“Listen, I support trans people. I just don’t want them getting extra rights.” A student at my school states to me as I explain to him how I can get legally murdered whilst he is preaching to me about how I’m ‘entitled’ for yearning an education void of agonizing about whether I’ll be assaulted in the bathroom that day and subsequently added to a plethora of misinterpreted statistics for him to utter. Moreover, rationale such as this blatantly ignores the societal persecution and years of dysphoric suffering before accepting who we are that millions of queer people go through globally, which for some such as me can bring us to the verge of suicide innumerable times. Additionally, as for me personally, I’ve had to endure months upon months of cutting through dozens of archaic standards and bureaucratic red tape: whether it be having to deal with shattering prejudice towards who I am at my school; attaining a pass to enter the women’s restroom; or person #1609 ‘enlightening’ me on how happiness equals bad. Unfortunately, the worst comes in the familial sphere where my parents, with their various layoffs and precipice of poverty line income, reciprocate their financial anxiety as hatred upon me emotionally in various forms; such as fury for me attending college and my medical expenses vowing not to spend a dime on either saddling the former which amounts to an approximate sum of $35000 annually and the latter at minimum approximately $150 monthly to me whilst perpetually insulting me daily for both. However, despite this daily malice, I will not succumb to hate. Likewise, I’ve made it my life purpose to help others as much as feasibly possible, for while sure there are numerous ‘bad actors’: there are infinitely more ND Stevenson’s. Thus, concerning my career, I elected to choose the medical field and pursue biomedical engineering with medical school in the future, so that I may save the lives of all that I can and utilize my keen memory to study medicine to aid others. Meanwhile, concerning advocacy, I’ve made it my goal to educate on LGBTQIA+ issues at my school or in my local community with moderate success as most people are simply genuinely misinformed about LGBTQIA+ issues by American political culture brainwashed to think those who are ‘weird’ are the spawns of satan and are not JK Rowling’s seeking to spew vile abhorrence 24/7/365. All of these activities' motivations are predominantly rooted in one a quirky documentary I saw in my AP Environmental Science stating, “I may be a hummingbird attempting to put a jungle fire out with droplets, but I can do what I can.” and a rudimentary desire to witness a concave upwards expression on the faces of all whilst preventing them from going through experiences I had to: e.g. my international free tutoring service so others won’t have to exhaust hours like I did finding free online resources to learn whatever one desires. Nonetheless, this scholarship would alleviate immense mental anguish over my post-college debt, which as it stands, amounts to well over $100,000 whilst allowing me to focus on my missions of aiding others as much as possible both in a professional sense and a social sense. In all, while yes being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community places me under a mainstream political microscope privy to extensive inequality and injustice for who I am, I seek to end this cycle of hatred as effectively as I can rather than wallow in it and be a ladder future generations can use to summit upon further peaks while leaving a positive impact.

‘I’ wake up. go on ‘my’ computer. ‘I’ go to bed: empty. ‘I’ console ‘my’ friends who are struggling through their own tribulations extolling virtues such as, “Life is beautiful and I’ll always be here for you! <3” while at the same time pondering ‘my’ next suicide attempt taking ‘my’ monthly shower where ‘I’ play the “don’t breathe game” under the water yearning to shut my eyes. ‘I’ was broken, isolated, hungry, abused, hated, bullied, suicidal, and hollow enamored with the thought of death yet strangely always stopped at the precipice of ending it. However, I wasn’t always ‘I’ and I began her life feeling both happiness and sadness capable of laughter and tears–an average kid. However, just a few things happened that culminated in her breaking: forced to exist as a boy, beaten at least twice a week, not being fed for days, constant bullying and isolation at school, daily bruising from her brothers leaving her incapable of moving without crying, and the list expands just as rapidly as her will to live began to conflagrate into dust. She wanted to get help; no she wanted out, but her parents and ‘family’ were there each time to teach her that this ‘he’ which she was cast to play was being ‘overly sentimental’ as they’re ‘his family’ who loves ‘him’ and are merely ‘teaching him’: ‘I’ eventually became a model student. She stopped fighting and became docile; never crying–to her parents' delight–becoming a righteous punching bag laughing as her body shrieked in pain for she saw no past, no present, no future–she saw nothing. What about school as surely her teachers would notice or she’d make friends that cared for her? No, that’s a silly idea; she voiced this all to a teacher who awkwardly played it off and didn’t care once while she showed up to class further visibly disheveled struggling to grasp a pencil. Meanwhile, even with the few acquaintances she did make, she was too immobilized to utter one word about her suffering or who she was. Consequently, she entered stage right–donning a guise of masculinity–behaving as this ‘he’ she was born to be while getting bullied daily crying to an audience of wind. Thus, she had no family, had no school life, and the few friends she did have she couldn't express a word to, for it was a support group for them never to her. Her world was a balancing act where, “Sure ‘I’d’ get beaten for 5 minutes straight while screaming in pain or be treated like cattle at school, but at least once a year ‘I’d’ get a donut so the world was just and I was receiving the benevolence I deserve whilst everyone else deserves nothing but kindness and support.” On a seemingly inconsequential day a thought appeared, “What even is ‘I’? Better yet, who am I?” This one question saved my life. Thus, for the sake of satiating this question as ‘I’ had no other meaning, I began to live. I separated myself from my 'family', gradually attaining more financial independence relying solely on shelter from them paying for all my other expenses granting me the leverage and mental clarity to brood over who I am. Even so, I progressively acquired more friends with whom I could open up to and release years of pent-up trauma realizing my existence had not been normal and how my life had just begun, for–thanks to their support and obtaining the courage to fight once more–I realized: I am me, I am a woman, and I am Yuki. No longer would I allow myself to exist within eternal oblivion as now I’d live as me. I began truly opening up forming bonds and reattaining the emotions I had lost so long ago. Additionally, my worldview is now one of helping all people and seeking to create a brighter tomorrow with the slight alteration of me within the frame rather than as the photographer. Though, if it wasn’t for being able to finally express my mental woes and the suffocating trauma I had endured, I wouldn’t be here today. As such, I seek to spread to others a greater acceptance towards divulging one’s mental health and seeking assistance, for it is not ‘weak’ to admit that one needs help; rather it is a sign of true character for they’re willing to let themselves out and be vulnerable so that they may receive the support of others. Whether it be my friend groups, organizations I’ve managed or been a part of working towards this philosophy, or even simple everyday interactions: I tirelessly endeavor to accomplish this goal. Moreover, in a career sense, I will manifest this goal within neurophysics seeking to achieve a greater understanding of the human mind whilst channeling my inquisitive nature toward the natural world utilizing this career towards advancing our understanding of hormones to engender medical technology which can be utilized to aid in curing a myriad of ailments created by hormone imbalances. Additionally, I’m a lifelong advocate galvanizing the rights of all including but not limited to: those persecuted for living as who they are, those oppressed for being born, and those who are starved whether it be in a corporeal, emotional, or fiscal sense. Nonetheless, actions and philosophies aside, I am merely a woman dealt the hand of poverty, abusive parents, and many other issues leaving me ailed with countless seemingly insurmountable difficulties who strives to spit in the face of the dealer revealing my pig to be a royal flush, for–no matter the circumstances–I will never again sink to the abyss of ‘I’ as I am me, Yuki Rojas, a person who desires to leave a radiant future; as no matter who you are: you deserve the ability to live rather than exist. Nonetheless, all 8.2 billion of us hold the responsibility to be there for others when we can; rather than dismissing their issues as ‘a sign of weakness’ or ignoring a plea by the mute to be heard.

‘I’ wake up. go on ‘my’ computer. ‘I’ go to bed: empty. ‘I’ console ‘my’ friends who are struggling through their own tribulations extolling virtues such as, “Life is beautiful and I’ll always be here for you! <3” while at the same time pondering ‘my’ next suicide attempt taking ‘my’ monthly shower where ‘I’ play the “don’t breathe game” under the water yearning to shut my eyes. ‘I’ was broken, isolated, hungry, abused, hated, bullied, suicidal, and hollow enamored with the thought of death yet strangely always stopped at the precipice of ending it. However, I wasn’t always ‘I’ and I began her life feeling both happiness and sadness capable of laughter and tears–an average kid. However, just a few things happened that culminated in her breaking: forced to exist as a boy, beaten at least twice a week, not being fed for days, constant bullying and isolation at school, daily bruising from her brothers leaving her incapable of moving without crying, and the list expands just as rapidly as her will to live began to conflagrate into dust. She wanted to get help; no she wanted out, but her parents and ‘family’ were there each time to teach her that this ‘he’ which she was cast to play was being ‘overly sentimental’ as they’re ‘his family’ who loves ‘him’ and are merely ‘teaching him’: ‘I’ eventually became a model student. She stopped fighting and became docile; never crying–to her parents' delight–becoming a righteous punching bag laughing as her body shrieked in pain for she saw no past, no present, no future–she saw nothing. What about school as surely her teachers would notice or she’d make friends that cared for her? No, that’s a silly idea; she voiced this all to a teacher who awkwardly played it off and didn’t care once while she showed up to class further visibly disheveled struggling to grasp a pencil. Meanwhile, even with the few acquaintances she did make, she was too immobilized to utter one word about her suffering or who she was. Consequently, she entered stage right–donning a guise of masculinity–behaving as this ‘he’ she was born to be while getting bullied daily crying to an audience of wind. Thus, she had no family, had no school life, and the few friends she did have she couldn't express a word to, for it was a support group for them never to her. Her world was a balancing act where, “Sure ‘I’d’ get beaten for 5 minutes straight while screaming in pain or be treated like cattle at school, but at least once a year ‘I’d’ get a donut so the world was just and I was receiving the benevolence I deserve whilst everyone else deserves nothing but kindness and support.” On a seemingly inconsequential day a thought appeared, “What even is ‘I’? Better yet, who am I?” This one question saved my life. Thus, for the sake of satiating this question as ‘I’ had no other meaning, I began to live. I separated myself from my 'family', gradually attaining more financial independence relying solely on shelter from them paying for all my other expenses granting me the leverage and mental clarity to brood over who I am. Even so, I progressively acquired more friends with whom I could open up to and release years of pent-up trauma realizing my existence had not been normal and how my life had just begun, for–thanks to their support and obtaining the courage to fight once more–I realized: I am me, I am a woman, and I am Yuki. No longer would I allow myself to exist within eternal oblivion as now I’d live as me. I began truly opening up forming bonds and reattaining the emotions I had lost so long ago. Additionally, my worldview is now one of helping all people and seeking to create a brighter tomorrow with the slight alteration of me within the frame rather than as the photographer. Though, if it wasn’t for being able to finally express my mental woes and the suffocating trauma I had endured, I wouldn’t be here today. As such, I seek to spread to others a greater acceptance towards divulging one’s mental health and seeking assistance, for it is not ‘weak’ to admit that one needs help; rather it is a sign of true character for they’re willing to let themselves out and be vulnerable so that they may receive the support of others. Whether it be my friend groups, organizations I’ve managed or been a part of working towards this philosophy, or even simple everyday interactions: I tirelessly endeavor to accomplish this goal. Moreover, in a career sense, I will manifest this goal within neurophysics seeking to achieve a greater understanding of the human mind whilst channeling my inquisitive nature toward the natural world utilizing this career towards advancing our understanding of hormones to engender medical technology which can be utilized to aid in curing a myriad of ailments created by hormone imbalances. Additionally, I’m a lifelong advocate galvanizing the rights of all including but not limited to: those persecuted for living as who they are, those oppressed for being born, and those who are starved whether it be in a corporeal, emotional, or fiscal sense. Nonetheless, actions and philosophies aside, I am merely a woman dealt the hand of poverty, abusive parents, and many other issues leaving me ailed with countless seemingly insurmountable difficulties who strives to spit in the face of the dealer revealing my pig to be a royal flush, for–no matter the circumstances–I will never again sink to the abyss of ‘I’ as I am me, Yuki Rojas, a person who desires to leave a radiant future; as no matter who you are: you deserve the ability to live rather than exist. Nonetheless, all 8.2 billion of us hold the responsibility to be there for others when we can; rather than dismissing their issues as ‘a sign of weakness’ or ignoring a plea by the mute to be heard.

A concerned friend once asked me, “Why do you sacrifice so much of your time and well-being for the sake of others for zero profit?” All I responded with were three rudimentary words: because I can. I will earnestly ensure that everyone has access to opportunities and can have a voice even if I may face the scourges lurking within society: whether it be free international tutoring providing high-quality instruction on a myriad of subjects to those who are disadvantaged; civic activism fighting for the rights of minorities and a more egalitarian tomorrow; or in my local community leading an organization providing well over 200 elementary schoolers with high school mentors. Furthermore, my purpose is to leave smiles and laughter upon everyone as my legacy–seeking to aid others in my career via medicine whilst endeavoring to save lives. In other words, my entire modus operandi is formulated around improving the lives of all receiving the payment of a concaving upward face as it is through the gaiety of those around me that I feel the most fulfilled; not through an extra zero added upon my bank account, for a joyous human life is worth far more to me than paper.

“Anime saved my life.” A cliche phrase at this point that embodies me entirely as anime genuinely is the primary reason why I sit here typing away rather than decaying 6 feet under, for anime allowed me to get through the roughest period of my life whilst aiding in discovering who I am. No series better embodies this for me than Steins;Gate which I have watched all of well over 5 times at this point. To elaborate, Steins;Gate has imparted upon me vital lessons each time I rewatch it, but I will describe three of the most vital in-depth that continuously enrapture me upon each rewatch: accepting who we are, fighting for a seemingly impossible wonderland, and recognizing the ephemerality of life. Beginning with accepting who I am, the first time I watched Steins;Gate I was extremely depressed contemplating suicide daily whilst suffering through severe gender dysphoria. However, I’d witness characters such as Ruka accept who they are and grow immensely from it despite facing immense persecution and disdain for their identity. Thus, I gained the courage to accept who I am–a trans woman–thanks to Steins;Gate realizing that, like Ruka, there will always be people close to me who will support me no matter the circumstances or who I am just like how Okabe was to Ruka realizing that I shouldn’t succumb to despair to conform. Moreover, I gained the confidence to stand up for myself as I learned that even if there are moments when it’s extremely taxing dealing with societal oppression; if Ruka can rise once more, so can I. Speaking about Okabe, I will next depict how on my first rewatch Okabe’s altruistic determination infected me, altering my entire perspective on both my purpose and conquering adversity. By extension, what makes Okabe as a character so compelling to me is that he’s the most ‘human’ character I’ve ever seen in anime; he acts out incredibly embarrassing delusions solely to make his friends comfortable while also struggling with his own problems. Moreover, his tribulations are similar to ones everyone endures falling into depression throughout Steins;Gate 0 believing himself to be powerless. However, what infected me is his grit to never give up even through supposed insurmountable fated despair as he always rises back up believing, “If you want to grant your own wish, then you should clear your path to it.” Thus, Okabe inspired me to exert my all both for others and myself fighting for a brighter tomorrow even when most perceive it as impossible; whether it be civil activism, community service, or academics. Furthermore, on my second rewatch, I came to realize the impermanence of life and how crucial it is to achieve your dreams before it is too late, for Okabe watched his childhood best friend, Mayuri, die thousands of times in his face. Through such, I realized our lives are fickle–capable of ending at a moment’s notice–thereby making it necessary that we live each day as our last being the best version of ourselves. Moreover, I acquired the unflinching drive to dedicate myself fully towards my goal of aiding and saving others as, while my existence may be a speck of sand in the cosmos of time: it can still be extricative to others. In all, what engrosses me about Steins;Gate is that each time I rewatch it I learn a new aspect about myself as well as another life lesson that comes to revolutionize my methodology alternating my perspective whilst heightening my drive to help others even if I may receive hatred in exchange accepting both the good and bad aspects of myself.

Hunger, not the ‘I want a snack or meal right now’ hunger, an unquenchable voracious appetite that one craves to satiate but is unable to find any repose to satiate this gaping abyss left with unresolvable misery. Moreover, due to my father’s severe financial insecurity living 3 days before each paycheck and constantly hunting for a significant other leading to another divorce, I’d often be lucky to eat a meal a day. Additionally, this state of dismay caused my father to sink into depravity and alcoholism venting his resentment upon me; whether it be chasing me down and beating me for 5 minutes or severe emotional abuse calling me every known synonym of ‘useless’ in the English language. Worst of all, was coupling this with horrendous gender dysphoria as I spent every night crying–till eventually no more tears could–come while I despised who I was due to solely hearing that it was perverted for me to think I was a woman. Consequently, I sunk deeper and deeper till I lost semblance of myself entirely existing to disappear pondering during every moment of my existence how I’d painlessly facilitate my own extinction. Eventually, upon the dawn of the New Year 2023, this despair welled into an ultimatum: die as he or live as she. The latter was the path I took. Even through having close friends abandon me; facing social persecution for existing; and surpassing layers of bureaucratic red tape, I would not falter. Additionally, to alleviate my father’s financial burdens, I’ve funded my entire high school education expenses–well over $1000 dollars–as well my medical expenses which are approximately $150 monthly. Furthermore, I’ve ventured it upon myself to end the cycle of hatred rather than renew it as I’ve seen it destroy the father I love and cherish. As such, I’ve endeavored to focus on improving and saving the lives of as many people as people with civic activism, pursuing a career in medicine, or disseminating any knowledge I possess among all through free international tutoring. Additionally, rather than accept a despairful status quo as my father did, I continually seek challenges in each aspect of my life, for I was given an opportunity once more at living millions around the world are unable to receive and thus I’d like to reciprocate it ten times over. Even through competitions I have zero apparent chance to succeed at; extremely rigorous academics taking 14 AP courses in one year; or searching for opportunities in which I seemingly have no chance of success at. Nonetheless, instead of lying in comfort in the known life paved out for me by my father to accept melancholic mundanity, I aspire for greater heights embracing the unknown whilst bringing as many along with me as possible. Even still, I believe in my father and am always there for him despite how he’s treated me in the past, for I truly believe he can grow as a person and be the beautiful caring father I once knew. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, I plan to pursue a medical school and a career in medicine as I want to use my drive to aid others as much as possible so that I may receive the saccharine honeydew of a patient’s smile and gratitude. In all, rather than wallow within excuses, such as “My father is horrible to me so what’s the point of trying?” or “If everybody hates me, why should I try?”, I throw those cards back at the deck with a magnanimous letter on top of each believing that together we can ascend beyond the destructive samsara of hatred.

Adversity, a phenomenon I’m all too familiar with: whether it be going days at a time without a meal in sight; emotional and physical abuse from my family; or soul-crushing inescapable gender dysphoria. However, how does college factor into this for me? It’s simple, college grants me the opportunity to further push myself for the sake of us all. However, before I describe why college functions as such, it’s vital that I contextualize my impetus for said mindset with my high school experience. I began high school ensnared within that first sentence: a hollow shell of a human being with no will to exist yearning for my expiration date–terrified into inaction. I was a being that moved to move, breathed to breathe, and existed to exist without a purpose perpetuated entirely by inertia who could’ve been mistaken at any moment for a pendulum swinging back and forth for eternity. However, I eventually reached an impasse: exit stage left or enter stage right. Thus, she escaped from the abyss while he assumed a backseat role beginning my thorny yet luscious road to recovery. Along this journey, I would come to realize that I possess the ability to help both myself and other people, and while I may not be a Mozart: I can compose an ode to Salieri. Thus, for the sake of others, I’ve been a vocal civil activist campaigning for the rights of minorities within my area; a volunteer within my community providing over 200 elementary schoolers with high school mentors; and a STEM advocate bolstering STEM interest simultaneously on a local and global scale. As for myself, I’ve strived to always challenge myself through rigorous schedules with 14 AP classes in one year, competitions with the odds stacked against me, or attaining opportunities by spending hundreds of hours scavenging the internet. All of this connects to one central goal: to change the world by saving and aiding the lives of all. Now, back to college, what college means to me is a way to acquire the tools to be able to achieve such: whether it be through academics honing my knowledge, civil activism highlighting societal inequalities, or forging connections and friendships brightening both my life and the lives of others. More specifically, participating in research projects–for instance, my current undergraduate research opportunity–, engaging in groups such as LGBTQIA+ groups and Hispanic groups fighting for increased action combating oppression, and spending time together with my classmates and my professors getting to experience new perspectives whilst engendering lifelong memories. Alas, even though I may have faced extreme persecution and inequality in the past from my family and in my community: I will not sink into depravity repeating the samsara of hateful despair. In a similar vein, college presents me the opportunity to ascend to new heights whilst pushing myself with challenges far more tumultuous than the last–each imparting upon me new knowledge that I can utilize to save and help more people. Then, after my undergraduate years, I can attend medical school followed by residency where I can finish cultivating my academic skills so that I may save people's lives with medicine. As such, college is not the end goal nor the beginning, rather college serves as a stepping stone facilitating my growth allowing me to push myself for the sake of we. In all, while I’m sure this path will be riddled with tremendous roadblocks both socially and academically, I’ll keep fighting along ensuring that the 2,593,205,280 seconds I’m blessed to still be living are fully employed while leaving a grove of lotuses in which others can build upon.

I’m broken. I want out. Please, somebody, anybody, just tell me what’s wrong with me! I don’t understand why I feel this way: why, why, why, why, why! I thought to myself for nearly a decade as whilst I, just like Cesar and millions of trans people globally, began to lose myself to this mental despair and sink deeper into the abyss. Eventually, it got to the point where for the span of 3 years I was emotionally numb wishing to disappear and devising my next suicide attempt hoping the next would be the last. I was so afraid, so terrified, and so alone that while I’d be convincing a friend to live and the beauty of life I’d later plan a quick, painless method of ending it that I ‘hoped’ I wouldn’t run from this time. I was nothing but a husk. However, for a reason that still puzzles me today, on New Year's Eve in 2022 I came to an ultimatum: end my life at the end of the new year as a shell or live through the new year as me. I’m aware that this rationale isn’t valiant or courageous considering the former, but that was the only way to make me realize just how much I detested my current inaction and was the impetus to allow for my journey of self-discovery. From there, I made small steps; month-by-month, day-by-day revealing elements of myself till I eventually gained the courage to come out to a friend in August. Once again, here’s another blessing I had that millions of trans people around the world don’t: my friend accepted me. If he hadn’t, I honestly think I would’ve shrunk back into the umbra out of fear, but he accepted me, and the joy I felt at that moment was unreal. A few months later, I then came out to more of my inner circle which went both beautifully and abhorrently; I deepened several of my friendships vastly while experiencing hatred and bigotry from others. For instance, my hardline conservative mom reacted by exclaiming she is ‘supportive’ of me yet not one time has made a singular effort to voice my name or respect me as a human being even though I've continuously told her how draconic what she states is to me whilst she perpetually berates me for desiring to live as me. Meanwhile, at school, I’ve encountered a plethora of ‘friends’ who howl to me, “You don’t know what you’re doing and are brainwashed to think this way!” At first, I shuddered at these comments, yet – unbeknownst to me – a smolder would start conflagrating within my being fueled by these remarks. Meanwhile, as the ember was spreading, I’d begin HRT with my work money I spent all of 2023 working and saving for as I lacked insurance for it therein causing me to now spend $150 monthly on it. Despite the cost, HRT is worth every single cent I pay; to cry once more, to smile once more, and to feel once more is an experience I’d never thought I’d even be able to have. Moreover, whilst transcending the frigid void, I came to realize these millions of trans people and individuals like Cesar which I have been mentioning as well as an 8.1 billion large population each going through a myriad of tribulations that I possess the power to help them with. Thus, I acquired the purpose of helping others as best as I can: whether it be civic activism educating on issues plaguing our society that are oppressing minorities; volunteering such as free international tutoring, hosting local elementary school counseling services, or STEM advocacy and education; or even my very career path. To elaborate, I’ve always been eclectic with my interests being fairly capricious, but when I discovered medicine–I knew it was the right fit for me. Even if, during my undergraduate studies I’ll incur $35,000 in debt annually with a minimum of $130,000 at the end of my 4 years: the world will not stop me. I will pursue medicine and go to medical school since I want to support and save “anybody” utilizing the talents I do possess; the best part about medicine to me is witnessing the patient’s and their families' gratitude-filled faces after saving their lives. Moreover, this kindling flame of disdain having to bear inequality has become an inferno as I toil tirelessly against hatred with the opposite: kindness. I endeavor to end this unjust status quo with education and kindness believing in all as most people aren’t rage incarnates–rather misguided by those around them to view trans individuals as demon spawns. Additionally, the tenacity to fight has infected other aspects of my life driving me to hone my academic wit reaching heights such as placing at state for Science UIL and reaching nationals for the National Chemistry Olympiad–as always, I've shared my knowledge along the way so that others may reach these apexes as well. Moreover, I leap at the opportunity to stand up for all I observe experiencing injustice such as bullying being the “somebody” I never had through my crippling dysphoria and solitary tearing of archaic standards; i.e. bathroom passes, prejudice, and disdainful lectures. Thus, I intend to live my life fighting to rescue those who are persecuted whether it be from the forces of nature or the malicious aspects of humanity whilst remembering the fallen along the way like Cesar who got their lives ripped away from them due to cruelty. Yes, I have and will continue to face adversity both in the professional and informal sphere but I will not succumb to such; I will fight for a brighter tomorrow. In all, through this scholarship, I believe I will be able to fund my own education granting me additional opportunities to focus both on my social efforts and my vocational efforts towards attending medical school, so that I may be the voice to the deafened and a memento to the fallen.

“Listen, I support trans people. I just don’t want them getting extra rights.” A student at my school states to me as I explain to him how I can get legally murdered whilst he is preaching to me about how I’m ‘entitled’ for yearning an education void of agonizing about whether I’ll be assaulted in the bathroom that day and subsequently added to a plethora of misinterpreted statistics. Moreover, rationale such as this blatantly ignores the societal persecution and years of dysphoric suffering before accepting who we are that millions of queer people go through globally, which for some such as me can bring us to the verge of suicide innumerable times. Additionally, as for me personally, I’ve had to endure months upon months of cutting through dozens of archaic standards and bureaucratic red tape: whether it be having to deal with shattering prejudice towards who I am at my school; attaining a pass to enter the women’s restroom; or person #1609 ‘enlightening’ me on how happiness equals bad. Unfortunately, the worst comes in the familial sphere where my parents, with their various layoffs and precipice of poverty line income, reciprocate their financial anxiety as hatred upon me emotionally in various forms; such as fury for me attending college and my medical expenses vowing not to spend a dime on either saddling the former which amounts to an approximate sum of $35000 annually and the latter at minimum approximately $150 monthly to me whilst perpetually insulting me daily for both. However, despite this daily malice, I will not succumb to hate. Likewise, I’ve made it my life purpose to help others as much as feasibly possible, for while sure there are numerous ‘bad actors’: there are infinitely more ND Stevenson’s. Thus, concerning my career, I elected to choose the medical field and pursue biomedical engineering with medical school in the future, so that I may save the lives of all that I can and utilize my keen memory to study medicine to aid others. Meanwhile, concerning advocacy, I’ve made it my goal to educate on LGBTQIA+ issues at my school or in my local community with moderate success as most people are simply genuinely misinformed about LGBTQIA+ issues by American political culture brainwashed to think those who are ‘weird’ are the spawns of satan and are not JK Rowling’s seeking to spew vile abhorrence 24/7/365. All of these activities' motivations are predominantly rooted in one a quirky documentary I saw in my AP Environmental Science stating, “I may be a hummingbird attempting to put a jungle fire out with droplets, but I can do what I can.” and a rudimentary desire to witness a concave upwards expression on the faces of all whilst preventing them from going through experiences I had to: e.g. my international free tutoring service so others won’t have to exhaust hours like I did finding free online resources to learn whatever one desires. Nonetheless, this scholarship would alleviate immense mental anguish over my post-college debt, which as it stands, amounts to well over $100,000 whilst allowing me to focus on my missions of aiding others as much as possible both in a professional sense and a social sense. In all, while yes being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community places me under a mainstream political microscope privy to extensive inequality and injustice for who I am, I seek to end this cycle of hatred as effectively as I can rather than wallow in it and be a ladder future generations can use to summit upon further peaks while leaving a positive impact.