When my mom came to America, she was forced to drop out of college and work to support our family. She began working at a nail salon for six days a week, eight hours a day. Every day at work, she inhaled toxic chemicals even though they could lead to health problems later in life. Her eyesight became poor and her hands dry and brittle. She would tell me and my sister to work hard in school so we would not end up like her. I believe that her story can be relatable for many people. For example, my mom didn’t want to work in a nail salon, but she did not have the choice to choose otherwise. If she was able to finish her education, she could have followed her dreams of becoming a nurse. Other people have similar stories of working jobs they did not plan on because they had no other choice. That is why education is so important. It opens up opportunities to have any career you want, improve yourself, and have a better future. School teaches important skills and gives the knowledge needed to be successful. Even electives are important because they give insight into different hobbies and careers. I discovered my passion for computer science during middle school robotics class. I loved the process of writing code and seeing it translate to real life through the robots. The experience made me curious about pursuing a career in programming, and I began teaching myself how to code. Furthermore, I discovered that I enjoyed choir, art, and reading through electives. For me, education means opportunity. I am grateful to have the opportunity to follow my dreams. After high school, I will graduate from Arizona State University with a Bachelor's degree in computer science. I plan to use my degree to explore various fields, including machine learning and cybersecurity. Eventually, I would like to fulfill my childhood dream of publishing a game. Similar to games like Undertale or Stardew Valley, I want to become the main developer and work on most of the art, music, and programming by myself. It would be a huge dream to make something that can be loved by many other people. Indie game developers are my biggest inspiration, so I wish to inspire others to pursue careers in technology. I plan to do that by sharing my experiences at conferences like the Grace Hopper Celebration. I want to make a difference in the diversity and representation of STEM fields one day.