Major/Minor: English (major) and Secondary Education, Coaching and Psychology (minors)

Extra-curriculars: Hamline University Volleyball, Asian Pacific American Coalition (APAC), Students Today Leaders Tomorrow, Hand-in-Hand Hancock/Hamline Collaboration (a partnership between students and Hancock Elementary for education majors, mostly)

State Grant impact: "Growing up in a household of five other siblings has been quite difficult on my family financially. I am the baby and my parents have put my older sisters through various colleges and universities. Education is highly valued in my family, and without the Minnesota State Grant, we most definitely would not have the means to fulfill our hopes and dreams. My parents have done everything in their power to provide for us, and it is wonderful being able to give back to them. By going out into the world and educating ourselves, we will be repaying them in the future.

If I did not receive the MN State Grant, my chances continuing my education at Hamline are extremely slim. I would probably have to transfer to a different school with bigger class sizes and my heart would not be where it belongs. Grants have helped not only my family financially, but in terms of keeping our sanity. Although paying for tuition is always a daunting task, it is nice to know that our government values education and the students trying to make a better tomorrow"

In ten years: "I hope to be teaching English literature/creative writing in a middle school or junior high. My whole mission in life is to make a difference. As a young child, it was very difficult for me to express my feelings and in the 7th grade a teacher took interest in my writing. She told me how I had talent and a skill. I continued to write and it was through my writing that the hardest of times became less horrific and the notion of escaping my life through pages in a book became an everyday routine. With in the disheartening world of today, many children are finding themselves stressed out, depressed and full of unnecessary worries. I want to spread the inspiration and motivation that reading and writing has given me."