns with my loved ones, and choosing to do what makes me truly happy instead of what society expects me to do.

My goal in life is to be truly happy by achieving and defining what success means to me personally. I would consider myself succesful when I am able to inspire other individuals, make them happy and guide them to a path which would bring success in their life as well

For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. The constant awareness that my true identity would cause me to lose my family and be a cause of shame to my country often taunted me. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking and understanding allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive of the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. Through accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. Even though I have not been able to come out to my parents yet because of my total financial dependence on them, the very dependence on them pushes me to become more patient and further encourages me to develop perseverance as I work to find financial assistance or alternate ways to finally become free. The journey of becoming myself which initially used to be a cause of immense pain now instead became a thrilling opportunity to challenge me and become stronger and better than ever before. At the end of the day, when I look upon the night sky, I answer my lingering question. ‘Why me?” The answer is some have to go through pain in order to make the world a better place. While it may be challenging, the opportunity I possess to explore my identity and develop as a person is a unique opportunity that only a few receive. It is a challenge I am willing to face. To me, being a brown transgender queer man is a blessing in disguise.

For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. The constant awareness that my true identity would cause me to lose my family and be a cause of shame to my country often taunted me. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking and understanding allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive of the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. Through accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. Even though I have not been able to come out to my parents yet because of my total financial dependence on them, the very dependence on them pushes me to become more patient and further encourages me to develop perseverance as I work to find financial assistance or alternate ways to finally become free. The journey of becoming myself which initially used to be a cause of immense pain now instead became a thrilling opportunity to challenge me and become stronger and better than ever before.

For the first half of my life, every single word that came out of my mouth were fragments, stutters, or incomprehensible. Every time I spoke, I had to repeat myself multiple times before the other party understood or gave up on me, and slowly my confidence began to shatter day by day. However one day, I decided that I wouldn't waste my life reminiscing over failure but instead, I was going to redeem myself. So, I started practicing speaking in front of the mirror for hours, for days, for months, examining all sorts of flaws with my speech and to prove to myself, the result of my practice, I took part in several speech competitions. Turns out, I was able to successfully turn my greatest weakness into strength as the entire process showed me that when I put my mind to something, no matter how impossible a task may seem, I was able to achieve it. Today, I have won several awards for speech competitions - the state championships, golds, and encores. The endless hours of practice, filled with frustration, failure, and success, boosted my confidence within me and fueled my passion and perseverance to chase my dreams no matter what.

For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive of the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. Through accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. The journey of becoming myself which initially used to be a cause of immense pain now instead became a thrilling opportunity to challenge me and become stronger and better than ever before.

In the midst of the quarantine, a popular trend came by twitter - what would you do if you lived in a world without men? The post went viral from angry comments from misogynists to retweets from feminists. The ignorant ones who weren't bothered enough to seek the meaning behind the post victimized themselves and went on to laugh about the impracticality of it. But the actual comment section was heartbreaking. It was just a list of simple daily tasks: "Take a walk at night..Wear whatever I want.. Finish a sentence". Today, in America, 1 in 6 women have been victims of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. When I first read about this in 8th grade, I was shaken to the core. I couldn't sleep at night, knowing that this appalling number represents our society, where women everywhere in the world are constantly in fear of being one of the 1 in 6. I couldn't walk down my all-girls school hallway knowing that one day 1 in 6 of them will be the victim of this brutal reality. I needed to do something about it. I already had the resources I needed to make this necessity into a reality: proper self-defense training, a co-leader who had a black belt in martial arts, and an encouraging school administration who admired student initiative. With these resources, my friend Miran, and I, established a "Self-Defense club" in our school, which turned out to be an absolute hit overnight. By teaching several essential life-saving skills, knowledge, and techniques, Miran and I could boost hundreds of students' physical and mental strength, allowing them to become more confident within themselves. Now, as I walk down the high school hallways, I see the familiar faces of the strong young women walking past with their heads held high, filled with the power and knowledge of self-defense. I now worry a little less, knowing that one day, 1 in 6 of them might be able to protect themselves from this unfortunate world.

For the first half of my life, every single word that came out of my mouth were fragments, stutters, or incomprehensible. Every time I spoke, I had to repeat myself multiple times before the other party understood or gave up on me. I always dreamt of delivering a speech and having an audience be in awe at the command of my voice. Yet, every time I spoke, the result was the opposite. As the series of my unfortunate stutters and fast-paced talking continued, my confidence began to shatter day by day. I started to become quieter. "When you have reached your lowest point, the only way is to go up." Repeatedly reciting this mantra, I decided that I wouldn't waste my life reminiscing over one small failure but instead, I was going to redeem myself. So, I started practicing speaking in front of the mirror for hours, for days, for months, examining all sorts of flaws with my speech. Over time, the intense practice allowed me to turn my greatest weakness into my most remarkable talent. Today, I have won several awards for speech competitions - the state championships, golds, and encores. More importantly, turning my greatest weakness into strength has shown me that when I put my mind into something, no matter how impossible a task may seem, I will achieve it. The endless hours of practice, filled with frustration, failure, and success, have boosted my confidence within me and fueled my passion and perseverance to chase my dreams.

For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive of the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. Through accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. The journey of becoming myself which initially used to be a cause of immense pain now instead became a thrilling opportunity to challenge me and become stronger and better than ever before.

For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive of the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. Through accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. The journey of becoming myself which initially used to be a cause of immense pain now instead became a thrilling opportunity to challenge me and become stronger and better than ever before.

For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. The constant awareness that my true identity would cause me to lose my family and be a cause of shame to my country often taunted me. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking and understanding allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive of the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. Through accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. Even though I have not been able to come out to my parents yet because of my total financial dependence on them, the very dependence on them pushes me to become more patient and further encourages me to develop perseverance as I work to find financial assistance or alternate ways to finally become free. The journey of becoming myself which initially used to be a cause of immense pain now instead became a thrilling opportunity to challenge me and become stronger and better than ever before.

For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. The constant awareness that my true identity would cause me to lose my family and be a cause of shame to my country often taunted me. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking and understanding allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive of the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. Through accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. Even though I have not been able to come out to my parents yet because of my total financial dependence on them, the very dependence on them pushes me to become more patient and further encourages me to develop perseverance as I work to find financial assistance or alternate ways to finally become free. The journey of becoming myself which initially used to be a cause of immense pain now instead became a thrilling opportunity to challenge me and become stronger and better than ever before. At the end of the day, when I look upon the night sky, I answer my lingering question. ‘Why me?” The answer is some have to go through pain in order to make the world a better place. While it may be challenging, the opportunity I possess to explore my identity and develop as a person is a unique opportunity that only a few receive. It is a challenge I am willing to face. To me, being a brown transgender queer man is a blessing in disguise.

For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive of the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. Through accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. The journey of becoming myself which initially used to be a cause of immense pain now instead became a thrilling opportunity to challenge me and become stronger and better than ever before.

For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive of the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. Through accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. The journey of becoming myself which initially used to be a cause of immense pain now instead became a thrilling opportunity to challenge me and become stronger and better than ever before.

For as long as I can remember, I have been a storyteller. Whether it was a story about my thrilling adventure to the grocery store or my rendition of my grandma’s fairytale stories, any moment to tell a story would be my favorite part of my day. However, although I always believed that my stories were always fascinating, I had a very difficult time convincing my friends that my stories were worth a listen because growing up, I had a terrible stutter which made my stories almost incomprehensible. As my friends started to stop listening to my stories, my confidence began to shatter day and I began to stop telling my stories as my stutter took over my passion. However, one day, I decided that I wouldn't waste my life reminiscing over failure but instead, I was going to redeem myself through alternate ways. *click* I began taking pictures of beautiful sceneries or objects and posted them on social media, where my friends praised my photography skill and encouraged me to take more pictures. Slowly, photography became a new way for me to express myself. It didn’t matter whether the object or the scenery in the picture was objectively beautiful or not because each of my pictures had a special story behind it. Each photograph I took, had two different stories to tell: the apparent and the hidden story. The apparent one is the story that the audience interprets when they first look at the pictures I took, while hidden being the story behind the pictures that only I knew of. Thus, these special stories I held through photography became a unique way for me to fulfill my dreams: to tell a story that I could never express by words.

For as long as I can remember, I have been a storyteller. Whether it was a story about my thrilling adventure to the grocery store or my rendition of my grandma’s fairytale stories, any moment to tell a story would be my favorite part of my day. However, although I always believed that my stories were always fascinating, I had a very difficult time convincing my friends that my stories were worth a listen. This was because growing up, every single word that came out of my mouth was either fragments, stutters, or incomprehensible. Every time I tried to tell my friends a story, my stubborn stutter led me to repeat myself multiple times before the other party understood or gave up on me. As my friends started to stop listening to my stories, my confidence began to shatter day and I began to stop telling my stories. The low confidence I developed led my overall performance in academic and social life to diminish and slowly my stutter took over my passion and a key form of happiness. However, one day, I decided that I wouldn't waste my life reminiscing over failure but instead, I was going to redeem myself. Thus, a few years later one simple but unexpected incident led me to uncover my hidden talent which allowed me to tell a story again. *click* I took a single picture of my friends enjoying a sunset after an exciting day in the amusement park and posted it on social media. That single picture led me to receive hundreds of messages from my other friends’ who praised my photography skill and encouraged me to take more pictures. Surprised by the complimentary responses I received, I began to take pictures of almost everything and everyone I saw. Slowly, photography became a new way for me to express myself. It didn’t matter whether the object or the scenery in the picture was objectively beautiful or not because each of my pictures had a special story behind it. Each photograph I took, had two different stories to tell: the apparent and the hidden story. The apparent one is the story that the audience interprets when they first look at the pictures I took, while hidden being the story behind the pictures that only I knew of. Thus, these special stories I held through photography became a unique way for me to fulfill my dreams: to tell a story that I could never express by words.

Today, in America, 1 in 6 women have been victims of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. When I first read about this in 8th grade, I was shaken to the core. I couldn't sleep at night, knowing that this appalling number represents our society, where women everywhere in the world are constantly in fear of being one of the 1 in 6. I couldn't walk down my all-girls school hallway knowing that one day 1 in 6 of them will be the victim of this brutal reality. I needed to do something about it. I already had the resources I needed to make this necessity into a reality: proper self-defense training, a co-leader who had a black belt in martial arts, and an encouraging school administration who admired student initiative. With these resources, my friend Miran, and I, established a "Self-Defense club" in our school, which turned out to be an absolute hit overnight. By teaching several essential life-saving skills, knowledge, and techniques, Miran and I could boost hundreds of students' physical and mental strength, allowing them to become more confident within themselves. Now, as I walk down the high school hallways, I see the familiar faces of the strong young women walking past with their heads held high, filled with the power and knowledge of self-defense. I now worry a little less, knowing that one day, 1 in 6 of them might be able to protect themselves from this unfortunate world.

For as long as I can remember, I have been a storyteller. Whether it was a story about my thrilling adventure to the grocery store or my rendition of my grandma’s fairytale stories, any moment to tell a story would be my favorite part of my day. However, although I always believed that my stories were always fascinating, I had a very difficult time convincing my friends that my stories were worth a listen. This was because growing up, every single word that came out of my mouth was either fragments, stutters, or incomprehensible. As my friends started to stop listening to my stories because of my speech difficulties, my confidence began to shatter day and I began to stop telling my stories. The low confidence I developed led my overall performance in academic and social life to diminish and slowly my stutter took over my passion and a key form of happiness. However, one day, I decided that I wouldn't waste my life reminiscing over failure but instead, I was going to redeem myself. Thus, a few years later one simple but unexpected incident led me to uncover my hidden talent which allowed me to tell a story again. *click* I began to post pictures that I took on social media and my friends began encouraging me to take more.Slowly, photography became a new way for me express myself. It didn’t matter whether the object or the scenery in the picture was objectively beautiful or not because each of my pictures had a special story behind it. Thus, the special stories I held through photography, in and behind the picture, became a unique way for me to fulfill my dreams: to tell a story that I could never express by words.

For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of understanding allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive of the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. Through accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. The journey of becoming myself which initially used to be a cause of immense pain now instead became a thrilling opportunity to challenge me and become stronger and better than ever before.

For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. The constant awareness that my true identity would cause me to lose my family and be a cause of shame to my country often taunted me. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking and understanding allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive of the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. Through accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. Even though I have not been able to come out to my parents yet because of my total financial dependence on them, the very dependence on them pushes me to become more patient and further encourages me to develop perseverance as I work to find financial assistance or alternate ways to finally become free. The journey of becoming myself which initially used to be a cause of immense pain now instead became a thrilling opportunity to challenge me and become stronger and better than ever before.

For the first half of my life, every single word that came out of my mouth were fragments, stutters, or incomprehensible. Every time I spoke, I had to repeat myself multiple times before the other party understood or gave up on me, and slowly my confidence began to shatter day by day. However one day, I decided that I wouldn't waste my life reminiscing over failure but instead, I was going to redeem myself. So, I started practicing speaking in front of the mirror for hours, for days, for months, examining all sorts of flaws with my speech and to prove to myself, the result of my practice, I took part in several speech competitions. Turns out, I was able to successfully turn my greatest weakness into strength as the entire process showed me that when I put my mind to something, no matter how impossible a task may seem, I was able to achieve it. Today, I have won several awards for speech competitions - the state championships, golds, and encores. The endless hours of practice, filled with frustration, failure, and success, boosted my confidence within me and fueled my passion and perseverance to chase my dreams no matter what.

For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive of the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. Through accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. The journey of becoming myself which initially used to be a cause of immense pain now instead became a thrilling opportunity to challenge me and become stronger and better than ever before.

When I was a child, I always dreamt about bringing world peace and helping those in need. My young mind believed that the only way to help those in need and bring world peace while exceeding my South Asian parents' cultural expectations was by becoming a doctor. Thus from a very young age, I had set my intention of becoming a doctor and began to relentlessly study a variety of sciences up until high school. However, my academic results, teacher’s remarks, and personal passion had alternate plans for me. Regardless of how much I tried, I couldn’t ignore the fact that I wasn’t as passionate or even close to excited about biological sciences as I was with social sciences. I would always be fascinated with the United Nations and their missions which aimed to protect human rights, maintain humanitarian and peacekeeping missions and promote sustainable development. Thus, throughout high school, I changed my focus of study into a variety of social sciences and found myself very excited about classes like history, political and international relations. Although I applied for political science at UC Davis as a first-year because of the broad variety of jobs that political science offers, I plan to change my major to international relations next quarter. This is because I believe that my goal of becoming a part of the UN more specifically aligns with the international relations curriculum compared to political science. After graduating from UC DAVIS, I plan to further my study by expanding on international relations specifically regarding human rights and peacekeeping as I plan to join the political, peace, and humanitarian sector of the United Nations which will allow me to fulfill my dreams of helping people while being passionate about it.

I often used to ask the universe this one simple question: "Why me? Why out of all the people in the world, why me?" I have had quite a challenging and uncommon childhood.For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. The constant awareness that my true identity would cause me to lose my family and be a cause of shame to my country often taunted me. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking and understanding allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in becoming more accepting and adaptive of the variety of academic and social difficulties I faced in high school and college. Through accepting the circumstance for what it is and adapting my behavior and actions towards it, I was able to develop into a mature and fearless individual who learned to embrace my identity and easily overcome my difficulties. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. Even though I have not been able to come out to my parents yet because of my total financial dependence on them, the very dependence on them pushes me to become more patient and further encourages me to develop perseverance as I work to find financial assistance or alternate ways to finally become free. I have now stopped asking the universe the reason for my unfortunate circumstances. Because now, I don't see it to be an abominable curse but instead a thrilling opportunity to challenge myself to come out of this journey stronger and better than ever before.

For about ten years, I lived a double life where I switched between walking the hallway of my all-girls catholic school as a proud queer, trans male to being a closeted teenager wearing feminine dresses, just for the sake of my mother's happiness. Risking my life every day, with a smile on my face, I went about my day with an identity that is unacceptable and abominable to my ethnic community, the people of Nepal. The constant awareness that my true identity would cause me to lose my family and be a cause of shame to my country often taunted me. Yet, within the chaos and agony of discovering my true identity, I found myself surrounded by love and pride from a place where I initially never thought of looking - myself. Amid such chaos, I soon came to an understanding of how to overcome such difficult times in my life. I realized that I was unable to control others' opinions about me or the complex situations that I faced. Instead, what I could do was control my actions and change my perception of the situation itself. Not only did this way of thinking and understanding allow the journey of becoming my true self to be easier, but it also assisted me in helping others in their journey of becoming themselves. Instead of reminiscing over the past, I look to educate, empower, and protect other queer young ones who are too afraid to be themselves. Thus to support equality and promote diversity, I look to empower people with my stories from the past and give suggestions and advice on how to overcome them.

When I was a child, I always dreamt about bringing world peace and helping those in need. My young mind believed that the only way to help those in need and bring world peace while exceeding my South Asian parents' cultural expectations was by becoming a doctor. Thus from a very young age, I had set my intention of becoming a doctor and began to relentlessly study a variety of sciences up until high school. However, my academic results, teacher’s remarks, and personal passion had alternate plans for me. Regardless of how much I tried, I couldn’t ignore the fact that I wasn’t as passionate or even close to excited about biological sciences as I was with social sciences. I would always be fascinated with the United Nations and their missions which aimed to protect human rights, maintain humanitarian and peacekeeping missions and promote sustainable development. Thus, throughout high school, I changed my focus of study into a variety of social sciences and found myself very excited about classes like history, political and international relations. Although I applied for political science at UC Davis as a first-year because of the broad variety of jobs that political science offers, I plan to change my major to international relations next quarter. This is because I believe that my goal of becoming a part of the UN more specifically aligns with the international relations curriculum compared to political science. After graduating from UC DAVIS, I plan to further my study by expanding on international relations specifically regarding human rights and peacekeeping as I plan to join the political, peace, and humanitarian sector of the United Nations which will allow me to fulfill my dreams of helping people while being passionate about it.

Last year, our school administration assigned the Booster representatives the task of hosting a spirit assembly - to boost the school spirit from the unfortunate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A usual spirit day assembly would consist of a series of games where students would interact with each other through physical activities and a comedy skit. However, this year, the other booster reps and I had the impossible task of arranging a spirit assembly-similar to past years- but with extreme precautionary measures: no touching, no sharing, and no laughing. After long, distressing hours of discussions that led to nowhere, I finally thought of an idea of a virtual assembly that would allow us to overcome our obstacles. Assuming that the assembly would be successful given my leadership and public speaking experiences, the three other Boosters representatives chose me to lead the Middle School assembly. Except, it was a disaster. Within the first 15 minutes of being the assembly host, I felt defeated by the distorted sounds of angry middle schoolers and the agonizing sight of my laptop screen reading "poor connection." For a split second, I considered the easy road out of the mess: quitting. But then I suddenly recalled all the long hours, all the intense preparation, and all the script memorization; with a breath of fresh air, I decided to perform the entire two-hour assembly off the top of my head, improvising the comedy skit and games. My spirit completely transformed the atmosphere within the room, as my enthusiasm replaced middle schoolers' irritation. By the end of my act, the middle schoolers were ecstatic as they enjoyed their unique experience that the rest of the school envied. The cheerful faces and laughter that followed the resolving of my terrible dilemmas and dead ends pushed me into becoming a better leader, inspiring several students to run for Booster representative for the next year. My motto as a leader remains the same: Learn from the failures and inspire for the better.

"You need to choose between social life, academics or sleep" These were the very first words our high school college counselor told me and my peers in senior year as she described the incredible college experience. All of us were instantly taken aback. Having to choose between academics, friends and a natural bodily function seemed absurd to us. Until that moment our young brains had not been able to comprehend the idea of being under a copious amount of stress and responsibility. Although in the height of the moment our grade tried to shrug such an idea away by laughing at it as a joke, I couldn't help but wonder how I would be able to handle such stress in a country so far from home. The idea of a university being another stress factor to the stress of traveling across the continent, to a different nation with a different culture, language and people was terrifying. That day, I went home and indulged in a deep dive of youtube's "self-care" section where I took down notes and decided to meditate, journal, and exercise every day throughout my college years To this very day, I am so grateful for the past me for making that self-care plan which has helped me survive in times where I would lose the balance between intense academic curriculum and the need to be a social butterfly to make friends everywhere I go. In addition to my self-care routine, I am able to defy my counselor's words of choosing between one aspect of college life through making a copious amount of pro and cons list, discussing and sharing my concerns with my loved ones, and choosing to do what makes me truly happy instead of what society expects me to do.