Giving back has never been something I see as separate from the rest of my life—it’s woven into how I move through the world. Growing up, I witnessed how systemic issues like housing instability, limited healthcare access, and educational inequity shaped the lives of people around me in ways that weren’t always visible from the outside. That early awareness sparked my interest in public health and continues to guide how I engage with my community. Even before I understood the term "health equity," I was drawn to service. By the age of 16, I had completed over 100 hours of volunteer work, earning the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Civic engagement became a core part of my academic journey. I spent a formative year in Washington, D.C., where I worked at a healthcare consulting firm and later in the U.S. Senate. There, I gained insight into how federal policy decisions trickle down to affect real people, especially the most vulnerable. That experience deepened my resolve to center community voices in any work I do. Today, I give back by connecting public health knowledge to community-centered action. One project I’m especially proud of is a historical marker initiative I led in my city. We commemorated a building with deep roots in local health history, helping reclaim a story that had been overlooked. This wasn’t just about preserving the past, it was about honoring the narratives that continue to shape community identity. For me, it was a powerful reminder that public health is not just about data or policy; it’s about people, memory, and dignity. In my current role at Penn Medicine, I support operational projects that enhance patient care. Whether it’s streamlining workflows, improving communication tools, or supporting change management, I’ve learned that even small behind-the-scenes changes can profoundly impact a patient’s experience. I find purpose in this quiet, systems-level work that helps good teams function even better. Looking ahead, I want to build a career that addresses health equity at scale. Whether through hospital administration or health policy, I hope to improve how institutions serve communities that are too often overlooked—immigrants, low-income families, and individuals managing chronic illness without stable support. I'm especially drawn to roles at the intersection of strategy and service, where I can use both data and empathy to create lasting impact. Ultimately, I want to improve lives by improving systems. Giving back, to me, means using my education, work ethic, and lived experience to make healthcare more human, more efficient, and more just. I hope to look back on my career knowing that I helped close some of the gaps I grew up seeing—and that I made people feel seen, heard, and cared for along the way.

As a first-generation immigrant and the first in my family to pursue education in the United States, my journey has been defined by resilience, responsibility, and an unwavering commitment to service. I grew up navigating unfamiliar systems on behalf of myself and my family. I often was translating not just language, but the complexities of healthcare, education, and opportunity. These early experiences taught me how critical access, empathy, and culturally competent care are to individual and community well-being. Despite the progress I’ve made, financial challenges remain a reality. I am currently balancing full-time work at Penn Medicine with my Master of Public Health studies, and while I am fortunate to receive partial tuition support, covering the full cost of education and repaying my student loans are a significant burden. Scholarships like this one would allow me to finish strong and remain focused on my goal: building a career that addresses systemic inequities in healthcare and uplifts underserved communities. Through roles in health operations, policy, and implementation, I hope to shape systems that make it easier for others, especially immigrants, working families, and historically excluded populations, to thrive. I believe in quiet leadership, community-centered change, and using my voice and skills to expand access, improve care, and drive social mobility through health. My academic and professional work is grounded in both curiosity and care. At Penn Medicine, I’ve contributed to public health initiatives that serve patients beyond the hospital walls. In the classroom, I’ve deepened my understanding of policy, epidemiology, and behavior change—all tools I hope to apply in ways that are people-centered and impact-driven. One of my most meaningful recent projects was leading the development of a historical marker honoring a local building’s public health legacy—an experience that combined my passion for research, storytelling, and community engagement. I am also deeply motivated by the long-term vision I hold for my life and career. I hope to work in healthcare consulting or hospital administration, designing and implementing programs that make care more affordable, equitable, and culturally responsive. I want to reinvest in the very communities that shaped me. That vision includes financial stability—not just for myself, but for the generations to come. Scholarships like this one help close the gap between ambition and access, making it possible for students like me to contribute fully without being held back by financial strain. I carry my family's sacrifices and hopes with me every day. Their belief in the value of education and service inspires me to keep showing up, to keep building, and to use every opportunity to make a difference.

As a first-generation immigrant, my educational journey has been one of shared discovery with my family. Unlike many students who are guided by generations of experience, I navigated each step alongside my parents, learning with them rather than from them. Their sacrifices — working tirelessly and trusting in possibilities they could not always see — made it possible for me to become the first Ivy League student in our family. If awarded this scholarship, I would honor its values by continuing to turn those sacrifices into lasting impact. My passion lies in health care innovation -- not simply as a technical or business interest, but as a way to create real, tangible improvements in people's lives. While working at the Penn Center for Health Care Transformation and Innovation, I saw firsthand how ideas, when applied thoughtfully, could help reimagine care delivery, center patient needs, and drive systems toward greater equity and effectiveness. That experience deepened my conviction that innovation must be rooted in empathy, creativity, and a commitment to making health care work better for everyone. But what truly shaped my understanding of health care didn’t come from working with patients. It came from watching my mother. She started as a night shift nurse, like many mothers, so she could be home for us during the day. I remember her asking me how to better word emails to her supervisors, or to help design props for a random Tuesday celebration she was organizing for the veterans she cared for--“just something nice,” she’d say. She brought celebration into the everyday, creating dignity and comfort for those she served. As someone pursuing a career in health care, I bring with me a lived understanding of the intersections between culture, community, and care. I care deeply about accessible health care access, but also about those who provide that care. My passion lies in the systems that hold us up. Innovation in health care technology holds the power to reshape how care is delivered, making it more efficient, accessible, and patient-centered. From leveraging data analytics to identify gaps in care, to building digital tools that extend services beyond traditional clinical settings, technology can bridge disparities and create more personalized, proactive health solutions. It also allows us to be more human in helping patients and supporting our health care workers. This scholarship would allow me to build on that foundation, pursuing further education and opportunities that strengthen my ability to contribute meaningfully to the future of health care. Immigrants have always been changemakers — not because we sought to change systems for the sake of it, but because we often had no choice but to navigate, adapt, and build better pathways where none existed. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand how creativity, resilience, and community could turn even the most rigid institutions into spaces of hope. Now, those same instincts drive my commitment to health care innovation. I believe that the future of health care demands not just new tools, but new perspectives — and immigrants bring with them an unparalleled ability to see systems differently, to imagine more inclusive, compassionate futures.