If I could create a class that all K-12 students were required to take, it would be “Human-Centered Thinking: Empathy, Ethics, and Innovation.” This class would combine emotional intelligence, ethical reasoning, and problem-solving skills to help students not only navigate their own lives but also become thoughtful, responsible contributors to society. The foundation of this course would be empathy. Students would learn to understand diverse perspectives through literature, storytelling, and real-world scenarios. They would explore how experiences shaped by culture, background, ability, and environment influence people’s decisions and feelings. This focus on empathy would not only improve communication and reduce bullying but would also create a culture of kindness and inclusion across schools. Next, the class would explore ethics in a practical and accessible way. From a young age, students would be introduced to moral reasoning, not as a rigid set of rules, but as a framework for understanding consequences and making fair decisions. Topics would range from personal responsibility to digital citizenship, helping students think critically about how their actions affect others. As they grow older, students could tackle more complex issues such as privacy, equity, and global responsibility, preparing them for the ethical challenges of adulthood. The third component, innovation, would teach students to approach problems creatively and collaboratively. They would work on small-scale projects like designing a way to reduce waste in the cafeteria or creating campaigns to raise awareness about local issues to practice identifying problems, brainstorming solutions, and implementing ideas. This hands-on approach would empower students to see themselves as change-makers, even at a young age. What makes this class different is the integration of how students think with why they think it. Too often, education is focused solely on content mastery and test performance. While academic knowledge is important, the ability to think with empathy, act with integrity, and solve problems with creativity is equally essential, especially in today’s interconnected world. This class would be taught progressively through the K-12 years, adapting its content and delivery to age-appropriate levels. In the early grades, it might look like guided play, emotional check-ins, and story-based learning. In middle school, students could participate in role-playing, group discussions, and ethical dilemmas. By high school, they could take on community-based projects or even partner with local organizations to apply what they've learned in real settings. I believe this class would have a profound impact. It would help students build self-awareness, emotional resilience, and a strong moral compass. It would create more inclusive school environments and equip students with tools to handle conflict, collaborate across differences, and approach complex issues with both heart and mind. Most importantly, it would send the message that character, compassion, and curiosity are just as valuable as academic achievement. In a world that often feels divided and uncertain, raising a generation that can think critically, feel deeply, and act responsibly is not just an educational goal. It’s a societal imperative. “Human-Centered Thinking” would be a step toward that future.

Throughout my academic journey, I have been drawn to the intersection of science and patient care. My decision to pursue a career in dentistry, particularly in craniofacial research, stems from a deep desire to bridge clinical practice with innovation in biomedical science. I envision a future where dental professionals play a central role in not only oral health but also in broader systemic care through the integration of research-driven solutions. During my undergraduate studies, I worked in a lab focused on the eye expander project, which aimed to develop a cost-effective, self-expanding ocular implant for children with anophthalmia. While a similar device, the Osmed Oculoplasty Expander, had previously existed, it was discontinued due to low profitability, leaving a significant gap in accessible treatment options. Our goal was to create a low-cost alternative that could expand at a rate comparable to natural bone growth, minimizing the need for repeated surgical interventions. My role involved constructing the expander, analyzing material properties, and developing testing methods to evaluate expansion rate and moisture uptake. I worked extensively with 3D printing to cast molds and experimented with polymerization to determine the best material composition. Our team achieved a 622.7% expansion rate in polyvinylpyrrolidone samples, demonstrating promising potential. While regulating the expansion rate remained a challenge, our progress laid important groundwork for future research. Though the project did not result in a publication during my tenure, the work has lasting implications for pediatric craniofacial care. In addition, I served as a research assistant in a lab at the University of Minnesota studying embryology and stem cell mechanisms. I employed technologies such as gel electrophoresis, PCR, and ImageJ to analyze DNA and conduct genotyping. This experience deepened my understanding of developmental biology and further solidified my appreciation for how molecular research can directly inform and improve clinical outcomes. These hands-on experiences in biomedical research have instilled in me a strong desire to continue contributing to the advancement of craniofacial health. Learning about how bone growth supports healthy occlusion in class, and engaging with the Cleft and Craniofacial Club, exposed me to the real-world impact of these conditions and the pressing need for continued innovation. I hope to be a part of that change. As a future dental professional, I aim to bring together my research background, clinical training, and community engagement to deliver care that is both evidence-based and empathetic. I believe in using science not just to treat but to transform lives, especially those affected by congenital or trauma-related craniofacial conditions. What drives me is the knowledge that behind every clinical problem is a patient whose quality of life can be improved through thoughtful, innovative care. I plan to stand out as a leader in the field by staying deeply involved in research, pursuing advanced training, and advocating for equitable access to craniofacial therapies. Guided by curiosity, compassion, and a commitment to lifelong learning, I hope to contribute meaningfully to the future of dentistry, where patient care and scientific progress go hand in hand.

As I grew up, I was closely connected to the field of dentistry due to frequent dental issues. My weak teeth necessitated numerous visits to the dental clinic, causing me to miss classes and interactions with friends. What troubled me most was the high cost of dental care. With limited health insurance coverage at that time, each visit was financially burdensome and instilled guilt in my parents. It wasn’t just me who suffered from oral health issues. My mother endured pain from her dental implants but couldn’t afford the necessary care due to financial constraints. She revealed her problems only when they became severe, enduring pain until her implants fell out. Seeing her struggle heightened my awareness of the limited accessibility to dental care for underserved individuals. These experiences motivated me to pursue a career where I could make a meaningful impact, particularly for underserved populations. Last spring, I volunteered at a medical device conference, sparking my curiosity about device creation and leading me to a related position. I was assigned to the Eye Hydrocolloid project, focusing on Oculoplastic Expanders for Anophthalmia, a condition where children are born with absent or underdeveloped eyes. Their facial bones don’t expand properly due to lack of pressure from an expanding eyeball, necessitating regular insertion of oculoplastic expanders. A commercial expander called 'Osmed' could expand to match the eye socket's growth, reducing hospital visits, but it was discontinued due to low profitability. The Mayo Clinic requested our department to develop a cost-effective alternative using cheaper materials and processes. Our goal was to find a polymer or coating combination with the slowest expansion rate and highest expansion ratio. We reviewed the literature to select materials, deconstructed the existing expanders, and proposed new methods. Much information about Osmed was proprietary, leaving us with only the materials used. We experimented with Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone (PVP), which absorbs water and allows expansion, but it dissociated in water due to its hydrophilic nature. Cross-linking could mitigate this effect but requires significant investment. Given budget constraints, we compared various polymer materials. Results were promising, with some expanding up to six times their original size. However, mixing materials couldn’t effectively control the absorption rate. With limited funds, I preheated PVP samples to enhance absorption, though this method slowed the rate. This approach yielded results better than our goal of a five-fold expansion. Finally, we used CAD and 3D printing to create consistent hemispherical eye expanders. Documenting these results marked a significant advancement in the project and allowed further focus on the coating aspect. This experience deepened my interest in research benefiting underserved populations. My current goal is to develop new dental materials accessible to everyone, focusing on addressing disparities faced by underserved communities. Many underestimate the importance of dentistry compared to other medical fields, leading to insufficient attention to its significance. Dental care impacts one’s life significantly. Poor dental care can lead to issues like yellowing teeth, tooth loss, and damage, affecting confidence. Additionally, inadequate dental care may result in missed diagnoses of chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. As a woman in STEM, I am committed to improving public health by developing cost-effective dental materials. This ambition aligns with increasing female representation and impact in STEM. However, research for these populations often suffers from insufficient funding. I hope this scholarship will support my efforts and further empower women to drive innovation and make significant contributions to STEM.

When discussing leadership, we often focus on the qualities that make someone a leader. For instance, when asked what defines them as a leader, people describe their ability to lead and collaborate, which I believe is accurate. However, I would also relate entrepreneurship to this concept. An entrepreneur can be a world leader in ways beyond traditional definitions. Entrepreneurship is a term many are passionate about. TV programs and textbooks often glorify entrepreneurs. There are two main perspectives on entrepreneurship. The first is owning and operating a company. The second, defined by Joseph Schumpeter, is that entrepreneurs are innovators—people who integrate ideas into rapidly growing businesses. This is why I believe entrepreneurs lead the market. Last spring, I volunteered at a medical device conference, sparking my curiosity about device creation and leading me to apply for a related position. I was assigned to the Eye Hydrocolloid project, focusing on Oculoplastic Expanders for Anophthalmia. Anophthalmia is a condition where children are born with absent or underdeveloped eyes. Because their facial bones do not expand properly due to lack of pressure from an expanding eyeball, they need oculoplastic expanders inserted regularly. A commercial expander called 'Osmed' could expand to match the eye socket's growth, reducing hospital visits. However, it was discontinued due to low profitability. The Mayo Clinic requested our department to develop a cost-effective alternative using cheaper materials and processes. Our goal was to find a polymer or coating combination with the slowest expansion rate and highest expansion ratio. We started by reviewing literature to select materials, deconstructing the expanders, and proposing new methods. However, much information about Osmed was proprietary, leaving us with only the materials used. We experimented with Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone (PVP), which absorbs water and allows expansion, but it dissociated in water due to its hydrophilic nature. Cross-linking could mitigate this effect but required significant investment. Given our budget constraints, we compared various polymer materials. Results were promising, with some expanding up to six times their original size. However, simply mixing materials couldn’t effectively control absorption. With limited funds, I preheated PVP samples to enhance absorption, though this slowed the absorption rate. This approach achieved better results than our goal of a five-fold expansion. Finally, we used CAD and 3D printing to create consistent hemi-spherical eye expanders. We documented these results, representing a significant advancement in the project and allowing further focus on the coating part, as material selection progress had stagnated. This experience deepened my interest in research benefiting underserved populations. My current goal is to develop new dental materials accessible to everyone. Many underestimate dentistry compared to other medical fields, leading to insufficient attention to its significance. Dental care impacts one’s life significantly. Poor dental care can lead to visible issues like yellowing teeth, tooth loss, and damage, affecting confidence. Additionally, inadequate dental care may result in missed diagnoses of chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. As a pre-entrepreneur, I aim to improve public health by developing cost-effective dental materials accessible to underserved populations. However, research for these populations often suffers from insufficient funding. I hope this scholarship will support my efforts to achieve this goal.

Mental health? How can it be treated the same as physical illness? Why do people make excuses for their purpose by diagnosing mental illness? These were my naive thoughts about mental health before. Growing up in South Korea, mental health was not considered important. For example, extreme anxiety and nervousness before exams were dismissed as a lack of confidence. In South Korea, people believed that repeatedly taking exams would eventually make you accustomed to the stress. I firmly believe this was the correct approach before. However, having suffered greatly from mental health issues in recent years, such a coping method now seems unimaginable to me. These past two years have been a turning point for me. After the class lecture ended, I checked my phone screen and saw several messages. I opened the first one: 'Let's end the friendship.' These were the only words from my friend Ji, who had been with me since freshman year. My hand shook as I read, but I tried to push the message aside. Unfortunately, it was the end I knew was coming. Then, I moved to the next message from my mom: 'Your sister has postponed her board exam again due to her mental illness. I don't know how bad her mental illness is. I want to give up everything. I may not be able to support your living expenses.' My heart raced irregularly, and I wanted to rest on a random bench, but I knew I had to rush to work. Barely steadying my trembling hands and heart, I headed to Smith Hall where I work. Ji was the first friend I met in college. She spent half of her life in the United States under the strict care of her mother's cousin, who didn't allow Ji a phone until college and demanded perfect grades. Ji was tasked with caring for her cousin's children instead of playing with friends. This hindered her mental and social maturity by resulting in behaviors of avoiding responsibility and lacking self-esteem. I believe her college experience would aid her maturity. However, things worsened when she dated a narcissistic boyfriend, who blamed me for his mistakes and led Ji to end our friendship. My mom is currently supporting my sister, a medical student suffering from anxiety. Two years ago, she had to take her mock board exams. However, my sister began postponing her exams by two weeks each time until now. She believed that her anxiety would dissipate soon, even as she continued consulting with her mental therapist. This was her naive thought. Her mental illness not only exacerbated her anxiety symptoms but also began to hinder her ability to study effectively. As a result, during actual exams, my sister struggled to read and comprehend the test questions. Failing the mock exams ultimately led to her expulsion from medical school. My mother, who had been fully supporting her tuition, was devastated by this news and felt defeated. With all these events happening simultaneously, I ended up developing cystitis due to severe stress during the exam period. I can confidently say it was the most difficult moment of my life. Reflecting on these experiences is difficult for me, and my heart still races. However, I've changed. In the past, I would have avoided seeking therapy, but now I'm determined to confront my issues. Besides spending time on hobbies, I talk to a mental therapist to maintain my mental wellness. This really helped a lot more than I thought. Through the scholarship, I hope to be able to treat this leftover mental illness that has grown inside me.

Everyone has their own guilty pleasure. For me, it is the sweets that I can't cut out. For this reason, I was closely connected to the dentistry field as I grew up. Due to my weak teeth and love of sweets, I frequently visited the dental clinic from a young age. Missing morning classes for dental surgeries made it difficult for me to interact with my friends. However, what truly concerned me was the high cost of dental bills. At that time, health insurance coverage was very limited, so each visit was costly. This made me feel very guilty and burdensome towards my parents. It wasn't just me who suffered due to oral health issues. My mom also experienced pain from her implants but couldn't get dental care due to financial constraints. She didn't tell me about her dental problems until the last moment, enduring the pain until her implants fell out. Seeing my mom's struggle with expensive dental care costs made me aware of the low accessibility of dental care for underserved people. Because of these experiences, I developed a consistent interest in dental care and learned about the profession of a dental researcher through the summer Discover Dental School program. A dental researcher is a career that could develop more accessible and cost-effective alternatives to existing materials. I was fascinated by the idea of becoming a dental researcher who could solve both cost and accessibility problems. From this point, I defined my own success as becoming a dental researcher who can contribute to public health, especially for underserved populations. To learn how to develop affordable materials efficiently and supply them effectively, unlike other dental school applicants, I chose the chemical engineering major. However, pursuing chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota as a female Asian was more challenging than I thought. There were only 3 of us who were international students in our class of around 120. The language barrier made active interaction with classmates and faculty challenging. Furthermore, I had to revise my plan each semester to ensure that I was taking the necessary courses for both majors. Chemical engineering courses often had specific semesters in which they were available, and failing a course could result in delaying graduation by a year. I also had to manage my expenses carefully. I had never received living expenses after turning twenty, so I had to balance studying for the Dental Admission Test and school with earning money. As there were no dental scholarships that I could find, I had to work any time that I was available. I even worked as a tutor for organic chemistry and physics, as well as a research assistant for a living expense. My passion for becoming a dental researcher motivated me to overcome these obstacles. As a result, I worked hard to earn good grades in both the required dental courses and chemical engineering courses with a 3.8 GPA. However, I am having a hard time pursuing my desire for higher education in dental school due to my current situation. My sister who is currently in medical school is about to be expelled leaving a large amount of debt to my parents. The unexpected downturn in the South Korean economy has caused the USD to KRW exchange rate to soar recently, making the expensive dental school tuition even more costly. Additionally, from this academic year onwards, I will quit tutoring, leaving me uncertain about how to cover my living expenses. Taking out extensive loans for tuition itself is already a heavy burden for me as a student. I hope to continue my journey to contribute to public health with the help of the Redefining Victory Scholarship.

Mental health? How can it be treated the same as physical illness? Why do people make excuses for their purpose by diagnosing mental illness? These were my naive thoughts about mental health. Growing up in South Korea, mental health was not considered important. For example, extreme anxiety and nervousness before exams were simply dismissed as a lack of confidence. In South Korea, people believed that repeatedly taking exams would eventually make you accustomed to the stress. I firmly believe this was the correct approach before. However, having suffered greatly from mental health issues in recent years, such a coping method now seems unimaginable to me. These past two years have been a turning point for me. After the class lecture ended, as usual, I checked my phone screen and saw several messages. I opened the first one: 'Let's end the friendship.' These were the only words from my friend Ji, who had been with me since freshman year. My hand shook as I read, but I tried to push the message aside. Unfortunately, it was the end I knew was coming. Then, I moved to the next message from my mom: 'Your sister has postponed her board exam again due to her mental illness. I don't know how bad her mental illness is. I want to give up everything. I may not be able to support your living expenses.' My heart raced irregularly, and I wanted to rest on a random bench, but I knew I had to rush to work. Barely steadying my trembling hands and heart, I headed to Smith Hall where I work. Ji was the first friend I met in college. She spent half of her life in the United States under the strict care of her mother's cousin, who didn't allow Ji a phone until college and demanded perfect grades. Ji was tasked with caring for her cousin's children instead of playing with friends. This hindered her mental and social maturity by resulting behaviors of avoiding responsibility and lacking self-esteem. I believed her college experience would aid her maturity. However, things worsened when she dated a narcissistic boyfriend, who blamed me for his mistakes and led Ji to end our friendship. My mom is currently supporting my sister, a medical student suffering from anxiety. Two years ago, she had to take her mock board exams. However, my sister began postponing her exams by two weeks each time until now. She believed that her anxiety would dissipate soon, even as she continued consulting with her mental therapist. This was her naive thought. Her mental illness not only exacerbated her anxiety symptoms but also began to hinder her ability to study effectively. As a result, during actual exams, my sister struggled to read and comprehend the test questions. Failing the mock exams ultimately led to her expulsion from medical school. My mother, who had been fully supporting her tuition, was devastated by this news and felt defeated. With all these events happening simultaneously, I ended up developing cystitis due to severe stress during the exam period. I can confidently say it was the most difficult moment of my life. Reflecting on these experiences is difficult for me, and my heart still races. However, I've changed. In the past, I would have avoided seeking therapy, but now I'm determined to confront my issues. As my friend said, mental health issues should be treated early, just like physical illnesses. If left untreated, they can become increasingly serious. Through the scholarship, I hope to be able to treat this leftover mental illness that has grown inside me without realizing it.

Everyone has their own guilty pleasure. For me, it is the sweets that I can't cut out. For this reason, I was closely connected to the dentistry field as I grew up. Due to my weak teeth, I frequently visited the dental clinic from a young age. Missing morning classes for dental surgeries made it difficult for me to interact with my friends. However, what truly concerned me was the high cost of dental bills. At that time, health insurance coverage was very limited, so each visit was costly. This made me feel very guilty and burdensome towards my parents. It wasn't just me who suffered due to oral health issues. My mom also experienced pain from her implants but couldn't get dental care due to financial constraints. She didn't tell me about her dental problems until the last moment, enduring the pain until her implants fell out. Seeing my mom's struggle with expensive dental care costs made me aware of the low accessibility of dental care for underserved people. Because of these experiences, I developed a consistent interest in dental care and learned about the profession of a dental researcher through the summer Discover Dental School program. A dental researcher was the career that could develop more accessible and cost-effective alternatives to such materials. I was fascinated by the idea of becoming a dental researcher who could solve both costs and accessibility problems. At the same time, the knowledge as an engineer was also needed to learn how to develop affordable materials efficiently and supply them effectively as a dental researcher. Therefore, I chose the chemical engineering major. However, pursuing chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota as a female Asian was more challenging than I thought. There were only 3 of us who were international students in our class of around 120. The language barrier made active interaction with classmates and faculty challenging. Furthermore, I had to revise my plan each semester to ensure that I was taking the necessary courses for both majors. Chemical engineering courses often had specific semesters in which they were available, and failing a course could result in delaying graduation by a year. I also had to manage my expenses carefully. I had never received living expenses after turning twenty, so I had to balance studying for the Dental Admission Test and school with earning money. As there were no dental scholarships that I could find, I had to work any time that I was available. I even worked as a tutor for organic chemistry and physics, as well as a research assistant for a living expense. My passion for becoming a dental researcher motivated me to overcome these obstacles. As a result, I worked hard to earn good grades in both the required dental courses and chemical engineering courses with a 3.8 GPA. However, I am having a hard time pursuing my desire for higher education in dental school due to my current situation. My sister who is currently in medical school is about to be expelled leaving a large amount of debt to my parents. The unexpected downturn in the South Korean economy has caused the USD to KRW exchange rate to soar recently, making the expensive dental school tuition even more costly. Additionally, from this academic year onwards, I will quit tutoring, leaving me uncertain about how to cover my living expenses. Taking out extensive loans for tuition itself is already a heavy burden for me as a student. I hope to continue my journey to contribute to public health with the help of the Kayla Nicole Monk Memorial Scholarship.

I am Yeon Ji. I studied chemical engineering as an undergraduate. I am taking some time off before transitioning to dental school. I know it sounds a bit weird that I am thinking of a pathway in dental school with a chemical engineering degree. Let me tell you my story. As I grew up, I was closely connected to the dentistry field. Due to my weak teeth, I frequently visited the dental clinic from a young age. Missing morning classes for dental surgeries made it difficult for me to interact with my friends. However, what truly concerned me was the high cost of dental bills. At that time, health insurance coverage was very limited, so each visit was costly. This made me feel very guilty and burdensome towards my parents. It wasn't just me who suffered due to oral health issues. My mom also experienced pain from her implants but couldn't get dental care due to financial constraints. She didn't tell me about her dental problems until the last moment, enduring the pain until her implants fell out. Seeing my mom's struggle with expensive dental care costs made me aware of the low accessibility of dental care for underserved people. Because of these experiences, I developed a consistent interest in dental care and learned about the profession of a dental researcher through the summer Discover Dental School program. A dental researcher was the career that could develop more accessible and cost-effective alternatives to such materials. I was fascinated by the idea of becoming a dental researcher who could solve both problems in cost and accessibility. At the same time, the knowledge as an engineer was also needed to learn how to develop affordable materials efficiently and supply them effectively as a dental researcher. Therefore, I chose the chemical engineering major. However, pursuing chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota was more challenging than I thought. There were only 3 of us who were international students in our class around 120. The language barrier made active interaction with classmates and faculty challenging. Furthermore, I had to revise my plan each semester to ensure that I was taking the necessary courses for both majors. Chemical engineering courses often had specific semesters in which they were available, and failing a course could result in delaying graduation by a year. I also had to manage my expenses carefully. I had never received living expenses after turning twenty, so I had to balance studying for the Dental Admission Test (DAT) and school with earning money. As there were no dental scholarships that I could find, I had to work any time that I was available. I even worked as a tutor for organic chemistry and physics, as well as a research assistant for a living expense. My passion for becoming a dental researcher motivated me to overcome these obstacles. As a result, I worked hard to earn good grades in both the required dental courses and chemical engineering courses with a 3.8 GPA. However, the unexpected downturn in the South Korean economy has caused the USD to KRW exchange rate to soar recently, making the expensive dental school tuition even more costly. Additionally, from this academic year onwards, I will quit tutoring, leaving me uncertain about how to cover my living expenses. Taking out extensive loans for tuition itself is already a heavy burden for me as a student. I hope to continue my journey to contribute to public health by developing dental materials that are both cost-effective and accessible to underserved populations with less financial burden.

I am Yeon Ji. I studied chemical engineering as an undergraduate. I am taking some time off before transitioning to dental school. During summer, I spend most of my time continuing my hobbies. I study Chinese and Japanese to communicate with my friends, play the piano and clarinet, and draw on my iPad. Among all the things I enjoy, my grandmother and sweets are my favorites. Even though I immigrated to the United States, I can still enjoy sweets. However, my grandmother couldn't come with me due to her poor health. My grandmother, who raised me since I was young, is a significant presence in my life. Since she injured her back a few years ago and can no longer walk well, we can only communicate through FaceTime on my phone. This made me realize that advancements in technology, a result of collaboration across all STEAM fields, significantly improve our quality of life. As I grew up, I was closely connected to the dentistry field. Due to my weak teeth, I frequently visited the dental clinic from a young age. Missing morning classes for dental surgeries made it difficult for me to interact with my friends. However, what truly concerned me was the high cost of dental bills, even then. At that time, health insurance coverage was very limited, so each visit was costly. This made me feel very guilty and burdensome towards my parents. It wasn't just me who suffered due to oral health issues. My mom also experienced pain from her implants but couldn't get dental care due to financial constraints. As an immigrant, she believed having insurance was a waste of money and did not enroll in any. Consequently, dental treatment was too expensive for her to afford. She didn't tell me about her dental problems until the last moment, enduring the pain until her implants fell out. Seeing my mom's struggle with expensive dental care costs made me aware of the low accessibility of dental care for underserved people. Because of these experiences, I developed a consistent interest in dental care. In the summer of 2022, I participated in the Discover Dental School program and learned more about the profession of a dental researcher. I was fascinated by the idea of becoming a dental researcher who could develop more accessible and cost-effective alternatives to current dental materials. To pursue this path, I deliberated extensively on my college major. While attending dental school is essential to becoming a dental researcher, I believe that knowledge in engineering would also be beneficial for developing affordable dental materials. After much consideration, I chose to major in Chemical Engineering. As expected, I learned the intersection between the field and everyday life, such as the principle of efficiency, which deepened my desire to become a dental researcher and create innovative dental materials. Pursuing Chemical Engineering at the University of Minnesota was more difficult than I thought, however. While most students follow a four-year plan provided by the school, I had to revise my plan each semester to ensure that I was taking the necessary courses for both majors. Chemical engineering courses often had specific semesters in which they were available, and failing a course could result in delaying graduation by a year. As a result, I worked hard to earn good grades in both the required dental courses and chemical engineering courses with a 3.8 GPA, attending office hours and making the most of my time. Additionally, I initially planned to take foreign language courses for my interest but decided to prioritize dental school prerequisites instead. I took additional courses during the summers to graduate within four years. I was motivated to graduate in four years because my father was approaching retirement, and supporting my education would become more difficult without his income. Moreover, my older sister was already in medical school, and I wanted to ease the financial burden on my parents. To support myself financially, I had to manage my expenses carefully. I had never received living expenses after turning twenty, so I had to balance studying for the Dental Admission Test (DAT) and school with earning money. As there were no dental scholarships that I could find, I had to work any time that I was available. I worked as a tutor for organic chemistry and physics, as well as a research assistant for a living expense. Although balancing academics and work was challenging, it was necessary to achieve my goals. Overall, I faced several challenges while pursuing two degrees simultaneously. However, my passion for becoming a dental researcher motivated me to overcome these obstacles. With this mindset, I successfully graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering and was also accepted into dental school, which I will begin this upcoming fall semester. However, the unexpected downturn in the South Korean economy has caused the USD to KRW exchange rate to soar recently, making the expensive dental school tuition even more costly. Additionally, from this academic year onwards, I will quit tutoring, leaving me uncertain about how to cover my living expenses. As I am not a US citizen, there are also limited scholarships available to me. Taking out extensive loans for tuition itself is already a heavy burden for me as a student. I hope to continue my journey with less financial strain with the help of the Leave A Legacy Always Scholarship. Looking ahead, I hope to contribute to public health by developing dental materials that are both cost-effective and accessible to underserved populations. My goal is to create products that improve the quality of life for people around the world using my background in STEAM, ensuring that advancements in technology and engineering continue to benefit everyone, regardless of their socio-economic status.

Every living thing has its own way of surviving. Chameleons have camouflage, lions have powerful teeth and claws, and hedgehogs have spines that protect their bodies. Even though these creatures possess unique weapons, most of them live in groups. Living in groups increases their chances of survival. Then, what do humans have? Humans are weak. However, to compensate for this weakness, humans banded together. By living and working together, humans have achieved outstanding progress than any other living things. Therefore, I believe that selflessness means giving back to society as much as we have received from it. When I immigrated to the United States a few years ago, I always had a fear of communicating in English. To overcome this, I was searching for an opportunity that would allow me to have experiences related to healthcare and involve interacting with many people. Eventually, I was fortunate to secure a volunteering opportunity at a hospital conveniently located within the school campus. Through this experience, I successfully confronted my apprehensions about communication and interaction, and discovered a genuine sense of fulfillment. Among the patients I encountered, there was a kind patient, Maria, who was the first patient I met. She shared heartwarming stories with me every Saturday when I went to the hospital, including stories about her family and her school days. However, I had to miss one week of volunteering due to school exams. As a result, I decided to make up for it by attending a makeup shift on Wednesday. Coincidentally, it happened to be the day when Maria was scheduled for discharge. Since there were no remaining medical procedures to be carried out, she expressed a desire to have a moment to converse with the medical staff. With a voice filled with trembling emotion, she shared her parting words with me. She bid me farewell with a warm smile. Looking at that smile, I realized that my small actions, such as having conversations together, could be a great comfort to someone else. I also understood that, beyond language and cultural differences, I could have a positive impact on someone. This poignant experience served as a catalyst, igniting a profound motivation within me to deliver the utmost level of care and service to every patient I encountered during my volunteering endeavors. I don't think I will ever stop doing this volunteer work that has given me such great insights. I will continue to volunteer in the future. If anyone wants someone to listen to their story, I will always be there.

I am Yeon Ji. I studied chemical engineering as an undergraduate. I am taking some time off before transitioning to dental school. During summer, I spend most of my time continuing my hobbies. I study Chinese and Japanese to communicate with my friends, play the piano and clarinet, and draw on my iPad. Among all the things I enjoy, my grandmother and sweets are my favorites. Even though I immigrated to the United States, I can still enjoy sweets. However, my grandmother couldn't come with me due to her poor health. My grandmother, who raised me since I was young, is a significant presence in my life. Since she injured her back a few years ago and can no longer walk well, we can only communicate through FaceTime on my phone. This made me realize that advancements in technology, a result of collaboration across all STEAM fields, significantly improve our quality of life. I believe Science, Arts, and Mathematics explore new areas that can be developed, while Technology and Engineering make them available in our real world. As I grew up, I was closely connected to the dentistry field. Since I was young, I went to the dental clinic frequently due to my weak teeth. As I often missed morning classes for dental surgeries, I struggled to interact with my friends. However, what truly concerned me was the high cost of dental bills, even then. At that time, the coverage provided by health insurance was very limited, so each visit was costly. This made me feel very guilty and burdensome towards my parents. It was not only me suffering due to oral health. My mom also has suffered from pain due to her implants, but she could not get dental care due to financial issues. As she thought having insurance wasted a significant amount of money as an immigrant, she did not enroll in any insurance. Hence, the dental treatment for her was too expensive which she could not handle. As a result, she had to endure the pain until her implants actually fell off. Since I saw my mom suffering from the expensive dental care cost, I was aware of the low accessibility of dental care to underserved people. Seeing my mom's struggle with expensive dental care made me aware of the low accessibility of dental care for underserved people. Because of these experiences, I developed a consistent interest in dental care and learned about the profession of a dental researcher through the summer Discover Dental School program. I was fascinated by the idea of becoming a dental researcher who could develop more accessible and cost-effective alternatives to such materials. To learn how to develop affordable materials efficiently and supply them effectively as a dental researcher, knowledge as an engineer was also needed. Pursuing chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota was more challenging than I thought. There were only 20 female students in our class around 120, and only 3 of us were international students. The language barrier made active interaction with classmates and faculty challenging. However, I learned the intersection between the field and everyday life, such as the principle of efficiency, which deepened my desire to become a dental researcher and create innovative dental materials. In the future, I hope to contribute to public health by developing dental materials that are both cost-effective and accessible to underserved populations. My goal is to create products that improve the quality of life for people around the world using my background in STEAM, ensuring that advancements in technology and engineering continue to benefit everyone, regardless of their socio-economic status.

Mental health? How can it be treated the same as physical illness? Why do people make excuses for their purpose by diagnosing mental illness? These were my naive thoughts about mental health. Growing up in South Korea, mental health was not considered important. For example, extreme anxiety and nervousness before exams were simply dismissed as a lack of confidence. In South Korea, people believed that repeatedly taking exams would eventually make you accustomed to the stress. This mindset only exacerbated extreme anxiety. I firmly believe this was the correct approach before. However, having suffered greatly from mental health issues in recent years, such a coping method now seems unimaginable to me. Furthermore, people with mental illnesses were labeled as 'lunatics' and viewed negatively in South Korea. This led many people to either avoid going to mental health facilities or deny their diagnoses even if they saw a psychiatrist. Now, I know how foolish I was. These past two years have been a turning point for me. Through this experience, I learned how ignorant I was about mental health. After the class lecture ended, as usual, I checked my phone screen and saw several messages. I opened the first one: 'Let's end the friendship.' These were the only words from my friend Ji, who had been with me since freshman year. My hand shook as I read, but I tried to push the message aside. Unfortunately, it was the end I knew was coming. Then, I moved to the next message from my mom: 'Your sister has postponed her board exam again due to her mental illness. I don't know how bad her mental illness is. I want to give up everything. I may not be able to support your living expenses.' My heart raced irregularly, and I wanted to rest on a random bench, but I knew I had to rush to work. Barely steadying my trembling hands and heart, I headed to Smith Hall where I work. As I walked, I heard shouting from somewhere. Turning around, I saw my friend Ying, crying and yelling at me. She shouted, "Jeni, can we have a meeting right now?" I answered that I had worked at Smith Hall. Then she said, "I want to go home earlier, but I also want to do the meeting in person." Since my work was starting in five minutes, I asked Ying if we could meet via Zoom instead. I also told her that we could have an in-person meeting if she and another group member came to Smith Hall. But Ying insisted, "No. I want to have the meeting right now. I also want to have the meeting right here. Jeni, could you quit your job?" Hearing this, I felt dizzy. Where did it all go wrong? Ji was the first friend I met in college. She spent half of her life in the United States under the strict care of her mother's cousin, who didn't allow Ji a phone until college and demanded perfect grades. Ji was tasked with caring for her cousin's children instead of playing with friends. While studying abroad at an early age helped Ji achieve academic success, it hindered her mental and social maturity. Despite occasional behaviors of avoiding responsibility and lacking self-esteem, Ji was a kind person who tried to help others. I believed her college experience would aid her maturity, and I supported her despite the strain it caused. However, things worsened when she dated a narcissistic boyfriend, who blamed me for his mistakes and led Ji to end our friendship. My mom is currently supporting my sister, a medical student suffering from anxiety. Two years ago, she had to take her mock board exams. However, my sister began postponing her exams by two weeks each time until now. She believed that her anxiety would dissipate soon, even as she continued consulting with her mental therapist. This was her naive thought. Her mental illness not only exacerbated her anxiety symptoms but also began to hinder her ability to study effectively. As a result, during actual exams, my sister struggled to read and comprehend the test questions. Failing the mock exams ultimately led to her expulsion from medical school. My mother, who had been fully supporting her tuition, was devastated by this news and felt defeated. Ying, another close friend from college, has been suffering from insomnia. Similar to my sister, Ying initially believed that her mental health would improve with time. However, after two years, her condition has worsened significantly despite undergoing consistent mental therapy. Her difficulties escalated notably after joining the same study group as me, where she struggled to manage her emotions even in minor situations. This posed communication challenges during our group work. Nevertheless, my patient listening and support have contributed to her considerable improvement. During this period, Ying encouraged me to seek prompt treatment if I ever face similar mental challenges. With all these events happening simultaneously, I ended up developing cystitis due to severe stress just before the exams. As a result, I experienced a lot of discomfort during the exam period. I can confidently say it was the most difficult moment of my life. Reflecting on these experiences is difficult for me, and my heart still races. However, I've changed. In the past, I would have avoided seeking therapy, but now I'm determined to confront my issues. As my friend said, mental health issues should be treated early, just like physical illnesses. If left untreated, they can become increasingly serious. Through the Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health scholarship, I hope to be able to treat this leftover mental illness that has grown inside me without realizing it.

As I enter the room, I greet the new patient and tidy up, clearing away their finished meal. However, I noticed that the phone case that used to be by the bed is missing. Hiding my lonely feelings, I greet the patient casually and leave the room. My name is Yeon Ji, and I study Chemical Engineering at the University of Minnesota while also pursuing a career in dentistry. While most pre-dental students work as dental assistants at clinics, I chose to volunteer at M Health Fairview Medical Center, an experience that has profoundly shaped my journey. Upon immigrating to the United States, I struggled with English communication skills. To overcome this, I searched for an opportunity that would allow me to gain healthcare experience and interact with many people. Eventually, I was fortunate to secure a volunteering opportunity at a hospital conveniently located on the school campus. Through this experience, I successfully confronted my apprehensions about communication and interaction and discovered a genuine sense of fulfillment. Among the patients I encountered, there was a kind patient named Maria, who was the first patient I met. She always had a new phone case from her granddaughter by her bed. She shared heartwarming stories with me every Saturday when I went to the hospital, including stories about her family and her school days. She gave me a lot of advice on how to communicate well with others and encouraged me. Thanks to her, I was able to adjust to this hospital. One day, I had to miss a week of volunteering due to school exams. To make up for it, I attended a makeup shift on a Wednesday, which happened to be the day Maria was scheduled for discharge. Since there were no remaining medical procedures to be carried out, she expressed a desire to have a moment to converse with the medical staff. With a voice filled with trembling emotion, she shared her parting words with me and bid me farewell with a warm smile. Having received such positive energy from her, I wanted to give something back to my community in a similar way to how she did for me. After that, I continuously thought about how I could have a positive impact on others. While preparing my dental school application with that thought in mind, I found my answer. During the Discover Dental School program in the summer of 2022, I learned that many people in the United States lose their lives because they can't afford timely dental treatment. This realization struck me deeply, but at the same time, it sparked determination within me. I believe that a dentist has a powerful role in increasing accessibility to dental care. Through outreach programs, dentists can offer patients affordable care as well as education to promote health literacy, serving vulnerable populations such as low-income families and the elderly. By considering what I could do, just as Maria had done for me, I found a deeper purpose in my journey to become a dentist. I envisioned a future where I could use my skills to make a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most, honoring the positive impact she had on my life by passing it forward to others. However, becoming a dentist is tremendously costly. The tuition per academic year costs even more than medical school tuition. I believe this scholarship can help me become a dentist who contributes to the improvement of public health without giving up my dream.

As I grew up, I was closely connected to the dentistry field. Due to my weak teeth, I frequently visited the dental clinic from a young age. Missing morning classes for dental surgeries made it difficult for me to interact with my friends. However, what truly concerned me was the high cost of dental bills, even then. At that time, health insurance coverage was very limited, so each visit was costly. This made me feel very guilty and burdensome towards my parents. It wasn't just me who suffered due to oral health issues. My mom also experienced pain from her implants but couldn't get dental care due to financial constraints. As an immigrant, she believed having insurance was a waste of money and did not enroll in any. Consequently, dental treatment was too expensive for her to afford. She didn't tell me about her dental problems until the last moment, enduring the pain until her implants fell out. Seeing my mom's struggle with expensive dental care costs made me aware of the low accessibility of dental care for underserved people. Because of these experiences, I developed a consistent interest in dental care. In the summer of 2022, I participated in the Discover Dental School program and learned more about the profession of a dental researcher. I was fascinated by the idea of becoming a dental researcher who could develop more accessible and cost-effective alternatives to current dental materials. To pursue this path, I deliberated extensively on my college major. While attending dental school is essential to becoming a dental researcher, I believe that knowledge in engineering would also be beneficial for developing affordable dental materials. After much consideration, I chose to major in Chemical Engineering. Pursuing Chemical Engineering at the University of Minnesota was more difficult than I anticipated. However, I discovered the intersection between the field and everyday life, such as how fluid mechanics principles relate to blood flow and the principle of efficiency. This deepened my desire to become a dental researcher and create alternatives for dental materials. Overall, I faced several challenges while pursuing two degrees simultaneously. However, my passion for becoming a dental researcher motivated me to overcome these obstacles. With this mindset, I successfully graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering, achieving a 3.8 GPA, and was also accepted into dental school, which I will begin this upcoming fall semester. Despite my determination, the unexpected downturn in the South Korean economy has caused the USD to KRW exchange rate to soar recently, making the expensive dental school tuition even more costly. Additionally, from this academic year onwards, I will quit tutoring, leaving me uncertain about how to cover my living expenses. As I am not a US citizen, there are also limited scholarships available to me. Taking out extensive loans for tuition itself is already a heavy burden for me as a student. I hope to continue my journey with less financial strain with the help of the John Young 'Pursue Your Passion' Scholarship.

Mental health? How can it be treated the same as physical illness? Why do people make excuses for their purpose by diagnosing mental illness? These were my naive thoughts about mental health. Growing up in South Korea, mental health was not considered important. For example, extreme anxiety and nervousness before exams were simply dismissed as a lack of confidence. In South Korea, people believed that repeatedly taking exams would eventually make you accustomed to the stress. This mindset only exacerbated extreme anxiety. I firmly believe this was the correct approach before. However, having suffered greatly from mental health issues in recent years, such a coping method now seems unimaginable to me. Furthermore, people with mental illnesses were labeled as 'lunatics' and viewed negatively in South Korea. This led many people to either avoid going to mental health facilities or deny their diagnoses even if they saw a psychiatrist. Now, I know how foolish I was. These past two years have been a turning point for me. Through this experience, I learned how ignorant I was about mental health. After the class lecture ended, as usual, I checked my phone screen and saw several messages. I opened the first one: 'Let's end the friendship.' These were the only words from my friend Ji, who had been with me since freshman year. My hand shook as I read, but I tried to push the message aside. Unfortunately, it was the end I knew was coming. Then, I moved to the next message from my mom: 'Your sister has postponed her board exam again due to her mental illness. I don't know how bad her mental illness is. I want to give up everything. I may not be able to support your living expenses.' My heart raced irregularly, and I wanted to rest on a random bench, but I knew I had to rush to work. Barely steadying my trembling hands and heart, I headed to Smith Hall where I work. As I walked, I heard shouting from somewhere. Turning around, I saw my friend Ying, crying and yelling at me. She shouted, "Jeni, can we have a meeting right now?" I answered that I had worked at Smith Hall. Then she said, "I want to go home earlier, but I also want to do the meeting in person." Since my work was starting in five minutes, I asked Ying if we could meet via Zoom instead. I also told her that we could have an in-person meeting if she and another group member came to Smith Hall. But Ying insisted, "No. I want to have the meeting right now. I also want to have the meeting right here. Jeni, could you quit your job?" Hearing this, I felt dizzy. Where did it all go wrong? Ji was the first friend I met in college. She spent half of her life in the United States under the strict care of her mother's cousin, who didn't allow Ji a phone until college and demanded perfect grades. Ji was tasked with caring for her cousin's children instead of playing with friends. While studying abroad at an early age helped Ji achieve academic success, it hindered her mental and social maturity. Despite occasional behaviors of avoiding responsibility and lacking self-esteem, Ji was a kind person who tried to help others. I believed her college experience would aid her maturity, and I supported her despite the strain it caused. However, things worsened when she dated a narcissistic boyfriend, who blamed me for his mistakes and led Ji to end our friendship. My mom is currently supporting my sister, a medical student suffering from anxiety. Two years ago, she had to take her mock board exams. However, my sister began postponing her exams by two weeks each time until now. She believed that her anxiety would dissipate soon, even as she continued consulting with her mental therapist. This was her naive thought. Her mental illness not only exacerbated her anxiety symptoms but also began to hinder her ability to study effectively. As a result, during actual exams, my sister struggled to read and comprehend the test questions. Failing the mock exams ultimately led to her expulsion from medical school. My mother, who had been fully supporting her tuition, was devastated by this news and felt defeated. Ying, another close friend from college, has been suffering from insomnia. Similar to my sister, Ying initially believed that her mental health would improve with time. However, after two years, her condition has worsened significantly despite undergoing consistent mental therapy. Her difficulties escalated notably after joining the same study group as me, where she struggled to manage her emotions even in minor situations. This posed communication challenges during our group work. Nevertheless, my patient listening and support have contributed to her considerable improvement. During this period, Ying encouraged me to seek prompt treatment if I ever face similar mental challenges. With all these events happening simultaneously, I ended up developing cystitis due to severe stress just before the exams. As a result, I experienced a lot of discomfort during the exam period. I can confidently say it was the most difficult moment of my life. Reflecting on these experiences is difficult for me, and my heart still races. However, I've changed. In the past, I would have avoided seeking therapy, but now I'm determined to confront my issues. As my friend said, mental health issues should be treated early, just like physical illnesses. If left untreated, they can become increasingly serious. Through the Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health scholarship, I hope to be able to treat this leftover mental illness that has grown inside me without my realizing it.

As I enter the room, I greet the new patient and tidy up, clearing away their finished meal. However, I notice that the phone case that used to be by the bed is missing. Hiding my lonely feelings, I greet the patient casually and leave the room. My name is Yeon Ji, and I study Chemical Engineering at the University of Minnesota while also pursuing a career in dentistry. While most pre-dental students work as dental assistants at clinics, I chose to volunteer at M Health Fairview Medical Center, an experience that has profoundly shaped my journey. Upon immigrating to the United States, I struggled with English communication skills. To overcome this, I searched for an opportunity that would allow me to gain healthcare experience and interact with many people. Eventually, I was fortunate to secure a volunteering opportunity at a hospital conveniently located on the school campus. Through this experience, I successfully confronted my apprehensions about communication and interaction and discovered a genuine sense of fulfillment. Among the patients I encountered, there was a kind patient named Maria, who was the first patient I met. She always had a new phone case from her granddaughter by her bed. She shared heartwarming stories with me every Saturday when I went to the hospital, including stories about her family and her school days. She gave me a lot of advice on how to communicate well with others and encouraged me. Thanks to her, I was able to adjust to this hospital. One day, I had to miss a week of volunteering due to school exams. To make up for it, I attended a makeup shift on a Wednesday, which happened to be the day Maria was scheduled for discharge. Since there were no remaining medical procedures to be carried out, she expressed a desire to have a moment to converse with the medical staff. With a voice filled with trembling emotion, she shared her parting words with me and bid me farewell with a warm smile. Having received such positive energy from her, I wanted to give something back to my community in a similar way to how she did for me. After that, I continuously thought about how I could have a positive impact on others. While preparing my dental school application with that thought in mind, I found my answer. During the Discover Dental School program in the summer of 2022, I learned that many people in the United States lose their lives because they can't afford timely dental treatment. This realization struck me deeply, but at the same time, it sparked determination within me. I believe that a dentist has a powerful role in increasing accessibility to dental care. Through outreach programs, dentists can offer patients affordable care as well as education to promote health literacy, serving vulnerable populations such as low-income families and the elderly. By considering what I could do, just as Maria had done for me, I found a deeper purpose in my journey to become a dentist. I envisioned a future where I could use my skills to make a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most, honoring the positive impact she had on my life by passing it forward to others. However, becoming a dentist is tremendously costly. The tuition per academic year costs even more than medical school tuition. I believe this scholarship can help me become a dentist who contributes to the improvement of public health without giving up my dream.

I am Yeon Ji, and I study Chemical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. At the same time, I am a pre-dental student. As a pre-dental student, most students work either as dental assistants at dental clinics or as volunteers at dental-related nursing homes. I have done several volunteers, but there is one volunteer that I am on going. I volunteer at M Health Fairview Medical Center even though it is not related to the dentistry field. Here is the story of why I cannot stop volunteering at the hospital. As I immigrated to the United States few years ago, I still had a fear of communicating in English. To overcome this, I was searching for an opportunity that would allow me to have experiences related to healthcare and involve interacting with many people. Eventually, I was fortunate to secure a volunteering opportunity at a hospital conveniently located within the school campus. Through this experience, I successfully confronted my apprehensions about communication and interaction, and discovered a genuine sense of fulfillment. Among the patients I encountered, there was a kind patient, Maria, who was the first patient I met. She shared heartwarming stories with me every Saturday when I went to the hospital, including stories about her family and her school days. It was a one of a wonderful time for me while volunteering. However, I had to miss one week of volunteering due to school exams. As a result, I decided to make up for it by attending a makeup shift on Wednesday. Coincidentally, it happened to be the day when Maria was scheduled for discharge. Since there were no remaining medical procedures to be carried out, she expressed a desire to have a moment to converse with the medical staff. With a voice filled with trembling emotion, she shared her parting words with me. She bid me farewell with a warm smile. Looking at that smile, I realized that my small actions, such as having conversations together, could be a great comfort to someone else. I also understood that, beyond language and cultural differences, I could have a positive impact on someone. This poignant experience served as a catalyst, igniting a profound motivation within me to deliver the utmost level of care and service to every patient I encountered during my volunteering endeavors. I don't think I will ever stop doing this volunteer work that has given me such great insights. I will continue to volunteer in the future. If anyone wants someone to listen to their story, I will always be there.

"What do you study?" A student sitting next to me asked, breaking the nervous atmosphere before the interview. I answered, "I am studying chemical engineering." After my answer, I noticed a change in the student's expression. She looked puzzled and curious. However, I was accustomed to this situation. Until this interview, this reaction was one I had encountered countless times before. Let me tell you why I decided to begin this winding journey. As I grew up, I was closely connected to the dentistry field. Since I was young, I went to the dental clinic frequently due to my weak teeth. As I often missed morning classes for dental surgeries, I struggled to interact with my friends. However, what truly concerned me was the high cost of dental bills, even then. At that time, the coverage provided by health insurance was very limited, so each visit was costly. This made me feel very guilty and burdensome towards my parents. It was not only me suffering due to oral health. My mom also has suffered from pain due to her implants, but she could not get dental care due to financial issues. As she thought having insurance waste a significant amount of money as an immigrant, she did not enroll in any insurance. Hence, the dental treatment for her was too expensive which she could not handle. As a result, she had to endure the pain until her implants actually fell off. Since I saw my mom suffering from the expensive dental care cost, I was aware of the low accessibility of dental care to underserved people. Because of these experiences, I developed a consistent interest in dental care and learned about the profession of a dental researcher through the summer Discover Dental School program. I was fascinated by the idea of becoming a dental researcher who could develop more accessible and cost-effective alternatives to such materials. Therefore, I had a lot of deliberation when deciding on my college major. To become a dental researcher, attending dental school is necessary. Many students opt for majors like Biology or Chemistry to facilitate admission to dental school. However, I ultimately chose to major in Chemical Engineering after much consideration. I felt that to develop affordable materials efficiently and supply them effectively as a dental researcher, knowledge as an engineer was also needed. As I expected, I was able to discover the intersection between the field and everyday life, such as how fluid mechanics principles relate to the flow of blood in veins and the principle of efficiency across all the courses. This increased my desire to become a dental researcher and create alternatives for dental materials. However, preparing for dental school and taking chemical engineering courses simultaneously was challenging. While most students follow a four-year plan provided by the school, I had to revise my plan each semester to ensure that I was taking the necessary courses for both majors. Chemical engineering courses often had specific semesters in which they were available, and failing a course could result in delaying graduation by a year. As a result, I worked hard to earn good grades in both the required dental courses and chemical engineering courses with a 3.8 GPA, attending office hours and making the most of my time. Additionally, I initially planned to take foreign language courses for my interest but decided to prioritize dental school prerequisites instead. I took additional courses during the summers to graduate within four years. I was motivated to graduate in four years because my father was approaching retirement, and supporting my education would become more difficult without his income. Moreover, my older sister was already in medical school, and I wanted to ease the financial burden on my parents. To support myself financially, I had to manage my expenses carefully. I had never received living expenses after turning twenty, so I had to balance studying for the Dental Admission Test (DAT) and school with earning money. As there were no dental scholarships that I could find, I had to work any time that I was available. I worked as a tutor for organic chemistry and physics, as well as a research assistant for a living expense. Although balancing academics and work was challenging, it was necessary to achieve my goals. Overall, I faced several challenges while pursuing two degrees simultaneously. However, my passion for becoming a dental researcher motivated me to overcome these obstacles. With this mindset, I successfully graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering and was also accepted into dental school, which I will begin this upcoming fall semester. However, the unexpected downturn in the South Korean economy has caused the USD to KRW exchange rate to soar. This has made the already expensive dental school tuition even more costly. Additionally, from this academic year onwards, I will have to quit tutoring, leaving me uncertain how to cover my living expenses. Since I am not a US citizen, there are not many scholarships available to me, and I cannot pay lower tuition fees. Taking out extensive loans for tuition is a heavy burden for me as a student. I hope I can continue my journey with fewer financial problems with the help of the Yongqi scholarship.

"What do you study?" A student sitting next to me asked, breaking the nervous atmosphere before the interview. I answered, "I am studying chemical engineering." After my answer, I noticed a change in the student's expression. She looked puzzled and curious. However, I'd seen it countless times before this interview. Let me tell you why I decided to begin this winding journey. As I grew up, I was closely connected to the dentistry field. Since I was young, I went to dental clinic frequently due to my weak teeth. As I often missed morning classes for dental surgeries, I struggled to interact with my friends. However, what truly concerned me was the high cost of dental bills, even then. At that time, the coverage provided by health insurance was very limited, so each visit was costly. This made me feel very guilty and burdensome towards my parents. My mom also has suffered from pain due to her implants, but she could not get dental care due to financial issues. The dental treatment for her was too expensive which she could not handle. As a result, she had to endure the pain until her implants actually fell off. The disparity in dental care ignited my passion becoming dental researcher who could develop more accessible and cost-effective alternatives to such materials for improving public oral treatment accessibility. As I thought the engineering knowledge is needed to develop affordable materials efficiently and supply them effectively as a dental researcher, I chose to major in Chemical Engineering despite the conventional path of Biology or Chemistry for dental school. As I expected, I was able to discover the intersection between the field and everyday life, such as how fluid mechanics principles relate to the flow of blood in veins, through the chemical engineering courses. However, preparing for dental school and taking engineering courses together was challenging. While most students follow a four-year plan provided by the school, I had to revise my plan each semester to ensure that I was taking the necessary courses for both majors. Chemical engineering courses often had specific semesters in which they were available, and failing a course could result in delaying graduation by a year. As a result, I worked hard to earn good grades in both the required dental courses and chemical engineering courses with 3.8 GPA. Additionally, I gave up on taking foreign languare courses to prioritize dental school prerequisites instead. I took additional courses during the summers to graduate within four years. I was motivated to graduate in four years because my father was approaching retirement, and supporting my education would become more difficult without his income. Moreover, my older sister was already in medical school, and I wanted to ease the financial burden on my parents. To support myself financially, I had to manage my expenses carefully. I had never received living expenses after turning twenty, so I had to balance studying for the Dental Admission Test (DAT) and school with earning money. As there were no any dental scholarship that I could fine, I had to work anytime that I am available. I worked as a tutor for organic chemistry and physics, as well as a research assistant for a chemical engineering professor. Although balancing academics and work was challenging, it was necessary to achieve my goals. Overall, I faced several challenges while pursuing two degrees simultaneously. However, my passion for becoming a dental researcher motivated me to overcome these obstacles. I hope I can continue my journey not disturbed by the financial problem from the help of Christina Taylese Singh Memorial scholarship.

In my house, I have 20 snow globes. One snow globe has a loon inside. One has Northern Cardinal inside. The rest of the snow globes have their unique representatives inside. It was 7. The first time I started collecting snow globes from the places I have traveled. This was also the time that I was fascinated with entering the new world. Growing up in South Korea, a largely homogenous nation, exposure to different cultures was limited. However, my travels to various American states have significantly broadened my perspective and enriched my life. My journey began in Minnesota. Traveling to a new country was an interesting experience, with its unique landscape and economy. Many things were different from my home country. However, the language barrier made me feel lonely for the first few days. Not to waste time, I decided to enjoy ice skating. There, I met a girl named Elle who skated with me. Even though I could barely speak English, she was kind to me. Later, I learned that she was transgender. She told me how she decided to be a girl, even though she was biologically born as a boy. Through her, I realized that nothing about myself should be defined by others. This realization helped me understand the importance of accepting people for who they are and valuing individual identity. My trip to North Carolina was one of the most touching experiences. While I was there for a dental school interview, I had the opportunity to explore the area. As I explored the vibrant cities of Raleigh and Charlotte, I was struck by the blend of traditional Southern hospitality and modern urban culture. The people in North Carolina were very outgoing and friendly, which greatly expanded my interactions with others. This contrasted with the nature of people in Minnesota, where I currently live, and it taught me the importance of being open and approachable. Visiting historical sites such as the Biltmore Estate and the Wright Brothers National Memorial, I gained a deeper appreciation for American history and innovation. Interacting with locals, I learned about the region's rich heritage and the diverse backgrounds of its inhabitants, which challenged my preconceived notions and opened my eyes to a new way of life. Traveling across various American states has been a transformative journey that has enriched my life in countless ways. It has taught me to celebrate diversity, embrace new challenges, and cultivate empathy and understanding. As I look forward to future travels, I am excited to continue this journey of growth and discovery, knowing that each new place I visit will add to the ever-expanding mosaic of my life experiences. This scholarship will be instrumental in helping me pursue these opportunities, ensuring that my passion for travel and cultural exploration continues to shape my personal and professional development.