Being raised in a family full of avid learners, I have always had someone to idolize; my father is a mathematics connoisseur, and my mother, an enthusiastic traveler, is fluent in seven languages.

However, despite the extraordinary talents each of my family members possess, it is my cousin who motivates me the most. Growing up, my cousin— a botanist— would always bring along various microscope slides of plant specimens whenever he dropped by to say hello. He would name all the exotic plant species by memory, pointing out each plant's unique characteristics; I was often struck speechless by his extensive knowledge, opening my mouth and flickering my eyes in astonishment."If you are passionate about a subject, learning will come easily," he often said. I took those words to heart.

Whenever I come across an academic challenge, my cousin's words echo through my head as I picture him memorizing thousands of organisms with a desire to excel; that makes me even more inspired to learn.