Google defines grit as “to have courage and determination in the face of difficulty”, but I describe it as my family. My parents, Lola, and other loved ones match this meaning perfectly. These inspirational individuals helped shape my life as someone who was raised in a community where everybody had to work their way up, sacrificing and persevering; key characteristics of our culture. I am currently a high school student who will be graduating in the spring of 2025, and will be attending the University of Illinois Chicago in the fall. I will be studying biochemistry and aspire to enter their pharmaceutical school for my master’s. Coming from a highly competitive school, I took classes such as AP Biology, AP US Government, honors math, dual-credit anatomy, and many more. I was also involved in both the Rho Kappa and ASL Honors societies where I acquired many service hours. As a student, I wasn’t as bright as my peers; often sacrificing my afternoons and weekends studying, missing out on fun times with friends. These sacrifices would allow me to perform well in school. My parents taught me the importance of sacrifice. Having me at a young age, they spent their teens caring for me rather than going out. They both worked hard with nursing careers, to provide for my sister and me as we grew up. Like my parents, I believe that these sacrifices are needed to make it in life, like what they showed me. I want to pursue a career as a pharmacist because of my family. Growing up, my dad and I would accompany my Lola with her doctor check-ups, helping her to understand what the doctor was telling her, and seeing what was needed to stay healthy. These visits would entice me into the world of medicine and make me curious about how medicine affects the body. In my future, I see myself working closely with doctors and ensuring a healthy life for my family and the public, which was rooted from those first visits with my Lola. Before I was born, my Lolo suffered a stroke that immobilized his body from the left side. From hearing my Lola and mom’s stories, he would walk around the backyard early in the mornings to regain his strength. He eventually accomplished this obstacle after several months. His grit with recovery pushed me towards not only my career goals in the medical field but also in my life as a whole. Perseverance is not taught; it does not have a time frame, rather it takes continuous effort to reach those goals, whether it be regaining the ability to walk like my Lolo or striving for a college degree. I still reminisce about the stories and our experiences together, using him as a form of motivation to fight for all the dreams I hope to achieve. Being a pharmacist, I will be able to give back to my family and community, aiding everyone who has helped me along the journey. Coming from a family with a history of chronic diseases, I want to have the ability to relay vital information regarding health to my family members and others. My path on achieving this goal is filled with obstacles, but with sacrifices and perseverance I know I will get there one day. Being a first-generation American, I am inspired by my family’s humble background back in the Philippines. They have persevered through so many hardships and shown the true meaning of grit. Salamat at mabuhay Pilipinas (thank you and long live Philippines)!