1. Having had my father pass away after my 8th-grade year and learning to take on his role, I started to work towards becoming a better student and person for my family. As my grief started to fade and I grew increasingly accustomed to translation for my family, completing paperwork, making phone calls, etc., my focus started to shift from working for my family to working for myself. I found a purpose in the activities that I took part in and a confidence stemming from knowing I have the ability to bounce back from hardship and used it to motivate me. From only having to attend Zoom meetings for extracurriculars during the pandemic, to spending every lunch at a club and my afterschool hours at practice, I managed through a slow integration of these activities into my daily routine. I joined because I enjoyed being a part of these activities, so rather than being a source of stress, they added value to my life and kept my mind off my academics and family responsibilities when needed. Using a planner also helped me tremendously in keeping track of club duties and deadlines, especially when I would forget sometimes due to all the things I had to remember.

2. My high school mathematics experience, primarily taking AP classes in mathematic subjects, has helped me gain insight as to what college in math could be like. However, recognizing that I come from an underrepresented, low-income area, I know that the courses that I have taken will not completely prepare me for the rigors of university, and that a lot more will be expected of me then. My ability to find my own resources, as I have done in classes that did not offer me as much support as I would’ve needed, and in my life after my father’s passing, enables me to do so in university as well, so I can ensure my success. On the other hand, I feel that this circumstance will allow me to contribute more than math-related things and problem-solving skills, but also different perspectives and takes on these topics. I’ve often found myself to be the person people seek to ask for help with math, so my willingness to tutor and support my peers where fitting are things I can use to contribute to a collaborative environment in university.

3. I truly believe in the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone. My time at high school was one leap of faith after another. Each transition and new activity I went after only built my confidence even more, which added to various aspects of my life by encouraging me to take advantage of every opportunity given to me. Only by making the most of the resources I had around you, whether it was a lot or a little, would maximize your chances of success.