April 22, 2022 - the day everything changed. That was when my mother was diagnosed with ALS, a terminal neurodegenerative disease that gradually robs a person’s ability to move, speak, eat, and even breathe. Most people pass away within three to five years. Since her diagnosis, my mom’s health has worsened rapidly. She is now completely paralyzed, bedridden, unable to speak, and entirely dependent on others. Our lives have changed forever. My name is Rishi, a senior at Souderton Area High School in Pennsylvania, and the son of a terminally ill mother. I currently face severe personal, mental, and emotional challenges that threaten my dreams of a college education. The diagnosis during my freshman year shattered my sense of stability and transformed my outlook on life. My mom’s journey with ALS has deeply shaped my academic and career goals. I plan to pursue a degree in biomedical engineering and eventually attend medical school, to research a cure for ALS, hoping that one day my work can save people like my mom. Life since her ALS diagnosis has been a constant struggle. Her health deteriorated quickly. Words became grunts. Breathing grew difficult, and swallowing food was almost impossible. As her strength faded, she became completely bedridden. Our house transformed into a mini nursing home filled with a hospital bed, a recliner, a breathing machine, and other medical equipment. I soon realized that when ALS strikes, it strikes fast, and it affects everyone in the family. Every day is filled with anticipatory grief aside and overwhelming responsibilities. Focusing on school is extremely hard for me. Yet the challenges at home are even greater. My father lost his full-time job and became my mother’s primary caregiver. I have taken a young caregiver role, helping with feeding, communicating, transferring, cleaning, medical appointments, and many household chores, while also morally supporting my younger sister. All these make me miss out on several after-school activities, clubs, volunteering, extracurriculars, or just hanging out with friends. Despite these challenges, I have remained committed to my academics and extracurriculars. I have taken all honors and AP-level courses and completed several dual-enrollment classes through local colleges and universities. I have maintained a perfect GPA, ranked in the top 5% of my class, and performed well on standardized tests. Outside the classroom, I serve as co-captain of the varsity tennis team and am a proud member of the National Honor Society. I guide underclassmen as a Pathway Ambassador and help organize leadership and team-building activities as an Athletic Leader. I reestablished the engineering club and led our Academic Challenge Team – roles that reflect both my academic and leadership interests. I also volunteer as a sports camp counselor each summer, tutor fellow students, and organize career exploration sessions for underclassmen. Remaining connected to my cultural roots has always been important to me. I’ve volunteered for over a decade at my local Hindu temple, helping with religious rituals and cultural events. I’ve also helped raise funds for ALS and childhood cancer causes and volunteered at local food pantries – experiences that reflect my deep-rooted passion for service. My mom’s illness has brought not only emotional strain but also significant financial hardship to our family. With my father now a full-time caregiver and my mom unable to work, our household income is limited. Receiving this scholarship would alleviate some of the financial burden on my family, allowing me to focus fully on my studies and goals without the added stress of financial insecurity. More than just financial aid, this scholarship would affirm that perseverance, determination, and faith can overcome even the toughest obstacles. To me, leadership is the drive to change the world positively. It’s about resilience, compassion, and the pursuit of a better tomorrow. The values of kindness, empathy, and gratitude that my parents taught me guide my every decision. Their message—“Be a good person in life” —is one I strive to live by daily. Though I face challenges that few people my age experience, those struggles have shaped me into a more compassionate, resilient, and purpose-driven individual. I am committed to transforming pain into purpose and honoring my mother’s strength through science, service, and leadership.

While healing from the injuries from a severe car crash in 2019 that our family miraculously survived, my career passion took shape. Pivoting from becoming an NBA champion to saving lives, I found my true calling in the medical field. Just like the doctors, EMTs, and even strangers who saved my family’s life from the crash, I hope to pursue a path where I can also make someone’s life better. My love for Legos and fascination with mathematics, combined with my astonishment at human biology, led me to believe Biomedical engineering is something I could truly enjoy while also helping others. In the past few years, the harrowing experience of a series of illnesses in the family, particularly my mother’s ALS diagnosis, further deepened these interests. My mom was diagnosed with ALS, a terminal illness, during my freshman year in 2022. Since then, she has declined rapidly and is currently completely paralyzed, bedridden, nonverbal, and entirely dependent on others. Our lives have changed beyond imagination. I aspire to pursue my college education in Biomedical Engineering with the intent to attend medical school. When ALS affects someone, it affects the entire family. As someone who is firsthand living through the devastating impact of ALS, I have a deep desire to solve this horrible disease. I believe I can achieve this through my bioengineering and medicine training. One specific area I am particularly interested in is neurodegenerative diseases and the potential of neuroengineering as a cure or treatment. I plan to continue my research on and advocacy for ALS to put an end to this tragic disease. I hope that someday, my work can save people like my mom.

They broke the news to me when I least expected it. Coming home after a grueling tennis match during freshman year, I was surprised to see my parents home early from a doctor's visit. While I ranted about my loss, my parents smiled and listened intently, though their eyes said something different. Pausing to take a sip of water, I heard my dad give the unbearable news—Amma, my mom, had ALS, a terminal disease. Tossing around in bed that night, I tried to sleep but couldn’t. I tried to force down tears but couldn’t. I tried to rip the clinging blanket that suddenly appeared heavy and suffocating but couldn’t. My heart sank to my stomach as life seemed meaningless. Fast forward three years, and life had changed completely. Amma’s health deteriorated quickly. Words became grunts. Breathing became hard and swallowing was scary. Losing strength everywhere, she became completely bedridden. My dad quit working to care for mom, my little sister, and me. Our house became a nursing home. The hospital bed, recliner, bedside commode, and breathing machine made me realize that when ALS hits, it hits everyone. I wasn’t ready to face so many changes. All my life, Amma had showered us with pure love. A scientist by profession, Amma was truly the supermom who would do anything for us. It was extremely painful to see her disabled, nonverbal, and bedridden. Though school seemed like an escape from the dark maze that was slowly closing in, it wasn’t. I imploded from the sudden developments and the dreadful future. In classes, I was often lost not knowing that I was called on by the teacher. Focusing became a struggle as dark thoughts swirled through my mind. The intense and overwhelming grief of anticipating a loss is the worst to go through in one’s life. It’s like fighting an endless battle. Amma is the strongest person in our family. Seeing her go through this ordeal bravely, I soon realized that we can’t live in fear of ALS. I had to accept the harsh truth that life wouldn’t be normal again. It was a little soon for me to learn that life is unpredictable and we have to navigate through its obstacles. But I needed to be there for the family and give my best, as my parents had always taught. I began seeing the positives of my situation, focusing on what I could control and forgetting what I couldn't. Despite being bedridden, and her eyes becoming her new voice, Amma was still with us and giving her best. She was still the true embodiment of kindness and love, continuing to be the pillar that supported us. Just seeing her brightened my day, and pushed me to persevere. With this new mindset, I was able to slowly adjust to changes. I was able to focus better at school and my grades and work once again reflected my best abilities. Most importantly, life at home seemed much better than it appeared previously. The boy who feared the daunting future is growing into a responsible man ready to face it bravely. Despite the pain and torture, ALS has taught me a valuable lesson: how to change perspective and deal with challenges. I aspire to inspire others and make an impact in this world by planning a future in medicine studying neurodegenerative diseases to find a cure for ALS. I am confident that whatever awaits me in the future, whether it be college or the real world, I will be ready to pave my way and “give my best” to find happiness, success and impact.