I was raised in a suburb outside of Chicago in a Polish-American Jewish household. My distinct upbringing made me observant and tolerant of the people around me. I learned to appreciate diversity by understanding individuals’ uniqueness, establish connections with different people, treat everyone equally, and stand up to adversity; these lessons are essential to my life as a student and in my future career. The student academic experience is benefited by its diversity. A wide array of opinions, educational backgrounds, and cultures are crucial to having high-functioning learning. As I’ve grown as a brother, friend, and student, I have learned to appreciate the differences of people, build strong networks from these distinctions, and stand up to adversity.