1. When I most needed them. My parents had moved to a suburb and I was living with them and felt so lonely. I found a library K-Pop and K-Drama trivia event with free snacks, ramen, and a cozy space filled with MOA. I was able to make a diary book with TXT and BTS photos and I felt so safe and understood. As someone who always identified as a creative, I felt like I found such an accepting space where I could reconnect with that aspect of myself in a grounded way. 2. Compassion. Going to different K-Pop events has helped me make friends and I saw how diverse MOA are. Compassion helps us connect to each other despite our differences and connect to TXT's mission. 3. Seeing Kai in music videos reawakened my love for K-Pop, as I have approached life in similar ways and felt embarrassed at times because of my honesty. I love how genuine he has allowed himself to be and how honest he is about his abilities and growth over time as part of the group. 4. JK from BTS - Jungkook's perfectionism helped me use K-Pop to grow as a person and inspired my academic career! 5. Drama. The song effortlessly created so many conversations among MOA who had similar experiences and is such a common situation in friendships that can be hard to express without spreading heaviness and negativity. When I first saw the music video for the song, I was so shocked to see the contrast between the lyrics and the video. The combination of the relatability of the lyrics and the portrayal of the experience in the video was so healing for me. I have learned so much from being a MOA and I did not have to overthink to learn these lessons. I saw that we can acknowledge painful experiences and learn to recognize them, but also have conversations about them in different ways. 6. I could not afford to see TXT live when I wanted to, due to prioritizing healthcare expenses from chronic conditions. Many MOA at the events I went to received family support and were able to see them in concert, but I want to be able to afford it without sacrificing any essential needs. 7. The Dream Chapter: ETERNITY. I always related to the experiences in this album and found answers in my personal life to things I've experienced like loneliness and approaching friendship. 8. I am using limited savings, as I was laid off from my job two months ago and have not found another way to fund my education. 9. The scholarship would give me breathing room financially, allowing me to focus on school at an important time in my career. If I have funds that are just for my education, I wouldn't have to worry about things like covering basic needs due to being unemployed and having health issues. 10. TXT has inspired me to be more confident in pursuing my dreams. Their interactions with MOA have been so grounded and inspirational, and I also want to cultivate a presence that inspires and uplifts others. I have thought so much about how I want to show up in the world, maintain my sense of what is right, and connect with others, and not only what I want to study or the job titles I want. 11. There are not many female students in my program or my field in general, and I want to make a difference by being a compassionate presence in my field. I want to give back through teaching in underserved areas after I complete my mathematics degree, especially as high school students are graduating at a time when they feel so much fear and uncertainty about the world around them. I felt so supported by TXT's music at difficult times in my life, and I want to help others feel the same way. I would like to use the mathematics, computer science, and AI concepts I've learned and help students who have no way of connecting to opportunities in these fields simply due to their educational exposure. Photo: chosen because the House Fairy concept was genius :)