Have you ever had a father that always made you laugh but never smiled? When you're a kid, it's quite noticeable to the point where it drives your curiosity. Did I do something? Was he just unhappy all the time? I would pester him with these questions. He never gave me a definitive answer until I was old enough to realize he was insecure about his teeth. Why? I always knew he brushed his teeth twice daily and never liked broccoli, so surely there couldn't be anything wrong. Well, once when you see his Pontic retainer, you eventually understand his background. My father grew up in Cebu City and never had the luxury of owning a toothbrush in his prime childhood. It was easier for him to pull out his own teeth than to deal with the painful cavities that would build bacteria day after day. He never liked his smile ever again because of the pain he remembered. I recognized that his dedication to bringing me to America was something I would be eternally grateful for, and I would owe him the favor. In elementary school, I vowed to become a dentist to help children like him smile again; I mean, that's the reason we have teeth! Now, as an undergraduate studying Biochemistry at The University of Texas at Austin, I have started an organization primarily combatting the problem my father had and serving the youth community. Children's Oral Health Advocacy Project (COHAP) is a pre-dental organization at The University of Texas at Austin that dedicates our service to illuminating the path to healthier communities through oral hygiene education. After doing research and volunteering for the Austin community, I've learned that many hardworking parents do not have access to health insurance, cannot afford to take off of work for dental visits, and worry about their financial circumstances that at the end of the day, they occasionally forget to remind their child to brush their teeth. I figured I could take the initiative to help relieve the parents from figuring out where to find a toothbrush while also teaching children the importance of dental health. These habits are crucial to develop at a young age, but without any guidance, they can quickly turn into a detrimental health situation. In Texas, six out of ten children have already experienced cavities and tooth decay. Having cavities early on and disregarding the aching feeling can lead to infections and eventually reach into the cardiovascular system. The habits they partake in now can cause these children to miss school, have a difficult time eating or talking, and have disrupted sleep patterns due to pain. My mission is to jumpstart their dental journey through various fun activities, such as tooth fairy tag or floss the building block, and provide them with soft-bristle toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss. So far, we have served 300 children from across the Austin area, bringing a smile that is forever engraved in our hearts. However, that number is still growing, and we plan to partner with high schools in upcoming years. My dream goal is to travel to the Philippines and do the same methodology once I become a pediatric dentist and assemble a team that shares the value of giving back to the community that raised you, even if it was an indirect influence. My message to future generations: Never forget where you came from. Our resilient and determined culture keeps us stronger than ever. Kapwa will always bring us together, so I encourage you to tackle whatever lies ahead, as you will always make a difference.

Growing up with a half-Japanese father who loves Gundam and an older brother who loves Pokémon, there wasn't a time that anime didn't conquer the one television we shared. My mother always thought watching anime was a waste of time or just silly cartoons until my father brought home a movie from Redbox, a video rental company. Little did he know this film would bring our family together into tears. Studio Ghibli has been known to dominate the Kodomomuke genre in a way that encaptures a child's imagination like never before. Every time I watch their films, it feels like someone crawled into a kid's dream while they were sleeping and filmed the whole storyline perfectly. The movie that started my obsession was "Ponyo," a story about a goldfish that befriends a human with the realization that she too wants to be a human. Of course, as a kid, I was so intrigued by the vibrant colors, orchestral music, and adorable mini Ponyo fish that I forgot to pay attention to the theme. Sure, after still watching Ponyo to this day, I might have accidentally forced my favorite food to be ham and convinced my parents to put me in swim classes. However, once I got to college, this movie helped me from being homesick, overcoming impostor syndrome, and even got me to take an anime class just for fun! After rewatching Ponyo, I've learned that change is good. A new environment can be frightening, but adapting and trying new things are characteristics I confidently possess because of this film. I grew up in a small town with two high schools that were rarely known. Now, as a Biochemistry major from The University of Texas at Austin, I did not realize how challenging the courses were and felt like I was constantly behind. It doesn't help that you're surrounded by people who went to predominantly higher-performing schools with well-known backgrounds. Whenever I felt alone, I would watch Ponyo and reminisce about how optimistic the film was. It would motivate me to persevere, no matter what obstacles lie ahead of me. I mean, if Ponyo can turn into a human while avoiding her father's wishes to stay a goldfish and making the most out of the havoc from the imbalanced nature, then I can get through college. As a Filipino, I've grown up with the concept of connectedness and family called "kapwa," which translates to "self-in-the-other." Coming from a family-oriented background, it is tough to move away from my parents and siblings and start a new chapter in my life. Rewatching Ponyo felt like receiving a hug from my family, as it was the only movie to make us all cry. We cried due to how much we resonated with the film. Just like Lisa, Sosuke's mother, my mother works in a retirement home for Alzheimer's patients while my father works as an Orthopedic nurse, working late nights and early mornings like Sosuke's father who is a ship captain. My older brother, who I mentioned before loves Pokémon, loves historic animals such as the fish Sosuke and Ponyo saw once their town was flooded. My younger sister looked exactly like Ponyo, with a plump face, small hands and feet, and a curiosity to explore the world with bright crayons in her hands. I was interested in the magical tunes and sounds when I first watched the film, as I played the flute and listened for higher pitches so I could interrupt and say "That's a flute!" Thanks to Ponyo, I am always reminded of a nostalgic past and a hopeful future.

My name is Dana Yambao, and I currently attend The University of Texas at Austin, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and a minor in Social and Behavioral Science. In my free time, when I am not in a laboratory or studying the Krebs Cycle for the fifteenth time, you can find me in the kitchen cooking a delicious Filipino meal that my mom taught me how to cook. An interesting fact about me is that I have an abnormal obsession with the children's television show Spongebob Squarepants. This is what sparked my love for biology while cooking sparked my love for chemistry. My main motivation comes from my parents, who grew up in the Philippines, where healthcare and oral hygiene products are not readily available. My father grew up without a toothbrush and is very insecure about his smile. As a child, it is strange to see your own father not show his teeth and smile at you. Especially when he always made me laugh with funny faces and silly jokes. My ultimate goal is to become a dentist to help people like my father smile more; I mean, that's the reason we have teeth! Besides the endless possibilities STEAM offers, my excitement purely comes from how advanced it can make our community. By further developing my problem-solving skills and learning, there is only one way to go: forward. Although it takes time and can be challenging to learn the background concepts of how the world works at a molecular level, it is satisfying to grow and finally understand why scientists can develop a vaccine in under a year. As mentioned before, I would like to become a dentist. The problem with the curriculum in some dental schools is that they use outdated techniques with older instruments. Newer dental offices primarily use technology to assist in surgeries, take X-rays, and chart patient information. Using information technology, I would like to create a positive impact by making the overall patient experience easier while keeping up with the advancement of technology. This would allow me to teach other dentists, as well as, dental hygienists and assistants, about new techniques that help us go forward. Dental offices are notorious for long waits and loud equipment. However, with the improvements in STEAM, obtaining documents online before a visit, sending estimated waiting times via text messaging, creating quieter equipment to alleviate stress and anxiety for children, utilizing robotic assistance during complicated procedures, forming teeth models from three-dimensional printing in real-time, having interactive care and service, and providing music or television shows such as Spongebob Squarepants can be implemented to form a positive environment while keeping the patient healthy. As a member of the university's pre-dental society, I am currently working on a project that involves visiting local elementary schools and teaching students about oral hygiene habits. After each visit, we will distribute toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss mimicking the goodie bags one receives after a trip to the dentist. Our organization will also have a treasure chest filled with stickers and toys for the children to pick their desired prizes. Our goal from these interactive learning trips is to teach proper brushing and flossing techniques while seeing a smile on every child's face! But why should I stop there? It seems outlandish, but I would like to continue these trips across the Pacific Ocean. As a future pediatric dentist, it is my lifelong dream to create a meaningful impact on my community in the Philippines, provide free dental care to children, and educate them on the importance of oral health.

I grew up in a traditional Filipino Catholic household. What exactly does this mean for someone who identifies as a lesbian? It means I was born to face various challenges and look at things differently than most people. My family devoted themself to religious values and forced that onto me. With the constant fear, to this day, of being disowned as if it were a shadow cast over me at all times, but also the drive to meet their high expectations, I am overwhelmed with anxiety. From a young age, my parents emphasized becoming a nurse, just like them, as it was a stable practice that focused on taking care of people. Since they immigrated from the Philippines, nursing was a common way to build themselves in America. Although I knew I wanted to help people, I felt I was losing my autonomy when they exaggerated how much being a nurse meant to them. My passions include science, hand-skills, and making people smile. I found that the dental field fits my exact passions and aids in me finding my autonomy again. When I told my parents about my future goals, they thought highly of me, but the fear of being a failure took over my life. With the combination of hiding my true identity and the expectation to be the "perfect" child, my mental health declined rapidly. It was not a healthy experience for me, but I guess you could say that my educational journey surpassed what the average mentally tired person would go through. As soon as I came to The University of Texas at Austin, I felt more welcomed by the diverse crowd than I ever have in my life. I initially chose to major in Biochemistry because of my love for science, but eventually, I found more of a community here than my home. In particular, I have had the pleasure of getting to know my organic chemistry professor, Dr. Robert Newberry, who has told me about his journey of being a part of the LGBTQ+ community and being a scientist. He has told me how success cannot be achieved if I modify myself to fit other people's views and how it ultimately reduces my ability to engage in the things I want to do in the world. Starting small, I have told my friends and acquaintances who have been my allies throughout my college years. He was right. I have found the autonomy I needed from the beginning. STEM, to me, is not just a field of study but a connection to finding people who share the freedom of resilience. Sure, I could say that doing an organic chemistry mechanism is fun, but the social impacts of STEM defy my determination to change the world. From healthcare disparities to climate change, these topics have become social issues. Eventually, I would like to bring the LGBTQ+ to justice in the dental field by combining my scientific knowledge, compassion, and personal experiences. However, my financial path is crossing my academic path. As my family cannot help pay for my studies, the burden has been put on me. Even after working early mornings and late nights at a hotel, I can barely afford to pay for college. I have taken loans every year with the dooming debt accumulating. Any financial help would alleviate this pressure to help me focus on my studies and acknowledge my journey to make a tangible difference. Despite the challenges along the way, STEM offers me the opportunity to carve out a path that honors both my identity and my aspirations.