I moved to the United States in the Fall of 2023 to begin my undergraduate studies at Towson University in Maryland. I will be a sophomore come fall semester 2024. I am the first of four children, and we were all born and raised in Kenya. Growing up, we spent most of our time in Nairobi, but during school breaks and holidays, we visited my grandparents in Vihiga, which is my hometown in the western part of Kenya. Christmas holds a special place in my heart, as it was well celebrated in Vihiga. We would light Christmas trees, prepare cultural foods and sing Christmas carols with relatives and neighbors. When it comes to my educational background, I went to six different schools because my family moved a lot. These schools were all different, which improved my adaptability to change. I completed my A levels and graduated from Rusinga School in the summer of 2023. Having lived in Kenya all my life, the thought of studying abroad terrified me. However, the opportunities and experiences that it came with eased my anxiety and fear. Growing up, I always aspired to work in the healthcare industry, and after months of thought and research, I settled on becoming a nurse. Choosing this career path meant that I would get to make a difference in people’s lives, especially in Kenya, where so many people go without having access to healthcare. To do this, I knew I needed to ensure that I got high quality education, and the United States is undeniably one of the best places to study as a healthcare provider. As mentioned earlier, change was not a new concept to me. However, it became my biggest challenge when I moved to the United States. From the way of life, to the different cultures and ethnicities I was exposed to, everything was different. I found myself craving my family’s presence, even though at first, I was excited to finally be away from my mother’s watchful eye. I also had trouble adapting to the weather and the food, which led me to finding out about allergies that I was not aware I had. Despite all these challenges, I was able to pull through my first year of university. Throughout the year, I learnt what it meant to be independent and responsible, especially when it comes to managing my finances. I also came to the realization that I needed to break out of my shell, be courageous and social: and this enabled me to find other international students who I could relate to, which made me feel like I was home again. Moreover, my aunt, who is a nurse, has been a huge inspiration for me. She was always busy, with barely enough time to come visit, but even with the demands of her job, she would always say, “I wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world.” Her words constantly reassure me whenever I feel demotivated or overwhelmed. After getting my undergraduate degree, I plan to work as a nurse in Kenya, offering medical services rural parts of Kenya where access is limited, while also getting funds to further my education.