The Vietnamese word for liver is ‘gan.’ I used to hate the taste of them—it was like eating pennies. My parents would simply boil duck livers and serve them in congee, a thickened rice soup. For the longest time, it was ingrained into my young mind that liver only tasted like coins and looked like a lump of gray, boiled meat. Then, one night for dinner, my mother sautéed them. They had a tantalizing sear, tossed in a mixture of reduced tomatoes and soy sauce, garnished with spring onion and cilantro. The smell made my mouth water, but I still feared the taste of pennies. The Vietnamese word for having the guts to do something is, coincidentally, also ‘gan.’ It’s a homonym. And that night, I had the guts to try liver again, and I ended up loving it. In order for me to keep a growth mindset, I remind myself that I have ‘gan’—I have the guts to try new things, to be bold, and most importantly, to be open to experiences in life. If I am presented with a new opportunity, I will not be afraid to take it, even if it doesn’t work out in the end. I used to be a very meek, shy individual, but after pushing myself to try things out of my comfort zone, I have been able to build my own self-esteem up. I did volleyball, tae kwon do, and marching band; because of being open to growth and change, now I have no qualms speaking in front of audiences or playing solos at school concerts. Making mistakes, finding the things you dislike, and the things you are passionate about, are all parts of growth—and because of ‘gan,’ I have been able to keep that growth mindset.

In my junior year of high school, my father began to limp if he sat down for more than twenty minutes. My parents tell me their biggest regret is that they were not strong enough to take me out on trips like American families could, that they knew too little English and were unfamiliar with the idea of leisure time. They came to the country from Vietnam with nothing to their name and worked until their joints creaked like old doors. Some nights, I was kept awake wondering if my parents would ever be healthy enough to attend my graduation, if sitting down for a long ceremony would render my father incapable of walking out the door, or leave my mother keeled over in the car with a migraine. My mother had cancer twice. First, it was thyroid cancer and then it spread into her tongue. There was a chance that her left arm would be paralyzed, and when they performed surgery on her throat she might never speak again; my mother—a storyteller, a lecturer with good intent, a chef, and the hardest working person I know—not being able to speak, taste her own food, or work ever again. Luckily, she recovered in great condition, but I know millions of others have not been as fortunate. I never want another child to have to experience the worry, the fear of how much more time they had with their parents. Since then, I have dedicated myself to a future involving healthcare. After witnessing my parents struggle so much with their own health, and still putting their conditions on the line to provide for our family, I want to pay it forward. There is so much improvement to be made in the healthcare system, especially for those that identify with or are a part of a minority group. For people of color, women, and those who openly identify as LGBT+, it may be more difficult to seek medical assistance, and even harder to be treated properly without having their concerns ignored. I want to be a part of the positive change in the community, to aid others so that they do not have to struggle with their health. I am committed to studying medical laboratory science at the Ohio State University. It is a career that will allow me to be involved in diagnoses, identifying pathogens and infections, or be involved in blood transfusions, depending on specialty. With this career, I will be a crucial part of identifying diseases and allowing patients and families to understand their illnesses. I plan to apply for medical school after my undergraduate studies and further my education. There are many, many steps for me to take to get there, but receiving this scholarship will ensure that I have a strong starting point that will set me up for success in school. I will be able to delve into research opportunities and clinical experience as I study in my program. This path will allow me to be involved in the process that helps people understand their health and how to make it better.

When the doctors told my mother that there was a chance she would not be able to speak after her surgery, my family was devastated. She liked to talk and tell stories. My parents suffered from different kinds of health issues. My father experienced excruciating joint pain and could hardly walk. My mother survived two different kinds of cancer: thyroid and tongue cancer, which left her immune system and metabolism extremely compromised. Fortunately, the surgery went well, and there were no issues with her recovery. I recognize now what kind of impact I want to make on this world. My goal is to work in healthcare and bring change into people's lives through their health and wellbeing. Though we can enhance the world through technology or cultivate young minds to be stronger and smarter, the things that will always change with us are viruses, bacteria, and diseases. As the world grows more diverse, so will the things that make us ill. I am dedicated to becoming a doctor in order to aid others. It is my goal to receive my Bachelor's in medical laboratory science, then continue my education in medical school. It is my goal to interact with the community, help those in need, and bring forth stability, comfort, and safety to patients who are concerned about their health. After witnessing firsthand what illness and physical pain can do to people, I have decided that I can't just stand there and feel helpless. That is why my future is one where I can help people improve their lives and health.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I became very aware of what I had in life, and just how grateful I was for all of it. It was posted everywhere on social media and the news, and all of it was just a big tragedy. So many lives were lost, and others were changed forever. During this time, I made sure to reach out to as many people as I could and check in on them because I realized how short life was. Giving is important to me because you never know what someone else is going through. We all have our own struggles, and sometimes we feel like no one will ever understand us; if we feel like that ourselves, then that means other people might feel the same way. It is important to me to extend my hand and help others without them asking because little gestures can go a long way. You can change someone's day just by lending them a hand. I have dealt with a variety of struggles from mental illness, physical health struggles, and losses of loved ones. These are things that many people go through. There is a sense of duty I feel to help others as well. In order to give back, I immerse myself in volunteering. One of my favorite activities is volunteering at the Mid Ohio Food Collective, where we package donated fresh foods to people. In a four-hour shift, we may help up to two hundred families in need. I am also dedicating myself to work in healthcare, where I can help countless others and be a part of the positive change in people's lives. This is what I am doing to give back to the community and the world.

When I was in kindergarten, I nearly missed the bus home because I was so immersed in drawing a border of rainbows and clouds around pictures the class had taken. The teacher, a kind woman with curly hair, jumped when she realized I was still sitting at the table long after the bell had rung. Ever since I could hold a pencil, I was enamored by creation. Art is what makes me exceptionally happy. While I spend most of my day studying for anatomy quizzes or trying to find the statistical significance of an experiment, I feel at home when there is a blank canvas set in front of me. Being able to create something from nothing is beautiful to me. Art gives me a place to express thoughts that cannot be spoken or written; when I feel stuck in my head, I pick up a pen and allow the ink to speak instead. My first source of income was from art commissions; I asked friends, family, and neighbors if they wanted any kind of artwork. I never get tired of the way people's eyes light up when their ideas come to life. Growing up as a daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, language barriers were something I had to watch my parents struggle with. However, art is a universal language. Art makes me happy because of the infinite amount of ways to represent ideas and thoughts. Some people look at abstract art and find it pointless, while others try to find hidden meanings within the paint strokes. Some people like hyperrealism, while others prefer cartoons. Art makes people think about things they never would have before. If food, water, and shelter are what give us life, to me, art is what gives us humanity.

From the moment I emerged into this world, I did not conform to the standard. Even when we preach equality and justice, embedded deep within society is still a prejudice for those from a different background. Because of where I—and my parents—come from, I have faced walls higher than mountains. When I was a freshman in high school, I could not speak to anyone without being reminded of my race. It is something that I, and all people of color, have dealt with. But because of that, I am a stronger person. In the spast, I would never aim for one-hundred percent because I feared climbing higher only meant a more painful fall. I would settle for passing, and that wa it. It isn't just being a first-generation Asian-American, but also a woman and a member of the LGBT community. I have fought to find a place where I can feel at peace; I found it in illustrations, in my school's marching band, in birdwatching, and all sorts of intricate things this world has to offer. "Even if it comes to nothing, fight to the end." - Nagai Kei, Ajin: Demi-human, chapter 82. To me, this quote applies to every step in life. It takes the forefront when I face challenging obstacles or when I feel like I am at rock bottom. And yet, even in brighter moments, I remember these words. It is a reminder that I must keep moving forward no matter how many discouragements there are. It is not a quote about tragedy but rather a realistic hope for the future. Even if it comes to nothing, it cannot hurt to try. If I was still a freshman, I would have never been brave enough to acknowledge the color of my skin, the things I ate, or the language I spoke at home. But at one pivotal moment, I did make that stand. Even if it did not come as a revelation, it was still impactful enough to change my mindset on my race. I am grateful that I took that first step and kept going. This quote is special to me because it is a stark reminder of what can come forth if you push yourself toward it, and if nothing comes out of it, then there is satisfaction in knowing you at least tried. There is no greater regret than realizing what you have missed out on simply because you did not keep fighting.