My parents immigrated from Korea to take a shot at the American dream, growing up though, it was hard to say I understood what they meant. We are a very low income family, and my parents worked long, hard hours to make a living for us. My dad spends 10-12 hours a day standing in front of a hot stove and my mom juggled raising my sister and I while managing small side jobs to make ends meet. Growing up, education became a major part of my identity as my mom made sure I understood the phrase “Education is my lifeline.” Over the years I grew fond of that phrase and realized that my future was in my own hands. Growing up, I was always curious about how things worked. I found joy in understanding the deeper mechanics of things. But my fascination with science and technology took on a deeper meaning as I watched my parents struggle with their health. In my situation, we had no access to healthcare or aid, so I experienced firsthand the consequences of the unequal healthcare system. Sparked by my mom’s chronic back pain and heart condition, combined with my dad's deteriorating health from years of hard labor in a hot kitchen, I was painfully aware and saw how the lack of health care can strip away comfort and stability in one's life. These experiences ignited my passion for change in the healthcare system. Biomedical engineering merges science, technology, and healthcare to develop solutions for unfair medical access. I aspire to pursue research programs focused on regenerative medicine to help families like mine. My goal is to create innovations in the field, like stem cell therapies for treating spinal cord injuries or heart disease, and develop affordable solutions for people who face the same healthcare inequities that my family has. Through biomedical engineering, I want to bring equitable healthcare to all. This scholarship is not just financial help; it’s an opportunity for me to continue my education and work toward my goal of changing healthcare accessibility. With this support, I can focus on research, gain hands-on experience, and ultimately contribute to a field dedicated to improving lives. My goal is not just to dream, but to work and actively contribute to make a difference. I'm determined to use my education to break down the barriers preventing underrepresented communities from receiving proper medical care. This scholarship will help me take one step closer to that reality, allowing me to focus on my studies and, eventually, use my education to drive meaningful change. With your support, I can turn my passion into action, ensuring that my memories of hesitancy when seeking medical care is not a burden that anyone else has to carry, and rather create a world where healthcare is a right, not a privilege.

I immigrated from Korea to America when I was 8 months old. My parents took a shot at the American dream, growing up though, it was hard to say I understood what they meant. We are a very low income family, and my parents worked long, hard hours to make a living for us. My dad spends 10-12 hours a day standing in front of a hot stove and my mom juggled raising my sister and I while managing small side jobs to make ends meet. Growing up, education became a major part of my identity as my mom made sure I understood the phrase “Education is my lifeline.” Over the years I grew fond of that phrase and realized that my future was in my own hands. Growing up, I was always curious about how things worked. I found joy in understanding the deeper mechanics of things. But my fascination with science and technology took on a deeper meaning as I watched my parents struggle with their health. In my situation, we had no access to healthcare or aid, so I experienced firsthand the consequences of the unequal healthcare system. Sparked by my mom’s chronic back pain and heart condition, combined with my dad's deteriorating health from years of hard labor in a hot kitchen, I was painfully aware and saw how the lack of health care can strip away comfort and stability in one's life. These experiences ignited my passion for change in the healthcare system. Biomedical engineering merges science, technology, and healthcare to develop solutions for unfair medical access. This field excites me because of the technological advancements it continues to make, and because of its real-world impact. I hope to work in research programs focusing on regenerative medicine to help families like mine. Stem cell therapy aligns with my visions and treats spinal cord injuries or heart disease with stem cells to regenerate nerve or heart tissue, challenges similar to those my mom faced. Tissue engineering also creates solutions for burn victims and can create artificial cartilage for joint repair, which can be helpful for those who take part in hard labor like my dad. Beyond regenerative medicine, I hope to develop diagnostic tools, improve herniated disk treatments, and enhance physical therapy options. Through biomedical engineering, I want to bring equitable healthcare to all. However, pursuing this dream comes with financial barriers. As a first-generation, low-income student, the cost of higher education is a significant challenge. My parents have worked tirelessly to provide for our family, but affording college expenses is beyond our means. This scholarship is not just financial help; it’s an opportunity for me to continue my education and work toward my goal of changing healthcare accessibility. With this support, I can focus on research, gain hands-on experience, and ultimately contribute to a field dedicated to improving lives. My goal is not just to dream, but to work and actively contribute to make a difference. I am determined to use my education to break down the barriers preventing underrepresented communities from receiving proper medical care. This scholarship will help me take one step closer to that reality, allowing me to focus on my studies and, eventually, use my education to drive meaningful change. With your support, I can turn my passion into action, ensuring that my memories of hesitancy when seeking medical care is not a burden that anyone else has to carry, and rather create a world where healthcare is a right, not a privilege.

I immigrated from Korea to America when I was 8 months old. My parents decided that they wanted to take a shot at living the American dream. Growing up though, it was hard to say I understood what they meant. We were a very low income family and my parents worked long, hard hours to make a living for us. My dad spends 10-12 hours a day standing in front of a hot stove and my mom juggled raising my sister and I while managing small side jobs to make ends meet. Growing up, education became a major part of my identity as my mom made sure I understood the phrase “Education is my lifeline.” Over the years I grew fond of that phrase and took it to a deeper level once I realized that my future was in my own hands. Korean was my first language, and I spoke it exclusively at home. This skill, while valuable, came with a great responsibility. From a young age I became a translator for my parents. It would be my job to translate any documents, read their emails, and interpret conversations at doctor's offices and parent-teacher conferences. “You are our ears and mouth”, my mom would say. At times, it would irritate me knowing I had this responsibility that took over a large part of my life. I angrily questioned why I couldn’t be as carefree like my friends and hated the burden of being the voice for my parents. I struggled with the weight of knowing my parents depended on me in ways most children never had to experience. Yet, over time, my perspective changed. Speaking Korean allowed me to connect with my parents on a deeper level, more than words could express. It gave me a window into their sacrifices, their struggles, and their love. The late nights my dad spent working, the exhaustion in my mom’s eyes, the unspoken worry about medical bills; these moments became vivid reminders of why they endured so much. While I once viewed my role of a translator as an unfair burden, I began to see it as an honor. It was a way to give back to my parents, to be a part of their journey, just as they had been the foundation of mine. An important moment of my childhood was witnessing my parents avoid medical care due to costs. I was always curious about how things worked and understanding the deeper mechanics of things. But my fascination with science and technology took on a deeper meaning as I watched my parents struggle with their health. Sparked by my mom’s chronic back pain and heart condition, combined with my dad's deteriorating health from years of labor in a hot kitchen, I was painfully aware and saw how the lack of health care can strip away comfort and stability in one's life. The helplessness I felt as a child watching my parents avoid medical care due to cost inspired me to seek solutions through science. Post-graduation, I hope to contribute to the field of biomedical engineering by developing medical technologies that bridge the gap between affordability and accessibility. Whether through medical devices, prosthetics, or biotechnology, I want to work to become part of the solution and bring equitable healthcare to all. My journey as a bilingual immigrant has shaped not only my identity but also my aspirations. While speaking Korean once felt like a responsibility I resented, I now see it as a gift, one that has given me the ability to understand, empathize, and advocate for those who are often unheard.