Emerging from the trees, I step into the sunlight and gaze at the beautiful sight around me. After three hours and thousands of feet of elevation gain, I have finally reached my destination-- the top of Yosemite Falls. The lush green trees appear as pinpoints as I look down at Yosemite Valley, and I see the curved stature of Half Dome in the distance. The roar of Yosemite Falls is deafening, as I feel the cool drops of water on my face. Growing up, I have visited over a dozen national parks with my family from Yellowstone to Crater Lake to Grand Teton. I have camped at countless national forests and beaches. From witnessing spewing lava from within the Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park to hiking through water up to my waist in the Narrows at Zion National Park to conversing with a Navajo guide on a hike through Antelope Canyon, I have gained a deep appreciation and wonder for the diversity and beauty of nature. The awe I have felt in these places is not just a reaction to its beauty, but a reminder of the spirit of exploration that humans have carried with them throughout history. From early explorers, like John Muir, whose deep connection with nature and fierce advocacy for conservation led to the creation of national parks, to the astronauts who first stepped foot on the moon, human desire to understand the world around us has fueled our greatest achievements. By exploring our universe, we can better understand our place in this vast, complex world. For example, John Dalton discovered the atom, the smallest particle of an element, and Galileo Galilei devised the heliocentric model, the concept that Earth revolves around the sun. These discoveries have shifted the human perspective on our role in the universe and have laid the foundation for future discoveries. However, both Dalton and Galileo faced heavy criticism for their discoveries, because they challenged the status quo. Dalton was mocked for his lack of empirical evidence and formal education, as many scientists of his time believed in the classical ideas on models of matter proposed by philosophers like Aristotle. Galileo was placed under house arrest and deemed a heretic by the Catholic Church. Even John Muir was seen as overly romantic and idealistic as he pushed back against logging in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the construction of dams in the Hetch Hetchy Valley which many companies sought to exploit for economic gain. Despite the pushback these figures initially faced as they sought to better understand the universe, they are revered in the current day. Their persistence in the face of skepticism has inspired many generations to challenge established norms and seek new truths. I have found that progress is the result of advocating for one’s discoveries with persistence, even if others disagree. These explorers have also paved the way for significant discoveries that have altered everyday life. For example, space exploration has sparked many new innovations. In 1966, NASA developed viscoelastic foam, otherwise known as memory foam, to improve the comfort of aircraft seats. Since then, viscoelastic foam has been adapted for consumer products, like medical devices, mattresses, and cushioned seats. Also, robotic arms and technological systems in aircrafts for astronauts have led to the development of modern prosthetics, revolutionizing the medical field and improving the lives of individuals with disabilities. After taking a “Medical Innovation, Research, and Entrepreneurship” class, I was inspired by the impacts of space innovation on many industries, like the medical and technological fields. In the future, I hope to take inspiration from these industries to develop solutions to global issues, like climate change, and serve others. As I gained a deeper curiosity for space, I studied astronomy and was mesmerized by concepts like the Big Bang and redshift. I have discovered that humankind’s interest in our universe extends beyond science, as the entertainment industry capitalizes on this interest by developing content based around the multiverse, time travel, and extraterrestrial beings. These cultural phenomena, from blockbuster films like The Martian and Interstellar, and TV shows like Doctor Who, not only entertain, but ignite curiosity for science. Moreover, space exploration has become a symbol of human ingenuity. The Apollo Missions sparked a sense of pride amongst Americans across the nation, inspiring many to pursue a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. In contemporary society, we have also seen the rise of private space companies, like SpaceX. SpaceX has created the first reusable rocket and is working on the Starship project which is intended to hold a large number of passengers for interplanetary travel and eventually colonize Mars. While colonizing Mars might seem like an outlandish goal, it is being made a reality through human enterprise. Inspired by my own pursuits in nature and the explorative spirit of many of my inspirations, I pursued a fire ecology internship at Orange County Parks. While collaborating with land managers, I participated in hands-on research to study fires’ impacts on OC ecosystems. I collected data using quadrats across many sites to determine how differences in fire frequency affected the foraging quality of the cactus wren. Then, I collated data on percent cover, non-native and native plant cover, and the presence of insect orders, eventually presenting my findings to OC Parks stakeholders. Through these studies, I’ve helped develop techniques to better protect Orange County from fires. By understanding the nature of environmental systems, we can protect the ecosystem and surrounding communities. I’ve discovered that exploration can increase safety and save lives. Technology has also rapidly expanded our understanding of the universe. In 2020, the United Nations General Assembly discussed “The Impact of Rapid Technological Change on the Sustainable Development Goals and Targets.” They agreed that technology would be an important tool moving forward during the COVID-10 pandemic. As a result, technology use by governments became more prevalent. In fact, 57% of UN member states used their official websites to share news to their citizens on the impacts of COVID-19. Despite its negative implications, the pandemic was an opportunity for countries to take a step in accelerating their digital sphere. New technologies arose to meet the increased need of online infrastructure as consumers and employees stayed home. Remote working platforms and telemedicine services made resources more accessible. Cryptocurrency expanded, while blockchain technology has ensured transactional transparency and inclusivity in the global economy. Facial recognition technology in airports have streamlined the security process, improving safety while enhancing health measures. When challenges have surfaced, humans have persevered and sought innovative solutions. As a technology enthusiast, I then pondered technological impacts internationally. By participating in an International Political Economy class at my local community college, I realized technology’s implications on geopolitical rivalry. I became infatuated with terms like hegemony, globalization, and big data. I was especially amazed by China’s transformation from a rural agrarian society to a financial powerhouse all within a few decades. Therefore, I attended a Model UN conference at UC Berkeley to explore China’s ability to foster innovation through a dual-track economy. With my peers, I discussed a plan to stimulate China’s technological growth through Special Economic Zones, the Household Contract Responsibility System with Remuneration linked to Output (HCRS), and Township and Village Enterprises. Through their dual-track approach to market liberalization, these systems have fostered innovation and incentives in China’s economy and agricultural industry. As governments have experimented with several systems, they have found numerous ways to encourage exploration and stimulate technological and economic growth. At university, I strive to continue learning more about the world, including furthering my passion for the environment and pursuing my interest in technology. Growing up, I analyzed data from campaign software and petitions to target potential voters as a voter outreach volunteer. While I sorted data based on demographics and experimented with information groupings, I became fascinated by how technology drives contemporary society, including elections and environmental efforts. In the future, I strive to collect and analyze geospatial data using advanced Geographic Information Systems to support defense, intelligence, and humanitarian efforts. I will use modeling and simulation to create risk assessments on national security issues and natural disasters. I aspire to help develop innovative technological solutions that will maintain peace and stability on a global scale. I also plan to be a climate advocate, working internationally to develop unique solutions with global leaders using geospatial data. In essence, humans have an innate desire to understand the universe and find their place. As I stand at the top of Yosemite Falls, peering out at the expansive landscape, I’m reminded of the rarity of my existence, a combination of genetic, environmental, and random events that results in less than 1 in 4 billion chances of me being here at this moment. I’ve realized that our exploration of the natural world and the cosmos stems from our sense of curiosity and wonder of ourselves. As we move forward, our research will continue to be guided by the following questions: Why are we here? What role do we play?