Fifty thousand. Not trees burned, bodies of water removed, or ecosystems harmed; It is the fifty thousand refugees that fled their countries in 2009 alongside my family. War stories of my parents escaping tanks and shattered buildings to find smoke-free areas have contributed to my desire for sustainability. As war creased, trees burned like wildfire, and buildings wrecked into rumbles. This destruction has a domino effect on us. These poor conditions drive immigrants like my family to flee our country for a better environment. More than a decade ago, I lived near Duong So 5 Street. Now, I longed to visit there again. Yet, the sound of home prompted uneasiness in my parents: Vietnam’s water flooding our knees and debris scattering the city. Although my family calls this home, we realized that Vietnam’s unsustainability isn’t a place to belong. Despite leaving the place, everything else remains. Vietnam has shifted into an environment with bundles of electrical wires in the air and rivers transformed into swamps. The push for change gets progressively more difficult with the gap in socioeconomic status; Many developed countries have the resources to engineer solutions that Vietnam doesn’t. This reality increases immigration toward developed countries, neglecting regions that don’t have access to these opportunities. Change starts with this realization. The challenge of sustainability impacts the way I perceive the world. Awareness of this factor allows me to see the apparent flaws of unsustainability. I do not want to restore Vietnam’s past state but rather evolve this community. For the animals and plants, I desire to provide better air quality by reducing river pollutants. For Vietnamese citizens, I desire to build solutions to the ongoing floods and saltwater intrusion. For my family, I desire to shape an environment where we have the pride to say, “Vietnam is our home.” My first steps began with my desire to hear the perspectives of immigrants at the Refugee Education Center. I tutored individuals from Nigeria, Myanmar, and Chile. Furthermore, I will study environmental engineering in college to better understand global challenges–not just in Vietnam–but also in the world. I hope to apply the knowledge, within the classroom, to our environment: How has the extraction of natural resources led to conflicts in Africa? How have conflicts emerged because of dam construction on major rivers, such as the Mekong River in Southeast Asia? This educational path will answer these questions and challenge me to ask new ones. With this scholarship, I am propelled to continue my passion. The monetary incentive will elevate the number of loans after graduation and allow me to channel my drive in helping my community. Throughout my career, this growth will follow through developing my self-awareness and understanding of those around me. By studying environmental engineering, I will better understand our environment and how to improve it. I hope these majors will bring careers where I can connect with people in my community. The fulfillment of being able to uplift others through learning and assisting them is what I desire. I hope to visit Vietnam not as a tourist but as a person wanting to seek evolution within this community. Despite my experiences, I realize that my upbringing carries privilege. I hope to use this privilege by challenging myself to think beyond my own experience to those who have less power than I do. What can I do for them? How can I use my power for our community?

Crystalline chimes collided as a woman, who reeked of marijuana, moved her way past me. When the woman sat at the foot tub, I noticed the mountain peaks of hardened skin accumulated on her heels. When her pedicure finished, I assisted her out to the dryer. She further digressed about the buses she took to the hospital and this salon. But finally, she admits, “Umm I can’t pay you, Nancy…I-I only have two shampoo bottles.” Glancing from afar, I confirm the Dove shampoos in her plastic bags. “…Al-alright, but only for today,” my mom hesitated. After she left, I approached my mom angrily, confronting her about this decision. “How could you clean someone’s feet just for cheap shampoo—” my mom interrupted me, “did you not hear her or notice her movements?” Limping to dryer…feet surgeryyy?! Unemployment at the hospital…this woman has her own story, I slowly registered. I recognized that I had been too quick to judge; I had built an image of her based on her odor and appearance without understanding her entire story. Soon, I realized that I’ve done this with others too. I judged the elderly. The man that left droplets of mud on the floor as he got his pedicure done—I thought of how dirty he was. I judged my mom. I didn’t tell my friends that she was a nail technician when they asked. I even questioned her, “why did you choose to clean people’s feet and nails for a living;” yet the reply was always “because of our family.” I didn’t grasp what she meant until I spent more time with her at Wyoming Nails. Here, I realized that there wasn’t just the smell of weed or polish, but also the scent of pain-relieving patches: patches that covered my mom’s back as she bent to scrub someone’s feet. Then, I recalled the words she emphasized one night as we closed the store “Con, this salon isn’t just a workplace—it’s our rice cooker. With the right grains, we can cultivate our lives.” These grains are us, I processed. My mom’s hard work has garnered the money to feed my family. No matter who walked in—the single mom, the granny, or the drug addict—she didn't judge them. I want to be like my mom’s grains. Gradually, I changed my point of view. I forced myself to filter first impressions about others; I allowed each individual the right to voice who they are. I use these experiences to improve my interactions with other customers. The rice cooker—this nail salon—has cultivated my grains of compassion through learning about my mom’s persistence and each customer’s story. Now, I clean each foot tub with the same methodical process whether the customers leave the smell of cannabis or stains of mud. My mom's work has inspired me to seek growth. There should be changes such as how cordial interactions are made between customers and employees. Similarly, I adapt this learning experience to my daily life. When I work in groups at school, I allow others to express their thoughts about controversial topics like immigration or climate change even if I disagree. At home, I help my grandma with her demands, whether it’s cleaning the entire refrigerator or translating a dentist's bill. As I major in engineering, I hope to apply this sense of adaptability and compassion to understand others’ backgrounds and use them to form solutions for our future. When the crystalline chimes continue to collide, I assist my mom and her customers with their service regardless of who they are.

Fifty thousand. Not trees burned, bodies of water removed, or ecosystems harmed; It is the fifty thousand refugees that fled their countries in 2009 alongside my family. War stories of my parents escaping tanks and shattered buildings to find smoke-free areas have contributed to my desire for sustainability. As war creased, trees burned like wildfire, and buildings wrecked into rumbles. This destruction has a domino effect on us. These poor conditions drive immigrants like my family to flee our country for a better environment. More than a decade ago, I lived near Duong So 5 Street. Now, I longed to visit there again. Yet, the sound of home prompted uneasiness in my parents: Vietnam’s water flooding our knees and debris scattering the city. Although my family calls this home, we realized that Vietnam’s unsustainability isn’t a place to belong. Despite leaving the place, everything else remains. Vietnam has shifted into an environment with bundles of electrical wires in the air and rivers transformed into swamps. The push for change gets progressively more difficult with the gap in socioeconomic status; Many developed countries have the resources to engineer solutions that Vietnam doesn’t. This reality increases immigration toward developed countries, neglecting regions that don’t have access to these opportunities. Change starts with this realization. The challenge of sustainability impacts the way I perceive the world. Awareness of this factor allows me to see the apparent flaws of unsustainability. I do not want to restore Vietnam’s past state but rather evolve this community. For the animals and plants, I desire to provide better air quality by reducing river pollutants. For Vietnamese citizens, I desire to build solutions to the ongoing floods and saltwater intrusion. For my family, I desire to shape an environment where we have the pride to say, “Vietnam is our home.” My first steps began with my desire to hear the perspectives of immigrants at the Refugee Education Center. I tutored individuals from Nigeria, Myanmar, and Chile. Furthermore, I will study environmental engineering in college to better understand global challenges–not just in Vietnam–but also in the world. I hope to apply the knowledge, within the classroom, to our environment: How has the extraction of natural resources led to conflicts in Africa? How have conflicts emerged because of dam construction on major rivers, such as the Mekong River in Southeast Asia? This educational path will answer these questions and challenge me to ask new ones. With this scholarship, I am propelled to continue my passion. The monetary incentive will elevate the number of loans after graduation and allow me to channel my drive in helping my community. Throughout my career, this growth will follow through developing my self-awareness and understanding of those around me. By studying environmental engineering, I will better understand our environment and how to improve it. I hope these majors will bring careers where I can connect with people in my community. The fulfillment of being able to uplift others through learning and assisting them is what I desire. I hope to visit Vietnam not as a tourist but as a person wanting to seek evolution within this community. Despite my experiences, I realize that my upbringing carries privilege. I hope to use this privilege by challenging myself to think beyond my own experience to those who have less power than I do. What can I do for them? How can I use my power for our community?

Fifty thousand. Not trees burned, bodies of water removed, or ecosystems harmed; It is the fifty thousand refugees that fled their countries in 2009 alongside my family. War stories of my parents escaping tanks and shattered buildings to find smoke-free areas have contributed to my desire for sustainability. As war creased, trees burned like wildfire, and buildings wrecked into rumbles. This destruction has a domino effect on us. These poor conditions drive immigrants like me to flee our country for a better environment. More than a decade ago, I lived near Duong So 5 Street. Now, I longed to visit there again. Yet, the sound of home prompted uneasiness in my parents: Vietnam’s water flooding our knees and debris scattering the city. Although my family calls this home, we realized that Vietnam’s unsustainability isn’t a place to belong. Despite leaving the place, everything else remains. Vietnam has shifted into an environment with bundles of electrical wires in the air and rivers transformed into swamps. The push for change gets progressively more difficult with the gap in socioeconomic status; Many developed countries have the resources to engineer solutions that Vietnam doesn’t. This reality increases immigration toward developed countries, neglecting regions that don’t have access to these opportunities. Change starts with this realization. The challenge of sustainability impacts the way I perceive the world. Awareness of this factor allows me to see the apparent flaws of unsustainability. I do not want to restore Vietnam’s past state but rather evolve this community. For the animals and plants, I desire to provide better air quality by reducing river pollutants. For these citizens, I desire to build solutions to the ongoing floods and saltwater intrusion. For my family, I desire to shape an environment where people have the pride to say, “Vietnam is our home.” My first steps began with my desire to hear the perspectives of immigrants at the Refugee Education Center. I tutored individuals from Nigeria, Myanmar, and Chile. Furthermore, I will study environmental engineering in college to better understand the global challenges–not just in Vietnam–but also in the world. I hope to apply the knowledge, within the classroom, to our environment: How has the extraction of natural resources led to conflicts in Africa? How have conflicts emerged because of dam construction on major rivers, such as the Mekong River in Southeast Asia? This educational path will answer these questions and challenge me to ask new ones. With this scholarship, I am propelled to continue my passion. I will elevate the number of loans after graduation and instead, channel that drive to helping this community. Throughout my career, this growth will follow through developing my self-awareness and understanding of those around me. By studying environmental engineering, I will better understand our environment and how to improve it. I hope these majors will bring careers where I can connect with people in my community. The fulfillment of being able to uplift others through learning and assisting them is what I desire. I hope to visit Vietnam not as a tourist but as a person wanting to seek evolution within this community. Despite my experiences, I realize that my upbringing carries privilege. I hope to use this privilege by challenging myself to think beyond my own experience to those who have less power than I do. What can I do for them? How can I use my power for our community?

Sunday mornings are like a relay race; My mom screams for me and my sister to wake up, while my dad casually eats. These events happen before we go to church. At first, this Sunday trip felt like an obligation: why am I even going? However, time at church has helped me slow down. Each breath I take allows me to reach out to him and calm my racing heart--realizing where I am and why I am here. Through praying to God, I trusted myself with him, and we connected. Moreover, I’ve realized that He is the reason I am here. He has built who I am and given me the things I have, so why can’t I do that for others? Our mindsets are often driven by the future: How can I get this internship? Where will I live in the future? The things we do are always intentional. The volunteer work to boost our resumes. The kindness we show to build connections for our jobs. Our narrow focus provides an extrinsic motivation for everything we do. This never-ending cycle builds a mind that solely focuses on merit. However, the lady in Mark 12:41-44, who provided two silver coins instead of large amounts of money, is valued by God because she had given all she has to Him. God is trying to tell us that she is a victim of this society. A community where individuals are not wholeheartedly connecting with God. I go to church as if it's an obligation. Oftentimes, I ask myself: how much worship money should I give? The answer depends on my belief. I’ve learned that the amount I contribute doesn’t matter but rather where my heart lies when I am giving. This mindset towards my faith propels me to contribute to society. Now, I seek volunteer opportunities where I can connect with others instead of accumulating volunteer hours. At the Refugee Education Center, I tutor immigrants that were just like me when I moved to America. We learn about each other's cultures and start communicating through facial expressions. My faith has guided me to give without a motivating factor. No matter how mundane my impact is in this community, I strive to connect and build our society like the woman who gave God all she had: two silver coins. This scholarship will help me pay for books and supplies. These materials will allow me to learn more about the world, whether it is related to my major in environmental engineering or connecting with our diverse cultures. As a scholarship recipient, I’ll be able to gain more recognition, allowing me to reach more people while encouraging others to give back because they truly want to. While I continue to connect with God, I hold the belief in giving back regardless of the incentive. Having faith in God will show that I am not alone. He will assist me throughout my career. I, an aspiring environmental engineer, will connect to our community by learning about our individualized stories and ways to solve the problems we encounter.

Fifty thousand. Not trees burned, bodies of water removed, or ecosystems harmed; It is the fifty thousand refugees that fled their countries in 2009 alongside my family. War stories of my parents escaping tanks and shattered buildings to find smoke-free areas have contributed to my desire for sustainability. As war creased, trees burned like wildfire, and buildings wrecked into rumbles. This destruction has a domino effect on us. These poor conditions drive immigrants like me to flee our country for a better environment. More than a decade ago, I lived near Duong So 5 Street. Now, I longed to visit there again. Yet, the sound of home prompted uneasiness in my parents: Vietnam’s water flooding our knees and debris scattering the city. Although my family calls this home, we realized that Vietnam’s unsustainability isn’t a place to belong. Despite leaving the place, everything else remains. Vietnam has shifted into an environment with bundles of electrical wires in the air and rivers transformed into swamps. The push for change gets progressively more difficult with the gap in socioeconomic status; Many developed countries have the resources to engineer solutions that Vietnam doesn’t. This reality increases immigration toward developed countries, neglecting regions that don’t have access to these opportunities. Change starts with this realization. The challenge of sustainability impacts the way I perceive the world. Awareness of this factor allows me to see the apparent flaws of unsustainability. I do not want to restore Vietnam’s past state but rather evolve this community. For the animals and plants, I desire to provide better air quality by reducing river pollutants. For these citizens, I desire to build solutions to the ongoing floods and saltwater intrusion. For my family, I desire to shape an environment where people have the pride to say, “Vietnam is our home.” My first steps began with my desire to hear the perspectives of immigrants at the Refugee Education Center. I tutored individuals from Nigeria, Myanmar, and Chile. Furthermore, I will study environmental engineering in college to better understand the global challenges–not just in Vietnam–but also in the world. I hope to apply the knowledge, within the classroom, to our environment: How has the extraction of natural resources led to conflicts in Africa? How have conflicts emerged because of dam construction on major rivers, such as the Mekong River in Southeast Asia? This educational path will answer these questions and challenge me to ask new ones. Throughout my career, this growth will follow through developing my self-awareness and understanding of those around me. By studying environmental engineering, I will better understand our environment and how to improve it. I hope these majors will bring careers where I can connect with people in my community. The fulfillment of being able to uplift others through learning and assisting them is what I desire. I hope to visit Vietnam not as a tourist but as a person wanting to seek evolution within this community. Despite my experiences, I realize that my upbringing carries privilege. I hope to use this privilege by challenging myself to think beyond my own experience to those who have less power than I do. What can I do for them? How can I use my power for our community?

Fifty thousand. Not trees burned, bodies of water removed, or ecosystems harmed; It is the fifty thousand refugees that fled their countries in 2009 alongside my family. War stories of my parents escaping tanks and shattered buildings to find smoke-free areas have contributed to my desire for sustainability. As war creased, trees burned like wildfire, and buildings wrecked into rumbles. This destruction has a domino effect on us. These poor conditions drive immigrants like me to flee our country for a better environment. More than a decade ago, I lived near Duong So 5 Street. Now, I longed to visit there again. Yet, the sound of home prompted uneasiness in my parents: Vietnam’s water flooding our knees and debris scattering the city. Although my family calls this home, we realized that Vietnam’s unsustainability isn’t a place to belong. Despite leaving the place, everything else remains. Vietnam has shifted into an environment with bundles of electrical wires in the air and rivers transformed into swamps. The push for change gets progressively more difficult with the gap in socioeconomic status; Many developed countries have the resources to engineer solutions that Vietnam doesn’t. This reality increases immigration toward developed countries, neglecting regions that don’t have access to these opportunities. Change starts with this realization. The challenge of sustainability impacts the way I perceive the world. Awareness of this factor allows me to see the apparent flaws of unsustainability. I do not want to restore Vietnam’s past state but rather evolve this community. For the animals and plants, I desire to provide better air quality by reducing river pollutants. For these citizens, I desire to build solutions to the ongoing floods and saltwater intrusion. For my family, I desire to shape an environment where people have the pride to say, “Vietnam is our home.” My first steps began with my desire to hear the perspectives of immigrants at the Refugee Education Center. I tutored individuals from Nigeria, Myanmar, and Chile. Furthermore, I will study environmental engineering in college to better understand the global challenges–not just in Vietnam–but also in the world. I hope to apply the knowledge, within the classroom, to our environment: How has the extraction of natural resources led to conflicts in Africa? How have conflicts emerged because of dam construction on major rivers, such as the Mekong River in Southeast Asia? This educational path will answer these questions and challenge me to ask new ones. Throughout my career, this growth will follow through developing my self-awareness and understanding of those around me. By studying environmental engineering, I will better understand our environment and how to improve it. I hope these majors will bring careers where I can connect with people in my community. The fulfillment of being able to uplift others through learning and assisting them is what I desire. I hope to visit Vietnam not as a tourist but as a person wanting to seek evolution within this community. Despite my experiences, I realize that my upbringing carries privilege. I hope to use this privilege by challenging myself to think beyond my own experience to those who have less power than I do. What can I do for them? How can I use my power for our community? Helping others allow us to understand why we are doing the things we do. My background has propelled me to uplift these underserved communities so that others will do the same.

Fifty thousand. Not trees burned, bodies of water removed, or ecosystems harmed; It is the fifty thousand refugees that fled their countries in 2009 alongside my family. War stories of my parents escaping tanks and shattered buildings to find smoke-free areas have contributed to my desire for sustainability. As war creased, trees burned like wildfire, and buildings wrecked into rumbles. This destruction has a domino effect on us. These poor conditions drive immigrants like me to flee our country for a better environment. More than a decade ago, I lived near Duong So 5 Street. Now, I longed to visit there again. Yet, the sound of home prompted uneasiness in my parents: Vietnam’s water flooding our knees and debris scattering the city. Although my family calls this home, we realized that Vietnam’s unsustainability isn’t a place to belong. Despite leaving the place, everything else remains. Vietnam has shifted into an environment with bundles of electrical wires in the air and rivers transformed into swamps. The push for change gets progressively more difficult with the gap in socioeconomic status; Many developed countries have the resources to engineer solutions that Vietnam doesn’t. This reality increases immigration toward developed countries, neglecting regions that don’t have access to these opportunities. Change starts with this realization. The challenge of sustainability impacts the way I perceive the world. Awareness of this factor allows me to see the apparent flaws of unsustainability. I do not want to restore Vietnam’s past state but rather evolve this community. For the animals and plants, I desire to provide better air quality by reducing river pollutants. For these citizens, I desire to build solutions to the ongoing floods and saltwater intrusion. For my family, I desire to shape an environment where people have the pride to say, “Vietnam is our home.” My first steps began with my desire to hear the perspectives of immigrants at the Refugee Education Center. I tutored individuals from Nigeria, Myanmar, and Chile. Furthermore, I will study environmental engineering in college to better understand the global challenges–not just in Vietnam–but also in the world. I hope to apply the knowledge, within the classroom, to our environment: How has the extraction of natural resources led to conflicts in Africa? How have conflicts emerged because of dam construction on major rivers, such as the Mekong River in Southeast Asia? This educational path will answer these questions and challenge me to ask new ones. Throughout my career, this growth will follow through developing my self-awareness and understanding of those around me. By studying environmental engineering, I will better understand our environment and how to improve it. I hope these majors will bring careers where I can connect with people in my community. The fulfillment of being able to uplift others through learning and assisting them is what I desire. I hope to visit Vietnam not as a tourist but as a person wanting to seek evolution within this community. Despite my experiences, I realize that my upbringing carries privilege. I hope to use this privilege by challenging myself to think beyond my own experience to those who have less power than I do. What can I do for them? How can I use my power for our community? These questions and this career education will allow me to uplift and help others with less privilege and power than I do. In turn, I hope to voice these communities and show the power of these underserved regions of the world.

Crystalline chimes collided as a woman, who reeked of marijuana, moved her way past me. When the woman sat at the foot tub, I noticed the mountain peaks of hardened skin accumulated on her heels. I watched as the white callus fell like snow onto the towel with each scrub of the filer. When her pedicure finished, I assisted her out to the dryer. She digressed about the buses she took to the hospital and this salon. But finally, she admits, “Umm I can’t pay you, Nancy…I-I only have two shampoo bottles.” Glancing from afar, I confirm the Dove shampoos in her plastic bags. “…Al-alright, but only for today,” my mom hesitated. After she left, I approached my mom angrily, confronting her about this decision. “How could you clean someone’s feet just for cheap shampoo—” my mom interrupted me, “did you not hear her or notice her movements?” Limping to dryer…feet surgeryyy?! Unemployment at the hospital…this woman has her own story, I slowly registered. I recognized that I had been too quick to judge; I had built an image of her based on her odor and appearance without understanding her entire story. Soon, I realized that I’ve done this with others too. I judged the elderly. The man that left droplets of mud on the floor as he got his pedicure done—I thought of how dirty he was. I judged my mom. I didn’t tell my friends that she was a nail technician when they asked. I even questioned her, “why did you choose to clean people’s feet and nails for a living;” yet the reply was always “because of our family.” I didn’t grasp what she meant until I spent more time with her at Wyoming Nails. Here, I realized that there wasn’t just the smell of weed or polish, but also the scent of pain-relieving patches: patches that covered my mom’s back as she bent to scrub someone’s feet. Then, I recalled the words she emphasized one night as we closed the store “Con, this salon isn’t just a workplace—it’s our rice cooker. With the right grains, we can cultivate our lives.” These grains are us, I processed. My mom’s hard work has garnered the money to feed my family. No matter who walked in—the single mom, the granny, or the drug addict—she didn't judge them. I want to be like my mom’s grains. Gradually, I changed my point of view. I forced myself to filter first impressions about others; I allowed each individual the right to voice who they are. I discern that the elderly man must have labored at his job before coming to our shop similar to the work my mom devotes to support our family. The rice cooker—this nail salon—has cultivated my grains of compassion through learning about my mom’s persistence and each customer’s story. Now, I clean each foot tub with the same methodical process whether the customers leave the smell of cannabis or stains of mud. Similarly, I adapt this learning experience to my daily life. When I work in groups at school, I allow others to express their thoughts about controversial topics like immigration or climate change even if I disagree. At home, I help my grandma with her demands, whether it’s cleaning the entire refrigerator or translating a dentist's bill. As I major in engineering, I hope to apply this sense of adaptability and compassion to understand others’ backgrounds and use them to form solutions for our future. When the crystalline chimes continue to collide, I assist my mom and her customers with their service regardless of who they are.

Fifty thousand. Not trees burned, bodies of water removed, or ecosystems harmed; It is the fifty thousand refugees that fled their countries in 2009 alongside my family. War stories of my parents escaping tanks and shattered buildings to find smoke-free areas have contributed to my desire for sustainability. As war creased, trees burned like wildfire, and buildings wrecked into rumbles. This destruction has a domino effect on us. These poor conditions drive immigrants like me to flee our country for a better environment. More than a decade ago, I lived near Duong So 5 Street. Now, I longed to visit there again. Yet, the sound of home prompted uneasiness in my parents: Vietnam’s water flooding our knees and debris scattering the city. Although my family calls this home, we realized that Vietnam’s unsustainability isn’t a place to belong. Despite leaving the place, everything else remains. Vietnam has shifted into an environment with bundles of electrical wires in the air and rivers transformed into swamps. The push for change gets progressively more difficult with the gap in socioeconomic status; Many developed countries have the resources to engineer solutions that Vietnam doesn’t. This reality increases immigration toward developed countries, neglecting regions that don’t have access to these opportunities. Change starts with this realization. The challenge of sustainability impacts the way I perceive the world. Awareness of this factor allows me to see the apparent flaws of unsustainability. I do not want to restore Vietnam’s past state but rather evolve this community. For the animals and plants, I desire to provide better air quality by reducing river pollutants. For these citizens, I desire to build solutions to the ongoing floods and saltwater intrusion. For my family, I desire to shape an environment where people have the pride to say, “Vietnam is our home.” My first steps began with my desire to hear the perspectives of immigrants at the Refugee Education Center. I tutored individuals from Nigeria, Myanmar, and Chile. Furthermore, I will study environmental engineering in college to better understand the global challenges–not just in Vietnam–but also in the world. I hope to apply the knowledge, within the classroom, to our environment: How has the extraction of natural resources led to conflicts in Africa? How have conflicts emerged because of dam construction on major rivers, such as the Mekong River in Southeast Asia? This educational path will answer these questions and challenge me to ask new ones. Throughout my career, this growth will follow through developing my self-awareness and understanding of those around me. By studying environmental engineering, I will better understand our environment and how to improve it. I hope these majors will bring careers where I can connect with people in my community. The fulfillment of being able to uplift others through learning and assisting them is what I desire. I hope to visit Vietnam not as a tourist but as a person wanting to seek evolution within this community. The scholarship is an investment in my family. It propels me to continue following my passions and focus on my goals rather than paying for college. Despite my experiences, I realize that my upbringing carries privilege. I hope to use this privilege by challenging myself to think beyond my own experience to those who have less power than I do. What can I do for them? How can I use my power for our community? I will ask these questions and continue to use engineering as a way to continue my education and uplift my community.

Fifty thousand. Not trees burned, bodies of water removed, or ecosystems harmed; It is the fifty thousand refugees that fled their countries in 2009 alongside my family. War stories of my parents escaping tanks and shattered buildings to find smoke-free areas have contributed to my desire for sustainability. As war creased, trees burned like wildfire, and buildings wrecked into rumbles. This destruction has a domino effect on us. These poor conditions drive immigrants like me to flee our country for a better environment. More than a decade ago, I lived near Duong So 5 Street. Now, I longed to visit there again. Yet, the sound of home prompted uneasiness in my parents: Vietnam’s water flooding our knees and debris scattering the city. Although my family calls this home, we realized that Vietnam’s unsustainability isn’t a place to belong. Despite leaving the place, everything else remains. Vietnam has shifted into an environment with bundles of electrical wires in the air and rivers transformed into swamps. The push for change gets progressively more difficult with the gap in socioeconomic status; Many developed countries have the resources to engineer solutions that Vietnam doesn’t. This reality increases immigration toward developed countries, neglecting regions that don’t have access to these opportunities. Change starts with this realization. The challenge of sustainability impacts the way I perceive the world. Awareness of this factor allows me to see the apparent flaws of unsustainability. I do not want to restore Vietnam’s past state but rather evolve this community. For the animals and plants, I desire to provide better air quality by reducing river pollutants. For these citizens, I desire to build solutions to the ongoing floods and saltwater intrusion. For my family, I desire to shape an environment where people have the pride to say, “Vietnam is our home.” My first steps began with my desire to hear the perspectives of immigrants at the Refugee Education Center. I tutored individuals from Nigeria, Myanmar, and Chile. Furthermore, I will study environmental engineering in college to better understand the global challenges–not just in Vietnam–but also in the world. I hope to apply the knowledge, within the classroom, to our environment: How has the extraction of natural resources led to conflicts in Africa? How have conflicts emerged because of dam construction on major rivers, such as the Mekong River in Southeast Asia? This educational path will answer these questions and challenge me to ask new ones. Throughout my career, this growth will follow through developing my self-awareness and understanding of those around me. By studying environmental engineering, I will better understand our environment and how to improve it. I hope these majors will bring careers where I can connect with people in my community. The fulfillment of being able to uplift others through learning and assisting them is what I desire. I hope to visit Vietnam not as a tourist but as a person wanting to seek evolution within this community. Despite my experiences, I realize that my upbringing carries privilege. I hope to use this privilege by challenging myself to think beyond my own experience to those who have less power than I do. What can I do for them? How can I use my power for our community?

Fifty thousand. Not trees burned, bodies of water removed, or ecosystems harmed; It is the fifty thousand refugees that fled their countries in 2009 alongside my family. War stories of my parents escaping tanks and shattered buildings to find smoke-free areas have contributed to my desire for sustainability. As war creased, trees burned like wildfire, and buildings wrecked into rumbles. This destruction has a domino effect on us. These poor conditions drive immigrants like me to flee our country for a better environment. More than a decade ago, I lived near Duong So 5 Street. Now, I longed to visit there again. Yet, the sound of home prompted uneasiness in my parents: Vietnam’s water flooding our knees and debris scattering the city. Although my family calls this home, we realized that Vietnam’s unsustainability isn’t a place to belong. Despite leaving the place, everything else remains. Vietnam has shifted into an environment with bundles of electrical wires in the air and rivers transformed into swamps. The push for change gets progressively more difficult with the gap in socioeconomic status; Many developed countries have the resources to engineer solutions that Vietnam doesn’t. This reality increases immigration toward developed countries, neglecting regions that don’t have access to these opportunities. Change starts with this realization. The challenge of sustainability impacts the way I perceive the world. Awareness of this factor allows me to see the apparent flaws of unsustainability. I do not want to restore Vietnam’s past state but rather evolve this community. For the animals and plants, I desire to provide better air quality by reducing river pollutants. For these citizens, I desire to build solutions to the ongoing floods and saltwater intrusion. For my family, I desire to shape an environment where people have the pride to say, “Vietnam is our home.” My first steps began with my desire to hear the perspectives of immigrants at the Refugee Education Center. I tutored individuals from Nigeria, Myanmar, and Chile. Furthermore, I will study nursing in college to better understand global challenges–not just in Vietnam–but also in the world. I hope to apply the knowledge, within the classroom, to our environment: How has the extraction of natural resources led to conflicts in Africa? How have conflicts emerged because of dam construction on major rivers, such as the Mekong River in Southeast Asia? This educational path will answer these questions and challenge me to ask new ones. Throughout my career, this growth will follow through developing my self-awareness and understanding of those around me. By studying nursing, I will better understand the individuals within this environment and how to improve their lives. I don’t have a specific area of nursing, but I will continue exploring the different paths. I hope to connect with the people in my community, from how to empathize with their struggles to find solutions to mediate them. The fulfillment of being able to uplift others through learning and assisting them is what I desire. I hope to visit Vietnam not as a tourist but as a person wanting to seek evolution within this community. Despite my experiences, I realize that my upbringing carries privilege. I hope to use this privilege by challenging myself to think beyond my own experience to those who have less power than I do. What can I do for them? How can I use my power for our community?

Fifty thousand. Not trees burned, bodies of water removed, or ecosystems harmed; It is the fifty thousand refugees that fled their countries in 2009 alongside my family. War stories of my parents escaping tanks and shattered buildings to find smoke-free areas have contributed to my desire for sustainability. As war creased, trees burned like wildfire, and buildings wrecked into rumbles. This destruction has a domino effect on us. These poor conditions drive immigrants like me to flee our country for a better environment. More than a decade ago, I lived near Duong So 5 Street. Now, I longed to visit there again. Yet, the sound of home prompted uneasiness in my parents: Vietnam’s water flooding our knees and debris scattering the city. Although my family calls this home, we realized that Vietnam’s unsustainability isn’t a place to belong. Despite leaving the place, everything else remains. Vietnam has shifted into an environment with bundles of electrical wires in the air and rivers transformed into swamps. The push for change gets progressively more difficult with the gap in socioeconomic status; Many developed countries have the resources to engineer solutions that Vietnam doesn’t. This reality increases immigration toward developed countries, neglecting regions that don’t have access to these opportunities. Change starts with this realization. The challenge of sustainability impacts the way I perceive the world. Awareness of this factor allows me to see the apparent flaws of unsustainability. I do not want to restore Vietnam’s past state but rather evolve this community. For the animals and plants, I desire to provide better air quality by reducing river pollutants. For these citizens, I desire to build solutions to the ongoing floods and saltwater intrusion. For my family, I desire to shape an environment where people have the pride to say, “Vietnam is our home.” My first steps began with my desire to hear the perspectives of immigrants at the Refugee Education Center. I tutored individuals from Nigeria, Myanmar, and Chile. Furthermore, I will study environmental engineering in college to better understand the global challenges–not just in Vietnam–but also in the world. I hope to apply the knowledge, within the classroom, to our environment: How has the extraction of natural resources led to conflicts in Africa? How have conflicts emerged because of dam construction on major rivers, such as the Mekong River in Southeast Asia? This educational path will answer these questions and challenge me to ask new ones. Throughout my career, this growth will follow through developing my self-awareness and understanding of those around me. By studying environmental engineering or international relations, I will better understand our environment and how to improve it. I hope these majors will bring careers where I can connect with people in my community. The fulfillment of being able to uplift others through learning and assisting them is what I desire. I hope to visit Vietnam not as a tourist but as a person wanting to seek evolution within this community. Despite my experiences, I realize that my upbringing carries privilege. I hope to use this privilege by challenging myself to think beyond my own experience to those who have less power than I do. What can I do for them? How can I use my power for our community?

Fifty thousand. Not trees burned, bodies of water removed, or ecosystems harmed; It is the fifty thousand refugees that fled their countries in 2009 alongside my family. War stories of my parents escaping tanks and shattered buildings to find smoke-free areas have contributed to my desire for sustainability. As war creased, trees burned like wildfire, and buildings wrecked into rumbles. This destruction has a domino effect on us. These poor conditions drive immigrants like me to flee our country for a better environment. More than a decade ago, I lived near Duong So 5 Street. Now, I longed to visit there again. Yet, the sound of home prompted uneasiness in my parents: Vietnam’s water flooding our knees and debris scattering the city. Although my family calls this home, we realized that Vietnam’s unsustainability isn’t a place to belong. Despite leaving the place, everything else remains. Vietnam has shifted into an environment with bundles of electrical wires in the air and rivers transformed into swamps. The push for change gets progressively more difficult with the gap in socioeconomic status; Many developed countries have the resources to engineer solutions that Vietnam doesn’t. This reality increases immigration toward developed countries, neglecting regions that don’t have access to these opportunities. Change starts with this realization. The challenge of sustainability impacts the way I perceive the world. Awareness of this factor allows me to see the apparent flaws of unsustainability. I do not want to restore Vietnam’s past state but rather evolve this community. For the animals and plants, I desire to provide better air quality by reducing river pollutants. For these citizens, I desire to build solutions to the ongoing floods and saltwater intrusion. For my family, I desire to shape an environment where people have the pride to say, “Vietnam is our home.” My first steps began with my desire to hear the perspectives of immigrants at the Refugee Education Center. I tutored individuals from Nigeria, Myanmar, and Chile. Furthermore, I will study environmental engineering in college to better understand the global challenges–not in just Vietnam–but also in the world. I hope to apply the knowledge, within the classroom, to our environment: How has the extraction of natural resources led to conflicts in Africa? How have conflicts emerged because of dam construction on major rivers, such as the Mekong River in Southeast Asia? This educational path will answer these questions and challenge me to ask new ones. Throughout my career, this growth will follow through developing my self-awareness and understanding of those around me. By studying law, I will better understand our environment and how to improve it. I hope to visit Vietnam not as a tourist but as a person wanting to seek evolution within this community. Despite my experiences, I realize that my upbringing carries privilege. I hope to use this privilege by challenging myself to think beyond my own experience to those who have less power than I do. What can I do for them? How can I use my power for our community?

I want to create a community through social media where people can talk and interact with one another from different backgrounds. Ever since the summer of 2020, I have started an Instagram account teaching English learners English and engaging them in my posts. I have created many educational posts that inspire others to learn more about English for free. Though my creation is not a tangible thing nor is it well-known, it has made many people feel the motivation to learn. Instagram is a place known for its popularity and image, however, I want to show that these apps are the easiest ways for people to learn something new. Everyone in the world doesn't have access to money for education and I want to create a site where they are able to learn for free. Websites are a common resource but they would not motivate people to go on since it would force people to get into the mindset of learning. However, Instagram motivates people as they are able to see other's posts. Many people that follow me and are engaged in my posts aspire to achieve their dreams through learning English. English has been a transnational language that can have a big impact on someone's life. Whether it be getting a job or moving to another location. I imagine that though my creation can not be compared to the technological advancements of others, I want to leave a footprint on this earth whether it is going to be big or small. I want to show that little impact can lead to big ones. To support the ones that aspire to dream big through learning English and leaving their own footprint on this earth.

Growing up as Asian-American, I have always felt like I had not belonged. I grew up in a diverse town with a relative amount of Asian-Americans. Everything that I did at school was corresponded to how my Asian friends would act or do because we were classified as one specific group from the same region of the world. I felt like what I did was reflected on the people from the same region as I was. The misfit came from my own opinions and views on things as the expectations I had for my academic life where I had to get the best grades and "be smart" because I was Asian. This misfit has shaped the ideology that I didn't want to follow the stereotypical route that Asians would follow such as becoming an engineer or doctor but instead I wanted to make my own change. I didn't want the grades that I got in school to define who I am: Asian. I want to create my own story with my own chapters that weren't like others. From my perspective, I want to prove that my cultural background wasn't the reason for my grades and that my grades aren't the reason for my success in the future. I want to create an impression on someone else, to let them know that this person isn't someone that has come across. I want to aspire to be the person that tells others to listen to themself and not let society choose their path. To do what they want in life because it is their own life.

I want to study exercise science and become a physical therapist one day. I fall into the category that aspires to make an impact in someone's life whether it be bringing a smile to their face or helping them navigate the streets. I want to help brighten the lives of the people who are discouraged and find no meaning in life. I want to be with them through their journey of rehab and finally being able to move again. We live in a fast-paced society where everyone is looking ahead to achieve their goals, so who will help the ones that can't achieve the goals they set? I want to use the opportunities of going to college to help achieve other's goals: standing up, body movements, etc. Life is so unpredictable that anything can happen, whether it be going on a normal walk and suddenly getting hit by a car or a rear-ended accident. If there isn't someone there to help the ones who fall into these unfortunate events then who will help them? Whether it is the smallest change to someone's life, I want to be that impact and guide them to the best of my abilities. Overall, I aspire to major in exercise science, and the additional money from this scholarship will help alleviate some of my college debt that will help me on my path to be a physical therapist.

The winter of 2009 was a changing point in my life. That December, my family of 4 traveled half-way across the world from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Grand Rapids, Michigan. The shift from my environment had changed the language I was familiar with, the culture that America had offered, and its traditions. These changes influenced me in a way that the things I had encountered at home and in school have shaped my experience as an Asian-American. I could still remember the first day of Kindergarten as if it was my death day. I walked into the classroom where kids stared at me with their blue eyes and pale skin and I could read their minds: "what is this kid doing in our classroom?". Not surprisingly, I sat there and cried then later cried some more for the remainder of the first week of Kindergarten. Despite this change, I had later learned a belief that had surrounded me and as ingrained into my mind until this day: Growing up Asian meant that I had to live up to the expectations. The expectations that Asians were smart, the expectation of the American dream, the expectation of doing well because it was my duty. I was always confronted with this idea as the people around me believed that since I was born in a specific area where I was classified as Asian, I would also have these expectations attached to me. Every time a classmate of mines sees that I had gotten an A, they would back it up with the idea that "oh yeah, of course, you got an A because you're Asian". I have heard this sentence so many times that when someone says it, it serves as pressure for me to do well just because I have to. Similarly, at home when my parents see my straight As, they find this to be a common thing that was expected of me. These experiences have influenced my current perception of my own self. Sometimes I feel angry when other students would have the same grades as me but get rewarded with a new phone by their parents or a big celebration where I would consider that a normal thing. I also feel angry when people discredit not just me but many of my Asian-American friends for having the grades they currently have just because they are smart. We are just like everyone else, our grades are something that we dedicate time to and it isn't just something we are naturally born with. I have learned to not let this expectation define who I am but instead, I will use these beliefs to grow stronger and build my own impression on others.

Everyone in the world has definitely been affected by Covid-19 to an extent. Covid-19 has led to many different discoveries in my life. Though my experience has not been life-changing and significant, I hope to sympathize with the people who have lost a family member(s) as Covid-19 has somewhat changed my perspective on life. Going into the lockdown that was a result of Covid-19 has made me realize the precious people in my life and how much they mean to me. Previously, I had always wished to not go to school but after so many months, I started to realize the span of time move while I remain. I feel like I was allowing time to pass instead of controlling it myself. How I was routinely just sleeping, eating, and going on my phone without any standard quality of living. Though I am still at home, I have learned that my friends are people that brighten my life and reflect on my own personality. A video on YouTube or a book I read can't compare to this. Contradictively I am glad that quarantine had occurred. Before Covid-19, time was always something that I had no control over, and with quarantine, I am able to reflect on my own life and its worth. I have learned to really value self-care and prioritizing my health rather than the goals that I set for the future. This might sound cliche but I have learned to live in the moment rather than ponder on the future. I have learned to live life to the fullest because you could never know what will happen. Additionally, I have learned to value my time with my family. Spending time with my family has really helped me discover and learn more about them. Also, with quarantine, I was given the chance to visit my grandma in Rhode Island who has Colon Cancer. With this experience, I had secure the belief that one should live to the fullest because one could die and never see yourself living happily. If there was one thing that I would take out of Covid-19, it would be to live your best life because worrying about something will just cause pain to yourself and your end goal of life is just to be happy. Let us all just be happy and treasure the time that we spend with each other because time will keep ticking whether we want it to or not.