I have worked to advocate for the environment by picking up trash by the highway, grabbing plastic from the stream by my house, and making sure that when I go out into the wilderness, I don't leave garbage. I do this because it was taught to me as a little kid. I was taught never to leave a trace because it would harm the animals and the water. You can see how pollution has harmed multiple ecosystems; For example, the Pacific garbage pack. The Pacific Garbage Pack is a giant floating pile of plastic bottles, plastic bags, garbage, and old fishing nets. Many marine animals die due to being strangled or ingesting the pollution. This also happens on land, nocturnal animals by the highways ingest garbage left by the highways and then die because they can't digest it. That is why I never leave or dump garbage in the wild where animals can get to it. The message I would leave at the top of the mountain would be 'think about the next generation'. I would leave this message because I believe it is important for people to think about how their actions now can affect those in the future. For example, having a planet that is suffering from global warming and having to face multiple societal issues. I learned to think like this because of the way I was brought up. We think ahead to make the right decision. So what we do will benefit the next generation and their children.

Volunteering on a horse farm was an incredibly transformative experience for me. A gateway to introspection, personal growth, and a deeper understanding of my abilities. In the peaceful, soul-filled environment of the ranch, I discovered valuable insights into my character, resilience, and the power of compassion. This essay aims to enumerate the deep lessons I learned about myself while working as a ranch volunteer. Discovering my strengths and abilities: By immersing myself in the responsibilities and challenges encountered on the horse farm, I was able to recognize and develop my strengths. I have found that I have a strong work ethic and an unparalleled dedication to delivering on my commitments. Additionally, I discovered my talent for problem-solving, adaptability, and effective communication skills. All of these skills are important in handling and caring for this amazing animal. As I perfected these traits, my confidence soared and I began to venture beyond my comfort zone. Accept responsibility and responsibility: Volunteering on a horse farm highlighted the importance of responsibility and the consequences of one's actions. Being entrusted with the welfare of such majestic creatures has required me to prioritize diligence and attention to detail in every job I undertake. Recognizing that the horse's health rests partially on my shoulders has instilled in me a sense of belonging and responsibility that extends beyond this volunteer role and into other areas of my life. It spreads. Developing Patience and Resilience: My journey with horses has been a great teacher in developing my patience and resilience. Horses, like humans, have unique personalities and temperaments. Therefore, staying connected and gaining trust requires patience and the ability to adapt to different situations. Spending countless hours trying to understand and win their affection, I learned the virtues of patience, resilience, and the importance of persevering in the face of hardship. These lessons have not only helped me in my work with horses but have also proven invaluable in my personal and academic life. Compassion and Empathy: Perhaps the most profound lesson volunteering at a horse farm has taught me is the power and necessity of compassion and empathy. Interactions with injured and traumatized horses demonstrated the importance of providing unconditional support and understanding. Witnessing how horses respond positively to love and compassion further strengthened my belief that empathy can be transformative. I learned to listen with my heart as well as my ears, trying to understand the verbal and non-verbal cues that these amazing creatures use to communicate their needs and emotions. Volunteering on a horse farm had a huge impact on my self-perception. Through this service, I discovered my strengths and abilities, took responsibility and responsibility, developed patience and resilience, and developed compassion and empathy. These lessons extend beyond my volunteer work and have positively impacted my interactions with others, my approach to challenges, and my personal growth. As I look back on my journey of self-discovery on the horse farm, I feel grateful for the profound impact it had on my life and made me a more compassionate, adaptable, and resilient person.

The sport of volleyball has taught me many valuable life lessons that extend far beyond the boundaries of the court. From the first time I stepped onto the volleyball court, I quickly realized that this sport was more than just a game. It was an opportunity to learn, grow, and become a better version of myself. Through years of dedication and hard work, I have come to appreciate the invaluable lessons that volleyball has taught me. First and foremost, volleyball has taught me the importance of teamwork. In this sport, success is not determined by the efforts of an individual but rather by the cohesive efforts of an entire team. Each player has a specific role to fulfill, and it is through effective communication and cooperation that we can achieve our goals. This lesson has translated into other areas of my life, such as school projects or group activities. Understanding the importance of working together towards a common objective has allowed me to become a more compassionate and collaborative individual. Volleyball has also taught me the art of perseverance. In every game, there are bound to be moments of defeat and disappointment. Whether it be trailing behind in points or losing a crucial set, volleyball has shown me the significance of staying resilient and never giving up. I have learned that setbacks are simply opportunities for growth and improvement. It is through perseverance and determination that I have been able to overcome challenges both on and off the court, fostering a positive mindset that pushes me to always strive for success. Moreover, volleyball has taught me the significance of self-discipline and dedication. This sport requires consistent practice, physical training, and mental focus. It has taught me the importance of setting goals, working towards them, and holding myself accountable for my actions. The commitment required in volleyball has not only improved my athletic abilities but has also shaped my character. It has taught me the value of hard work and the rewards that come with dedication. Volleyball has also taught me to embrace failure and learn from my mistakes. In this fast-paced game, errors are bound to happen. However, it is how we respond to these mistakes that define our growth. Instead of dwelling on the past, volleyball has taught me to analyze my errors, make necessary adjustments, and focus on the next play. This resilience has enabled me to approach challenges with a positive attitude and view failures as stepping stones towards improvement. Lastly, volleyball has taught me the power of sportsmanship and respect. In volleyball, we are constantly surrounded by opponents and teammates alike. Regardless of the outcome of a game, the true victory lies in the mutual respect between players. This sport has instilled in me a sense of integrity, fair play, and respect for both my teammates and opponents. I have learned to celebrate victories with humility and accept defeats with grace, understanding that every individual on the court has put in their hard work and effort. In conclusion, the sport of volleyball has had a profound impact on my life. It has taught me the importance of teamwork, perseverance, self-discipline, embracing failure, and practicing good sportsmanship. These lessons have not only helped me to become a better athlete but have also shaped me into a more well-rounded and resilient individual. Volleyball has instilled in me the values necessary to succeed both on and off the court, and for that, I will forever be grateful.

"I could change up my body and change up my face I could try every lipstick in every shade but I'd always feel the same." (Pretty isn't pretty) This resonates with my own teenage experience because there are so many standards that young adults try to meet. After all, that is what is seen as 'normal'. From what is considered 'normal' they think they are not right and ugly, so they turn to measures to change themselves. As a young teenager, I would change my outfit choices regularly because I tried to fit into the current beauty standards. I would go for two days without eating and then overeat when I would eat. This damaged my mental health so badly that I wanted to end my life. I would come home crying into my pillow because I didn't look like everyone else. They were skinny, fit, had no acne, and were considered "perfect". In the lyric, it says, "I could try every lipstick in every shade but I'd still feel the same." This lyric opened my eyes. I learned that even when you look pretty, you would still feel the same. Once I realized that, I stopped trying to fit into the beauty standards that other people put on me. I stopped doing very large and bold eyeliner and went for a more regular eyeliner. I choose chapstick over lip gloss. I think this song is helpful when it comes to teenagers who are insecure with themselves and those who try hard to fit into beauty standards. In my opinion, this song helped me become at peace with myself. I think that it could do the same for others. I love this song and how it talks about how hard it is to constantly fit into beauty standards. When Olivia Rodrigo's 'GUTS' album came out I was excited. I wondered what the theme of most of the songs was. To me, I think the theme is how standards are hard to fill. Like how you have to look just right but not too right to where you look wrong. Or how you hold grudges against another person but want to get them back into your life. Another song that I love from her album is the song 'get him back!'. I had a messy breakup with my ex and some part of me misses him because to me he seemed so nice, when he wanted out. He made it seem like everything was fine but he didn't want to be with me anymore. However, we made up and he apologized for what he did. This song reminds me of when I wanted to get him back or make him jealous.

abi_whitman

Some obstacles I've had to overcome in my pursuit of higher education is not appreaciating who I am which then turned to me not appreciating an education. For a while when I was younger, I struggled with appreciating my Native American heritage because, growing up, I had little to no representation in movies, shows, dolls, books, and toys. The representation that was around for me was heavily influenced by Eastern beauty and was based on racial stereotypes. However, I learned to appreciate my culture by realizing that everyone is different and that not everyone is going to fit into one category of beauty. As I got older, I learned that having a good education is just as crucial as learning my culture. I went from being a C and B student to an all-A student every year. By learning how to love education, I have earned many achievements and opportunities. Such as my most recent opportunity: Going to Hawaii for a volleyball camp with my Aunt and my cousins. I was there from July 17, 2023, to July 22, 2023. Some achievements and accomplishments that I have are being an honor roll student, playing varsity volleyball and softball, being class vice president, having a 4.0 GPA, being class valedictorian, being an NSLS scholar, and having an SAT score of 1000. A college education is my next step in learning more about the world. A college course that I highly want to pursue is environmental engineering. Following my Native American heritage and my interests, I want to be able to help work with the land and keep up with modern technology for housing and other buildings. By being able to help build more eco-friendly buildings, I can help create a more sustainable community for my people on and off the reservation. A huge goal I want to achieve for my community is buying a plot of land, and building eco-friendly and sustainable housing for people who are homeless and are struggling to get back on their feet. They can live there and can use their house as an address for jobs and mail. The five requirements are that they pay rent, go to counseling or therapy, be checked by police based on reasonable suspicion, and no drugs, alcohol, or any illegal substances, and they will be given three warnings before they are evicted. I think this will help with the homelessness issue that my community is facing and will help bring more workers to jobs that need employees.

I am Nimiipuu or Nez Perce and I come from the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. I would use the money to pursue higher education at a college where I am accepted and seen as who I am. I would also use the money to donate and help find Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women or MMIW. The reason why I would do this is because in the United States we count for less than 5% of the U.S. population. However, the rate of First Nation people going missing is significantly higher than the national average. According to PBS.org, “In the U.S. Native women are murdered at rates 10 times the national average.” However, Native American missing people don’t get the same amount of media attention as majority races in America. A huge example is how Gabby Petito’s death captured national attention, while Indigenous women are not even being mentioned in national news. This is largely due to “missing white woman syndrome” which is a phenomenon that occurs when the victim is a conventionally attractive white woman who goes missing or is killed. The reason why Native American women and other women of color are going missing or are being murdered is because of targeting and being ‘easy victims’. According to journalist Mara Schiavocampo said on CNN, “This actually has real-life implications for women of color. Why? This makes them less safe because perpetrators, predators, know that if you want to get away with murder, you seek the victim that no one is going to look for.” When Indigenous people, mostly women, go missing they are often overlooked by officials. For example, when Abigail Echo-Hawk was talking to a reporter about how prejudice affects the official search for missing and murdered indigenous women, she said many families give her information about what an officer said to them. Such as, “We often will hear stories of individuals who attempt to report their loved ones missing, and officers will tell them, well, maybe she just ran away. Was she out drinking? Does she do sex work?” This comes from internalized racism and systemic bias. The families and community are then left to do the work themselves or have to fight for the victim’s rights to be found or looked for. Most of the time the victims that are found, are not identified. This is such an important thing to talk about because I have many relatives who have gone missing or are in a abusive relationship.

Ta’c léeheyn, ‘íinim titoken wetnikt wees Weceietwetyetmeesx, kaa sooyáapoo wetnikt Abigail Whitman. What I just said was a greeting in the Nez Perce language or Nimiipuutimpt. Means Good day! My traditional name is Weceietwetyetmeesx or Rides on the Back of a Swan, and my white or legal name is Abigail Whitman. I come from the Nimiipuu people of the Nez Perce Indian Reservation and the WhiteBird, Salmon River, Palouse, and Wallowa bands. I attend Lapwai High School, and I have maintained a 4.0 GPA since seventh grade. For a while when I was younger, I struggled with appreciating my Native American heritage because, growing up, I had little to no representation in movies, shows, dolls, books, and toys. The representation that was around for me was heavily influenced by Eastern beauty and was based on racial stereotypes. However, I learned to appreciate my culture by realizing that everyone is different and that not everyone is going to fit into one category of beauty. As I got older, I learned that having a good education is just as crucial as learning my culture. I went from being a C and B student to an all-A student every year. By learning how to love education, I have earned many achievements and opportunities. Such as my most recent opportunity: Going to Hawaii for a volleyball camp with my Aunt and my cousins. I was there from July 17, 2023, to July 22, 2023. Some achievements and accomplishments that I have are being an honor roll student, playing varsity volleyball and softball, being class vice president, having a 4.0 GPA, being class valedictorian, being an NSLS scholar, and having an SAT score of 1000. A college education is my next step in learning more about the world. A college course that I highly want to pursue is environmental engineering. Following my Native American heritage and my interests, I want to be able to help work with the land and keep up with modern technology for housing and other buildings. By being able to help build more eco-friendly buildings, I can help create a more sustainable community for my people on and off the reservation. A huge goal I want to achieve for my community is buying a plot of land, and building eco-friendly and sustainable housing for people who are homeless and are struggling to get back on their feet. They can live there and can use their house as an address for jobs and mail. The five requirements are that they pay rent, go to counseling or therapy, be checked by police based on reasonable suspicion, and no drugs, alcohol, or any illegal substances, and they will be given three warnings before they are evicted. I think this will help with the homelessness issue that my community is facing and will help bring more workers to jobs that need employees.

My life experience as a Native American is both difficult and exciting. I grew up in a small town on a reservation close to a larger city. As a kid, I always loved horseback riding; this is a crucial part of my culture because the Nez Perce have such a strong connection to horses, and we have even helped create the Appaloosa breed, with the Nimiipuutimpt name maamin and the regular horse name being sikem. I always loved horses, and now I have my horse. His name is tit'iluu silu, meaning ancestor's eyes. My grandma saw something in his spots and eyes and gave him that name. I am a skilled rider when it comes to riding horses. From parading, and training horses, to rounding up horses, and crossing rivers. I learned how to care for my horse and others because that would be a job for both the women and the men in my tribe. In our tribe, both men and women were equal. Men did the hunting, fishing, and battles. Women took care of the village, and the traditional foods, and they taught children the correct ways of the people. I am very happy to have been born a woman because I love creating art from natural items. Such as basket weaving. My maternal grandmother is a skilled basket weaver. She has taught me how to weave yarn and hemp rope into a basket hat, a flat bag, and a berry basket. We used a variety of items. Yarn, hemp, corn husk, horse hair, and even cedar root. We would create beautiful designs that represent different things. Such as mountains, rivers, and animals. We created dye from minerals, bones, and different types of grasses and herbs. For example, we used a mixture of animal bone marrow and red clay to make a brown-red color. Another cultural activity I love to do is fishing. I love to go fishing with my family; wading in the water, clubbing salmon on the head, and even processing the salmon. Traditionally we use dip-nets and spear-like hooks where you have to feel for the salmon and then you turn the hook over to catch the salmon. We have different names for each type of salmon, but the regular term for salmon is nac'ox. We usually fish throughout the summer and sometimes into early fall. I got my first salmon in the fall. Which is important if you want to proclaim to your community that you are a provider. I am very grateful and happy to be Nimiipuu and that I am an Indigenous person.