My definition of the American Dream is the ability to build your own stability, even when nothing is guaranteed. When my family came to the United States, everything changed at once. I had to adapt to a new country, new school system, and a future filled with uncertainty. One of the hardest parts of not being a U.S. citizen is knowing that many opportunities depend on factors outside of your control. You cannot assume that financial aid will be available. You cannot assume that work will be easy to find. You have to think ahead constantly and take responsibility for your future earlier than most students. This reality forced me to become independent. I understood quickly that if I wanted stability, I would have to build it myself. At the same time, my experiences serving others gave me a different perspective on hardship and responsibility. I regularly visit elderly and sick members of my community. Many of them live alone and face daily physical and emotional challenges. Spending time with them taught me patience and awareness. It showed me how important it is to be present and dependable. I also help work with younger children, supporting and guiding them. Being in that position taught me leadership. I understood that people look up to those who are consistent and responsible. One of the most defining experiences in my life happened during the war in Ukraine. I participated in refugee support efforts, helping organize transportation and working with a mobile kitchen that provided daily meals to displaced families. I saw people who lost their homes overnight. Families were forced to leave everything behind without knowing where they would go next. That experience changed the way I think about stability. It made me realize that stability is not something you assume. It is something you build and protect. It also made me realize that opportunity comes with responsibility. When you are in a position to help, you do not wait. You act. As an immigrant, I understand what it means to start over and live with uncertainty. Instead of discouraging me, this strengthened my determination. It forced me to focus on long-term goals and take ownership of my future. My goal is to pursue a degree in finance and entrepreneurship. I want to understand how money, investments, and businesses work at a structural level. Financial knowledge creates independence, and independence creates control over your future. I want to build businesses that provide stability, not only for myself, but for others. I want to create opportunities and contribute to economic growth in the communities I am part of. To me, the American Dream is not about comfort. It is about control over your future. It is the ability to take responsibility, make decisions, and build something meaningful through discipline and effort. My experiences as an immigrant and volunteer taught me that nothing is guaranteed. But they also taught me that progress is possible when you stay consistent and focused. The American Dream is not a promise. It is an opportunity. And I intend to build it.

I grew up in a family where faith was not only something we believed, but something we lived. Both of my grandparents are pastors, and my grandfather on my dad’s side is also a missionary. Their lives were centered on helping others, visiting people in need, and serving wherever they were called. Watching them showed me that serving others was not something reserved for certain people. It was something I was responsible for too. When I moved to the United States as a first-generation immigrant, I had to adapt to a new country, school system, and culture. Everything was unfamiliar at first. I had to learn how to adjust, be independent, and continue working toward my goals without losing the values I was raised with. This experience taught me resilience and helped me understand how important opportunity really is. My church has remained the center of my life. One of my regular responsibilities is visiting elderly and sick members of our church. Many of them cannot leave their homes or are going through difficult health conditions. When we visit, we talk with them, listen to them, and remind them that they are not alone. These visits taught me patience and helped me understand the importance of simply being present for someone. It showed me that helping people is not always about solving problems, but about caring enough to show up. I am also involved in working with children at church. I help guide them, support them, and try to be someone they can trust. Being around them taught me responsibility, because I understand that younger kids look up to older ones. It made me more aware of my actions and how I represent myself. Another commitment I take seriously is being part of the girls choir. Every Saturday, I attend four-hour choir practices. It requires discipline and consistency, especially balancing it with school and other responsibilities. Choir taught me how to commit to something long term and work together with others toward a shared goal. Some of the most impactful experiences in my life came through mission work in Ukraine and Romania with my family. We traveled to serve communities and help wherever we were needed. During the war in Ukraine, I was directly involved in helping refugees. We helped organize transportation for families fleeing the war and worked with a mobile kitchen that provided daily meals to refugees. Many people had lost their homes, their stability, and their sense of security overnight. Seeing this firsthand changed my perspective. It made me realize how quickly life can change and how important it is to help when people are at their lowest point. Being part of that mission work taught me responsibility and awareness. It showed me that helping others requires action, not just intention. It also showed me that leadership is not about being in charge, but about stepping forward when help is needed. These experiences shaped my goals for the future. I plan to pursue a degree in finance and entrepreneurship. I want to understand how businesses operate, how financial systems work, and how to create stability through smart decisions and leadership. My goal is to build businesses that create opportunities for others and provide stability for families. Growing up in a family involved in ministry and mission work showed me that success is not only about personal achievement. It is about what you contribute to others. My immigration journey taught me resilience. My church involvement taught me responsibility. My mission work taught me perspective. I want to use my education to build something meaningful. I want to create opportunities, help people build stability, and continue living out the values I was raised with. Receiving this scholarship would help me continue my education and move closer to these goals. More importantly, it would help me continue using my abilities to contribute to others and make a difference through my work and my actions.

Moving between countries has shaped my identity, my resilience, and my determination to succeed. Like Malgorzata “Maggie” Kwiecien, I understand what it means to leave behind everything familiar and rebuild your life in a new place. I was born in Romania, but when I was young, my family moved to London. For six years, I adapted to a new culture, language, and school system. Just as I began to feel stable, we returned to Romania, where I had to adjust all over again. Four years later, I moved to the United States. Each move forced me to start from the beginning, leaving behind friendships, routines, and the sense of belonging I had worked hard to build. These experiences were emotionally difficult. There were times when I felt alone and uncertain about my future. I often felt like I did not fully belong anywhere. Each transition tested my strength and forced me to grow. I had to learn how to adapt quickly, remain focused, and build confidence in unfamiliar environments. Like Maggie, I understand the courage it takes to step into the unknown and trust that your effort and determination will lead you somewhere meaningful. What inspires me most about Maggie is her independence and intellectual strength. She came to the United States on her own, driven by ambition and belief in her potential. I relate deeply to her determination to build a life through education and perseverance. Moving across countries taught me that stability does not come from a place, but from within. It comes from developing knowledge, discipline, and the ability to stand on your own. Education represents opportunity and freedom to me. I plan to pursue a degree in finance at Arizona State University because I want to build a future where I am independent and capable of creating my own success. My experiences have taught me that circumstances can change at any moment, but knowledge and skills remain with you forever. I am driven to become an expert in my field and to build a stable and meaningful future through my education. Like Maggie, I am determined to continue growing despite uncertainty. Her story reminds me that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to keep moving forward. Receiving this scholarship would help me continue pursuing my education and honor Maggie’s legacy through my ambition, resilience, and commitment to building a life defined not by where I started, but by what I am determined to achieve.