The uprooting of my life at the age of nine occurred only six years ago when my mother and I flew from the Philippines to a place best known for its opportunities provided to those who seek them: the United States of America. Moving to a place so different in culture and societal expectations was an earthquake that threw cracks into my well-built system of “fitting in.” In my private school in the Philippines, I belonged in every way and felt united in my community of peers. When I first stepped into an American public elementary school, though, I looked around me, searched for a face that looked similar to mine and was left with my first feelings of alienation when I found none. It wasn’t until I entered the school library that I began to find my place. The world of literacy and books opened up the way for me to form connections with my peers in profound ways. It offered me a group of students who, just like me, enjoyed books and the stories they provided. Every day after school, we read stories and exchanged honest thoughts. We even competed in the Global Reading Challenge and placed third overall in our school. Not only did literacy bring me a group of like-minded new friends, but it also widened my lens on the perspectives and experiences of those around me that were not visible to my naked eyes. When I remained ignorant and refused to believe that anyone could understand how it felt as an immigrant, books reminded me I was not alone. Literacy showed me that even a simple picture book could unite two people from differing backgrounds and help them understand that underneath it all, they’re not so different from one another. From these experiences, I discovered the true power of literacy in all shapes and forms. With this award, I will pursue my goal of broadening my education in hopes that one day, I open up my library. This library will aim to provide children globally with free and accessible books. A service that children in other countries, like the Philippines, are not as fortunate to have. In this library, readers will activate and broaden their minds. They will learn about different experiences and the possibilities they could take for themselves. It will be a safe space where the seeds of hope and ambition will set roots in the minds of dreaming young children who will keep growing and expanding into their tree of life.