Being raised in the United States was a blessing. A flickering ambition carried along the winding currents of the Pacific Ocean, cusped between the warm hands of my mother and father. It is a life only some Filipino children could only dream of, a life that I am perpetually grateful for. But this life has exposed me to stereotypes, fetishization, and inequality. It is true that Filipinas are unable to seize their true potential due to the amount of discrimination they face in the United States. Fortunately, I was able to make it out alive. Not only was I alive, but ambitious, ambitious enough to take up Engineering at Michigan Technological University. However, when I stepped into campus, I promptly realized it wasn’t what I wanted. While an engineer possessed a future brighter than any azure sky in the Philippines, it was merely an senseless word that would only surmount to a few letters on a glorified sheet of paper. I told my parents about switching my major within the first week of attending university. They were confused at first, infuriated, even – to them, I was the perfect little daughter. Their strong, driven, confident Filipina who had conquered all odds in the land of the free. However, it seemed as if they didn’t understand the weight on my shoulders. What some don’t realize about Filipinas is that the barriers they face can come from their own family. As young Filipinas, we are not given the privilege to dream to be an artist, performer, or actress. We aren’t even allowed to dream of being a doctor or engineer, much to the surprise of common Filipino stereotypes. Instead, we are instilled with the desire to be the perfect FIlipina. We mustn't be dark. We cannot be too skinny or too fat. We cannot speak unless told, we cannot be with him or her, we cannot be this or that. We cannot be too American, but we must fit in enough to not face discrimination. We must live to survive but we also must live to serve. In a world where some must endure the racism and sexism of the Western world and the unforgiving expectations of the East, we must learn to understand that barriers Filipinas face come from all fronts. The prospects set upon our children, specifically our young Filipinas, are far too great. I want my story to be a message to Filipinas out there that we do not need to follow the path that generational trauma has written for us. If empowered, I want to create organizations that help Filipinas dream. I want to garner scholarships and financial support so Filipinas can be and do whatever they want without having to worry about being “financial disappointments” to their families. I want to create organizations that help young Filipinos who have been alienated from their families for being different, providing them resources and opportunities in order to be who they are. Additionally, I want to hold seminars to amplify Filipino voices that are willing to confront the deep rooted issues within our culture. If we are able to combat one side of the adversity Filipinas face, then perhaps we can resolve the other. Filipino culture is unique. However, when looked at in a global context, through the eyes of a Filipino-American, it has its own flaws. While there is no inherently correct perspective between the Filipinos and the Americans, we should be able to combine these ideals, to live for oneself and to live for others, so each Filipino woman can bring pride to herself and to her family.

Compassion is not easy to come across in this day and age. As we are enveloped in our own lives, eyes glued to exponentially increasing bills, bloodcurdling news events, and flashing phone screens, we become isolated in our own negativity and selfishness. We desperately seek out solace in delusion, in the idea that the reason why our lives are so miserable isn’t because of our own lack of ambition and pessimism, but rather, due to some sort of enemy. A person that we know, or don’t, who possesses their own stories and aspirations. However, because of our own pride, we strip them away of their humanity and pin them as an aggressor. This notion is common in all aspects of life. International politics, middle class households, and perhaps, most notably, high school choirs. In an environment where uncontrollable hormones and natural talent shine above the rest, it is incredibly easy for individuals to become swept up in their egos. During my senior year in choir this statement could not be any truer; left and right I would hear devilish whispers from my fellow members judging the performance and character of other students. They would say things along the lines of “they aren’t doing enough,” or “they’re doing too much,” pitting the failures of our prestigious group on the people who were a part of it. It was only a matter of time before I became a victim of these statements. Of course, I did the typical procedure of ridding myself of this unkindness. I told my teacher, and she gave us all a strict talking to about our behavior. Class continued, and it was as if nothing ever happened. It was then I soon realized that this adversity, the unstoppable brewing of blame and unkindness, could not be flushed out by more negativity. And thus, I decided to treat my peers differently. Whether it was heartfelt written notes or spoken compliments, I made it my goal to make sure that everyone in this community felt loved and appreciated– including the director of the choir, who seemed to be struggling with kindness themselves. Soon enough, the overall environment of the group began to change. We all started to look out for each other; the usual judgy comments morphed into words of encouragement, furthering the idea that even one simple act of kindness can affect more than just those involved. It is said that a “choir is as strong as its weakest link,” and when each member is lifting up another, the entire choir benefits. Love is a butterfly effect that ripples through the minds of others, teaching them understanding and consideration. We put down our phones, turn off the TVS, and look at the people around us, truly putting ourselves in their shoes. Once we become aware of our own wrongdoings we gain the power to extinguish our own adversity instead of wallowing in it. Compassion is the road less taken, but in most instances, it is the exact key to solving a perhaps unsolvable problem.

I have always been a firm believer in the saying that a little goes a long way. In life, I’ve been confronted with these roaring upheavals of excitement, compassion, desolation, and animosity. Those specific moments seemed to be pinnacles of my life, the pillars that would support my very self and perception of identity. Bigger is supposedly better, after all, and the larger impact you have, the more notable life you’ve lived. However, throughout my life, I have begun to realize that it’s the smaller things in life that have more of an impact on an individual. It’s the ability to listen, learn, and understand— these minuscule facets of life allow an individual to realistically comprehend the true meanings of life. Because of this, I believe that this scholarship will allow me to do many great things, albeit small, to benefit the environment around me. Listening is perhaps one of the most important parts of living. In a world where ignorance and miscommunication are abundant, we must be able to lend an ear to those who need our help the most. I am privileged enough to have a voice that can be heard, however, more often than not my voice isn’t the one that needs to be heard at that moment. There are billions of people around the globe with problems that are far larger than one person, calling for social justice, environmental protection, and genocide. Although my single being is unable to stop these issues, I can amplify and understand these problems, using my voice so those with the power to solve those issues can hear. With this scholarship, I hope to listen to the issues around me, big or small, in hopes of creating a world where connection and communication dominate unawareness. Furthermore, the ability to learn and comprehend is just as crucial. They are mediums of compassion; without them, we are unable to love the people around us correctly. Perhaps loving itself is just a form of learning and understanding the aspects of a particular person. Listening is one thing, however, we can apply our consideration for a person, situation, or topic by understanding it. With this scholarship, I will be able to apply the concepts I learn in college to the world around me. I’ll be able to problem-solve and put the tiniest parts of my wisdom and intuition into the world, allowing them to blossom into flowers of altruism. This scholarship is yet another small aspect of my life that will allow me to build up to stronger, bigger accomplishments in my life. Although I am not the smartest, most compassionate individual, I am human— I can make an impact with a brief conversation, a handshake, or just a smile. Because of my human condition and my abilities to listen, learn, and understand, I believe that I will be able to make a change in the world that I will be content with.

If I were to ask somebody what is the most important aspect of choir, they would most likely respond with “singing.” That answer is entirely true, to an extent. Whenever a passing student walks into our class of twenty talented singers, they are bound to hear a symphony of magnificent voices all vocalizing in synchrony. It is a privilege and an honor to be able to share the gift of music with our community; to us, our voices give us power. However, for those part of the choir, that answer could not be any different. My choir teacher, Mrs. Whiteoak, emphasizes the concept of listening in the choir over all else. It’s hypocritical for an individual to use their ears more than their voice in a space where being heard is so important. Her justification is that a choir should sound like a combination of varying tone qualities and volumes all merging into a uniform masterpiece. While our voice carries the message of our piece to the audience, our ears are what form the most influential part of the choir. If we listen, our collective sound improves greatly— we decrescendo when our members decrescendo, and we swell when our members swell. We begin to think of the strengths and limitations of our peers and accommodate their abilities, materializing an unprecedented sound created because of our understanding and compassion for each other. Mrs. Whiteoak’s oxymoronic suggestions have not only improved my skill as a choral singer, but as a member of society. We live in a world where our voices are some of the most crucial things in our lives. They can communicate our joy, sadness, and animosity toward each facet of life that surrounds us. We are taught to be fearless in our confrontations and allow our voices to be heard among the masses of those already screaming for help. In this world, it is survival of the fittest, and the fit are those with the voices that are easiest to hear. This concept only drowns out the ocean of lost individuals who probably need help the most; their voices are hushed and muffled, consumed by the static of desperate, needy calls to the point where nobody even notices they’re there. Mrs. Whiteoak’s advice to listen has assisted me in these desolate moments. As much as I believe that fulfilling wants will truly bring me salvation in life, I still choose to listen. I lend my ear to those with the quietest voices, for their songs can sometimes be the prettiest. No matter how miniscule or dire, I try my best to be a shoulder to lie on, a listening ear to understand the melodies they have to sing. Even if I am hurt or feel insulted by the person I’m listening to, I allow their explanations to soothe my poisoned heart so it’s able to heal. To be able to listen to people who are the complete opposite of me is a skill far beyond singing. Although not all of us sing with a group of skilled performers, we are still able to apply the concept of listening in our everyday lives. It doesn’t matter if you listen to a frustrated stranger on the street or a friend you recently argued with; permitting those individuals to speak their minds and working to understand their circumstances can truly make their lives better. If the entire world was able to hear the voice of my choir teacher, then perhaps we all could sing in synchrony, in a way that mirrors the beauty of my choir.

“Stand right there, Ysa, let’s take a picture,” my mother would beckon, her nimble fingers wrapped around a rectangular device. I almost groaned, dragging my feet as if they were as heavy as boulders to the front of the Great Smoky Mountains sign, pondering the purpose of this entire exercise. While standing still in front of that sign, I was well aware of the few seconds I would be missing out on being productive. Little did I know that a future me, one who possessed all the more information about the world around me, would be eternally grateful to my mom’s constant nagging. After all, the camera was a device that inspired my beliefs in how technology could make the world a better place. Besides capturing moments in front of a grand national park, the camera has permitted the capturing of all sorts of natural phenomena we were unable to study before. Take Cassini, for example, a satellite that was able to depict Saturn and its rings in a way scientists could never perceive in the past. It worked diligently until its creators needed to preserve the planet’s rings. Both space enthusiasts and scientists alike were able to gather more information regarding a planet they probably wouldn’t be able to reach in thousands of millenia. Furthermore, the camera’s positive influence expands beyond just logical, but emotional as well. Everyday people can be inspired by the camera’s presence because of its ability to capture seemingly miniscule moments. Whether it be sharing dinner with your family, a hangout with friends, or a picture of a birthday gift, a camera preserves these memories and the emotions that accompany them. Although space and scientific discoveries are crucial to our development as a race, it’s the small things, the flecks of jubilance that truly bring humanity together. Without cameras, those memories would only be glimpses in our seemingly short lives. Because of the camera’s impact in both our and the world’s lives, we are able to preserve the past to live in the present. Humans cherish their current lives without worrying about the preservation of the past. The invention of the camera has inspired me to protect every single moment in hopes of looking back and cherishing the life that I’ve built around me. That way, I can be able to look toward the future, looking forward to the new, inspiring technologies to come.