Hello! I’m Sania Qureshi, an international, first-generation female student studying in the United States. I consider myself hardworking, goal-oriented, and friendly. I enjoy reading various genres and was part of a book club in high school. My career goal is to pursue a degree in either orthodontics or pedodontics after completing my bachelor's. This decision is influenced by my personal interests and my parents' hopes for one of their children to join the medical field. My passion for dentistry began in middle school, where I was fascinated and curious about braces and oral health. Transferring to a new country without family or friends has been challenging and empowering. I faced homesickness, an increased workload, and the independence challenges common to international students. In my case, I worked on my emotional and mental health. Adjusting to independence was particularly difficult, as I had always relied heavily on others before. While initially it was a struggle, I gradually became used to it. As the only female in my family pursuing higher education abroad, I am determined to make my family proud and inspire other girls back home to pursue education beyond high school. Coming from a middle-class family, I’ve witnessed the financial and social struggles my parents faced to send me here. Some questioned their decision to send a girl alone to a new country, which made my journey here even more challenging. Their support has been essential to my journey, and I hope to honor them by earning a degree and securing a scholarship to reduce their financial burden.