I believe that even the smallest actions of kindness can have a big impact such as: holding a open a door for others, lending a pencil, or even simply smiling at someone and wishing them a good day. The one I consider the most vital, however, is something we do everyday even unconsciously; the act of listening. Listening to the things around us is plays an important role in our lives, whether I’m listening to music that makes me happy, or my friends who are giving me advice. Listening may seem like a mundane effort in spreading kindness given that there are other options, but sometimes the best way to show someone you care about them isn’t by showering them with gifts or compliments, but by being there for them and actively listening to whatever is on their mind– regardless of it’s positive or negative. Being a senior in high school is thrilling with the ever expanding boundaries of freedom, such as earning a drivers license, however, with the highs can come the lows. As the first person in my family with the opportunity to attend college, I was thrilled! However, when it came to actually applying for colleges I struggled with grasping the concepts of what “early action” meant compared to terms such as “early decision.” Hearing my peers being much more prepared than I left me feeling like I was lacking– it didn’t help that the organizaiton for first generation students at my school wasn’t very active either. The whole process of college applications felt like I was trying to cook a new dish, and while I was armed with all the right ingredients I had no recipe to follow and use as a guide. The dad who always helped me with my homework could only shake his head in confusion as he and my mother read through articles, trying to help me figure out my way through applications. It was obvious that as a first generation immigrant and student my parents had high hopes for my future, but not necessarily the means to guide me to it. Even though they weren’t of much help, knowing that they were there for me made me feel a little better. Motivated, I continuously worked on supplemental essays, polished my applications and submitted them one by one with trembling hands. Yet, even days after submitting them, I found I couldn’t escape the anxiety even in my sleep. My dreams felt as if they were constantly plagued with the idea of failure, that I would wake up to a flurry of notifications all echoingI was denied admission- it became a fear that I wouldn’t even be accepted into schools that othersconsidered as “safeties” with their high admission rates. My parents attempted to brush off my worries by saying they were confident in my abilities, but this time, it wasn’t enough to make me at ease. At school, I was able to talk with my friends and communicate how I was feeling, only to find out that the majority of them felt the same. It was surprising to hear echoes of self doubt from one friend being halted by others, which repeated as each person expressed their thoughts. Ironically it felt comforting that we were all in the same boat and that we were able to soothe our worries for the future even if by a small amount. Being able to listen to others is an overlooked skill, but the truth is that it helps bring people closer through empathy and compassion.

Being a child of two immigrants, I’m given the status of a “first” for numerous things- such as graduating high school and going to college. My ethnicity is also among the first things people notice, as I continue being the only Asian, and sometimes even the only person of color, in my classes. Yet, despite often sticking out like a sore thumb, ironically, my presence isn’t enough to encourage people to think about what they say. Murmurs would grow to shouts filled with amusement as discrimination ran rampant in my freshmen year art class, a place I once considered a safe space with my passion for drawing-the teacher never once meeting my eyes as I seeked her help. Though nothing was directed at me, the projected aggression was more than enough– I felt invisible and miserable. As time passed, I learned that if those with higher statuses wouldn’t step in, I would have to advocate for myself. As someone who was commonly described as shy and quiet, it took a lot of courage to even begin expressing my thoughts about the racisim I’ve faced but I’ve progressed to a point where I say what I mean, even if it means making awkward confrontations with friends. To meet with like minded people I’ve joined the Student Justice Coalition at my school where we discussed prominent issues within our school and the potential steps to cause change. I’ve also held a prominent role in the Culture and Geography club where I’ve led meetings and shared my heritage as other members and learned to appreciate the diversity of cultures around the world. My experiences in life have taught me the importance of diversity, and advocation againest discrimination of it. It’s a known fact that, unfortunately, racial discrimination is prominent in American health care, with many emerging stories about the experiences of people of color such as how Black Americans are systematically under-treated for their pain because of how providers may have beliefs of their patient’s pain perception that are influenced by racial bias. I believe that it’s important to not only give medical treatments of equal quality but to also treat everyone with equal empathy in interactions because when you’re treating a patient, you’re responsible for their physical and mental/emotional state. As a person of color who hopes to become a PA, I hope to incorporate compassion into my practice and make my future patients feel more than another number on my checklist. I am familar with what it feels like to be ignored, and I believe that making someone feel seen and heard helps develop a bond of trust, ensuring a better experience.

I want to repay my parents for all that they’ve given, from the opportunities in America to their love. I hope to take care of them and do what they’ve done for me for my own future children— set them up for success. I’m forever grateful to them and I hope to take care of others through a job as a PA like my parents have taken care of me.

When rummaging through cardboard boxes, I once found a bowtie. It was simple in design, plain black underneath the specks of dust. My mother had peered over my shoulder. "Oh, that's mine from when I was a waitress!" she exclaimed in Tibetan. Taking the bow tie from my hands she shook the dust off of it, then adjusted it to a bigger size. In spite of her efforts, the bowtie was too small for her- she had outgrown it. I'm a first-generation immigrant; my parents were born in India, and their own parents were born in Tibet. Being constantly on the move in search of a better life has always been in my family's blood, and it seems like it's in mine too. Neither one of my parents was able to go to college; my mother wasn't even able to finish middle school. When I had finally reached my freshmen year of highschool I remembered vividly what my parents had said : "Just a few years more and you'll surpass us." Going to college means doing something that my parents didn't have the means to, and I understand that having a degree is important especially when it comes to job opportunities. It may sound like I'm only motivated to go to college because of my parents, but that's only a part of my case. There's been a lot of talk at my school about college applications, and though I'm nervous, I find myself looking forward to it: a new community, schedule, etc. I still have many months left til my time as a high schooler ends, but I'm going to make the best of it!

Despite the enticement that junk foods make of being easier to consume, superfoods can be too! Not a whole ton of prep work needs to be done when it comes to superfoods and a lot can be easily incorporated into ones' daily diet, hence why I love them! They can help save time while giving you benefits for a healthier life! My favorite superfoods are an assortment of berries (such as strawberries, raspberries etc), soft boiled eggs as well as green tea! I love eating soft boiled eggs for breakfast accompanied by a slice of whole wheat toast. For the berries they work as a quick snack to bring to school or to enjoy at home with some yogurt! Green tea is rather versatile so I drink it whenever I need a self care moment.

Making paper flashcards are a classic way of prepping for an upcoming test, but often afterwards it's wasteful since most people dump them out and move on to the next stack of index cards. Not wanting to fall into the loop of flashcards accumulating in my trash bin, I opted to using online study methods instead. One of which that caught my eye was Quizlet; an online study source where I could use flashcard sets made by others or custom make my own, and the best part was that there would be no paper waste accompanying it! There were others I use as well such as Blooket, a website that mixes studying and fun games together which makes the chances of losing motivation to study lower. I used to study heavily by simply rereading notes or chapters I knew we would be tested on, but I figured that skimming through and not actually working through with the material wasn't going to cut it; hence why I switched over to more interactive ways of studying where I could actively participate rather than letting my eyes gloss over pages of words.