As I navigate through life as a first-generation Punjabi American, I am constantly reminded of the privileges and challenges that come with being both an immigrant and a bridge between cultures. My family's immigration story, coupled with my role in helping relatives navigate the intricacies of U.S. immigration policy, has deeply shaped my worldview and ignited my passion for advocating for vulnerable populations—especially refugees. I speak Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, and English fluently, with intermediate proficiency in French and Chinese, which allows me to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and to understand their struggles beyond the facts of the case and surface. My experience volunteering as an Office Assistant for the Self-Sufficiency Program for Refugees at Catholic Charities reinforced the critical role that welfare programs play in the lives of marginalized communities. I saw firsthand the essential support that Medicaid and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provide to those in dire need. My academic pursuits have been a cornerstone of my dedication to public service. At the University of the Incarnate Word, I enrolled myself into an International Law course and took a deep dive into the housing and quality-of-life rights of the Roma population in Italy under European Union Law for my final research project. This experience heightened my awareness of how systemic neglect can deprive entire populations of basic human rights. It also reinforced my conviction to use law as a tool for justice, especially for populations who are too often ignored unless their issues become profitable or politically expedient. Looking ahead, my aspiration to pursue a coordinated JD/PhD program is fueled by a desire to advocate for human rights and challenge existing policies that overlook the needs of refugees and marginalized groups. I am particularly driven to explore how law can be reformed to better support refugee resettlement and ensure equitable access to resources like housing, healthcare, and legal protection. Through my education and career, I hope to create a more inclusive and just world where vulnerable communities are no longer left behind. In a legal career centered on human rights, I plan to continue amplifying the voices of refugees and immigrants, offering not just legal counsel but also advocating for systemic changes that support their journey toward self-sufficiency. My background as an Indian-American, coupled with my multilingual abilities, enables me to approach these issues with cultural sensitivity and empathy. By applying the skills I acquire through my education, I will work to challenge and dismantle the structures that perpetuate inequality and oppression—making a lasting impact on local and global communities alike.

As I navigate Highway 281 in San Antonio, a side loader truck with the message in big bold letters "Defund Welfare, #EVERYONEISHIRING" never fails to catch my attention. It serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive misconceptions surrounding welfare programs. During my time as a volunteer Office Assistant for the Self-Sufficiency Program for Refugees at Catholic Charities, I delved into hundreds of case files, witnessing firsthand the indispensable role of welfare in supporting vulnerable communities. The sheer volume of Medicaid and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families applications processed weekly underscores the critical lifeline these programs represent for refugees seeking stability amid tumultuous circumstances. The ignorance of the message on the truck only reminded me of the urgent need for informed discourse on welfare policies and their impact on marginalized populations. This serves as one of the many reasons why I plan to use my skills and higher education to aid refugees and immigrants on the path to self-sufficiency in the United States. As a first-generation Punjabi American, immigration policy resonates deeply with me, reflecting the complexities of my family's journey. Growing up, I often found myself serving as a translator for relatives navigating the labyrinthine bureaucracy of immigration processes. My involvement in Model United Nations during high school further fueled my passion for advocating on behalf of refugees, particularly in light of global crises like the 2021 Belarusian-European Union border dispute. In hearing refugee experiences, I drew parallels between the struggles faced by migrants today and the harrowing experiences of my grandparents and parents during the Partition of India and the Sikh Genocide. This similarity between my familial memory and current events compelled me to channel my empathy into tangible action. The first step I took towards this was to research and use my knowledge to engage my peers in refugee resettlement issues. My research presentation at the World History Association of Texas conference on April 6th, 2024, marked a significant milestone in my advocacy journey. By examining the intricate causal relations between welfare policy and refugee resettlement, I sought to illuminate the pivotal role of government-backed programs in facilitating the integration and well-being of displaced communities. My advocacy efforts extend beyond academic discourse; I actively engage in promoting refugee resettlement programs, disseminating information on avenues for support, and staying knowledgeable of emerging needs and challenges facing refugees globally. Looking ahead, I envision myself continuing to champion these causes with even greater fervor. As a first-generation university student balancing multiple responsibilities, I recognize the invaluable currency of time. In pursuit of my aspirations, I aspire to pursue a coordinated JD/PhD program post-graduation, equipping myself with the tools to drive meaningful policy change in welfare and human rights law.

Yellow - School Supplies - pencil, ballpoint pen, notebook, scissors Green- Foodie Vocabulary - sour, spicy, rich, balanced Blue - Adjectives for a Pet - obedient, adorable, fluffy, loud Purple - Tokyo _____ - ghoul, drift, flight, vice Yellow - School Supplies: This is the easiest group. I grouped pencil, ballpoint pen, notebook, and scissors together because they are all essential items you’d typically find in a classroom or backpack. These are the basics that students use daily, making them quintessential school supplies. Green - Foodie Vocabulary: The words sour, spicy, rich, and balanced all describe flavors or qualities of food. I chose these terms because they’re often used when talking about taste profiles or evaluating a dish—whether it's by a chef, a foodie, or someone just enjoying a good meal. Blue - Adjectives for a Pet: I grouped obedient, adorable, fluffy, and loud because they’re all qualities that can be used to describe pets. Depending on the pet's personality, these are the kinds of words that come to mind—some pets are super cute and fluffy, others are well-behaved, and some are quite vocal! Purple - Tokyo _____: This section would be the hardest group to identify. The words ghoul, drift, flight, and vice all pair with "Tokyo" to form familiar titles or terms. For instance, Tokyo Ghoul is a popular anime, Tokyo Drift is part of the Fast & Furious franchise, Tokyo Flight could refer to travel, and Tokyo Vice is a TV series. These associations make them fit together under the theme "Tokyo _____."

When discussing with my parents what my options for college were, the answer given by my Indian parents was "get married first, then you can make your own decisions." This did not sit right with me, someone who aspires to become a lawyer and help marginalized communities around the world to fight for their rights. My dream is to be able to get a degree and attend law school so that I can be equipped to fulfill my career goals later on in life.

When my father was younger, he dropped out of school to tend to his family’s farmland in India. Similarly, I was pressured to start work when I was an 13 years old at my family’s restaurant, but luckily I did not have to drop out of school. I even grew up in my family’s restaurant. We were open seven days a week and never closed for holidays. I grew tired of the restaurant despite how necessary it was to keep our family afloat. To make matters worse, in January of 2020, I found out my father had become addicted to painkillers. I sat at the dining room table doing research on Brexit for a Model UN Conference when I overheard my parents arguing. Suddenly, my mother came over to me. “sniff this,” she said while holding out a piece of foil with an white, chunky, powdery substance. I turned to my father, the shame emanating from his eyes. In my mother’s frustration, she attempted to make my father remorseful by involving me. My family owns an Indian restaurant in San Antonio, Texas. While watching my father fade away, I was compelled to fill my father’s shoes. At 14, my elder sister and I took over our family restaurant. Obligated to take initiative, I learned invaluable leadership skills, such as the ability to work under pressure, mentor others, and resolve conflicts. My coping mechanism through this all was language learning, so I studied Latin, French, and Chinese. I will also be in Georgia, the country, as an exchange student for the 2022- 2023 academic year through FLEX Abroad. I found comfort in language learning because when I was younger my father and I would talk for hours drawing parallels in English and our mother tongue, Punjabi. One of my favorite parallels is the similarities between French, Punjabi, and Hindi inquisitive sentence structure. My passion for language and talking about real issues led to my involvement in Model UN along with International Extemporaneous Speaking, which both require me to study many nations' politics and history in depth. With Model UN, I came to a realization that I want to become part of a community that is responsible for making lives better for people around the globe. I decided the best possibility to make real change comes with being a human rights lawyer. It is a gigantic and fairly intimidating field, but human rights lawyers do necessary work to mitigate the dangers that threaten marginalized groups and I believe that I have much to offer to the international community on human rights. My experience managing my parents' restaurant while taking a number of AP and honors classes shaped me into a hard worker who knows no problem is too big to tackle. I've experienced firsthand struggles of an immigrant family in a first-world country, while doing in depth research on the struggles families face in less fortunate countries, and I hope to make positive change by becoming a human rights lawyer. As aforementioned, I love learning languages. In order to assist marginalized groups on a global scale, being able to speak and understand the languages they speak is beneficial since speaking to someone in their native language is speaking to their heart. This would allow me to find the best way to protect the rights of any marginalized groups I may represent and expand the networks I am able to work with. For most of my teenage years, I gave my all to my family's restaurant and now I am ready to give my all to the field of human rights law.