I entered the teaching profession due in part because of the lack of Asian American representation in this field. In grade school, I saw no teacher that looked like me whom I could relate to to inspire me to even consider this profession. For that reason, I pursued education to show that the teaching profession is as diverse as the student population that it inspires. In the same vein, being an Asian American teacher is the fulfillment of the dream of becoming the role model I wished I had when I was young. Now that I am a teacher, education presents a new challenge--one in which I am ready to undertake.

I want to pursue an advanced degree in education to break the access barrier and doubts that might have precluded those who are socially disadvantaged from aspiring. Education has always taken a pre-eminent place in my immigrant family. My parents always taught me that education is the ticket to social mobility in this country. However, despite the reassurance, obtaining an advanced degree always casts a long shadow of doubt for those who have never achieved it. No one in my family has ever received an advanced degree. The closest that any of my family members has gotten to a higher degree is graduating from college. As such, this endeavor is momentous for all those reasons. More importantly, an advanced degree in this field would empower me with the know-how to make education even more beneficial to those I serve. Like I was, many of my students are socially disadvantaged. As such, my participation in the program would allow me to speak on their behalf and learn ways to help them from repeating my struggles.