As I explored different communities at UW: building friendships, working on campus, and becoming deeply involved in research, my understanding of learning expanded.

My presence gradually spread across different corners of the university, as I moved between classrooms, campus workplaces, research labs, and clinical settings.

I began to see how classroom knowledge connects to life beyond the university, how social issues shape real experiences, and how research can be guided by questions that emerge from the world around us. Through this process, I clarified my research direction and came to see learning as something grounded in engagement and responsibility.