I am passionate about receiving my education because I have a strong desire to learn and share that opportunity with others. Curiosity is a motivator that I have never stopped experiencing, and it propels me forward. For as long as I can remember, “why?” was a permanent part of my vocabulary- I needed to know the reason something was happening. With age came more complex ideas and concepts, and the “why” became harder to understand; I began looking for discourse outside of my realm of familiarity and questioning everything, even ideas that were considered facts. Over time, I have come to learn that education is a continuous process that never truly ends and that the best way to ensure that I understand the world around me is to keep learning. Especially while conducting research in my field of interest, law, I enjoy looking at my task as a puzzle. Where has this question occurred before, and how can I apply my current perceptions to the issue at hand? Learning about how others might perceive and address a particular question helps broaden the scope of learning and makes it easier for scholars and students alike to build connections and share ideas. When more people are educated, the world becomes safer and more advanced. During turbulent times, I believe that people can learn from the past and build a new future. I want to create ways for people to keep learning, especially when their right to do so is challenged. A significant part of being a learner is being able to have a full worldview. Given this, I hope to educate others on the negative impact of banning books and other types of media that do not reflect their ideologies. I believe verified and factual resources should be available to all, without barriers to prevent them from choosing to learn. I have an especially strong reason to make educational resources accessible because I live in an area of the United States where education is championed and encouraged for women, rather than a place where the opposite is true. My family immigrated to the United States from a developing nation where women’s education is not always respected. I know that I have an opportunity that many don’t, and I want to use my resources to make pathways for success for everyone. At my school, I am a part of the Women’s Advancement Initiative, a program focused on helping women find and secure opportunities to succeed academically and professionally. The program worked with students on-campus, in addition to multiple off-campus outreach programs that accomplish the same goals. As a leader within the organization, I have had countless opportunities to watch education become a transformative force in the lives of young women, and by learning more each day, I can continue this process. By receiving my education, I can help others understand the importance of learning and growing and work with educational institutions and leadership committees to make the right to an education is protected. It has been incredible growing up in a world where almost everyone can learn in a variety of mediums that are catered to the individual. I hope, that with my education, I can continue the practice of making education accessible to all.

Finding my niche as an Asian American seemed impossible for the longest time. Learning to embrace my culture was a journey that propelled me into college, and today I am the leader of an organization on campus that is dedicated to educating the students and staff about all the vibrant and unique traditions that culminate into Asian culture. To me, AAPI culture represents strength and resilience, having survived hundreds of years of modernization, colonization, and migration. AAPI cultures have moved to other continents and evolved into loved aspects of the community. In their countries of origin, AAPI culture is also a connection to the past and a link to our ancestors. My family immigrated from Bangladesh in the 1980s, determined to succeed and with a desire to preserve their culture in a nation that evolves quickly. Asian-Americans are especially unique because there is so little representation of them in media outlets. Of course- this is changing, and there are many unique traditions and customs that are coming to light in new projects and news outlets. For the first time, Asian Americans are being portrayed as they are, in a positive light, paving avenues for future leaders. I am interested in furthering these initiatives because I believe they should always exist. I cannot overstate how crucial it is to show young children that they are equally as capable of being seen and understood. In the end, cultural representation, especially of the AAPI community, heals the heart. I am interested in studying AAPI cultures more because the entire continent is rich with history that has yet to be discovered, and it is important to understand and acknowledge how these modern nations came to be. Throughout my community, I work constantly to further educational initiatives and cultural experiences. At my University, I help coordinate and run the Multicultural Festival as a leader in the Asian Students Association. This event brings together multicultural organizations on campus, a diverse selection of music, different foods, and different activities in an experience that educates and inspires further learning. As a leader within the organization, I was tasked with coordinating between multiple vendors, educational administrators, leadership within other clubs, and creating a schedule for day’s events. Last year, as we modified our guidelines to adhere to COVID-19 restrictions, I helped change the event structure to an outdoor festival rather than an indoor event. In the end, the team and I successfully changed the event from the Jewels of Asia Gala into the Jewels of Asia Festival, and this year, we expanded the event even further into the Multicultural Festival. Beyond my academic leadership, I also work to expand organizational diversity in corporate settings. At this point in time, I am a member of the Girl Scouts of Connecticut DEI, or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion board. Together, we complete programming, studies, and advocacy for underserved groups and set goals to create a more inclusive and equitable future for Girl Scouts. Next semester, I am hoping to complete a human development study in conjunction with my university as a part of my honors thesis. The goal is to conduct a case study regarding women's advancement in South Asian countries and develop initiatives to increase the quality of life for women as well. It has always been a goal of mine to increase AAPI visibility in places where they have traditionally not been given opportunities, which is a part of the reason I am so interested in the legal field. I hope that by pursuing something that is important to me and learning more about how to complete this process, I can create an opportunity for others to do the same.